Hey everyone! Thanks for watching. Hard to rate this speaker given such a specific use case. Also, couple of clarifications: Sorry if I didn’t make this clean in the video, but any TV audio can be routed through an Apple TV to the HomePods via ARC or eARC. TV streaming apps, game console, cable box, Blu-ray player, you name it. Virtually no latency - not enough to notice, I still have to measure. Also, still testing volume control using various TVs, will update soon.
I was about to ask! Thank you for the clarification. One question though ... If I connect my LG 4K blue-ray player through eARC cable to apple tv (and therefore with the new homepods) will I get dolby Atmos from a dolby Atmos (ofcourse) blue-ray movie? There is no need for any amplifier or other equipment?
I have a 4 HomePod speaker setup. 2 HomePod 2’s paired in living room and then paired 2 HomePod minis and labeled them “Living Room Rear”. And when you tap the power button on the remote once a menu appears that will let you select audio menu. From there I checkmark both pairs of HomePods (2 and minis) Andjust the core volume I want them to be separate from each other then back out of that menu. TIP - set the minis volume a little higher to better match the larger HomePods. From there the regular volume control adjusts like normal for both sets. Then boom I have 4 speakers booming Apple Music in my living room space. Be sure to reverse the left and right rear speakers though to match the front speakers so the left and right audio matches. Of course, this isn’t true surround sound from Apple, but it is the best option to fill a room with music or movie audio until Apple gives us an update to allow 4 speakers for a real surround sound experience. One more thing to note is when you select to add on the rear speakers it is just temporary until you turn off the Apple TV after you turn off the TV and turn it back on you will have to re-select the additional speakers again. Not a big deal though, as it’s pretty easy to do, and only takes secaonds. It would be nice if somebody showed this set up in a video as I can’t find any videos, showing this set up.
That may be good for a childs bedroom, but the HomePod Mini is only an 'OK' speaker. Frankly I find it less workable too, as if the softward isn't as good in the Mini, even though it may well be identical to the big Homepod. Having had the HP Original set up for TB I know what I would be missing if I used the Min. Like Dolby Atmost, some of the bass, maybe even other things you get on the big HomePod. But it's a used case issue. Kids bedroom would be find for a Mini. Main TV in the living room or theatre room, the big ones are so much better.
You can have two HomePod Mini’s and create a surround sound. I can’t confirm yet but I’d believe your be able to get SS 5.1 from the Apple TV 4K. But it can’t do Atmos because it can’t determine where it is like the bigger HomePods can. And I highly doubt Apple will add that into the cheaper HomePod Mini next gen (whatever they call them).
yes. Just about sums it up. Got 2 of them on the release date at the Apple Store. Never looked back. Movies, 🎥music 🎵and using Siri for alarms and other things is amazing.
I agree with this. I got two for the purpose of actually downsizing my equipment footprint for a move and I’m very pleased. As mentioned the deep bass of a subwoofer can be missed, but not by much. I also noted that the ATV will play the audio out to the pair as well as over the HDMI at the same time, so you COULD have a sub connected to your amp as well.
Theoretically, if Apple enabled up to 4 HomePods to be connected in the future and really went for it to create a true spatial audio room sound, do you think this could rival or even surpass the sound quality generated from the Sony HT-A9 system? While watching this video I kept thinking of the similarities here!
It would be so great if they could release a software update that allows you to make it in a surround sound system! It would be interesting to have 5 or 9 HomePods all around!
I have been using a pair of HomePod 1 in the bedroom as my sound system for tv and music. Yes I do have Apple TV 4K so I can enjoy the spacial audio and Atmos. I got them used and they have been great for me.
I bought the Hisense U5120GW+ for $499 to try in my living room (I have a dedicated home theater already), and I was blown away by the sound that came out of it. These are a hard sell for the same price, and I know that these are impressive for what they are, but the Hisense performance per dollar is outstanding! And I have a $20k Home Theater already to compare.
It is an entry level home audio speaker with Smart capability. That’s nice that most people are fine with sound that is “good enough” the HomePod Mini is available for them. The mini sounds OK, I have one and seldom use it, the Home Pods get used all day almost everyday. The new and OG HomePods are for people that want room filling sound without paying thousands. This fits the price point of Sony and Sonos speakers.
Thanks! I love my HomePod (1st Gen) pair for excellent stereo sound. And now I ordered a pair of (2nd Gen) HomePods to listen as is or use together to make a ‘quad stereo sound’ with Apple Music. Hope it works. Will let you know.
@@fkknight1 hi, thanks for your response. My thinking was having two separate pairs of HomePods (stereo pair of Gen 1 & a stereo pair of Gen 2 speakers) which can play separately Apple Music through them. But…. next Monday 2/6/23 when I receive my Gen 2 HomePod speaker pair, I’m going to set up across the room from my Gen 1 HomePod speaker pair, and stream Apple Music through both pairs at same time, which will work (called Apple about this and they said yes 👍), and it should fill the room up with ‘a quad sound’, not true surround, but a fake surround sound. I will update next week to reveal how well this sounds.
I received and hooked up my new HomePod (2nd Gen) pair and once dialed in with the Apple stereo pairing, they sounded great 👍 Then while they played Apple Music, I added my HomePod (1st Gen) stereo pair to also play and yes!! the sound was perfect with all four playing around me. I’m happy it turned out as I had hoped. Each stereo pair volume can be adjusted from the app or on top of each paired HomePod.
I have a pair of HomePods for my tv and love them. They work flawlessly with an Apple TV 4K and never lose connection. I’m no audiophile but I love watching movies and tv with my HomePods. I use to have a sound bar but the HomePods out perform it by a wide margin.
@@DefiedFaith They work with other devices as long you have an Apple TV 4k 2nd gen and up and an HDMI ARC port on your tv. Plug in the Apple TV into that ARC port on your TV and go into settings to enable the function.
YOU LITERALLY ANSWERED EVERYTHING I WAS THINKING! Ever since the announcement I was questioning getting 2 of these vs the Vizio ATMOS sound bar for the living room
@@georgekaradimos5596 yeah, the M-Series elevate but I settled for the HomePods. I wanted the sound bar months ago but they were always sold out. So availability coupled with this review made me get the HomePods.
The mainproblem I have with using HomePods Gen 1 or 2 is volume, can't get enough volume a lot of times, I end up switching over to my AVR/Speaker system.
Hi! I am one of the few who would like to change my current home theater to stereo homepod. My setup is sonos beam 2 and 2 ikea symfonisk bookshelf speaker but the bass is really lacking and im not happy with performance. Yes I could buy a sub but there is no place to put it. Is it possible to use the homepod as the default speakers connected with Apple tv but using my TVs operating system? I have a Sony x90h android.
For me, that is what I am doing. Simpler, to me is better. The cool thing is if you ever get tired of them as home theater, you can always move them to another room. I am 100% doing this. I just got rid of my soundbar to get two HomePod Minis and then I am going to get two HomePods and take the minis and put them in diifferent rooms. Yes, you can use the Apple HomePods to be default speakers for your Apple TV What's cool, is in my Apple TV setup, I can use the TV Speakers AND the HomePod speakers.
@Lee Rutter I mean, can I use my Sony Android tv OS when connected to Apple TV? Will the stereo homepod work that way? How does the homepod mini sounds when watching Netflix?
@@aberdeenmeadows geez ...read people comment please. Who care if you using apple tv? He literally asked about android TV and here we have people giving no value add on opinion
Yeah, seriously considering replacing our current kitchen/dining area setup of two older B&W 685S/Denon PMA-50 with a stereo pair HomePods 2. Mainly for improved user experience as we only the current setup with Bluetooth which takes just a bit too long to connect and fire up the amp
You’ve opened my eyes to something I’ve never thought of, I’ve had my LG C8 for years and have just recently been thinking of a sound bar when I upgrade to an LG C2, although I don’t have an Apple TV 4K, I’m pretty invested in the Apple ecosystem so this would be really great
There are plenty of options. For a real cinematic experience I would certainly opt for a Sonos setup - one can start with two ONE gen2 devices and later extend the system to sound bar + subwoofer + two rear speakers (= ONE loudspeakers) - all wirelessly (incl. the connection to a Apple TV box). It's nice that Apple supports Dolby Atmos but don't hold your breath - it's still a stereo setup with some surround capability. The competition also supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Airplay, Spotify, Tidal etc. - I am in an Apple-oriented home but I still want some flexibility.
I literally searched for a video like this 20 minutes after it was posted. Perfect timing and saved me from continuing down the rabbit hole of sound bars!
Hi Caleb, I have a question. Have you noticed different audio levels when watching different content from different apps such as Netflix or Disney+ I have heard some reports of This being the case, and was wondering if you had noticed it too. I would be interested to know your thoughts. Thank you and keep up the great work.
I wish you could somehow use eARC or whatever to drive your TV's audio to the homepods--otherwise you only get a great home theater while you're using AppleTV.
Uh ohhhhh! Someone finally hit a million! Sorry, been sick & out of touch. Congratulations! - edit: About that $599 price range. You’re my gen so you’ll understand: back in 1993 a Denon 2 channel receiver started at $199, a 5 disc changer another $199 and a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers also started at $199. You could also run your stereo tv through your system for the price of add on cables. The point is, that $599 hasn’t moved that much in 30 years considering what you’re getting.
I have two HomePod mini’s and just ordered a regular HomePod. I plan on using all three with my Apple TV as a home theater. I am going to put the two mini’s behind me and the regular under my TV. Do you think that will sound good or just put all three under the TV?
The biggest thing I wished the HomePod got was on device Siri so it could still fully work even when there is internet issues such as an isp issue or if apple’s servers were getting hit. For the mini at the low cost I can’t fault it for relying on server side Siri however for a $300 smart speaker there should have been a bit more. I get that it’s using the S7 chip from the Apple Watch and if you have reliable internet you should have no issues but it just feels for a premium product it should be able to have the same Siri functionality as the lowest priced iPad at only about $30 more. It would have also given it more long term security both in the sense that it’s not at risk if there is somehow a Siri data breach that also got unencrypted but also it would mean that once Apple starts shutting down old servers it’s still good, I know Apple is really good at long term support considering it was only a few months ago that the iOS 6 App Store shut down however no server can last forever.
I still hope that Apple will somehow enable the mode - 2 HomePods as soundbar with let's say a simulation of subwoofer plus 2 HomePods mini as sourround speakers... I'm pretty sure that could make the sound even more impressive 🙂
It probably won’t. Formats like Atmos or DTS:x explicitly don’t recommend using dipol or omni Directional speaker cause it’s diminish the hole object based surround experience. Even for 5.1 there are some rare use cases.
Hello. I bought 2 homepods 2nd generation and connected them to apple tv 4k without any problems. However, while my current 1gb internet speed is about 700 800mbs via apple tv wifi, it dropped to around 450mbs after 2 homepods connection. Is it normal to drop so much? When I turn off the homepods, my speed increases again to around 750mbs.
Congratulacion calet from CHILE siempre veo tus novedades que nos mantienen al dia en audio y video,eres un persona muy grata y explicas muy bien,AGUANTE DIGITAL TRENt
I have a Bose Soundtouch 300 and Acoustimass 300 subwoofer but I have had a lot of issues with them. The subwoofer died at 2.5 years old and I had it fixed and the soundbar is now dying a slow death at 4.5 years. I managed to get Bose to agree to fix it for free (in progress) but I have lost faith in Bose and their products so when I saw these new HomePods I was intrigued. Do you think the HomePod pair will outperform the Soundtouch 300 with Acoustimass 300 subwoofer?
Great review! Well, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Duckwrth…looks like we have the same taste when it comes to music!😅 I’m considering buying a pair to replace my old (but still working) Yamaha amplifier with 5.1 speaker set. But I was also considering a pair of Devialet for pure listening (definitely not the same price range though). My TV room is damp so a pair of HomePod should be more than enough, however I’m concerned how they’d fare in my living room that has a very high ceiling with an open mezzanine on top of it…
Nice job! Did you ever get to try the 1st gen HomePods as a stereo pair or home theater system? We used them for a few months and I had few complaints with the sound. I ended up replacing them with a pair of Klipsch The Fives and a sub but not necessarily for better sound. One of our HomePods would lose the stereo pairing overnight. I tend to start Apple Music every morning when I get up and having to re-pair the speakers every morning was a hassle. I liked the original HomePods and still use them in the kitchen and bedroom. I wish that Siri was a little smarter but otherwise I have no complaints. To me they sound way better than the Mini version. I may try them as a stereo pair again as there have been many updates since I fired them from that job.
I’m most interested in knowing if having the sonos setup with a beam, mini sub, and two sonos one rear speakers, is straight up better. My impression was true Atmos needed to have multiple speakers but if the HomePods are good enough then maybe it makes sense. The expandability of sonos is what makes it so appealing and in Apple home you can just talk to a HomePod mini and get the voice assistant. I know the sonos will end up being more but not sure how extreme the difference is?
I use Sonos ARC, sub and two ONEs - I like the experience more than sitting in a modern movie theater. The flexibility (built-in mic, support for plenty of streams such as Spotify, Tidal and assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google and plenty of radio stations is great). A decisive part is the initial measurement (performed using an iPhone): it may take two minutes but Sonos is well-known for getting the most out of your hearing room.
Way too overpriced!! Fantastic sound other than that not the smartest speaker (Siri) and it’s lacking many other options unfortunately, but spud is good :)
If you have both a Roku and Apple TV they will. Plug the Apple TV into your TV's HDMI ARC port. Plug the Roku into any other HDMI port. Set your TV to use ARC as the sound output.
The HomePods only connect wirelessly via the AppleTV, so things plugged into your other HDMI inputs won’t be able to connect to them. That’s the primary deal breaker for me.
@@RobertSmelser not sure where I heard/saw this but (I could be wrong) but if you use EArc to connect the Apple TV, then everything runs through the tv, hdmi to Apple TV, wirelessly to the Homepods. Hopefully someone can confirm or disprove that. I wish I could remember where I saw it. I have other systems for pure music. As for home theater, I just want ineligibility more than anything. I am a guarded fan of Apple products, so having everything work together would be nice. I know using Chfi I could build a cheaper system but just like the HomePods because of size and looks. Wait and see I guess.
Great video I was going to get the complete soundbar package but I’m now going to get two of these v2 HomePods to go with the Apple 4K TV. It would be great if a future software update would allow you to add HomePod minis into the mix having two of those behind you would give it another dimension again.
Hi Digital Trends, I have been watching you very recently, we’ll since 2019, and because of your awesome reviews I bought my first Oled Tv back in 2020 (LG CX) and absolutely love it. I have also purchased the same TV stand (the BDI Corridor 8179) and I absolutely love it as well, to be honest it’s my favorite piece of It all. Finally I have had 2 HomePods (2018) for the past two years, and I just sold them a week ago when I heard the new ones got announced and have them preordered for pick up this Thursday. So as I watch this review I realized we have the exact same living room tv set up, (I just copied you lol) and since you finally tested the stereo paired Homepods you can now enjoy them as daily drivers too. Great minds think alike I guess ;), but seriously thank you for your reviews, my favorite honest reviewer out there with great taste. Keep ‘em coming! The 🐐.
So I need your help then. I have the Sony HT A7000 sound bar with the SW5 sub. Worth about $1800 and paired with a 65 in A80J. I like it but i’m not blown away. To many settings and I honestly expected more out of it. Im in the Apple Eco system and use a 4K Apple TV. You said you would trade any soundbar system for two home pods. So would you trade my set up for the HomePods? I have the beats fit pro and enjoy spacial audio. If you say yes, I’m selling my system and switching to the HomePods. I just want something minimal and that sounds great. Not a huge audial file but like things to get loud if needed.
I would be crazy if you could plug in a subwoofer via optical audio on the Apple TV in conjunction with the stereo HomePods. Better yet, a pair of HomePod minis would also work great as small surrounds. Apple could really create an audio ecosystem if they wanted to, but I think they don’t want to compete with the mainstays of Sonos, Bose, Sony, etc.
Viewing in this way as a soundbar replacement make it senses to buy it. I just think if it priced for 250 would sell a lot more. And they could make it the profit difference by selling numbers. Also made the Siri more ubiquitous.
I had two HomePod Gen1s paired for Home Theatre back in 2020. It was so buggy, requiring multiple HomePod resets and repairing. It suffered from sync and lag issues, Dolby dropping out, etc. etc. it became so frustrating I bought (and have been delighted with) a Sonos Arc and Sub Gen2. I see nothing in any of the specs or reviews so far that would suggest these issues have been resolved. I’m happy with my HomePods used as simple smart(ish) speakers and believe this is where they should stay. If you want home theatre, buy a specific system. To those saying how great it would be to have 9 HomePods as a surround / home theatre system, I’d suggest doing the math and working out how much that would cost you - and then go spend that money on something designed specifically for home theatre that will do the job much, much better.
Hi Caleb! I live in a condo with shared walls and my neighbors are very respectful and I do not want to be the noisy and bothersome one, so despite being an avid entertainment media consumer, I have relied on my LG CX's internal speakers since buying it a few years ago, and I've always pondered upgrades that would be both a nice audio quality improvement but not a disturbance to my neighbors. When I absolutely need a boost to audio fidelity, I usually just go for headphones, but I also live with my significant other and communal watching can get awkward and solitary with headphones. Recently, our viewing experiences with The Last of Us have been us doing audio sharing via Apple TV 4K to our own individual sets of AirPods and it's hard to even just share silent emotional reactions with one another when we've both got buds in. Do you think the bass output on a dual pair of Homepods is appropriate for someone with shared walls? I know you say one of your qualms is actually the bass but I wonder in my case if that's actually a good thing. I'm also an avid gamer so I am curious to see if you come back (seen your pinned comment) with some gaming results from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X! Appreciate those results when you finish your testing! Thanks if you find time to read this over!
After just watching MKBHD & Dave2D reviews, your review is the only one that actually talks about sound quality experience in a proper way. MKBHD I usually love, but his review wasn’t good at all. Dave2D at least tried to do a frequency response and touched on stereo pair, but the review felt rushed and didn’t really have them setup in a good way.
Love mine as a pair. One side note with “one” more piece of Apple hardware, an old AirPort Express, you can add a powered subwoofer to the mix and now, altogether it’s amazing.
and even if not for home media.. If I have a Mac can I use it as my Mac Speakers without having to to keep connecticting it to Airplay. and they just work as Mac Speakers?
For the TV part of it, yes. You won't be able to connect your TV directly up to them. Thankfully, the Apple TV 4k is only $129 but then you add that to the cost of speakers, and you end up paying over $750 with taxes if you want two speakers. If you are really considering, may want to consider Apple TV 4k, and two HomePod Minis - save money now and you can move the minis to other rooms when you decide to upgrade to the larger ones.
Thank You ! The best review I have listened to so far and there have been a few. I do not understand why Apple has limited the HomePod2 to a “stereo pair”. Why not at least 4 HomePod2 ? Hopefully one could have the sound coming from all around you. I have a pair of the original HomePods on one TV and a SONOS Arc system on another. Most of the time we are happy with the HomePods. The SONOS Arc, sub-woofer and surrounds are clearly better but cost considerably more. They are in a room setup for movie watching but often just easier to stay in the one room. The HomePods take up limited space for everyday use . Totally agree with your comment buy two not one.😊
I have an older Sonos playbar that drops connection every so often, but I also have sonos sub with it. How would just a playbar with sonos sub compare to the dual HomePods? I am about to have to purchase another playbar/arc from sonos, since i have invested in the subwoofers as well. Any comments on if the HomePods together would be better than an ARC and a full size Sonos Sub? Thanks for your help.
@@tonkem Hi Tonkem : I have done no scientific testing. I did try the SONOS Arc alone and was impressed by its capability. From my ears perspective it sounds better than two HomePods. It is a much bigger piece of equipment and has more speakers so not surprising. It also costs considerably more! I upgraded the SONOS Arc with a Sub to enhance the base response and added two SL Ones as rear speakers. I considered buying two SONOS Play 5 Generation 2 as side speakers but was put off by the cost. I was trying to get better surround sound. SONOS is rumored to be developing a replacement for the SONOS SL including an upfiring ATMOS speaker. Perhaps they will do this for the side channels as well. The dealer recommended I buy a second Sub as one tends to notice the “bangs in movies” seem to come from the same place. The extension of the original ARC has improved the surround sound but at a considerable cost and mor kit in the room. My pair of HomePods are not as good but are remarkably good for the price I paid. I just wish Apple would allow 4+ HomePods 2 to be connected together for truly immersive sound. Personally I prefer my two HomePods to my two SONOS SL’s. Suspect the price difference is not significant. Annoying when people expect the HomePod Mini to be as good as the HomePod 2. I understand that most people have budget limitations. I think a pair of HomePod 2’s is better than buying one and is a great alternative to a Soundbar.
Can a pair of HomePods be effectively used as a general replacement for a soundbar? I don’t mean when watching video on an Apple TV. But as a sound output for your cable box, Xbox, etc. Specifically, even if it’s possible at all… does it work well or is there too much latency?
I purchased these as a pair and they sound phenomenal for a something so tiny. The arc feature is a game changer with the HomePods being able to play everything through them. Apple need to make a sound bar or allow multiple HomePods to be paired for this to be a complete system.
I felt that price relative to performance the HomePod Mini was a way more impressive product. I didn’t know about how to use ARC until recently but now that I do that does change things a little. The next issue is the size and form factor. It’s hard to place them cleanly with a 65” screen. That’s a LOT of space between the speakers and they’re so tall they can’t sit in front without blocking the screen (even on “sound bar,” configuration).
I have a 4 HomePod speaker setup. 2 HomePod 2’s paired in living room and then paired 2 HomePod minis and labeled them “Living Room Rear”. And when you tap the power button on the remote once a menu appears that will let you select audio menu. From there I checkmark both pairs of HomePods (2 and minis) Andjust the core volume I want them to be separate from each other then back out of that menu. TIP - set the minis volume a little higher to better match the larger HomePods. From there the regular volume control adjusts like normal for both sets. Then boom I have 4 speakers booming Apple Music in my living room space. Be sure to reverse the left and right rear speakers though to match the front speakers so the left and right audio matches. Of course, this isn’t true surround sound from Apple, but it is the best option to fill a room with music or movie audio until Apple gives us an update to allow 4 speakers for a real surround sound experience. One more thing to note is when you select to add on the rear speakers it is just temporary until you turn off the Apple TV after you turn off the TV and turn it back on you will have to re-select the additional speakers again. Not a big deal though, as it’s pretty easy to do, and only takes secaonds. It would be nice if somebody showed this set up in a video as I can’t find any videos, showing this set up.
As the money wasteful person that I am, now I’m thinking “what if I bought 4 HomePods, and make it be Right rear and Left rear?” Would it then make it the super home theater? 🤔🤔💭
Brian Tong did a real world stereo pair test in his kitchen with his partner blindfolded and she and he rated fourth place latest Nest, third place 2022 HomePods, second place 2021 4th gen Amazon Echo and first place 1st gen HomePods. So yes they definitely don’t sound as good as the original HomePods and Apple skimped on parts to once again maximise profits over quality. Welcome to Tim Cook’s Apple. There’s no Jony Ive and Steve Jobs to say “no!” now.
Cmon, Caleb - we need to hear more about Dragon - this is just a distraction while the world waits for Nakamichi to get it's act together. I get that you have to make content but I need that Dragon review, complete with comparisons, yesterday ;)
Hey everyone! Thanks for watching. Hard to rate this speaker given such a specific use case. Also, couple of clarifications: Sorry if I didn’t make this clean in the video, but any TV audio can be routed through an Apple TV to the HomePods via ARC or eARC. TV streaming apps, game console, cable box, Blu-ray player, you name it. Virtually no latency - not enough to notice, I still have to measure. Also, still testing volume control using various TVs, will update soon.
You can only connect two HomePods, correct? If you had to, would you connect a center or base also?
I was about to ask! Thank you for the clarification. One question though ... If I connect my LG 4K blue-ray player through eARC cable to apple tv (and therefore with the new homepods) will I get dolby Atmos from a dolby Atmos (ofcourse) blue-ray movie? There is no need for any amplifier or other equipment?
Less speakers, less mics and is shorter.
Please let us know after you measure!
Sorry for asking for a clarification, but how do I get the sound from my Xbox series x to a pair of homepods?
Apple needs to update the HomePod mini to be surroundsound speakers.
that would be so sick !!
That would be unbeatable with ease of use🥰
I have a 4 HomePod speaker setup. 2 HomePod 2’s paired in living room and then paired 2 HomePod minis and labeled them “Living Room Rear”. And when you tap the power button on the remote once a menu appears that will let you select audio menu. From there I checkmark both pairs of HomePods (2 and minis) Andjust the core volume I want them to be separate from each other then back out of that menu. TIP - set the minis volume a little higher to better match the larger HomePods. From there the regular volume control adjusts like normal for both sets. Then boom I have 4 speakers booming Apple Music in my living room space. Be sure to reverse the left and right rear speakers though to match the front speakers so the left and right audio matches. Of course, this isn’t true surround sound from Apple, but it is the best option to fill a room with music or movie audio until Apple gives us an update to allow 4 speakers for a real surround sound experience. One more thing to note is when you select to add on the rear speakers it is just temporary until you turn off the Apple TV after you turn off the TV and turn it back on you will have to re-select the additional speakers again. Not a big deal though, as it’s pretty easy to do, and only takes secaonds. It would be nice if somebody showed this set up in a video as I can’t find any videos, showing this set up.
That may be good for a childs bedroom, but the HomePod Mini is only an 'OK' speaker. Frankly I find it less workable too, as if the softward isn't as good in the Mini, even though it may well be identical to the big Homepod. Having had the HP Original set up for TB I know what I would be missing if I used the Min. Like Dolby Atmost, some of the bass, maybe even other things you get on the big HomePod. But it's a used case issue. Kids bedroom would be find for a Mini. Main TV in the living room or theatre room, the big ones are so much better.
You can have two HomePod Mini’s and create a surround sound. I can’t confirm yet but I’d believe your be able to get SS 5.1 from the Apple TV 4K. But it can’t do Atmos because it can’t determine where it is like the bigger HomePods can.
And I highly doubt Apple will add that into the cheaper HomePod Mini next gen (whatever they call them).
Apple: " We sell smart speakers"
Caleb: " Nah, you sell TV speakers!"
Great review.
yes. Just about sums it up. Got 2 of them on the release date at the Apple Store. Never looked back. Movies, 🎥music 🎵and using Siri for alarms and other things is amazing.
I agree with this.
I got two for the purpose of actually downsizing my equipment footprint for a move and I’m very pleased. As mentioned the deep bass of a subwoofer can be missed, but not by much.
I also noted that the ATV will play the audio out to the pair as well as over the HDMI at the same time, so you COULD have a sub connected to your amp as well.
Theoretically, if Apple enabled up to 4 HomePods to be connected in the future and really went for it to create a true spatial audio room sound, do you think this could rival or even surpass the sound quality generated from the Sony HT-A9 system? While watching this video I kept thinking of the similarities here!
I was close to buying the Sony system but if Apple enabled this feature I'd buy four without hesitation
@@Chapter7Certified $1329 vs $1999. and If Apple Makes a 7-9in sub for $500-750. It's a no brainer to get the HomePod HT System.
No
@@Chapter7Certified Sony HT-A9 still better has High Resolution Audio
@@Chapter7Certified trust me, the Sony sub makes a good difference and apple would have to have a sub. Plus eARC.
It would be so great if they could release a software update that allows you to make it in a surround sound system! It would be interesting to have 5 or 9 HomePods all around!
Some one who buys 5 or 9 of these for $299 each must be be pretty god damn stupid, maybe that's why.
^This
They would be dope , I wonder why apple haven’t made a sound bar with a sub woofer. Then you could add 4 home pods .
It is doable. Makita has a $150 18v cordless speaker that can pair up to 10 speakers.
soundbar with built in Apple tv
"If you like Beats headphones"...😂
Not exactly the most ringing endorsement.
I have been using a pair of HomePod 1 in the bedroom as my sound system for tv and music. Yes I do have Apple TV 4K so I can enjoy the spacial audio and Atmos. I got them used and they have been great for me.
Amazing technology for sure.
Thank you for actually going to detail of how they sound. Thank you for also comparing them to sound bars. :)
I have been looking at reviews all day and been solely wanting to hear thoughts on Spatial Audio. Thank you!
I’d love to see how this stacks up against a Sonos arc. Also is there a way to add a subwoofer in the mix?
Agree. We need a new sound bar and I would be interested In these.
I bought the Hisense U5120GW+ for $499 to try in my living room (I have a dedicated home theater already), and I was blown away by the sound that came out of it. These are a hard sell for the same price, and I know that these are impressive for what they are, but the Hisense performance per dollar is outstanding! And I have a $20k Home Theater already to compare.
Was about to mention Sonos beam....then you did.
I bought one, well impressed, perfect one box solution to upgrade my TV audio.
Still using Gen1 for my home theater. Works great for my house.
I wonder how they would compare to a pair of Amazon Echo Studios?
finally someone comparing it to good speakers and a sound bar. best review
Would have loved to see how it stacked up to a stereo pair of amazon echo studios, heck, maybe even with an echo sub
For the price difference and a better voice assistant? Echo Studios 💯%
I use my HomePod thermostat daily. Thermostat is used with the Home app and other automation features.
It is an entry level home audio speaker with Smart capability. That’s nice that most people are fine with sound that is “good enough” the HomePod Mini is available for them. The mini sounds OK, I have one and seldom use it, the Home Pods get used all day almost everyday. The new and OG HomePods are for people that want room filling sound without paying thousands. This fits the price point of Sony and Sonos speakers.
Thanks! I love my HomePod (1st Gen) pair for excellent stereo sound. And now I ordered a pair of (2nd Gen) HomePods to listen as is or use together to make a ‘quad stereo sound’ with Apple Music. Hope it works. Will let you know.
I understand that you can’t pair the Gen 1 with the Gen 2. Better check that.
@@fkknight1 hi, thanks for your response. My thinking was having two separate pairs of HomePods (stereo pair of Gen 1 & a stereo pair of Gen 2 speakers) which can play separately Apple Music through them. But…. next Monday 2/6/23 when I receive my Gen 2 HomePod speaker pair, I’m going to set up across the room from my Gen 1 HomePod speaker pair, and stream Apple Music through both pairs at same time, which will work (called Apple about this and they said yes 👍), and it should fill the room up with ‘a quad sound’, not true surround, but a fake surround sound. I will update next week to reveal how well this sounds.
I received and hooked up my new HomePod (2nd Gen) pair and once dialed in with the Apple stereo pairing, they sounded great 👍 Then while they played Apple Music, I added my HomePod (1st Gen) stereo pair to also play and yes!! the sound was perfect with all four playing around me. I’m happy it turned out as I had hoped. Each stereo pair volume can be adjusted from the app or on top of each paired HomePod.
I have a pair of HomePods for my tv and love them. They work flawlessly with an Apple TV 4K and never lose connection. I’m no audiophile but I love watching movies and tv with my HomePods. I use to have a sound bar but the HomePods out perform it by a wide margin.
Do they only work with Apple TV? What about Blu-ray players and gaming consoles?
@@DefiedFaith They work with other devices as long you have an Apple TV 4k 2nd gen and up and an HDMI ARC port on your tv. Plug in the Apple TV into that ARC port on your TV and go into settings to enable the function.
YOU LITERALLY ANSWERED EVERYTHING I WAS THINKING! Ever since the announcement I was questioning getting 2 of these vs the Vizio ATMOS sound bar for the living room
What did you get?
@@victuringan1429 I just bought 2 new HomePods. They sound as advertised in the video, especially given my open floor plan living room.
Are your referring to the Vizio Elevate Atmos Soundbar ?
@@georgekaradimos5596 yeah, the M-Series elevate but I settled for the HomePods. I wanted the sound bar months ago but they were always sold out. So availability coupled with this review made me get the HomePods.
The Vizio is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The mainproblem I have with using HomePods Gen 1 or 2 is volume, can't get enough volume a lot of times, I end up switching over to my AVR/Speaker system.
Could you use your tv as center speaker ?
THIS is the review I’ve been looking for!👏 Thanks for the in-depth review. Much appreciated!
Hi! I am one of the few who would like to change my current home theater to stereo homepod. My setup is sonos beam 2 and 2 ikea symfonisk bookshelf speaker but the bass is really lacking and im not happy with performance. Yes I could buy a sub but there is no place to put it. Is it possible to use the homepod as the default speakers connected with Apple tv but using my TVs operating system? I have a Sony x90h android.
For me, that is what I am doing. Simpler, to me is better. The cool thing is if you ever get tired of them as home theater, you can always move them to another room. I am 100% doing this. I just got rid of my soundbar to get two HomePod Minis and then I am going to get two HomePods and take the minis and put them in diifferent rooms.
Yes, you can use the Apple HomePods to be default speakers for your Apple TV
What's cool, is in my Apple TV setup, I can use the TV Speakers AND the HomePod speakers.
@Lee Rutter I mean, can I use my Sony Android tv OS when connected to Apple TV? Will the stereo homepod work that way?
How does the homepod mini sounds when watching Netflix?
@@aberdeenmeadows geez ...read people comment please. Who care if you using apple tv? He literally asked about android TV and here we have people giving no value add on opinion
Yeah, seriously considering replacing our current kitchen/dining area setup of two older B&W 685S/Denon PMA-50 with a stereo pair HomePods 2. Mainly for improved user experience as we only the current setup with Bluetooth which takes just a bit too long to connect and fire up the amp
You’ve opened my eyes to something I’ve never thought of, I’ve had my LG C8 for years and have just recently been thinking of a sound bar when I upgrade to an LG C2, although I don’t have an Apple TV 4K, I’m pretty invested in the Apple ecosystem so this would be really great
There are plenty of options. For a real cinematic experience I would certainly opt for a Sonos setup - one can start with two ONE gen2 devices and later extend the system to sound bar + subwoofer + two rear speakers (= ONE loudspeakers) - all wirelessly (incl. the connection to a Apple TV box). It's nice that Apple supports Dolby Atmos but don't hold your breath - it's still a stereo setup with some surround capability. The competition also supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Airplay, Spotify, Tidal etc. - I am in an Apple-oriented home but I still want some flexibility.
I literally searched for a video like this 20 minutes after it was posted. Perfect timing and saved me from continuing down the rabbit hole of sound bars!
May I say that your music taste is exquisite
Can you connect HomePods using Firestick with the App TV app?
Apple needs to (1) copy Sony HT-A9 and (2) add a 10" subwoofer option with (3) up to 4 subwoofers to complete the set
Agreed apple need to make sound bar or sound system
Hi Caleb, I have a question. Have you noticed different audio levels when watching different content from different apps such as Netflix or Disney+ I have heard some reports of This being the case, and was wondering if you had noticed it too. I would be interested to know your thoughts. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Wish these worked with non Apple computers. I run a Linux PC and would love to have these.
I wish you could somehow use eARC or whatever to drive your TV's audio to the homepods--otherwise you only get a great home theater while you're using AppleTV.
And what about a setup with the new HomePod and a HomePod mini?
Thanks for the review. Convinced to get a pair!
Uh ohhhhh! Someone finally hit a million! Sorry, been sick & out of touch. Congratulations!
- edit: About that $599 price range. You’re my gen so you’ll understand: back in 1993 a Denon 2 channel receiver started at $199, a 5 disc changer another $199 and a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers also started at $199. You could also run your stereo tv through your system for the price of add on cables. The point is, that $599 hasn’t moved that much in 30 years considering what you’re getting.
I have two HomePod mini’s and just ordered a regular HomePod. I plan on using all three with my Apple TV as a home theater. I am going to put the two mini’s behind me and the regular under my TV. Do you think that will sound good or just put all three under the TV?
The moment I saw they could be paired I was counting on you to review it! How do they stand up compared to the Sony at-A9?
^ This! and maybe Kef LSX II (do a pair of HomePods + Apple TV deliver more than half the value, at around half the price?)
I wish Apple would make HomePods ( inc. mini ‘s ) read Audiobooks 🧐👍
Caleb you forgot to mentioned how it perform in GAMING ~
would you prefer the homepod pair over sony a5000 soundbar??
The biggest thing I wished the HomePod got was on device Siri so it could still fully work even when there is internet issues such as an isp issue or if apple’s servers were getting hit. For the mini at the low cost I can’t fault it for relying on server side Siri however for a $300 smart speaker there should have been a bit more. I get that it’s using the S7 chip from the Apple Watch and if you have reliable internet you should have no issues but it just feels for a premium product it should be able to have the same Siri functionality as the lowest priced iPad at only about $30 more. It would have also given it more long term security both in the sense that it’s not at risk if there is somehow a Siri data breach that also got unencrypted but also it would mean that once Apple starts shutting down old servers it’s still good, I know Apple is really good at long term support considering it was only a few months ago that the iOS 6 App Store shut down however no server can last forever.
I mean, IF you have to get the ATV... the Beam and two Sonos One SLs would be similar in price and I imagine sound better.
Goddamnit ! Knew I should have held off! Recently bought the Sonos Beam 2 with 2 Play One speakers :/
Try comparing them with Klipsch The Fives active speaker and Google Chromecast TV 4K.
I still hope that Apple will somehow enable the mode - 2 HomePods as soundbar with let's say a simulation of subwoofer plus 2 HomePods mini as sourround speakers... I'm pretty sure that could make the sound even more impressive 🙂
yes, same for me, would like to pair them with the mini's pair
It probably won’t. Formats like Atmos or DTS:x explicitly don’t recommend using dipol or omni Directional speaker cause it’s diminish the hole object based surround experience. Even for 5.1 there are some rare use cases.
Hello.
I bought 2 homepods 2nd generation and connected them to apple tv 4k without any problems. However, while my current 1gb internet speed is about 700 800mbs via apple tv wifi, it dropped to around 450mbs after 2 homepods connection. Is it normal to drop so much? When I turn off the homepods, my speed increases again to around 750mbs.
I wonder if you could use them with a soundbar. Behind me? Overkill?
how do i connect this two Homepods with two subwoofers
Is this close to the same with the home pod mini?
Excellent review! I can't wait to get mine!
For music, clearity, accessibility and loudness purposes, isn't the Sonos Ray Beam Gen 2 better!
The HomePod mini DOES have a thread radio… I know it does cause I use it lol. That’s a bit of a miss there
I mean, for being 2nd gen, apple should offered more color options. Selling same product with 2nd gen in front.
Congratulacion calet from CHILE siempre veo tus novedades que nos mantienen al dia en audio y video,eres un persona muy grata y explicas muy bien,AGUANTE DIGITAL TRENt
Apple really should have a bundle deal! Say two HomePods 2 for $540. They'd sell like hotcakes.
Do they only play content from the Apple TV? Nothing connected to the TV externally? (ie: gaming console or Blu-ray)
Beam gen2 + sub mini vs 2 HomePod gen2?
Google home pod 2 mini ⚖️🇨🇦📬📮📧📩📨📨📦🏷️📉📊💰🎙️🎁🏘️🏭🛫🧑🏻💼🧑🏻✈️⚖️🇨🇦
Will you call my wife and tell her it’s ok to buy them. I’m waiting
Bought mine. Hooked up today. She still hasn’t noticed, my wife
I have a Bose Soundtouch 300 and Acoustimass 300 subwoofer but I have had a lot of issues with them. The subwoofer died at 2.5 years old and I had it fixed and the soundbar is now dying a slow death at 4.5 years. I managed to get Bose to agree to fix it for free (in progress) but I have lost faith in Bose and their products so when I saw these new HomePods I was intrigued. Do you think the HomePod pair will outperform the Soundtouch 300 with Acoustimass 300 subwoofer?
How are they compared to Sony’s HT-A9?
Great review!
Well, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Duckwrth…looks like we have the same taste when it comes to music!😅
I’m considering buying a pair to replace my old (but still working) Yamaha amplifier with 5.1 speaker set. But I was also considering a pair of Devialet for pure listening (definitely not the same price range though). My TV room is damp so a pair of HomePod should be more than enough, however I’m concerned how they’d fare in my living room that has a very high ceiling with an open mezzanine on top of it…
If Apple enables 2 minis to be used as rear channels I’m in
Nice job! Did you ever get to try the 1st gen HomePods as a stereo pair or home theater system? We used them for a few months and I had few complaints with the sound. I ended up replacing them with a pair of Klipsch The Fives and a sub but not necessarily for better sound. One of our HomePods would lose the stereo pairing overnight. I tend to start Apple Music every morning when I get up and having to re-pair the speakers every morning was a hassle. I liked the original HomePods and still use them in the kitchen and bedroom. I wish that Siri was a little smarter but otherwise I have no complaints. To me they sound way better than the Mini version. I may try them as a stereo pair again as there have been many updates since I fired them from that job.
2 homepod in front n 2 minis in the rear...and an add-on subwoofer from apple for extra bass would be a game changer 🤘🤩
I’m most interested in knowing if having the sonos setup with a beam, mini sub, and two sonos one rear speakers, is straight up better. My impression was true Atmos needed to have multiple speakers but if the HomePods are good enough then maybe it makes sense. The expandability of sonos is what makes it so appealing and in Apple home you can just talk to a HomePod mini and get the voice assistant. I know the sonos will end up being more but not sure how extreme the difference is?
The equivalent Sonos is better sonically
I use Sonos ARC, sub and two ONEs - I like the experience more than sitting in a modern movie theater. The flexibility (built-in mic, support for plenty of streams such as Spotify, Tidal and assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google and plenty of radio stations is great). A decisive part is the initial measurement (performed using an iPhone): it may take two minutes but Sonos is well-known for getting the most out of your hearing room.
Way too overpriced!! Fantastic sound other than that not the smartest speaker (Siri) and it’s lacking many other options unfortunately, but spud is good :)
So won’t they work with sorround effect with a Roku?
If you have both a Roku and Apple TV they will. Plug the Apple TV into your TV's HDMI ARC port. Plug the Roku into any other HDMI port. Set your TV to use ARC as the sound output.
Maybe a dumb question, or I missed it but what if you have a separate blu ray player or a game console, how would that work? Thanks!
The HomePods only connect wirelessly via the AppleTV, so things plugged into your other HDMI inputs won’t be able to connect to them. That’s the primary deal breaker for me.
@@RobertSmelser not sure where I heard/saw this but (I could be wrong) but if you use EArc to connect the Apple TV, then everything runs through the tv, hdmi to Apple TV, wirelessly to the Homepods. Hopefully someone can confirm or disprove that. I wish I could remember where I saw it. I have other systems for pure music. As for home theater, I just want ineligibility more than anything. I am a guarded fan of Apple products, so having everything work together would be nice. I know using Chfi I could build a cheaper system but just like the HomePods because of size and looks. Wait and see I guess.
And I just read Caleb’s comment confirming what I thought.
@@davdidit6 Wow. That’s pretty cool.
Great video I was going to get the complete soundbar package but I’m now going to get two of these v2 HomePods to go with the Apple 4K TV. It would be great if a future software update would allow you to add HomePod minis into the mix having two of those behind you would give it another dimension again.
Was just thinking about this while watching and 100%
I almost think it would be stupid not to do that haha
What's the make of that Sony tv?!
Hi Digital Trends, I have been watching you very recently, we’ll since 2019, and because of your awesome reviews I bought my first Oled Tv back in 2020 (LG CX) and absolutely love it. I have also purchased the same TV stand (the BDI Corridor 8179) and I absolutely love it as well, to be honest it’s my favorite piece of It all. Finally I have had 2 HomePods (2018) for the past two years, and I just sold them a week ago when I heard the new ones got announced and have them preordered for pick up this Thursday. So as I watch this review I realized we have the exact same living room tv set up, (I just copied you lol) and since you finally tested the stereo paired Homepods you can now enjoy them as daily drivers too. Great minds think alike I guess ;), but seriously thank you for your reviews, my favorite honest reviewer out there with great taste. Keep ‘em coming! The 🐐.
So I need your help then. I have the Sony HT A7000 sound bar with the SW5 sub. Worth about $1800 and paired with a 65 in A80J. I like it but i’m not blown away. To many settings and I honestly expected more out of it. Im in the Apple Eco system and use a 4K Apple TV. You said you would trade any soundbar system for two home pods. So would you trade my set up for the HomePods? I have the beats fit pro and enjoy spacial audio. If you say yes, I’m selling my system and switching to the HomePods. I just want something minimal and that sounds great. Not a huge audial file but like things to get loud if needed.
Hi, please can you have 4 homepod2 speakers and test it for possibly a multi channel 4.0 audio, similar to Sony HTA9???
Apple I am ready for a new AirPort Extreme. Thank you.
I would be crazy if you could plug in a subwoofer via optical audio on the Apple TV in conjunction with the stereo HomePods. Better yet, a pair of HomePod minis would also work great as small surrounds. Apple could really create an audio ecosystem if they wanted to, but I think they don’t want to compete with the mainstays of Sonos, Bose, Sony, etc.
Viewing in this way as a soundbar replacement make it senses to buy it. I just think if it priced for 250 would sell a lot more. And they could make it the profit difference by selling numbers. Also made the Siri more ubiquitous.
Can you watch dolby atmos shows on Apple TV with the HomePod 2nd gen because you can’t listen to dolby atmos on Apple TV with HomePod mini
I had two HomePod Gen1s paired for Home Theatre back in 2020. It was so buggy, requiring multiple HomePod resets and repairing. It suffered from sync and lag issues, Dolby dropping out, etc. etc. it became so frustrating I bought (and have been delighted with) a Sonos Arc and Sub Gen2.
I see nothing in any of the specs or reviews so far that would suggest these issues have been resolved. I’m happy with my HomePods used as simple smart(ish) speakers and believe this is where they should stay. If you want home theatre, buy a specific system.
To those saying how great it would be to have 9 HomePods as a surround / home theatre system, I’d suggest doing the math and working out how much that would cost you - and then go spend that money on something designed specifically for home theatre that will do the job much, much better.
Our next fun purchase.
Hi Caleb!
I live in a condo with shared walls and my neighbors are very respectful and I do not want to be the noisy and bothersome one, so despite being an avid entertainment media consumer, I have relied on my LG CX's internal speakers since buying it a few years ago, and I've always pondered upgrades that would be both a nice audio quality improvement but not a disturbance to my neighbors. When I absolutely need a boost to audio fidelity, I usually just go for headphones, but I also live with my significant other and communal watching can get awkward and solitary with headphones. Recently, our viewing experiences with The Last of Us have been us doing audio sharing via Apple TV 4K to our own individual sets of AirPods and it's hard to even just share silent emotional reactions with one another when we've both got buds in.
Do you think the bass output on a dual pair of Homepods is appropriate for someone with shared walls? I know you say one of your qualms is actually the bass but I wonder in my case if that's actually a good thing.
I'm also an avid gamer so I am curious to see if you come back (seen your pinned comment) with some gaming results from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X! Appreciate those results when you finish your testing!
Thanks if you find time to read this over!
I have the same question, would be interesting to hear more
I like your taste in music. 😉
After just watching MKBHD & Dave2D reviews, your review is the only one that actually talks about sound quality experience in a proper way. MKBHD I usually love, but his review wasn’t good at all. Dave2D at least tried to do a frequency response and touched on stereo pair, but the review felt rushed and didn’t really have them setup in a good way.
So we are buying smart speaker just for playing music and watching movies?
I already love my homepod mini stereo pair as tv speakers lol
I’ll probably love the full sized homepods when I get my hands on them
Love mine as a pair. One side note with “one” more piece of Apple hardware, an old AirPort Express, you can add a powered subwoofer to the mix and now, altogether it’s amazing.
so for home theatre .. I would expect it to work with the TV not only Apple TV.. am I missing something?
and even if not for home media.. If I have a Mac can I use it as my Mac Speakers without having to to keep connecticting it to Airplay. and they just work as Mac Speakers?
Do you need the Apple TV box to do this?
For the TV part of it, yes. You won't be able to connect your TV directly up to them. Thankfully, the Apple TV 4k is only $129 but then you add that to the cost of speakers, and you end up paying over $750 with taxes if you want two speakers.
If you are really considering, may want to consider Apple TV 4k, and two HomePod Minis - save money now and you can move the minis to other rooms when you decide to upgrade to the larger ones.
👍🏻 Google home pod 2 mini 🇨🇦🎁📦🏷️📨📩📧
Thank You ! The best review I have listened to so far and there have been a few. I do not understand why Apple has limited the HomePod2 to a “stereo pair”. Why not at least 4 HomePod2 ? Hopefully one could have the sound coming from all around you. I have a pair of the original HomePods on one TV and a SONOS Arc system on another. Most of the time we are happy with the HomePods. The SONOS Arc, sub-woofer and surrounds are clearly better but cost considerably more. They are in a room setup for movie watching but often just easier to stay in the one room. The HomePods take up limited space for everyday use . Totally agree with your comment buy two not one.😊
I have an older Sonos playbar that drops connection every so often, but I also have sonos sub with it. How would just a playbar with sonos sub compare to the dual HomePods? I am about to have to purchase another playbar/arc from sonos, since i have invested in the subwoofers as well. Any comments on if the HomePods together would be better than an ARC and a full size Sonos Sub? Thanks for your help.
@@tonkem Hi Tonkem : I have done no scientific testing. I did try the SONOS Arc alone and was impressed by its capability. From my ears perspective it sounds better than two HomePods. It is a much bigger piece of equipment and has more speakers so not surprising. It also costs considerably more! I upgraded the SONOS Arc with a Sub to enhance the base response and added two SL Ones as rear speakers. I considered buying two SONOS Play 5 Generation 2 as side speakers but was put off by the cost. I was trying to get better surround sound. SONOS is rumored to be developing a replacement for the SONOS SL including an upfiring ATMOS speaker. Perhaps they will do this for the side channels as well. The dealer recommended I buy a second Sub as one tends to notice the “bangs in movies” seem to come from the same place. The extension of the original ARC has improved the surround sound but at a considerable cost and mor kit in the room. My pair of HomePods are not as good but are remarkably good for the price I paid. I just wish Apple would allow 4+ HomePods 2 to be connected together for truly immersive sound. Personally I prefer my two HomePods to my two SONOS SL’s. Suspect the price difference is not significant. Annoying when people expect the HomePod Mini to be as good as the HomePod 2. I understand that most people have budget limitations. I think a pair of HomePod 2’s is better than buying one and is a great alternative to a Soundbar.
Can a pair of HomePods be effectively used as a general replacement for a soundbar? I don’t mean when watching video on an Apple TV. But as a sound output for your cable box, Xbox, etc. Specifically, even if it’s possible at all… does it work well or is there too much latency?
Is it possible to add a sub woofer to the new iPod speakers?
Unfortunately, no.
I purchased these as a pair and they sound phenomenal for a something so tiny. The arc feature is a game changer with the HomePods being able to play everything through them.
Apple need to make a sound bar or allow multiple HomePods to be paired for this to be a complete system.
I felt that price relative to performance the HomePod Mini was a way more impressive product. I didn’t know about how to use ARC until recently but now that I do that does change things a little. The next issue is the size and form factor. It’s hard to place them cleanly with a 65” screen. That’s a LOT of space between the speakers and they’re so tall they can’t sit in front without blocking the screen (even on “sound bar,” configuration).
I have a 4 HomePod speaker setup. 2 HomePod 2’s paired in living room and then paired 2 HomePod minis and labeled them “Living Room Rear”. And when you tap the power button on the remote once a menu appears that will let you select audio menu. From there I checkmark both pairs of HomePods (2 and minis) Andjust the core volume I want them to be separate from each other then back out of that menu. TIP - set the minis volume a little higher to better match the larger HomePods. From there the regular volume control adjusts like normal for both sets. Then boom I have 4 speakers booming Apple Music in my living room space. Be sure to reverse the left and right rear speakers though to match the front speakers so the left and right audio matches. Of course, this isn’t true surround sound from Apple, but it is the best option to fill a room with music or movie audio until Apple gives us an update to allow 4 speakers for a real surround sound experience. One more thing to note is when you select to add on the rear speakers it is just temporary until you turn off the Apple TV after you turn off the TV and turn it back on you will have to re-select the additional speakers again. Not a big deal though, as it’s pretty easy to do, and only takes secaonds. It would be nice if somebody showed this set up in a video as I can’t find any videos, showing this set up.
As the money wasteful person that I am, now I’m thinking “what if I bought 4 HomePods, and make it be Right rear and Left rear?” Would it then make it the super home theater? 🤔🤔💭
Brian Tong did a real world stereo pair test in his kitchen with his partner blindfolded and she and he rated fourth place latest Nest, third place 2022 HomePods, second place 2021 4th gen Amazon Echo and first place 1st gen HomePods. So yes they definitely don’t sound as good as the original HomePods and Apple skimped on parts to once again maximise profits over quality. Welcome to Tim Cook’s Apple. There’s no Jony Ive and Steve Jobs to say “no!” now.
Cmon, Caleb - we need to hear more about Dragon - this is just a distraction while the world waits for Nakamichi to get it's act together. I get that you have to make content but I need that Dragon review, complete with comparisons, yesterday ;)