The unique Apple HomePod got here out in 2018, proper on the tail finish of the sensible speaker growth, and it was quickly adopted by the HomePod Mini. After a self-imposed lull, throughout which the unique was discontinued, Apple has come seemingly out of nowhere with the brand new second-generation full-size HomePod, aka the HomePod 2. 

After reviewing this speaker at residence and at CNET’s audio check lab I used to be impressed by its sound high quality. From the skin, the second-gen Apple HomePod appears to be like almost equivalent to the unique, however in true Apple custom the actual adjustments are on the within. The corporate’s give attention to spatial audio means the tech is entrance and middle on the brand new model, and I heard an even bigger sound than the speaker’s dimensions point out. The HomePod 2 sounds higher than the unique and extra refined than the competing Amazon Echo Studio. 

8.0

Apple HomePod (2023)

$300 at Greatest Purchase

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Like

• Wonderful sound
• Compact dimension
• Integrates nicely with Apple gadgets and companies

Do not Like

• Pricey
• Not as loud as rivals
• Nonetheless wants an iOS machine
• Cannot set Spotify as default music service

There are many sensible audio system on the market to select from, and at $299 (£299, AU$479) the HomePod 2 continues to be on the costly finish of the spectrum. For those who’re invested within the Apple ecosystem, the brand new HomePod provides a few welcome twists on a well-known method. For those who’re an Android person, then again, the HomePod just isn’t for you — you want an iOS machine to set it up. The Echo Studio or Sonos One are higher choices for non-Apple folks and each price lower than the HomePod. And if you need many of the options accessible within the HomePod at a diminished worth, the HomePod Mini is an distinctive worth. It is the higher of the 2 Apple audio system for the cash.

HomePod 2: Glossy design, Apple-centric options

When Amazon launched its first Echo again in 2014 it created a brand-new class — the sensible speaker. Since then manufacturers like Google, Sonos, Apple, Samsung, LG and extra have tried their palms at creating a wise speaker, all with various levels of success.

One benefit the HomePod has over rivals is design. Whether or not in white or black, the large HomePod appears to be like pretty — one thing I am unable to say for the Echo Studio, for instance. The Echo Studio’s gaudy gentle ring and Fisher-Value buttons make it look cheaper than it truly is. 

The HomePod is pushed by Apple’s common voice assistant Siri, and to set it up you will want to make use of an iOS machine like an iPhone or iPad. The speaker is suitable with the Apple AirPlay 2 customary, which suggests it will possibly stream music and podcasts out of your telephone, in addition to work in a multiroom speaker system.

HomePod performs nicely with Apple Music however not Spotify

When you now not want to make use of Apple Music as your default service, the alternate options are a little bit of a motley crew — iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, Deezer and Pandora. Solely the final two can help you hear the tune you need, after which provided that you pay a month-to-month subscription charge. 

In the meantime, Spotify, the finest music streaming service, cannot be set because the default, and the HomePod will not assist Spotify Join. To make use of Spotify with a HomePod you might want to faucet the “AirPlay and Bluetooth” button within the Spotify app to play music on the speaker. In different phrases, most HomePod persons are higher off paying for Apple Music as a substitute.

You may pair two HomePods to play in stereo, though they do should be of the identical sort and era. You may’t pair a brand new HomePod with a HomePod Mini or an older HomePod to play in stereo, for instance. The speaker may sync with an Apple TV streamer to play again your TV audio. 

The HomePod additionally helps Apple’s Discover My function so you’ll be able to ask Siri to play a sound on a misplaced machine, or ask for the situation of buddies or household who share it through the Discover My app. 

All of this stuff the HomePod 2 has in widespread with each the unique HomePod and the $99 HomePod Mini. So what’s actually modified?

Upgraded audio system, spatial audio and new sensors

At first look, it is tough to inform that the HomePod 2 is not the identical product Apple launched 5 years in the past. It nonetheless appears to be like like a packaged Asian pear, and it is mainly the identical dimension as its predecessor at 6.6 inches tall and 5.6 inches in diameter. For those who’re wanting carefully chances are you’ll discover a removable energy wire quite than a captive one, and a smaller show that is additionally now edge-to-edge while you’re interacting with Siri.

However the brand new HomePod has a couple of key upgrades, together with a redesigned speaker array with 5 tweeters as a substitute of seven. These tweeters level upward from the underside of the chassis and use beamforming to facilitate the opposite huge enchancment: spatial audio.

Spatial audio is Apple’s time period for 360-degree audio, and it is used on most new Apple merchandise from MacBooks to AirPods to Apple TV. When it comes to the HomePod it largely refers to Dolby Atmos and it’s included in most streaming companies in addition to the Dolby Atmos music accessible on Apple Music. Atmos is a surround-sound customary used each in film theaters and the house, and extra not too long ago has been used to remix albums.

Temperature and humidity sensors up the sensible residence sport

The opposite attention-grabbing function to debut on the HomePod is one which’s additionally been hiding on the mini all this time — temperature and humidity sensors. Now you can use the House app or ask Siri for the indoor temperature, in addition to outside. This data may even assist different sensible gadgets in your house, particularly thermostats.

Along with supporting Apple’s HomeKit, the full-size HomePod additionally helps the brand new Matter customary, an open-source protocol that works with quite a few smart-home gadgets. As well as, a function referred to as Sensible Recognition, coming through a software program replace this spring, “can pay attention for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and ship a notification on to the person’s iPhone if a sound is recognized,” in response to Apple.

You may transfer an iPhone near the speaker handy off no matter is producing audio, from a tune to a podcast to a voice name, to the speaker. (This function requires iOS 16.3.) The telephone may even floor customized tune and podcast solutions when held close to the speaker. 

Listening checks: How does Apple HomePod 2 sound?

Although the unique HomePod existed alongside podcasts, it was initially billed as a music speaker. From my testing it appears the brand new HomePod has been designed with much more use circumstances in thoughts — together with film watching and podcasts. I examined the speaker with a mixture of Apple Music tracks (which had been Dolby Atmos the place accessible) in addition to Spotify and lossless FLAC recordsdata performed from a MacBook.

The very first thing I requested Siri to do was “play some music.” The tune it selected was Planet Earth by Duran Duran and I wasn’t even mad. I in contrast the sound of this new wave traditional on the brand new HomePod and towards the rival Amazon Echo Studio. Whereas the Echo Studio threw the accentuated higher mids of the tune across the room, it left the sound slightly skinny. The HomePod’s extra laid-back sound and insistent backbeat made the Birmingham lads extra pleasant to my ear.

I adopted with Runner by Alex G, which resulted in an enormous sound out of the Echo, and whereas it was “stereo-like” the devices weren’t firmly positioned in area. The HomePod had a bubble of sound — greater than the proportions of the cupboard however probably not stereo both. The Apple speaker was capable of higher articulate Giannascoli’s voice, nevertheless, whereas on the Echo he was sitting slightly additional again and the vocals sounded slightly extra smeared.

Subsequent got here one in every of my most venerable check tracks, Nick Cave’s Purple Proper Hand, with its mixture of baritone vocals, slippery bass and jarring percussion. At first the bass guitar sounded slightly distorted, however enabling the Cut back Bass choice mounted the difficulty. On this tune, nevertheless, I preferred the Echo Studio higher. The audio took on a room-size scale in a approach the HomePod could not.

Comparability: HomePod 2 vs. authentic HomePod

Subsequent, I in contrast the brand new HomePod to the unique HomePod throughout completely different genres. The HomePod 2 sounded higher than the unique with a extra intimate vocal response. The heftier bass of the second-generation HomePod additionally gave Purple Proper Hand a extra propulsive sound. Though the HomePod 2 was additionally slightly louder than the unique, you would not be capable to energy a celebration with both one. The Echo Studio has each beat for pure energy. 

I additionally listened to some film soundtracks, together with the Dolby Atmos mixture of Mad Max, which rendered the dialogue clearly. The pronounced Atmos top results in the beginning of the movie had been there with a single speaker, however including a second in stereo made the consequences a lot extra pronounced. The bass of the explosions was sturdy and never overblown. Whereas a house theater system would not be full with no devoted subwoofer, in my view, the sound was nonetheless pleasant sufficient for films.

HomePod Mini holds its personal towards HomePod 2

Lastly, I in contrast the brand new HomePod to the HomePod Mini and was shocked how nicely the corporate’s most cost-effective speaker fared. With Spoon’s U Received Yr Cherry Bomb, the Mini provided ahead vocals, loads of bass and never an excessive amount of tambourine. Whereas it does not do spatial results, the Mini sounded excellent at a 3rd of the worth. It is completely nice for individuals who simply need a speaker for the voice assistant and a few background music.

Total the HomePod sounds nice, however its excessive worth and Apple-centric options merely exclude too many potential customers — together with Spotify subscribers and Android house owners — for broad attraction. And for Apple followers who need a Siri speaker, the Mini might be large enough.

Orbit Brain

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