elephant wrote:

This thread has been quiet for 10 days - perhaps indicating that the HomePod is a storm in a teacup (or perhaps a kettle !).

Anyway I have still been playing with mind and testing tracks that reviewers and MacRumor’s forums have reported.

One popular review that generated much debate was Pogue’s blind test of these tracks:

* “Star Wars: Imperial March.” Full orchestra, full volume, full of brass.

* “Havana” (Camila Cabello). Current pop hit. Distinct bass, drums, piano, and voice. Lots of rhythm.

* Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major. All strings, full range of pitches and dynamics.

* “Hallelujah” (Pentatonix). A cappella ballad, five voices, very exposed and close to the mikes.

* “Helpless” (from “Hamilton”). Broadway pit band, pop sound, female harmonies.

Here is a photo of one of my tests ... in a new setting for the HomePod ... an Ikea bookshelf:

I did conduct a discrete test with my wife of piano, non-vocal versions of “Havana” and for once she rated the BL6000s below the HomePod !

Finally I tried an artist recommended by someone on MacRumors ... TIPPER ... with three tracks that were um “interesting” 😮

- Scapula

- Dead Soon

- Six Pak

So far I find the HomePod good for background listening and in its current guest bedroom bookshelf position I have been using it while riding our exercise bike !

BeoNut since '75

elephant wrote:

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Apple is not  my cup of coffe but LEGO..

Great AT-AT MOC!

KMA wrote:

Just got a HomePod from UK, will test it this weekend in my typically moderately-sized Scandinavian living room.

A/B comparison with BeoPlay A6 and BeoSound 8. I really do not know what to expect, so this might be fun!

I'll do some HomeKit upgrades at the same time.

The toys:

KMA

B&O product history since 1991: Ridiculously long to list in a signature.

Well, I think it won't kill BeoPlay, Because HomePod is just for Apple Music so as for those who play other streaming music, they still have chance for playing their music on other devices, like BeoPlay. BTW, I am Apple Music users, so I might to

WilliamsSmith wrote:

Well, I think it won't kill BeoPlay, Because HomePod is just for Apple Music so as for those who play other streaming music, they still have chance for playing their music on other devices, like BeoPlay. BTW, I am Apple Music users, so I might to buy HomePod for my Apple Music .

I'm in Canada and homepod is not available here yet. A friend imported one. My first reaction was shock at how small it is. Was expecting something larger. Despite all of Apple's mumbo-jumbo about magical technology, this doesn't even sound as good as Sonos Play:1. And really the only thing I like about the Play:1 is that it moves a lot of air for such a small speaker.  My opinion: the raving articles saying people will abandon their stereos for these things are just internet noise. It sounds fine and balanced, but the max volume was not impressive at all.

For me it's similar to every iPhone announcement where they claim to have created the best camera ever made, then you get the new phone and it takes typical disappointing photos in all but perfect lighting conditions. No better than a $100 compact camera.

elephant wrote:

What I will say is I am very happy with the HomePod being located in the Guest room with the exercise bike so I try to use both daily 😁

Hey Siri :

Jump on that bike and go for a 40mn exercise

😂

elephant wrote:

Looks like a busy weekend !

I have started renaming my HomeKit devices ... what made sense for using an iDevice or an ATV App did not make sense when I am trying to give the HomePod voice commands.

Eg Hey Siri switch on chandelier only activated one bulb. They had been labelled chandelier 1, chandelier 2, ..., chandelier 5.

Now they are C1, C2, etc

I did not go to Michael H’s extreme of 1, 2, 3, etc !

So try some experiments before setting up everything only to have to change it. BeoNut since '75