100% I wish he had a second channel dedicated to just audiophile content as I think his review style is perfect for this - and I would love to see him review some insanely insane setups!
From the moment the HomePod 2 had its *SURPRISE* announcement, I was waiting for this review. No one else has been able to definitely say if the loss of the two tweeters and microphones has had real impact to the speaker. The 1st gens as a pair have been incredible for years now though in our home at least
Sincere appreciation for this detailed report! I spent 20 years as a professional musician and had stellar audio engineers. Therefore, my tastes and interests are keen. Having 4 OGs and two miniHPs, I've been especially pleased with them. Your review is a strong case for upgrading to the 2nd gen!
Finally an honest, detailed, and useful HomePod 2 review that covers important and relevant points that actually matter. You’ve earned my subscription sir!
Your content is brutal, love your essence and your honesty, as well as the ironic / funny / joking parts, LOVE your content. Glad I discovered your channel!
I currently have three HomePod Mini's through my home. I never owned the original HomePod. If I were in a small house or an apartment, I can easily see getting two HomePods for a home theater setup especially if you use an Apple TV as your hub.
Thanks Quinn for a really awesome and honest review. As an Apple fan who is completely bought into the ecosystem, but never owned the OG HomePod or HomePod Mini felt it was time to enter that realm of Apple. I used to watch TV (using an Apple TV 4K) just with the built in speakers. A stereo pair HomePod 2nd Gens has been phenomenal and a huge upgrade. I have owned a Sonos One for the last 4 years or so and thought about getting a Five, so thank you for that comparison. Very interesting!!
Watching Atmos content in a stereo pair is amazing! I love them, incredibly immersive and such a wide soundscape. Maybe it’s just the size of our living room but I think they are phenomenal. Solid purchase for me. Friends that come over are always amazed at how good they sound too
I’m not an audiophile, but I like to appreciate classical music and have attended several philharmonic orchestras. I used a surround sound Sonos setup and two HomePods to playback Dolby Atmos classical music. Turns out I was blown away with the HomePod. You could distinguish between each instrument, and the directional audio was as good as a surround setup. Soundbars on the other end sounded like a boombox. It didn’t allow me to appreciate the finer details between each instrument like the violin, viola and cello
Dual HomePods with Apple TV is the killer feature that makes me use HomePods. The sound is good enough for my ear, but the convenience and ease of use is incomparable to anything else.
I bought two of the Homepod 2s and connected them to my Apple TV as a stereo pair. I love them. They sound amazing. I am also in the boat that enjoys the new sound over the original Homepod. I think bass is great but I listen to a lot of songs that emphasize the highs as well, not to say that the bass is lacking because it definitely isn't lol. So these speakers are perfect for me. It is also easier to listen to movies.
@@sharuuukh yeah it’s been great only problem I’ve experienced so far is one speaker will slightly disconnect and become quieter than the other. I think it happens when connecting or disconnecting to the tv or phone. To fix it I just do a restart of the HomePods.
12:54 and hayley williams 😩 definitely didn't expect to hear that, but super happy i did, this is why has got to be some of the best music ever released here's to hoping at least one person reads this and gives the album a listen
@@marcel151 yeah, the album: This is Why by Paramore this video came out like a week after the album's release, so it was pretty hype seeing it mentioned
Loved your review. I’ve watched hundreds of Homepod reviews and this is one of my favorites. The fact that you’re an audiophile and know what you’re talking about helps a lot.
Great content as always Quinn, I always look forward to hearing your perspective on all things audio. I have one of each homepod (2018, mini, & new). I’m glad you mentioned the “younger ears” who seem to hear the high mids/treble a little differently…the very first thing I noticed on the first song I played was that, when turned up, some voices seemed to almost lose the “warmth” that the OG seemingly could produce better. In fact, in some situations the new homepod almost sounded a little too harsh on the higher frequencies and I felt the need to turn it down a tad. There’s no denying that it’s a much better package, but i’m beginning to think that I may be in that small minority of people who prefer the 2018’s overall sound signature. I just cross my fingers with every update in hopes my 2018 doesn’t become a $350 paperweight
OG HPod owner here. Stereo paired to my AppleTV for movies and music. Love them. I recently moved from the USA to AUS, and due to their small size, I could easily fit them in one of my suitcases for the “big move”. It’s their overall value (sound great, are “sound smart”, and small in size) that I love. I never needed or wanted a smart speaker to ask questions to, or a super expensive audio setup. And the spatial audio works quite well, surprisingly. I forgot to mention… I got them for $200 each in 2020 via clearance, 😂🎉😊
Had a stero pair HomePod mini which I thought sounded great then I went and got a stereo pair HomePod gen 2 and my goodness😳😳 best invest I made. I have hooked to my Apple TV in my bedroom and it’s a whole theater in my room. I absolutely love them
One of my original HomePods died a few months ago while I was enduring an extended hospital stay. I need a stereo pair for my Apple TV so I bought a pair of refurbished 2nd generation HomePods. I'm very impressed with the audio quality: after all I bought them primarily to use as speakers. In another bedroom I have a stereo pair of HomePod Minis, they're OK but not a patch speaker-wise on the bigger ones. I'm using my guest bedroom at present, renovations being necessary for the maim bedroom, so the sole remaining OG HomePod works there as a solo device.
Interesting review! I have half a dozen original HomePods and bought a pair of the HomePod 2's to compare against. I set up two stereo pairs next to each other in the main room where I listen to music, and spent a few hours of A/B comparing them, and I also came to same conclusion where I found the new ones to be more pleasing, clean and balanced with every musical genre I listen to. They're keepers.
This was a good review. I am a homepod lover since day one, but the homepod has continually been improved. I also notice constant issues with mine not sending a request etc, and if the new improves upon it that seems like a win.
I’ve owned the OG since day one. Bought a pair to use in my office and I’ve been enjoying them since the beginning. I just received the new HP2 today and I’m ready to pair and see how they do in the living room. I’m ready to hear the differences
I’m happy that someone else is having the same issues I’m having with my old HomePods. I thought it was just me. They sound amazing, but they are so awful at performing tasks, you’re so right about consistency. If it was consistently slow, cool. Consistently fast, ideal. But it’s just slow, fast, fails, succeeds, it makes me so angry 😩.
I have 2 OG HomePods. Have enjoyed many years of audio through them. I will be getting 2 new HomePods for the improved processor, thread support, and the more balanced audio reproduction.
I’ve been using two gen. 1 HomePods, stereo paired, as speakers for my Apple TV 4K on a Samsung TV for more than 3 years. They still produce great sound. Now that I’ve jinxed them they’ll probably self-destruct tonight.
I got the HomePod 2. I’m enjoying the sound and it’s room filling. Very rich audio. I’m in the Apple ecosystem and happy. All my HomeKit devices work with Siri commands.
I've said it before but your hand motions and mannerisms are sooo close to Chris Farley's that every time I watch one of your videos, with Farley the furthest thing from my mind, your hand gestures just snap the thought right into my head (specifically in this video it happened a little shy of the 10 minute mark). To be clear, this is not a negative -- who doesn't want a Chris Farley thought to brighten his or her afternoon :) Thanks for another great video, Quinn. It's always refreshing to hear your take on Apple products. It's always unique, and I appreciate and value your perspective. Have a great day man.
Do I own an OG HomePod stereo pair? Yes, since day one of availability. Do I still listen to them and do they form an AirPlay 2 "home theater type setup" with an Apple TV 4K? Yes. Have I experienced true audiophile reproduced music over an extended period of time with other speakers in my past? Yes, back in my younger days I had the disposable income to indulge myself with a pair of Dalhquist DQ-10 speakers and all the associated "state of the art" electronics to power them. So yes, I know what audiophile caliber reproduced music sounds like. With that preamble out of the way, I will comment on your comments. Grin. Good review and I am glad to see your views have changed as to the usefulness of these speakers over time (and their sound quality over time as well) and the reasons why person should buy them rather then other Bluetooth or AirPlay 2 speakers. You didn't comment on the question that other reviewers have - and that is - why did Apple reintroduced this HomePod 2 version - IF - the original HomePod speakers, according to these pundits, failed in the marketplace. I suspect that their assumptions that the OG HomePod speakers were discontinued were NOT because they failed financially in the market place but for other reasons. One big clue to support that theory is that used OG HomePod speakers were being sold years later (for example on eBay) for at least a hundred dollars over their new OEM retail price. That should tell persons that the sound quality of the OG speakers were very acceptable and worth the asking price back in 2018. I am glad to know that you have rated the new HomePod 2 sound field as an improvement over the OG HomePods. I would agree with your OG speaker assessments but I still think you are being too harsh about the originals since I due enjoy sound tracks utilizing spatial audio processing on the OG speakers via streamed Apple Music music selections. I am glad you mentioned its 360 degree radial sound field difference as apposed to the traditional "front facing" speaker drivers in a box designs. One advantage of a radial or omnidirectional design is that if the HomePods are arranged in an optimum arrangement away from a wall behind those speakers, the sound can take advantage of the "Bose Effect" where reflected sound waves can produce a more spacious sound field. (I am sure the HomePod electronics take that affect into account since my HomePod stereo pair has always been a pleasure to listen to. Now, if for whatever reason, my OG HomePods fail, I can purchase new HomePod 2 speakers to augment and compliment my Apple ecosystem in the future. I really wasn't into the HomePod Mini experience. For those that can appreciate good sound reproduction, can easily understand my reasons for staying away from the HomePod mini speaker experience.
We have an original HomePod, and I've always felt the sound quality was just 'ok'. Mids and highs are heavily compromised, and it always sounded a little boomy. There's no way to alter it, either. It's nice to hear that they've addressed that somewhat. Also, Siri has just been a pain in the rear on the HomePod, and I really wish Apple would work on it. It seems like they haven't worked on improving it at all, even though they say they do. I've also always wished I could play music from the Apple TV with the TV off through my home theater speakers, as they sound far superior to any smart speaker.
Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive review! HomePod is surely a marvel of engineering (15:47). To your point, for an extremely portable speaker the HomePod 2 is superb, by itself or paired. I have an OG HomePod, Mini, and two HomePod 2 speakers and I use them all throughout the house. Plus, I tote them to on-site events I manage that require music - an easy way to have high quality audio wherever I need it. I am extremely impressed by how HomePod 2 is able to sound so amazing with less hardware - talk about engineering improvements! Thanks again for your thorough review.
i really respect your perspective because you are critical but fair! you don’t blow smoke up apple and you don’t criticize them for the sake of destroying them. good stuff man!
Wow, this was an impeccable review. It’s the one that honestly made me wanna pull the trigger. Quinn is very convincing. He knows what he’s talking about. Great job!
As always, best review out there 👍🏻 Still a proud owner of the OG HomePod- got a refurb about a year after I bought it as it died, but this one has lasted. And still sounds fantastic. Definitely appreciated the OG and 2 speed comparisons 👍🏻
Good video. So many reviewers always push for more functions, inputs et c. And they forget that the beauty of many of Apples products is that they are easy to use. More functions brings more complexity which makes anything harder to use. The iPad is a good example. It used to be super easy to use. My mum and many others loved it to bits. Something they could use with confidence and joy. In come the geeks and power users who year after year push for more and more and more functions. Voila! You have iOS of today which is just a mess to use. Love the HomePod for its simplicity.
Finally someone who knows how to explain that the homepod v2 sounds better than the old one. i was getting tired of the noobtubers saying it sounds worse than the OG. it sounds amazing for the almost toilet roll size thing it is! Thanks for the good review
I own a pair of the original HomePods and use it all the time with my ATV 4K. They are so easy to use and are pretty seamless. What amazes me is you mentioned MANY of the issues I face on them. Handoff is very finicky, brass sounds muddy, and voices are not very clear. But on top of that, sometimes they aren’t responding for whatever reason and one of them may have a logic board failure soon (it had a flashing white light that I haven’t seen before). That being said, I was thrilled to see Apple came out with the next generation, but for now, I don’t think I can see myself spending that much money again.
Awesome review Quinn! One thing I was hoping to hear briefly touched upon is max volume as I normally never listen to a speak at or near its max volume, but found myself doing so occasionally when rocking out with the OG HomePod. Is the new one any different in this regard?
i asked chatGPT who is the better in the tech in youtube and he said (For me, I believe that Snazzy Labs channel is the most comprehensive in the field of technology on RUclips. It covers many different technical topics, including hardware, software, applications, games, and more. The videos also have high quality and simple and understandable explanations of various technical topics.) i didn't know you before chatGPT
Right now I have two HomePod Minis in my bedroom and used to use them as a stereo pair for movies and gaming and it was actually pretty good for my small room. The only issue I had was that they natural hogged the WiFi bandwidth of my house and my family kept complaining about that and that I’ve set so many alarms that none of them can even turn one on. Heck I can’t even delete any one of them on the Home app. Now I only used one of them, and while I do care about audio quality, the cost is too much for me at this moment even if they’re not over priced
I really liked this review. I bought a HomePod for my parents on Christmas a year or so after it came out and since I was living with them I got to enjoy it too. When I moved out however the HomePod was discontinued- I was waiting for something similar to come out from apple again and I bought it day one
Got 2 ordered in midnight arriving in early March (I live in Scotland) to pair with my apple TV 4k and LG C1 65inch. Thes will replace my 7+ year old samsung soundbar and subwoofer. Very excited for these. Last piece of the puzzle for my livingroom TV set up. Sonos arc was just out of my budget so this seemed like a good option as music listening and TV watching are equally important to me, these seemed like a good all-rounder option. Being all iphone users in the house makes the decision a bit easier too. Great review Quinn.
I just got a HP2 yesterday and I placed it in the center of the living room while having a stereo pair of minis (one on each side of the room. It really sounds amazing, and is not as expensive as two HP2!
Great video. I trust your judgement more than anyone else when it comes to sound quality. I'll still be sticking to my Sonos (whole home) setup personally.
I have 2 OG HomePods for my livingroom surround sound setup . I purchased my first, and after a few years it started popping. After contacting Apple I got a free replacement. I decided to purchase another off EBay shortly after. I love the sound quality I get from 2. I also have 3 minis.
Love love love the graphs! Have 3 Gen 1 speakers for music. Stereo pair in living room where me and kids love to use them for enjoyment or dance parties and one in kitchen. I have Arc as well but wish I could use HomePods without AppleTV. After your review, I'll stick with Arc.
I bought the HomePod OG as an Xmas gift for my parents, as my mom has an Apple Music subscription. My dad is more likely to use it, as he can shout whatever he wants to hear while cooking or cleaning. They really like it, more so my dad than mom as she uses her AirPods over the speaker. For the right person(s) it’s the right product but will remain niche, too limited and/or to really break out. It’s interesting to see apple relaunch it without fundamentally reimagining it at all as I don’t see it being massively more successful… especially when hingeing it’s fate on Siri.
I have two of the first gen and three minis. The minis sound pretty good and are great for smaller rooms, but I still love the sound of the first gens. They actually sound like they've improved over the years with the updates. Not sure I can find a compelling reason to get the second gen. Thank you for the review!
Thanks so much for this. I was on the fence as to whether to buy new or find the first one used, and this answers that question: The Siri performance alone is reason to get the new one.
Thank you for one more honest review. Glad to hear the downsides and not only the praises of "how good it sounds for its small size" as most other reviews do.
Use my old HomePods as Apple TV speakers. Even imported one from the UK because they weren’t available at the time here. Had some problems in the past with dropping out sound but that has been resolved. I have a mini in the kitchen, but I rarely ever use it. It’s useful for Homekit though.
In my experience Siri still handles natural language parsing better than any of the other assistants, especially when it comes to home control and personal information management. Siri is the only assistant who can parse things like “turn on the lights in the lounge, kitchen, and hallway” and do what it’s asked, with no weird backchat.
I have a pair of home pod minis configured as a stereo pair that I use with my Apple TV and happy with the sound quality. I especially like the audio handoff feature. I also initially had problems with temperature and humidity sensor calibration seeming to take for ever. Part of the problem was the software upgrade process for a stereo pair via Apple's Home app seems a little hit and miss with initially only one speaker in the pair receiving the update, but once that was resolved and I reset the home pod mini's the calibration was very quick. I never bought a Home Pod 1 having watched your review, but I ordered a Home Pod 2 a few days ago, but must wait just over a month for delivery! I intend to use the Home Pod 2 primarily for audio playback.
Quinn, I love your music taste man. Some Washed Out, Some PPC?! AND I've seen in another video you have Holy Fire by Foals on vinyl. (My favorite band.) Keep it up brother, great work!
One thing I’d add is that they are aesthetically pleasing and more likely to pass the wife test in the living room. Definitely on my wish list for the back half of ‘23; I’m hoping for a package discount on a pair.
I know you are an audiophile Quinn (my condolences and sympathies). As a fellow troubled person who cares about audio quality I am struggling to justify these with my current setup (mainly for the reasons outlined at 15:26 ). Like these would definitely be a secondary pair or even a tertiary pair to my regular speakers. I wish they had a wired input for various sources but something tells me that would’t work properly to reap the benefits of these speakers based on how they are designed and/or a deliberate design decision and it will never happen. EDITY: oh and great review Quinn! Was looking forward to yours on these and you didn’t dissapoint.
I got Q Acoustics M20 HD speakers two weeks ago and I'm very happy with them. The room they are in is a bit too big for them, and because I'm still in mid move there are no paintings or other sound dampening objects on the wall. I was curious about smart features when choosing the speakers. I wanted bluetooth connectivity for times when I'm using my cell phone on top of the traditional wired connections. Bluetooth as a feature also seemed to be the main commonality between speakers with smart features (figures, I suppose) but I just couldn't convince myself that the slight added convenience was worth the (usual) slight price increase. The M20 HDs are 400€ and sound about as good as they can sound considering their size and prize. Yes, one could definitely add a subwoofer to the setup to make the lows punch more but mostly I'm happy with how the bass sounds. I know it's just me but like I said, I've never experienced the need for smart features to be so big as to warrant a separate speaker for them. Maybe, if I had a larger home and multiple speakers around the house plus some smart lights it would make more sense to integrate it all in some way. Fantastic review as always Quinn. I especially like your audio products reviews.
It’s not just that audio is subjective, Psychoacoustics is a major issue with anything audio related. You can trick yourself into preferring something. A lot of people aren’t doing level matched comparisons and A/B-ing them quickly enough to get meaningful results, also. As to young people hating brighter sound… the sound lost over age is generally 15K and up. There’s very little information there. Brightness is caused somewhere around 9-10Khz frequency range, well below that area lost over time.
Ah man, Quinn's knocking it out of the park again! Really appreciate the analysis of the sound signature. My OG stereo pair from post-lockdown have been relegated to bedroom duty. Just wish they had an EQ setting to remove some of the boomy bass, rather than all of it when using their current 'low bass' mode. I don't know if you remember 'that' Reddit review when someone compared them to KEF LS50s. Ahh funny times. As you say, they're a great party or set it and forget it speaker, but I'll take some nice passives any day for home theatre and most music. That said, my imagination wonders at what Apple could do with a proper surround setup and bigger homepods.
Great review. Comprehensive and entertaining as always. Also, a few videos back a mentioned how the color grade of your videos was a little too flat. I've noticed a huge change and this looks way more natural. Benjamin is great.
As usual, excellent review! Among all the good comments here, I want to add my highlight: Am I the only one who was amused by Quinn's listing... either 'A' ... and 'two' @10:13 😇
I love the original HomePod. I still use my original purchased at release. I use it as the audio out from my Apple TV primarily, and some music streaming occasionally. I hope to update this one eventually once it dies, and I hope to pick up 2 minis to replace my original as my tv speaker.
Regarding sound quality: this was exactly my verdict as well, I was somewhat perplexed by those claiming it sounds worse (I do wonder if there could be an element of bias due to the lower tweeter count). I do find that, in certain songs and at higher volumes (above 50%), the highs can be very very slightly harsh, but other than that, the bass sounds just as good as the original, but now the highs sound great too, and the mids, particularly deep voices in non-music content, are clearer and no longer muddied by the bass tuning. I much prefer the second generation to my old first generation, and I loved the first to begin with. Edit: I also agree about the separation. And there seems to be a lot more dynamic range between different elements of the audio, quiet sounds are actually quiet (but distinct) now, rather than just getting lost in the rest or being played to loud.
It's great news that more neutral/studio sound signatures are being used, rather than traditional region-based settings. You're right when you say it sometimes sounds harsher, or brighter but it might be due to the signature previously favouring other frequencies and bringing those to the fore. As long as there is no or very minimal sibilance, brightness in a track can bring it to another level, adding to really round off the soundstage, but it might be that a traditional region-based attuned set of ears are more used to.. that region-based signature and when introduced to a more neutral signature it can seem a little daunting to the listener and can be fatiguing. Perhaps it's due to being to what we're used to over many years and when we come across this sort of thing, our 'ear muscles' (??!) are being exercised. Maybe, perhaps. As someone who has invested in Sonos, it's certainly interesting what Apple is doing - I kind of see a missed opportunity whereby these could be so much better for a home theatre setup if there was a separate profile you could change to when paired up with a TV - perhaps if it only fired audio out of the front, rather than trying to bounce audio off the wall behind to replicate surround sound? Sound bars do wonders with this, I do wonder why Apple Homepods struggle? Perhaps we're asking too much from 'just' a smart speaker.
Quinn actually makes audio reviews enjoyable to watch :D
A collaboration with *Crinacle* would be something.
They are even more of a joy to listen to😂
A lot of audiophiles online really sounds like they’re taking down on you for having the audacity to use Bluetooth headphones lol
100% I wish he had a second channel dedicated to just audiophile content as I think his review style is perfect for this - and I would love to see him review some insanely insane setups!
You’d probably love darko audio or Andrew Robinson
Channels like yours make paying for yt premium a way better deal than tv or streaming.
Too kind. Thanks, Leo!
Also SmartTubeNext on Android TV/FartSticks is a good option. Total freedom, no ads ever, with included SponsorBlock!
Fax
Ordered 2 a week ago. Can’t wait for them to get here!!
@@TheTrafficBoss how was it?
From the moment the HomePod 2 had its *SURPRISE* announcement, I was waiting for this review. No one else has been able to definitely say if the loss of the two tweeters and microphones has had real impact to the speaker. The 1st gens as a pair have been incredible for years now though in our home at least
Sincere appreciation for this detailed report! I spent 20 years as a professional musician and had stellar audio engineers. Therefore, my tastes and interests are keen. Having 4 OGs and two miniHPs, I've been especially pleased with them. Your review is a strong case for upgrading to the 2nd gen!
Thanks for the kind words! Very flattering to hear coming from an expert. 😊
Wouldn't you be better off with studio monitors then?
Finally an honest, detailed, and useful HomePod 2 review that covers important and relevant points that actually matter. You’ve earned my subscription sir!
I appreciate that!
Your content is brutal, love your essence and your honesty, as well as the ironic / funny / joking parts, LOVE your content. Glad I discovered your channel!
Thanks so much! I’m glad you found it too 😅
@@snazzy 😂hahahahaa youre welcome!!
I currently have three HomePod Mini's through my home. I never owned the original HomePod. If I were in a small house or an apartment, I can easily see getting two HomePods for a home theater setup especially if you use an Apple TV as your hub.
I've tried a stereo pair and enjoy them since. They are subtle, simple and sound really good. I find your evaluation on point.
Thanks
Thanks Quinn for a really awesome and honest review. As an Apple fan who is completely bought into the ecosystem, but never owned the OG HomePod or HomePod Mini felt it was time to enter that realm of Apple. I used to watch TV (using an Apple TV 4K) just with the built in speakers. A stereo pair HomePod 2nd Gens has been phenomenal and a huge upgrade. I have owned a Sonos One for the last 4 years or so and thought about getting a Five, so thank you for that comparison. Very interesting!!
As ever bang on, refreshingly accurate reviews from someone who understands audio, and Apple better than just about every RUclipsr
Cheers!
Watching Atmos content in a stereo pair is amazing! I love them, incredibly immersive and such a wide soundscape. Maybe it’s just the size of our living room but I think they are phenomenal. Solid purchase for me.
Friends that come over are always amazed at how good they sound too
I’m not an audiophile, but I like to appreciate classical music and have attended several philharmonic orchestras. I used a surround sound Sonos setup and two HomePods to playback Dolby Atmos classical music. Turns out I was blown away with the HomePod. You could distinguish between each instrument, and the directional audio was as good as a surround setup. Soundbars on the other end sounded like a boombox. It didn’t allow me to appreciate the finer details between each instrument like the violin, viola and cello
Between you, MKBHD and Dave2D, I think we have the most objective trio of reviewers who know and say they can be subjective!! 👏🏻
Really? MKBHDs review of this was so lazy and predictable. He didn’t “get” the first one and the second was no different
I get my honest reviews from genius bar
@@hugowells3052yeah MKBHD is pretty bad now tbh
Dual HomePods with Apple TV is the killer feature that makes me use HomePods. The sound is good enough for my ear, but the convenience and ease of use is incomparable to anything else.
I bought two of the Homepod 2s and connected them to my Apple TV as a stereo pair. I love them. They sound amazing. I am also in the boat that enjoys the new sound over the original Homepod. I think bass is great but I listen to a lot of songs that emphasize the highs as well, not to say that the bass is lacking because it definitely isn't lol. So these speakers are perfect for me. It is also easier to listen to movies.
Just set up my 2 HomePods today with my Apple TV. Need to test some movies with it, but I’m glad you’ve liked the experience so far.
@@sharuuukh yeah it’s been great only problem I’ve experienced so far is one speaker will slightly disconnect and become quieter than the other. I think it happens when connecting or disconnecting to the tv or phone. To fix it I just do a restart of the HomePods.
@@117dude thanks for the tip! Restart by unplugging or is there an easier way?
@@sharuuukh you can restart the HomePods in your Home app on your phone. I just keep them paired and restart them together.
I have the OG HomePods as speakers on my TV and I wish there was the option to add HomePod Minis as rear speakers for a true surround sound.
12:54 and hayley williams 😩
definitely didn't expect to hear that, but super happy i did, this is why has got to be some of the best music ever released
here's to hoping at least one person reads this and gives the album a listen
Paramore? Or which album do you mean?
@@marcel151 yeah, the album: This is Why by Paramore
this video came out like a week after the album's release, so it was pretty hype seeing it mentioned
Loved your review. I’ve watched hundreds of Homepod reviews and this is one of my favorites. The fact that you’re an audiophile and know what you’re talking about helps a lot.
Regarding 4:50, the HomePod mini definitely also does this, and it always has as far as I remember. I just tried it.
Yes
This is exactly what I was waiting for before ordering mine. Thanks Quinn!
Glad I could help!
Great content as always Quinn, I always look forward to hearing your perspective on all things audio. I have one of each homepod (2018, mini, & new). I’m glad you mentioned the “younger ears” who seem to hear the high mids/treble a little differently…the very first thing I noticed on the first song I played was that, when turned up, some voices seemed to almost lose the “warmth” that the OG seemingly could produce better. In fact, in some situations the new homepod almost sounded a little too harsh on the higher frequencies and I felt the need to turn it down a tad. There’s no denying that it’s a much better package, but i’m beginning to think that I may be in that small minority of people who prefer the 2018’s overall sound signature. I just cross my fingers with every update in hopes my 2018 doesn’t become a $350 paperweight
Your vids are my #1 source of excitement on the web. Simply great content. Thank you.
Wow, thanks!
OG HPod owner here. Stereo paired to my AppleTV for movies and music. Love them.
I recently moved from the USA to AUS, and due to their small size, I could easily fit them in one of my suitcases for the “big move”. It’s their overall value (sound great, are “sound smart”, and small in size) that I love.
I never needed or wanted a smart speaker to ask questions to, or a super expensive audio setup. And the spatial audio works quite well, surprisingly.
I forgot to mention… I got them for $200 each in 2020 via clearance, 😂🎉😊
Had a stero pair HomePod mini which I thought sounded great then I went and got a stereo pair HomePod gen 2 and my goodness😳😳 best invest I made. I have hooked to my Apple TV in my bedroom and it’s a whole theater in my room. I absolutely love them
One of my original HomePods died a few months ago while I was enduring an extended hospital stay. I need a stereo pair for my Apple TV so I bought a pair of refurbished 2nd generation HomePods. I'm very impressed with the audio quality: after all I bought them primarily to use as speakers. In another bedroom I have a stereo pair of HomePod Minis, they're OK but not a patch speaker-wise on the bigger ones. I'm using my guest bedroom at present, renovations being necessary for the maim bedroom, so the sole remaining OG HomePod works there as a solo device.
Interesting review! I have half a dozen original HomePods and bought a pair of the HomePod 2's to compare against. I set up two stereo pairs next to each other in the main room where I listen to music, and spent a few hours of A/B comparing them, and I also came to same conclusion where I found the new ones to be more pleasing, clean and balanced with every musical genre I listen to. They're keepers.
After I viewed your analysis of the HP2, I went online and purchased two HP2s. Thanks for your dedication.
This was a good review. I am a homepod lover since day one, but the homepod has continually been improved. I also notice constant issues with mine not sending a request etc, and if the new improves upon it that seems like a win.
I’ve owned the OG since day one. Bought a pair to use in my office and I’ve been enjoying them since the beginning. I just received the new HP2 today and I’m ready to pair and see how they do in the living room. I’m ready to hear the differences
could you share your experience with new ones?
I’m happy that someone else is having the same issues I’m having with my old HomePods. I thought it was just me. They sound amazing, but they are so awful at performing tasks, you’re so right about consistency.
If it was consistently slow, cool.
Consistently fast, ideal.
But it’s just slow, fast, fails, succeeds, it makes me so angry 😩.
I like the randomness, makes for a moody Siri, lol
I have long been waiting for your review on HomePod 2, I knew you would do a blind test on them! Informative as alway, Thank you!
I have 2 OG HomePods. Have enjoyed many years of audio through them. I will be getting 2 new HomePods for the improved processor, thread support, and the more balanced audio reproduction.
I’ve been using two gen. 1 HomePods, stereo paired, as speakers for my Apple TV 4K on a Samsung TV for more than 3 years. They still produce great sound. Now that I’ve jinxed them they’ll probably self-destruct tonight.
I got the HomePod 2. I’m enjoying the sound and it’s room filling. Very rich audio. I’m in the Apple ecosystem and happy. All my HomeKit devices work with Siri commands.
I've said it before but your hand motions and mannerisms are sooo close to Chris Farley's that every time I watch one of your videos, with Farley the furthest thing from my mind, your hand gestures just snap the thought right into my head (specifically in this video it happened a little shy of the 10 minute mark). To be clear, this is not a negative -- who doesn't want a Chris Farley thought to brighten his or her afternoon :) Thanks for another great video, Quinn. It's always refreshing to hear your take on Apple products. It's always unique, and I appreciate and value your perspective. Have a great day man.
Hahaha too funny! The first I’ve heard someone suggest this but I can see what you mean! Chris Farley was the bomb. I’m flattered. 😂
Do I own an OG HomePod stereo pair? Yes, since day one of availability. Do I still listen to them and do they form an AirPlay 2 "home theater type setup" with an Apple TV 4K? Yes. Have I experienced true audiophile reproduced music over an extended period of time with other speakers in my past? Yes, back in my younger days I had the disposable income to indulge myself with a pair of Dalhquist DQ-10 speakers and all the associated "state of the art" electronics to power them. So yes, I know what audiophile caliber reproduced music sounds like. With that preamble out of the way, I will comment on your comments. Grin.
Good review and I am glad to see your views have changed as to the usefulness of these speakers over time (and their sound quality over time as well) and the reasons why person should buy them rather then other Bluetooth or AirPlay 2 speakers. You didn't comment on the question that other reviewers have - and that is - why did Apple reintroduced this HomePod 2 version - IF - the original HomePod speakers, according to these pundits, failed in the marketplace. I suspect that their assumptions that the OG HomePod speakers were discontinued were NOT because they failed financially in the market place but for other reasons. One big clue to support that theory is that used OG HomePod speakers were being sold years later (for example on eBay) for at least a hundred dollars over their new OEM retail price. That should tell persons that the sound quality of the OG speakers were very acceptable and worth the asking price back in 2018.
I am glad to know that you have rated the new HomePod 2 sound field as an improvement over the OG HomePods. I would agree with your OG speaker assessments but I still think you are being too harsh about the originals since I due enjoy sound tracks utilizing spatial audio processing on the OG speakers via streamed Apple Music music selections.
I am glad you mentioned its 360 degree radial sound field difference as apposed to the traditional "front facing" speaker drivers in a box designs. One advantage of a radial or omnidirectional design is that if the HomePods are arranged in an optimum arrangement away from a wall behind those speakers, the sound can take advantage of the "Bose Effect" where reflected sound waves can produce a more spacious sound field. (I am sure the HomePod electronics take that affect into account since my HomePod stereo pair has always been a pleasure to listen to.
Now, if for whatever reason, my OG HomePods fail, I can purchase new HomePod 2 speakers to augment and compliment my Apple ecosystem in the future. I really wasn't into the HomePod Mini experience. For those that can appreciate good sound reproduction, can easily understand my reasons for staying away from the HomePod mini speaker experience.
We have an original HomePod, and I've always felt the sound quality was just 'ok'. Mids and highs are heavily compromised, and it always sounded a little boomy. There's no way to alter it, either. It's nice to hear that they've addressed that somewhat. Also, Siri has just been a pain in the rear on the HomePod, and I really wish Apple would work on it. It seems like they haven't worked on improving it at all, even though they say they do. I've also always wished I could play music from the Apple TV with the TV off through my home theater speakers, as they sound far superior to any smart speaker.
Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive review! HomePod is surely a marvel of engineering (15:47). To your point, for an extremely portable speaker the HomePod 2 is superb, by itself or paired. I have an OG HomePod, Mini, and two HomePod 2 speakers and I use them all throughout the house. Plus, I tote them to on-site events I manage that require music - an easy way to have high quality audio wherever I need it. I am extremely impressed by how HomePod 2 is able to sound so amazing with less hardware - talk about engineering improvements! Thanks again for your thorough review.
everytime a RUclipsr makes a video on Siri or Siri-related it triggers my HomePod... very annoying but also quite funny sometimes.
i really respect your perspective because you are critical but fair! you don’t blow smoke up apple and you don’t criticize them for the sake of destroying them. good stuff man!
As soon as I saw this product announced I just wanted to see Quinn’s review of it
great video and i love that MGMT album a lot, kudos for music taste quinn!
Wow, this was an impeccable review. It’s the one that honestly made me wanna pull the trigger. Quinn is very convincing. He knows what he’s talking about. Great job!
This is, by far, the best HomePod 2 review.
A good listening setup for HomePods is to pair them in stereo and then use a macOS desktop app to also pass bass to a subwoofer.
As always, best review out there 👍🏻
Still a proud owner of the OG HomePod- got a refurb about a year after I bought it as it died, but this one has lasted. And still sounds fantastic.
Definitely appreciated the OG and 2 speed comparisons 👍🏻
Good video. So many reviewers always push for more functions, inputs et c. And they forget that the beauty of many of Apples products is that they are easy to use. More functions brings more complexity which makes anything harder to use. The iPad is a good example. It used to be super easy to use. My mum and many others loved it to bits. Something they could use with confidence and joy. In come the geeks and power users who year after year push for more and more and more functions. Voila! You have iOS of today which is just a mess to use. Love the HomePod for its simplicity.
Totally agree with your analysis
I have enjoyed the quality of sound on my Home Pod 2 and it's limitations are easily gotten around or insignificant
Finally someone who knows how to explain that the homepod v2 sounds better than the old one. i was getting tired of the noobtubers saying it sounds worse than the OG.
it sounds amazing for the almost toilet roll size thing it is! Thanks for the good review
I own a pair of the original HomePods and use it all the time with my ATV 4K. They are so easy to use and are pretty seamless.
What amazes me is you mentioned MANY of the issues I face on them. Handoff is very finicky, brass sounds muddy, and voices are not very clear. But on top of that, sometimes they aren’t responding for whatever reason and one of them may have a logic board failure soon (it had a flashing white light that I haven’t seen before).
That being said, I was thrilled to see Apple came out with the next generation, but for now, I don’t think I can see myself spending that much money again.
Awesome review Quinn! One thing I was hoping to hear briefly touched upon is max volume as I normally never listen to a speak at or near its max volume, but found myself doing so occasionally when rocking out with the OG HomePod. Is the new one any different in this regard?
New one actually doesn’t get quite as loud as OG.
i asked chatGPT who is the better in the tech in youtube and he said (For me, I believe that Snazzy Labs channel is the most comprehensive in the field of technology on RUclips. It covers many different technical topics, including hardware, software, applications, games, and more. The videos also have high quality and simple and understandable explanations of various technical topics.)
i didn't know you before chatGPT
Need an intelligent, considered, insightful review of a tech-related product? Quinn's your man. Kudos.
Awesome honest review, thank you. My sitting on the fence position has changed.
Right now I have two HomePod Minis in my bedroom and used to use them as a stereo pair for movies and gaming and it was actually pretty good for my small room. The only issue I had was that they natural hogged the WiFi bandwidth of my house and my family kept complaining about that and that I’ve set so many alarms that none of them can even turn one on. Heck I can’t even delete any one of them on the Home app. Now I only used one of them, and while I do care about audio quality, the cost is too much for me at this moment even if they’re not over priced
It’s good to have you back Quinn, keep the videos coming!
I really liked this review. I bought a HomePod for my parents on Christmas a year or so after it came out and since I was living with them I got to enjoy it too. When I moved out however the HomePod was discontinued- I was waiting for something similar to come out from apple again and I bought it day one
The only audio-related reviews I will listen to.
Got 2 ordered in midnight arriving in early March (I live in Scotland) to pair with my apple TV 4k and LG C1 65inch. Thes will replace my 7+ year old samsung soundbar and subwoofer. Very excited for these. Last piece of the puzzle for my livingroom TV set up. Sonos arc was just out of my budget so this seemed like a good option as music listening and TV watching are equally important to me, these seemed like a good all-rounder option. Being all iphone users in the house makes the decision a bit easier too. Great review Quinn.
I just got a HP2 yesterday and I placed it in the center of the living room while having a stereo pair of minis (one on each side of the room. It really sounds amazing, and is not as expensive as two HP2!
Great video. I trust your judgement more than anyone else when it comes to sound quality. I'll still be sticking to my Sonos (whole home) setup personally.
Agree...Sonos rocks!
Quinn is going meta because I had the chance to compare my homepod’s reaction time as well in that segment haha. 4D review!
I have 2 OG HomePods for my livingroom surround sound setup . I purchased my first, and after a few years it started popping. After contacting Apple I got a free replacement. I decided to purchase another off EBay shortly after. I love the sound quality I get from 2. I also have 3 minis.
Watched many HomePod reviews. Hands down best review I’ve seen. You put the speaker in perspective nicely.
Love love love the graphs! Have 3 Gen 1 speakers for music. Stereo pair in living room where me and kids love to use them for enjoyment or dance parties and one in kitchen. I have Arc as well but wish I could use HomePods without AppleTV. After your review, I'll stick with Arc.
I bought the HomePod OG as an Xmas gift for my parents, as my mom has an Apple Music subscription. My dad is more likely to use it, as he can shout whatever he wants to hear while cooking or cleaning. They really like it, more so my dad than mom as she uses her AirPods over the speaker.
For the right person(s) it’s the right product but will remain niche, too limited and/or to really break out. It’s interesting to see apple relaunch it without fundamentally reimagining it at all as I don’t see it being massively more successful… especially when hingeing it’s fate on Siri.
Another great video, Quinn. Surprised to see you have so many Minis, but has me giving them a second look due to the versatility and value.
I have a house built on HomeKit so they’re strictly for per-room automation control 😉
Nailed it at the end, it just works great, and is no effort. The market for HomePod surround sound may be tiny, but I’m in it!
Waw what a review. The best review of the Homepod 2 on youtube.
The calibration period on the temperature and humidity sensors in my HomePods lasted about 3 hours.
I have two of the first gen and three minis. The minis sound pretty good and are great for smaller rooms, but I still love the sound of the first gens. They actually sound like they've improved over the years with the updates. Not sure I can find a compelling reason to get the second gen. Thank you for the review!
Can you use all 3 minis with the 2 homepods for true 5.1 surround?
@@AdamsBrew78 No. I asked that exact question at an Apple Store the other day. You can only have stereo pairs of the exact same model.
Love the little 2 thingy thing you did with your fingers Quinn. Keep up the great videos my man.
Considering I almost threw my HomePod mini from my balcony because of the 1 in 30 query failures, I can’t imagine owning an original HomePod.
Thanks so much for this. I was on the fence as to whether to buy new or find the first one used, and this answers that question: The Siri performance alone is reason to get the new one.
Thank you for one more honest review. Glad to hear the downsides and not only the praises of "how good it sounds for its small size" as most other reviews do.
Use my old HomePods as Apple TV speakers. Even imported one from the UK because they weren’t available at the time here. Had some problems in the past with dropping out sound but that has been resolved. I have a mini in the kitchen, but I rarely ever use it. It’s useful for Homekit though.
In my experience Siri still handles natural language parsing better than any of the other assistants, especially when it comes to home control and personal information management.
Siri is the only assistant who can parse things like “turn on the lights in the lounge, kitchen, and hallway” and do what it’s asked, with no weird backchat.
I have a pair of home pod minis configured as a stereo pair that I use with my Apple TV and happy with the sound quality. I especially like the audio handoff feature. I also initially had problems with temperature and humidity sensor calibration seeming to take for ever. Part of the problem was the software upgrade process for a stereo pair via Apple's Home app seems a little hit and miss with initially only one speaker in the pair receiving the update, but once that was resolved and I reset the home pod mini's the calibration was very quick. I never bought a Home Pod 1 having watched your review, but I ordered a Home Pod 2 a few days ago, but must wait just over a month for delivery! I intend to use the Home Pod 2 primarily for audio playback.
Good video senor.
I wonder if any Apple speakers will ever earn your recommendations?
The HomePod mini actually does the haptic thingie to my iPhone 12 while beaming music to it
Fantastic review !!! Your delivery and the overall quantity of content concerning the pros and cons was simply a pleasure to listen to.
Quinn, I love your music taste man. Some Washed Out, Some PPC?! AND I've seen in another video you have Holy Fire by Foals on vinyl. (My favorite band.) Keep it up brother, great work!
One thing I’d add is that they are aesthetically pleasing and more likely to pass the wife test in the living room. Definitely on my wish list for the back half of ‘23; I’m hoping for a package discount on a pair.
Thumbs up for aesthetically pleasing. They look great on my console and are definitely not an eyesore, but a nice accessory !
I saw that Pacific album at 14:22 . Very nice taste there.
I know you are an audiophile Quinn (my condolences and sympathies). As a fellow troubled person who cares about audio quality I am struggling to justify these with my current setup (mainly for the reasons outlined at 15:26 ). Like these would definitely be a secondary pair or even a tertiary pair to my regular speakers.
I wish they had a wired input for various sources but something tells me that would’t work properly to reap the benefits of these speakers based on how they are designed and/or a deliberate design decision and it will never happen.
EDITY: oh and great review Quinn! Was looking forward to yours on these and you didn’t dissapoint.
I got Q Acoustics M20 HD speakers two weeks ago and I'm very happy with them. The room they are in is a bit too big for them, and because I'm still in mid move there are no paintings or other sound dampening objects on the wall. I was curious about smart features when choosing the speakers. I wanted bluetooth connectivity for times when I'm using my cell phone on top of the traditional wired connections. Bluetooth as a feature also seemed to be the main commonality between speakers with smart features (figures, I suppose) but I just couldn't convince myself that the slight added convenience was worth the (usual) slight price increase. The M20 HDs are 400€ and sound about as good as they can sound considering their size and prize. Yes, one could definitely add a subwoofer to the setup to make the lows punch more but mostly I'm happy with how the bass sounds. I know it's just me but like I said, I've never experienced the need for smart features to be so big as to warrant a separate speaker for them. Maybe, if I had a larger home and multiple speakers around the house plus some smart lights it would make more sense to integrate it all in some way.
Fantastic review as always Quinn. I especially like your audio products reviews.
6:06 I was playing this softly in my bedroom, and my HomePod mini reacted instantly with a weather report lol
Excellent review! Well put together, clearly articulated content and fun to watch! Earned my subscription. ✅
It’s not just that audio is subjective, Psychoacoustics is a major issue with anything audio related. You can trick yourself into preferring something. A lot of people aren’t doing level matched comparisons and A/B-ing them quickly enough to get meaningful results, also.
As to young people hating brighter sound… the sound lost over age is generally 15K and up. There’s very little information there. Brightness is caused somewhere around 9-10Khz frequency range, well below that area lost over time.
Also, this is one of the best reviews on the HomePod out there. Great job!
So refreshing to hear reviews by someone who knows what he is talking about....
I'm impressed by your content.
Decided to pick up 2 HomePods today though.
Love your Vuori jacket! Looks great!
Ah man, Quinn's knocking it out of the park again! Really appreciate the analysis of the sound signature. My OG stereo pair from post-lockdown have been relegated to bedroom duty. Just wish they had an EQ setting to remove some of the boomy bass, rather than all of it when using their current 'low bass' mode.
I don't know if you remember 'that' Reddit review when someone compared them to KEF LS50s. Ahh funny times.
As you say, they're a great party or set it and forget it speaker, but I'll take some nice passives any day for home theatre and most music. That said, my imagination wonders at what Apple could do with a proper surround setup and bigger homepods.
Knocking out of park.....foul ball?
Great review. Comprehensive and entertaining as always. Also, a few videos back a mentioned how the color grade of your videos was a little too flat. I've noticed a huge change and this looks way more natural. Benjamin is great.
We’ve been working on it! Thanks.
I just picked up a HomePod 2 on Marketplace for $125. It sounds so good! I think that’s an amazing deal for this speaker.
As usual, excellent review! Among all the good comments here, I want to add my highlight: Am I the only one who was amused by Quinn's listing... either 'A' ... and 'two' @10:13 😇
I love the original HomePod. I still use my original purchased at release. I use it as the audio out from my Apple TV primarily, and some music streaming occasionally. I hope to update this one eventually once it dies, and I hope to pick up 2 minis to replace my original as my tv speaker.
Regarding sound quality: this was exactly my verdict as well, I was somewhat perplexed by those claiming it sounds worse (I do wonder if there could be an element of bias due to the lower tweeter count). I do find that, in certain songs and at higher volumes (above 50%), the highs can be very very slightly harsh, but other than that, the bass sounds just as good as the original, but now the highs sound great too, and the mids, particularly deep voices in non-music content, are clearer and no longer muddied by the bass tuning. I much prefer the second generation to my old first generation, and I loved the first to begin with.
Edit: I also agree about the separation. And there seems to be a lot more dynamic range between different elements of the audio, quiet sounds are actually quiet (but distinct) now, rather than just getting lost in the rest or being played to loud.
Such great writing and pacing and video editing and analysis. As always.
It's great news that more neutral/studio sound signatures are being used, rather than traditional region-based settings. You're right when you say it sometimes sounds harsher, or brighter but it might be due to the signature previously favouring other frequencies and bringing those to the fore. As long as there is no or very minimal sibilance, brightness in a track can bring it to another level, adding to really round off the soundstage, but it might be that a traditional region-based attuned set of ears are more used to.. that region-based signature and when introduced to a more neutral signature it can seem a little daunting to the listener and can be fatiguing. Perhaps it's due to being to what we're used to over many years and when we come across this sort of thing, our 'ear muscles' (??!) are being exercised. Maybe, perhaps.
As someone who has invested in Sonos, it's certainly interesting what Apple is doing - I kind of see a missed opportunity whereby these could be so much better for a home theatre setup if there was a separate profile you could change to when paired up with a TV - perhaps if it only fired audio out of the front, rather than trying to bounce audio off the wall behind to replicate surround sound? Sound bars do wonders with this, I do wonder why Apple Homepods struggle? Perhaps we're asking too much from 'just' a smart speaker.