HomePod 2 Review vs. Sonos Arc vs. Dolby Atmos 7.1 Theater
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- HomePod 2 is out and I compare Apple’s newest smart speaker to Sonos Arc, Sonos Beam, and a full Dolby Atmos 7.1 system! Full review includes music playback experience, home theater viewing, and the value of HomePod 2 vs. Sonos products.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Pricing HomePod 2 vs Sonos
02:54 Music Comparison HomePod 2 vs Sonos
06:37 HomePod 2 vs Dolby Atmos 7.1
08:18 HomeKit and Smart Home on HomePod
09:57 HomePod Ecosystem vs Sonos
12:31 HomePod vs Sonos Conclusion
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Finally someone reviewed this use case properly!!! So many reviews reading off stats you already know… and this was the right speaker comparisons thanks!!
Thanks so much 🙏🏻
This is hands-down the best review of the new HomePods on RUclips. I liked the comparison to the OG and to Sonos and even 7.1 surround, with how well each handles music, movies, AirPlay, etc… Bravo!
Thanks so much! Appreciate that
Truth.
We had a 1st gen Echo in our master bathroom for listening to music in the morning ruclips.net/user/postUgkxABghAEkaIDGZfHRBH3D3rBrlraNmnC71 and while in the shower. I didn't realize how tinny and awful the sound output on the original Echo was until we replaced it with the Studio. It was a sonic upgrade far beyond what I was expecting. Just wow. I love it because it's like having speakers IN the shower. My friend likes it because the music is so loud that she can no longer hear me singing. So that's a win-win.
I enjoy mine for sure!
The Homepod pair sounds kinda perfect for small apartments where you don't want a subwoofer on the floor and don't have that big of a room to fill but still want Atmos/spacial audio... i really wasn't thinking that these would be worth considering but damn
For that kind of setup, HomePod 2 pair *would* be ideal.
This is the best most comprehensive review on the new HomePod I've watched. Well done Stephen!
I’m only 2.5 mins in and I can tell this is the best most practical review there is
Thank you!
Great review! I have the OG HomePod in my bedroom and two HomePod minis for my home theater system. It was lacking bass obviously with their size but i recently bought a used AirPort Express with airplay 2 compatibility and connected it to a spare powered sub I had laying around and now it sounds amazing.
Great review. The comparison for music playback was what I'd been waiting for. Thanks!
This is a really excellent review. Thanks. Now my gripes ;) I realize it blows the budget, but when you add a couple of Sonos Ones to the Arc and Sub Gen 3, you get a whole new world that a pair of HomePods can't really touch. So your comparison is quite valid without surrounds. Again, the Sonos budget is WAY higher than a pair of HomePods, and there's no surround option, so I understand that it's not really fair. Also, as a side note, I used to lose the Sonos sub and a surround randomly until I wired the Arc, and then cleaned up (bought a better ethernet router) my networking. I also did your weather test with my OG HomePods, and they responded as quickly as your Gen 2s. I'm not defending Siri, but I've never really had a problem with it.
I LOVE my HomePods for music. I use Sonos for Home Theatre. If a person only wants a soundbar, then the HomePods are an excellent choice.
Man the best review I've seen on RUclips. It's cool that you made such a material. You answered all the questions I had. Thanks.
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏
This is the comparison review I’ve been looking for. Thank you!!
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Hoping one day Apple allows for more than 2 HomePods or HomePod Minis to work together for an even better Atmos surround setup!
They allow multiple stereo HomePods to work together
@@Anonyme09865 Right, but that's not technically surround. it's just duplicating the front channels.
@@WillTung yep. But with Dolby atmos content you can amplify your experience
Great review with practical product comparisons. I am not in the market for HomePods, but this review has me thinking about it. Subbed.
Thanks for this, exactly what I was looking for, great channel
I’ve now watched a couple of your reviews and really appreciate your overviews of Sonos and HomePod 2s. I have stereo pair of original HomePods playing my tv and music. I also have NAD 3028 integrated amp and book shelve speakers for vinyl. The HP1s sound great but I have been in perpetual hunt for something that might be even better. Your reviews have helped me immensely as I will put aside Sonos hunt and instead focus on HPd2s upgrade for tv and purchase a pair of KEF Metas for vinyl. Subbed and looking forward to going back through your content and eagerly awaiting new stuff too.
Thanks a lot Chris, I’m glad it been helpful 🙏🏻
You just gain a new fan! This is so detail and hands down the best comparison video I have seen. Thank you so much for making my buying decision super easy. Thanks thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Would you recommend a stereo pair of Homepod Minis for a desktop audio setup?
Even after 2 generation upgrades of Apple TV, I’ve been having issues using Dolby Atmos between Apple TV and Sonos Beam 2….causes a loud pop followed by a restart of the Apple TV and Sonos beam. Both sonos and apple support advice was to turn off Dolby Atmos in Apple TV. 😒
Been considering a pair of HomePods 2 to replace the Sonos beam. Did you experience any delay between audio and video being that there is no wired connection between HomePods and Apple TV?
First, I’ve got that shirt and the other one. Secondly, I’m so happy to hear a review from someone who listens to classical music. I’ve got a small basement theater/living space where the couch will be maybe 10-12ft from where the TV will be. This is a newly finished space so nothing there yet but, I’m vacillating between sound bar / sub and a pair of homepods. Your review was so helpful so thank you for doing it.
Glad it was helpful! And good to hear from another classical music aficionado 😉
Great video, actually very helpful and answered all my questions. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Great review, as always, Stephen; thank you. You went in-depth, and that’s much appreciated.
Appreciate it!
Excellent thorough review. Very informative and helpful. Thank you for posting!
Appreciate that 🙏🏻
Great review.
I have Sonos setup, and what I like about Sonos is the ability to expand whenever you want. I started with sonos one g2 then after few months added arc then sub, and now having a great time watching movies with family and always impress friends. Was considering HomePods but very hard to drop $600 for two speakers that can never be expanded and stuck with two speakers that will always lack against front and rear speakers.
That’s a good point. And I have enjoyed adding Sonos speakers (like the move) for various use cases around the house.
I'm in the same boat. The rear speakers in a Sonos setup (even if they are only two One SL's) make an incredible difference. Also being able to allow the system to grow with you is really nice. Especially now that the new Sonos Era speakers have just been announced.
Same here. Also, not sure if the sub is even necessary for the Sonos system if we want to compare it with the HomePod. Sounds pretty great without it as well.
2 sonos and a beam gen2 I think it’s the best solution if you don’t want to spend a lot of money
Great video and I really like the comparison of the HomePod with Sonos and a home theater system. Thank you for that 😀👍.
Your comparison give me a better understanding of the sound of the new HomePod because I have a 5.1 home theater system and four Sonos one in my apartment.
This is the type of home theater review I needed to see. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review thanks. I love your podcast too.
amazing review. I’ve watched probably 20+ reviews from the HomePod 2 and this is the best by a mile.
tech reviews are getting lost in the technical facts and stats. I love that you just gave real life scenarios and your own opinions. I would love to see you review more things I think you have a unique perspective that is needed.
The only thing I wish you would’ve touched on was basic TV watching, and maybe sports e watching with the HomePods
Appreciate the kind words 🙏🏻 and will keep those use cases in mind for the future!
I LOVE your channel. You are to the point, relatable and you get to the point. Thank you!!!
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏
i searched for a video comparing a high end soundbar but didnt find one thank you for making this video!
Awesome, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review. You sold me on picking up another Homepod vs. just it by itself.
Stereo pair is great!
Dude, you are like the only reviewer who has made a comparison on speed of response. Of course sound on both is good, but the speed on H1 is at times glacial. Gets lost sometimes, plays one thing when it clearly acknowledges I asked it to play another.
Thanks dude.
Thanks for watching, and appreciate that!
Hi, please can you have 4 homepod2 speakers and test it for possibly a multi channel 4.0 audio, similar to Sony HTA9???
Great review. One part of the Sonos ecosystem you didn’t discuss (and what keeps me using their stuff) is that you can buy Sonos products to connect to your existing audio equipment, such as outdoor speakers or a turntable. They are also cross platform and offered seamless multi-room playback decades before Apple did. They also have a broad range of speakers that appeal to many budgets… which makes me wonder how the Sonos one compares to the HomePod mini or big HomePod to Sonos five… 🤔
Great point, and for many the Sonos amp is the *best* solution for things like turntables, etc. I don't have a Sonos 5 personally but would love to compare to the new HomePods.
I have a Sonos Arc complete set up (with rear SLs and the sub), and it is incredible. But what can't be understated is how amazing their seamless pairing between rooms is. I have a Turntable connected to a Sonos 5 and Sub Mini in another room, and having my turntable instantly play to my Arc setup in another room is so good. Or having the audio from my TV playing on any other Sonos speaker in the house so I can still listen to a show while I'm walking around my house is pretty great. Basically I feel like I'm getting a comparable or better experience to what one of my relatives has at their home with an overpriced high maintenance Control4 system.
Thank you for getting two matching Homepods! It drives me nuts to look at a tv surrounded by unmatched Homepods in other reviews 😆
Great video thanks! I'm coming from an old Samsung HT-E6750W surround sound (not using the rear speakers tho). Do you think HomePods around loud enough in a bigger space, say 5m viewing distance?
Thanks! Depends on how big the actual room is, but I've found their volume sufficient for many different sizes. If you're considering Sonos for home theater, here's my video breaking down all their options too: ruclips.net/video/CrkbLsKRiDY/видео.html
Thanks man, I was looking at the Arc but knowing I can go with two HomePods instead of the Arc really helped me out. Appreciated!!
Haven’t even watched the video but I’m happy someone finally compared the homepod to an avr setup!
Thanks. Im desperately looking for a video comparison for HomePod 2.0 v the Beam. U saved me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ subbedddd
Awesome! Thank you!
Great video!
Which version of Apple TV is required to run a pair of HomePod 2’s?
Any Apple TV 4K can do it!
Thanks for a great video. As someone with the new HomePod and a Gen 1, can you tell us if you can put a Gen1 and Gen 2 into a Stereo pair? Used to have 2 Gen1s, but one recently died so would like to be able to create a pair again.
Unfortunately you can't. Can only Pair Gen 2 with Gen 2 or Gen 1 or Gen 1
Hello Stephan ! I have a question I hope you can answer soon! I was wondering to get an homepod 2 and homepod 1(for bass) for tv and music listening. Would you recommend a pair of homepods 2's or homepod 2 with a homepod 1 ?
I don't have any speakers besides my pebbles that I dont even use and I really want a good experience with watching TV and listening to Music, I got an newer Iphone too.
Cheers Sune
Hi Sune! Unfortunately you can’t pair a gen 1 and gen 2 HomePod together, they both have to be the same generation. Considering the speed improvements of the HomePod 2, and they still have good bass, I’d go with the newer versions.
Thanks! I'm not quite sure, can I have the Dolby Atmos surround effect in only 2 Homepod-2 speakers? Doesn't the effect need rear and back speakers? Are they creating only a virtual surround effect?
Apple claims two HomePod 2s can do “Dolby Atmos” virtually. Sonos Arc and Beam claim the same thing with no rear speakers. For a theater experience the Sonos sound bars do a better job faking it.
Great review! I have OG HomePods in bedroom and the full a7000 Sony soundbar w sun and surrounds. I swear HomePods sound better sometimes its impressive
Finally someone that tested them properly and has sound advice. A pair of HomePods are a great value!
Thanks Rod!
Really nice review! Is it possible to use an homepod mini as rear speaker in an audio setup with a pair of HomePod?
Unfortunately not
Trying paring the two HomePod 2 with two minis via appletv share
Loved this video. So informative
Thanks man, means a lot!
Great video! If you have a room that is mostly used for video games and movies/tv, and not so much for music, what would be your recommendation? (Arc and Sub3 don't fit the budget.)
Beam and sub mini if you can swing that. HDMI connection will be better for video game latency too
Stephen Robles - Currently have a Beam Gen 1 and looking to upgrade. Started considering the HomePod 2 pair for something that just blends in with decor. Thanks for sharing the perspective.
What TV mount are you using for the Sonos Beam? We are moving our Sonos Beam to the workout room.
The Sanus mount! You can get it at Best Buy or from Sonos: www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sanus-tv-mount-beam
Hands down the best video when needing to know or thinking about if you should buy 1 or 2 HomePods. This video should have been #1 in the RUclips search.
Wow, appreciate that!
Great , genuine, simple and educational review !!!
I appreciate that!
Came here because this video was mentioned in today’s ATP! Guess the t-shirt worked. 🤣😉 Great video! Subscribed!
Appreciate they mentioned it, and thanks for subscribing!
Very good review. Thank you
Very interesting review. I have a Beam Gen 1 (no sub). I found the 2x HomePods lacking in fullness, almost a little tinny / laptop speaker-like and certainly less loud. Did you not find that?
Also, if you stream from an app on Apple TV that only supports PCM Stereo, the HomePods take this tinnyness to another level, and you can almost speak over their max volume. Switch to the beam and it sounded so much more “full”. Super intrigued to hear your thoughts on this!
Thanks for the review 👍
The Beam sounds great, for sure, but I think HomePods offer a better bass sound. The new HomePods do have a different higher end sound than the OG…may be worth a follow up
I'm currently running two original HomePods and two Minis for home theater through Apple TV 4K. However, I've got the big Pods about four feet from the sides of the TV as left and right channels, one Mini mounted centrally above the TV and one Mini as a rear channel. The HomePods are paired for stereo and the Minis are individual. I raise the Mini volume above the TV to emphasize the center channel effect while the rear one is lower to provide some spatial impression. Add the Dolby Atmos mix from the HomePods and I've got this quasi-surround sound thing that works reasonably well. Of course, I should just go full 7.1 home theater, but I'm so fully immersed in the Apple universe, I can't escape! 😉
Thanks for the great video. Can you share links for the TV mounts you use for your Sonos Soundbars? I'm mostly interested in the Arc one. I doing a lot of shopping on Amazon trying to find one that lets the TV stay really close to the wall, puts the soundbar close enough to the TV vertically that it looks clean, and puts it far enough out from under the TV so the upwards-facing speakers don't get obstructed by the TV itself.
Here’s the one I used for the Arc! www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sanus-tv-mount-arc
@@beardfm thanks! Would love to see a more in-depth video about that mount. My biggest concern is whether it pushes the TV too far out away from the wall when you add this mount to the back.
This is the review I’ve been looking for. I did want the comparisons to the Sonos products mentioned and I only care about a pair of speakers. And a great presentation.
Thank you!
Just Great review. I was wondering if it was worthly to change my sonos one’s to homepod….. dilema answered.!
Great review!
Good review. I do like the Sonos more since I get better expandability and options for voice assistants and music. I’m not a fan of Siri and use more than just Apple Music. To your point though - you would be surprised how good a stereo pair can sound with the sound separation. I tried out my ones in stereo pair beside my tv and airplayed the audio to it from Star Wars on my ATV and it did sound really good. So I bet the HomePods do sound better. I ended up getting a Arc and I’m impressed with the wide sound stage it has. It’s really easy to move my ones into the living room during the holidays to add rear surround sound too. I wonder if the HomePods will be as versatile.
Great review, very in-depth. Just wondering if you need to say that you'll need an Apple TV to go with the HomePods as there's no other connection method for movies unless I missing something. No HDMI input from your TV
You’re right and definitely should have mentioned.
hi, great review. I have an apple TV 4K and bose soundbar 900. How is the bose soundbar in comparison to Sonos and new homepods setup. Is it worth getting the Bose surround 700 speaker to pair with my current soundbar?? I mostly use the setup for movies.
Thanks! Unfortunately I have no experience with the Bose sound bars. If there’s a Bose sub option I’d consider that before surrounds
Great video Stephen!
Thanks Shane!
Great review sir. Nice work.
Glad it was helpful!
This was the most fantastic and complete review I’ve seen! thank you! I’m curious if you’ve also tried Sony HT-A9 by comparison. I have an Apple Ecosystem and a dedicated movie room, but have yet to do any in wall/ceiling wiring work. I am def at the crossroads of investing in that work vs. doing a wireless setup. I think we all though get trapped by wishing a product would do X vs. what it actually can. Love to hear more of your thoughts and tests! Cheers
Appreciate that! I haven't tried the HT-A9, really just Sonos, HomePods, and the full 7.1 setup in my house. Thanks again for watching though 🙏
One thing to add as someone who owns all of these products is that the Sonos Arc and Sub combo can get earth-shatteringly loud compared to the HomePods. I’ve been really impressed with my HomePods but I have an open concept living room and wish they got louder. Max volume on them is like 65% on the Sonos Arc.
💯
Do you agree with what he says that the pair of Homepods sounds better than Arc alone? I live in an apartment and have already had issues with my neighbour downstair over noise complaints. I don’t think I can add a sub, lol, so I’m debating between a pair of homepods and the arc alone.
@@jonathanjuha2329 same here
@@jonathanjuha2329 yea subs are not apartmentfriendly
I’m not sure I’d ever want to listen to earth-shatteringly loud audio, so not sure what the benefit of the capability is other than to say it can be done.
12:40 great video, and great information to consider. For your home theater I was wondering what type of lighting system do you have for the back of the TV that looks awesome.
Philips Hue Gradient Light Strip + Hue Sync Box!
Great review! Most reviews only focus on Homepod's being 'too expensive smart speaker". Thanks!
Using a Sonos Playbar, Sub and 2x Play 1's as surround speakers. Great for movies , music not so much. Had some connectivity issue's with them at worst possible timing, more than once. Bass is too heavy for music listening.
At the point of selling them and getting 2 Homepod 2's. Any advise?
I mean, if you want the *best* experience for music and movies, and can swing the cost, the Arc + Sub Gen 3 is a great options. Then you can keep using the Play 1’s for surround. Sonos is also launching new smart speakers (Verge just covered today), so that may change their options for home theater. For sub-$600 thought, I think a pair of HomePod 2 is a solid choice, especially if you live in the Apple ecosystem and plan to use for music as much as movies.
ditched Spotify, sold 2 sonos ones and 1 beam, got 2 Hompods 2. Already have AppleTV4k and apple Music. now i´m happy. Siri gets the song I ask for every time, Alexa not always (sonos)
Love my HomePods for sure!
When you say "a larger room" just how big are you talking about? My home theater/gameroom is 16'x42'. Do they pump out enough sound for a room that size? Or, do I need to go with a Sonos 7.1 type system.
That’s a big room. I have my Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 in a room similar to that, but I don’t think a pair of HomePods would do it. Arc + Sub is probably a better option for you there
I came across this video on MacStories, excellent review. I liked the way you presented the content.
Appreciate that!
Stephen, thanks for the excellent review. Do you know if I can put two stereo-linked pairs of HomePods in the same room (four total speakers). I just want to listen to music, but want to fill the space with sound.
Hi Steven! You’re welcome. And you can have two “pairs” in the same room, and then using AirPlay, send the same audio to all four speakers, but you can’t group four together to appear as one set.
@@beardfmthanks so much for your help; I’ll give it a try! I’ll continue to watch your channel as I set up my smart home.
Great review. But did you factor in the cost of Apple TV 4K for Home Theatre mode?
Very true, that’s an additional $99 at least
Great review and comparison. Definitely gonna buy those 2 homepods 🔥
Thanks!
Hi, if i decide to buy pair of HomePod’s I will be able to use them with ps5? Or do they only work with apple tv?
You need an Apple TV, but if you get one you can use eARC to pipe music from PS5 to TV to Apple TV to HomePods (easier to setup than it sounds).
I have already invested in Sonos throughout my house, Beam with 2 Ones as surrounds and sub bass for my tv / movie set up and I love it. But in my kitchen and to place elsewhere I have a pair of Moves for my music listening, how do a pair of HomePods compare to a pair of Moves?
HomePod 2 is better than a Move, and a pair will blow the Move away! I have a move and really like it, but more for outdoor and wireless scenarios
11:54 Wait, doesn't eARC allow this functionality (outputting audio from any/all connected devices) with any audio device?
Yes, but to send audio from other sources to HomePod, it requires the Apple TV to be connected to that port.
Great review! I am searching for a Home Theater setup for an apartment with a small living room and planning on not using high volume most of the times.
I do have a full Apple HomeKit setup/ecosystem. Would you recommend a pair of HomePods or a set of Sonos Beam Gen 2 + 2x Sonos One SL? I just cannot think of any other use case for the AppleTV 4K since my LG C2 already has apps for most of the streaming services. I am also a bit worried for the latency when wirelessly connecting HomePods and playing PS5 in comparison to directly connecting the HDMI eARC to Sonos.
Sonos setup would cost me 700 euros since it’s now on offer. On the other hand a pair of Homepods + AppleTV 4K would cost around 800.
Thanks 🙏
Thanks! Considering you plan to use your PS5 in this setup, I've latency can be an issue with HomePods. I'd recommend the Sonos Beam, and Era 100s for the rear! Personally, I would choose a sub mini over the rear speakers, but if your environment doesn't allow for higher volumes (and bass may annoy others) go with the rears.
@@beardfm Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention that I will anyway need to purchase an Apple Home hub since I currently don’t have one. So maybe in this case I could get away with just the Homepod mini? Being an Apple fanboy I kinda wanted the Homepod to be better than Sonos 😆
Just found your channel. Great video! Just what I was looking for. Currently running a Onkyo receiver with in a 3.1 setup with the Sony speakers you can get at Best Buy. It sounds good, but I’ve had this for a long time and want to streamline everything with my tv. Hope I can find a pair locally and not wait till march for them to be shipped from apple.
A new HomePod pair will definitely be an upgrade in your setup! Hope you find some!
I live in a townhouse that has a 20x10 living room with 20 foot ceiling. It’s my first owned house, so I’m fine doing any wiring that needs to be installed. But I’m really struggling between the HomePod 2’s or a full surround system from Sonos. Just can’t decide how the ceiling height will affect the sound.
I have 12' ceilings in a room with Sonos Arc and the Sub Gen3 and it sounds great. For your size room, the HomePods may not have the power needed to make a great theater affect. Sonos may be a better option.
Excellent commentary and analyses. Thanks!
Much appreciated!
Great review as always
I appreciate that!
How do you know homepods output Dolby Atmos when watching movies? I have one of the newer LG Oleds and the Atmos logo ques on when using internal speakers but never with the HomePods so yeah how do you know:)
First the HomePod can only do Dolby Atmos with an Apple TV connected. But once done, you can open the audio track menu when watching something and see the Atmos logo. I show it in this video: ruclips.net/video/QOOAfRvgvoY/видео.html
How’s the dialogue on the pair HomePod 2s? I would watch Dolby atmos with 1st gen and would always have everything loud which would be good but the dialogue was really low cuz the simulated center channel
Dialogue is definitely better on HomePod. Higher end clarity makes a difference for movie watching.
Good review! I think the verdict is to stick with my OG pair with its seven tweeters vs replacing them with the HomePod 2
Wow this was thorough. I appreciate your insight and in-depth comparison!!!
Thank you!
@@beardfm I have a Sonos Arc without the sub and I’m not planning on getting an $800 sub. You spoke about the Sonos Arc with the sub compared to the set of HomePods. How would the set of HomePods compare to the Arc without the sub? Did you give that a go?
I had issues with my HomePod minis losing connection, seeming to unpair, and other general weirdness. Then I moved one of them away from a wall where there was a metal filing cabinet on the other side. All issues gone. So if you're experiencing connectivity issues, try changing speaker locations. Could be someinhting in, or behind, the wall, causing problems.
Good point. My HomePods have been fine and Sonos sun is against drywall, but may move away a little
I forgot you had a true Atmos setup, Andrew is always talking about wireless options on th e HK podcast. But when it comes down to it nothing beats a wire 5.1.2+ setup. Great review.
True Atmos has been a longtime dream, love mine. Thanks for watching!
been using homepod 1 since launch and the biggest problem with it is that you have to put it at a very specific place in your room to get the best sound out of it if its too close you will hear the punchy bass but not the deep bass! I hate and also love the fact the its tweeters are placed in 360. To get the best sound out of it you have place it a little far from you, on a hard surface(wooden prefered) with no other object placed atleast 2 Metre from it and at atleast your waist level !
that is how all speakers are. there is the Triangle rule, bass trap rule, and so on. the first one is that all 3 (the 2 speakers and you) are equal distance from each other in a triangle.
so for example if the speakers are 5 feet from each other than the sweet spot would be 5 feet away from the speaker in the middle.
Great review! exactly what I was looking for. As far as the Siri responses between OG HP vs HP2 - my OG HomePod responded faster than your HP2, so something is definitely up with your network. OG HomePod is not that slow for sure!!!
Really useful- thank you!
You're welcome!
What about volume level? The HomePods don’t seem to get very loud with atmos content unless I put at max volume, and even then it’s not as loud as other speakers I’ve heard. Is the arc louder than HomePods?
Fair point. Arc can get louder, but really needs a dedicated sub to have clarity. Arc will get muddy by itself.
Awesome review! To clarify though, while Sonos does work with Spotify and most streaming services, Sonos Voice is currently limited and doesn’t work with Spotify. It’s pretty cool and worth trying though, extremely responsive and music focused
Ah thanks for clarifying. Appreciate it!
Great video, and one that i've been hunting for since HP2 was announced... Here's a question for you... I have an ARC and ATV4K already, love them, but would you suggest building out that system (given the costs of Sonos) or selling the ARC that would more than cover the cost of 2x HP2's. I've got two young kids who dont have my same love & respect of tech, so a sub sat on the floor whilst lovely, would likely become something they stand on / ruin in the ways that kids do. Mainly use is tv / movie watching, so do i stick with the sounder on it's own, or swap out for HP2's?! also massively into HomeKit, so more siri makes sense. Huge thanks in advnace if you find the time to respond :-)
Hey Cavell, thanks so much. That’s a really tough question. My Sonos sub experience the same disrespect as yours might! Objects placed on top and around it, toys, etc. BUT, if your main use is movie and TV viewing, and behind a HomeKit enthusiast you probably already have other Siri controllers, I would actually suggest getting the Sonos Sub Gen3. It’s on sale right now for the big game this weekend, and the Arc + Sub for movies significantly beats out the HomePod pair. Hope that helps!
@@beardfm I thank you sir, my babie's mother wont when the boom of a sub kicks in, but hey...! Thanks again!!
How is HomePod audio delay when watching a movie on the Apple TV?
No delay for me. Better than my Samsung soundbar via arc!
How does a set of homepods perform atmos without earc hdmi input? Is it going to be lossy? how much lossy when compared to wired earc hdmi connection?
If you're talking about a Atmos HDMI source, you use the Homepods with the 4K Apple TV. Plug the Apple TV into the eARC/ARC port on your TV. There's also Atmos music on Apple Music.
Dude, great job on the review. I hate to say it but this was the review I think most people were looking for. The big channels MKBHD's and others only focused on Siri and not Stereo Pair which I believe apple is pushing for. Well done.
Wow, appreciate that 🙏
Good video. It’s hard to compare speakers as they use different technologies. For music normal stereo speakers a subwoofer ( 2.1 setup) and a good amp are best yesterday,today and tomorrow.For movies the Dolby atmos system is the best today.
My OG HomePod is responding as fast as the new HomePod in your video. Maybe the issue is more in the network and not in the HomePod itself?
Cost was a big factor and I couldn’t justify over $1,000 for sound. So I went with two HomePod Gen 2’s. Overall I think they sound great for my use case and replaced my old LG soundbar.
I factor in to these just came out and will receive years of new updates.
I still love my pair of HomePod 2s, incredible value!