HomePod Why oh why is there no portable HomePod

[Head_Unit]

Just had to start a thread to whine about this. For the compact speaker category, it seems to have such superior performance or so I've read. I'd love to have one to carry out back to hang laundry and so on-I have a little Bluetooth thing but it's not a full sound, and most of those are boomy. C'mon Apple, not even a clip-on battery pack?
Grrrr....

 

[boltjames]

Sound quality is dramatically compromised by the need to engineer around battery life. Dynamic range, that thumping bass, the strong volume, it all goes away when batteries are in the equation.

I hired an electrician to put extra outlets in my backyard just for HomePod use. Spend the $175 on that instead of batteries yuck.

 

[Head_Unit]

Yeah...maybe Apple was afraid of the weight and runtime complaints and cost. Sigh. I'd just like a kind of portable "real speaker" that's not as huge as those block rockers. I could make something with a little extra chip amp I have, kludge it together to an enclosure with a handle...the HomePod just seems more elegant.

I wonder if anyone has a battery powered "real speaker" (whatever that means...I guess I'm thinking at least a 4" woofer?)

 

[pup]

Try a Sonos Move. Expensive, but the sound quality is leaps and bounds better than a HomePod.

 

[inkahauts]

I agree they should have one. Bass won’t be a worry outside no matter what. It won’t be greater from the current one plugged in vs a battery powered one.

 

[pup]

I’m not sure what the bass comment is about, other than it’s just botjames doing his thing. The bass on a Sonos Move is sooo much richer than on a HomePod that it’s obvious he’s never heard one. Apple could certainly make a worthy competitor if they wanted.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I’d be interested in a portable HomePod. Especially if it was water/beach proof.

 

[inkahauts]

I’m not sure what the bass comment is about, other than it’s just botjames doing his thing. The bass on a Sonos Move is sooo much richer than on a HomePod that it’s obvious he’s never heard one. Apple could certainly make a worthy competitor if they wanted.

Just want to make sure people realize anything small isn’t going to produce good bass outside unless you sit in the exact perfect spot because there’s no walls to help reverberate the bass around a room. Plus the speakers are just to small to produce good bass outside anyway.

This is in comparison to being inside. Point being it has nothing to do with being battery powered or not.

 

[inkahauts]

I’d be interested in a portable HomePod. Especially if it was water/beach proof.

May sound funny but if also like it to have a magnetic base.

 

[Itinj24]

AirPods Pro = Go anywhere, on the move HomePod.

 

[waw74]

Anker soundcore 2, battery powered, bluetooth and water resistant.
they're pretty inexpensive, and sound really good. several people have bought one after they heard mine.
you can get 2 and make a stereo pair
great battery life,

it's got a mic too, so once you're paired with your iPhone, it works with siri.

There is enough bass that they will rattle off things, it doesn't make a rattle noise, because the whole thing is rubber, but I've had mine fall a few times, if I barely balanced it somewhere.

There are a couple other models, that are bigger, but with similar features.

 

[robjulo]

I'll echo the Sonos Move....get one...you'll be much happier. Sound is just as good if not better, portable and it has access to a wealth of services including Apple Music.

 

[boltjames]

I’m not sure what the bass comment is about, other than it’s just botjames doing his thing. The bass on a Sonos Move is sooo much richer than on a HomePod that it’s obvious he’s never heard one. Apple could certainly make a worthy competitor if they wanted.

Sonos? For an outdoor speaker? LOL. When I'm wet from the pool and my hands are full of sunscreen, that's when Siri is absolutely most useful. No Apple or Apple Music enthusiast would ever take such technological steps backwards.

Besides, Sonos isn't going to be around for long; they are in huge financial trouble and the luxury goods segment of the economy is tubing. They'll be one of those companies that goes Chapter 7 and leave all their customers holding the bag.

 

[Itinj24]

Sonos? For an outdoor speaker? LOL. When I'm wet from the pool and my hands are full of sunscreen, that's when Siri is absolutely most useful. No Apple or Apple Music enthusiast would ever take such technological steps backwards.

Besides, Sonos isn't going to be around for long; they are in huge financial trouble and the luxury goods segment of the economy is tubing. They'll be one of those companies that goes Chapter 7 and leave all their customers holding the bag.

Agree with what you say about the hands free experience but not so sure about Sonos tanking. They have many more customers than just Apple users and they just got their feet wet with the Dolby Atmos game.

 

[pup]

Airplay from your phone and 'Hey Siri' works just the same, so it's not something I've ever thought about. But I can see a slight convenience there if you've got to use Siri and don't have your phone with you outside. I'm not much of a Siri user though except in the car.

Google Assistant and Alexa do work directly through the speaker, though.

 

[boltjames]

Agree with what you say about the hands free experience but not so sure about Sonos tanking. They have many more customers than just Apple users and they just got their feet wet with the Dolby Atmos game.

I don't wish them any harm but they were in tough shape a few months back. People will be nesting and spending time at home but price becomes a problem and Sonos is an expensive option for those on tight budgets. Apple has so many other revenue sources HomePod is immune to a slowdown, supply chain challenges, etc.
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Airplay from your phone and 'Hey Siri' works just the same, so it's not something I've ever thought about. But I can see a slight convenience there if you don't have your phone with you outside. I'm not much of a Siri user though except in the car.

The array of 6 microphones in HomePod is one of its best and unsung features. I've been in very noisy environments, music playing, people talking at a party, elevating their voices, shouting bouncing off the walls, and it could still hear my commands. iPhone isn't even close.

And that's the thing with HomePod- for those of us who are used to using our voices and have mastered all the commands, any compromise in Siri 'hearing' is a major no-no. So for outdoor use, HomePod has that going for it. I can be in the pool, kids splashing, music blasting, and Siri can hear me.

 

[robjulo]

Just like Directv would NEVER get dual live buffers, right? Loud wrong.

Besides, Sonos isn't going to be around for long; they are in huge financial trouble and the luxury goods segment of the economy is tubing. They'll be one of those companies that goes Chapter 7 and leave all their customers holding the bag.

 

[inkahauts]

Just like Directv would NEVER get dual live buffers, right? Loud wrong.

Oh my god I just realized who he is. Wow. That really explains everything even more... LOL

 

[Dhonk]

Just want to make sure people realize anything small isn’t going to produce good bass outside unless you sit in the exact perfect spot because there’s no walls to help reverberate the bass around a room. Plus the speakers are just to small to produce good bass outside anyway.

This is in comparison to being inside. Point being it has nothing to do with being battery powered or not.

I’d like less bass so it sounds more authentic. I really don’t like Apple Music radio stations as they have nothing I’ve found that I like. I listen to siriusXM and love Y2Country, PopRocks, the Highway, and the Pulse. But since SiriusXM isn’t supported for direct streaming, I can’t change the settings and am stuck with too much bass.

 

[pup]

I’d like less bass so it sounds more authentic. I really don’t like Apple Music radio stations as they have nothing I’ve found that I like. I listen to siriusXM and love Y2Country, PopRocks, the Highway, and the Pulse. But since SiriusXM isn’t supported for direct streaming, I can’t change the settings and am stuck with too much bass.

Yeah, I don't think that Apple's 'we'll decide what's best for you' philosophy works well with audio. Too many different tastes. I had high hopes for Apple audio since I thought with their software, design, and manufacturing expertise that they could become a sort of B&O for the masses. But to get there, they need to really commit. I don't think they want to do that, nor do I know if they should. I think to apple, home audio is just a hook for Siri, and so they're going to go only as deep into the market as they need to to make that happen.

That's why, to me, if someone is looking for just a smart speaker, or general background music, something for the kids, etc, then absolutely - grab a HomePod on a $199 sale. But if someone is looking for a real dedicated listening experience, surround sound, or multi-room audio, then Sonos is the entry point for that. If you try to force a HomePod into any of those roles, you're on a road to disappointment. And Sonos software and hardware are both very Apple like and play well in an Apple ecosystem, so I think any Apple peep will be satisfied with their kit.

Franky, I think if Apple were serious about home audio, they'd have bought Sonos by now. It's good fit and seems like easy pickings. And if Apple isn't interested, I'll be really surprised if Google or Amazon doesn't grab them up sooner or later.

 

[inkahauts]

Yeah, I don't think that Apple's 'we'll decide what's best for you' philosophy works well with audio. Too many different tastes. I had high hopes for Apple audio since I thought with their software, design, and manufacturing expertise that they could become a sort of B&O for the masses. But to get there, they need to really commit. I don't think they want to do that, nor do I know if they should. I think to apple, home audio is just a hook for Siri, and so they're going to go only as deep into the market as they need to to make that happen.

That's why, to me, if someone is looking for just a smart speaker, or general background music, something for the kids, etc, then absolutely - grab a HomePod on a $199 sale. But if someone is looking for a real dedicated listening experience, surround sound, or multi-room audio, then Sonos is the entry point for that. If you try to force a HomePod into any of those roles, you're on a road to disappointment. And Sonos software and hardware are both very Apple like and play well in an Apple ecosystem, so I think any Apple peep will be satisfied with their kit.

Franky, I think if Apple were serious about home audio, they'd have bought Sonos by now. It's good fit and seems like easy pickings. And if Apple isn't interested, I'll be really surprised if Google or Amazon doesn't grab them up sooner or later.

For home theater I’ve listened to Sonos vs other sound bar systems in stores and I’m not all that impressed. I mean most aren’t great but a few of the higher end Sony ones are. As are I’m sure a few from other sound companies. May not be the same price but I couldn’t justify a Sonos for home theater over a better Sony when picking one out for someone who didn’t care about the smart stuff being built into it.

 

[boltjames]

That's why, to me, if someone is looking for just a smart speaker, or general background music, something for the kids, etc, then absolutely - grab a HomePod on a $199 sale. But if someone is looking for a real dedicated listening experience, surround sound, or multi-room audio, then Sonos is the entry point for that. If you try to force a HomePod into any of those roles, you're on a road to disappointment. And Sonos software and hardware are both very Apple like and play well in an Apple ecosystem, so I think any Apple peep will be satisfied with their kit.

HomePod is also the perfect solution for the audiophile-dropout; the person who has done the whole search-for-the-perfect-quality thing for way, way too long and now just wants to spend his time enjoying the music, not the chase.

I can't tell you how liberating it is to get off of that gerbil wheel. Plug and play. "Hey Siri" and a daiquiri and I'm good to go.

 

[pup]

For home theater I’ve listened to Sonos vs other sound bar systems in stores and I’m not all that impressed. I mean most aren’t great but a few of the higher end Sony ones are. As are I’m sure a few from other sound companies. May not be the same price but I couldn’t justify a Sonos for home theater over a better Sony when picking one out for someone who didn’t care about the smart stuff being built into it.

I won’t disagree. Like I said, if you’re talking AirPlay speakers and care about sound or want a multi-room system then I think Sonos is the starting point. Listen to them and go from there - there’s a lot more out there. I do think that for most people a Sonos system will meet their needs with the least amount of headaches, but the important thing to remember is that with AirPlay you get to mix and match. So you can have the Sony surround if you want, without having to worry that you’re stuck with that brand everywhere. I have Sonos in most of the rooms in my house now but I also have two vintage systems - a mid-seventies Pioneer 9500 system with Wharfedales and a late 80’s B&O Beosystem with Pentas and Redlines. Neither are audiophile powerhouses but I have a nostalgic soft spot for each, and I can stream to them both easily along with the Sonos, using an airport express and an Apple TV. And I’m thinking about some KEFs for another room. That’s the beauty of AirPlay.

It’s obvious that I think that in general the HomePod is a dud. Apple makes duds every now and then. But the tech behind it has possibilities and I really hope that Apple decides to commit to the market and make something of it. The original watch was a real dud, too, but I’ve got a 4th gen on my wrist now that I can’t live without. But right here right now, I have to be honest and realistic and say that the current HomePod is really only good for casual use. If that’s you then great but if it’s not then start your search one rung above. You can do better for the same or less money.