“The Apple HomePod is Apple’s smart hi-fi speaker, with a big emphasis on hi-fi quality audio,” David Phelan, Technology Critic for The Independent, writes. “Although it’s certainly portable, it’s not lightweight. The base is designed so there’s no vibration when you’re playing music. On top is a flat circular lid which is white or black according to the finish you’ve chosen. At rest, this is blank. There isn’t the slightest evidence that there’s a circular touchscreen hiding there at all. But say the magic words ‘Hey Siri,’ and the display appears, with a multi-coloured swirling image that changes in timed response to what you say. Then it vanishes utterly again. If you’re playing music, all that you can see are the plus and minus symbols which allow you to control volume, which track’s playing and so on by touch.”
“Apple found that most people using smart speakers, even the smallest, least hi-fi capable devices, were using them for playing music above everything else. So, while recognising the importance of being able to relay the latest weather or turn the heating on and off, Apple’s intention was to make this a speaker with, first and foremost, exceptional hi-fi audio quality,” Phelan writes. “So, how does it sound? Tremendous. The audio quality is way better than any other smart speaker I’ve heard, including the Sonos One and Google Home Max… The wide sound stage and deep fidelity to the music means it has outshone some pretty full-on hi-fi systems I’ve heard. Nothing on the HomePod is muddy, every element is sharp and realised.”
“It’s easy to use, reliably accurate at understanding spoken commands and acting on them. It’s capable when it comes to choosing music tracks or setting timers, sending messages, reading the news and so on. There are places these skills need to develop, but they will, I’m sure. And the arrival of radio stations can’t come soon enough,” Phelan writes. “If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, this is easily the most attractive option, in every way. Even if you’re not, there’s still much to enjoy.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Another excellent review is more good news for Apple’s HomePod. Once this thing gets multi-room and stereo-paring capabilities, it’ll thoroughly outclass the competition.
SEE ALSO:
‘What Hi-Fi?’ reviews Apple’s HomePod: The best-sounding smart speaker we’ve ever tested – by far – February 6, 2018
Ben Bajarin: You can’t unhear Apple’s HomePod – February 6, 2018
Inside Apple’s HomePod audio lab – February 6, 2018
Ten things nobody has told you about the Apple HomePod – February 6, 2018
TechCrunch reviews Apple’s HomePod: Easily the best sounding mainstream smart speaker ever – February 6, 2018
WSJ reviews Apple’s HomePod: Sounds far better than the popular smart speakers from Amazon, Google, and Sonos – February 6, 2018
CNET reviews Apple’s HomePod: Strong wireless speaker with awesome sound – February 6, 2018
Getting one on Friday. Looking forward to adding another as soon as AirPlay 2 is released. Apple simply does it right (and simple).
I’m looking forward to AirPlay 2, as well. I’ve got speakers hobbled together all around the house connected to my iMac via AirPort Expresses. I plan to slowly replace them with HomePods. The “stereo” functionality software upgrade will also be welcome; many reviewers have good things to say about two HomePods playing in tandem. Can’t wait to see (and hear) a HomePod+ or HomePod Pro!
Looking fwd to the “SOUND QUALITY”.
I hope all this press isn’t “over-selling” the sound quality. It would be real easy, after reading all the swooning over the sound, to be underwhelmed and disappointed when we finally hear one live.
Looks like the hardware is well-designed, built and ready for the long haul. The weakest links, according to the early reviews, seem to be software related (Siri, multiple users, etc.). Let’s hope these improve over time via software updates.
I keep reading reviews that complain that it can only set one timer…. But if i’m not mistaken my iPhone only has one timer as well yet no one is complaining about that..
Also I can set a timer on my HomePod, my Apple Watch and my iPhone – there I have 3 timers – I can also throw in my iPad wait there is 4 and I know what the timers are for as well.
The Amazon Echo CM has a mom setting a timer for her ‘naughty’ son’s “Timeout” and then a moment later for his teddy bear too. Wonder if it makes any difference how many timers you can set.
Did Gruber go to work for the Independent?
This is a very objective review if seems and helps put into perspective some of the supposed criticisms over Siri which are more about presumption or misunderstanding than real limitations. What she foes she excels at and expansion will come if slower that they should. But then doing things badly or offering lots of half baked functions isn’t actually better for discerning customers.
Hit-whore Apple basher Brian Chen at the NYT should read the Independent’s article and weep for the days before he so enthusiastically sullied the NYT’s reputation.
amazing looking forward to get it soon