Apple’s authentic HomePod was arguably one in all its greatest but most misunderstood merchandise. A “sensible” speaker let down by its “sensible” assistant, and a price ticket that made it exhausting to position out there. But regardless of being launched in 2017, I’ve been a HomePod proprietor since day one, and till just a few days in the past, I’ve by no means had trigger to switch my stereo HomePod setup for both music or house theater, till now.
Apple’s HomePod is again sporting a well-known design, and some very thrilling inner modifications that make the brand new one a lower above the previous mannequin. It’s nonetheless expensive, however the HomePod now affords greater than ever in the identical helpful bundle.
On the finish of the day, the HomePod is all about sound, and this one blows the previous one out of the water. I have been extensively testing the brand new HomePod for hours since launch, this is every little thing I’ve discovered.
HomePod 2: Value and Availability
When you’re questioning the place to order Apple’s new HomePod 2, you don’t should look far. HomePod 2 is on the market from Apple.com and in Apple shops. There’s just one mannequin and it prices $299. It’s also possible to get it from Finest Purchase, and B&H Picture. Within the UK, it’s obtainable from Apple in addition to John Lewis for £299. It is available in two colours, White and Midnight. My Midnight items had been noticeably darker than my previous “black” HomePod items, however I am unable to say for certain if that is a brand new shade or simply fade over time.
HomePod 2: {Hardware} and Design
At first, second, and third look Apple’s new HomePod seems to be indistinguishable from the previous mannequin, as a result of it largely is. They share nearly similar dimensions and the identical footprint, in addition to the identical dust-loving criss-cross mesh cowl (for goodness sake, purchase the Midnight model). On the high, Apple has barely adjusted the contact controls and show. It’s now a wee bit flatter and sits recessed properly beneath the highest of the mesh, protruding lower than the previous one. Beneath, Apple has fully flattened the bottom of the HomePod which, in concept, will help with cleansing and that previous downside of staining desks. Preliminary reviews counsel this problem should still be current however much less problematic than it was within the previous one, and I’ve not had any points with the HomePod forsaking rings like an previous espresso cup. In any other case, the HomePod’s show is similar cool LED that signifies both music enjoying or Siri responding to a request, and contact controls for quantity, pausing, enjoying, and skipping tracks. Given the HomePod is usually a voice-controlled speaker although, I would not fear about these an excessive amount of.
One small but crucial design change is that the HomePod’s audio cable is now removable, and matches neatly right into a slot in the back of the brand new HomePod. It is a big change. The place beforehand the previous HomePod’s cable couldn’t be indifferent, this now makes the HomePod 2’s cable and electrics rather more repair-friendly. It’s additionally higher for cable administration, as any gap it’s worthwhile to cross the HomePod’s cable by now solely must be just a few millimeters huge, reasonably than larger than the complete plug socket on the different finish. It’s a seemingly insignificant but much-needed change for HomePod, and one I’d sit up for on a future HomePod mini.
Apple has tweaked the insides of the HomePod, with the brand new 2023 mannequin truly that includes fewer audio system inside than the unique due to a lowered variety of tweeters. The brand new HomePod additionally contains an inner temperature and humidity sensor, so you may ask Siri what the temperature is in a selected room and it offers you a studying straight out of your HomePod. It really works too, 23 levels in the event you had been questioning. However how does all this sound? Let’s get on to why you’re actually right here.
Earlier than reviewing our HomePod, Stephen spent greater than 20 years as a musician. He additionally has almost 10 years of expertise utilizing Apple’s Logic Professional and Mainstage instruments for sound design and stay efficiency and has greater than 5 years of expertise as a sound engineer and technician working stay occasions. He has performed quite a few audio and residential leisure opinions for iMore and has owned Apple’s earlier HomePod for a number of years since its launch.
HomePod 2: How does it sound?
In a phrase, very good. The unique HomePod was arguably among the best audio system ever at its worth level, the HomePod 2 isn’t any totally different. In actual fact, it’s higher. It boasts a fully beautiful spectrum of sounds, from crisp and medical high-end, full and expansive mid-range, and clear bass that rumbles and punches with none trace of distortion at any quantity.
The HomePod serves two essential functions – audio listening, and residential theater. To start out with the previous, the brand new HomePod excels and is certainly a lower above the previous one. I lined up one previous HomePod alongside the brand new HomePod in a check “room” on Apple’s House app. When you can’t use previous and new HomePods collectively as a stereo pair, they do assist simultaneous audio playback by AirPlay. I sat at equal distances between each, and utilizing the contact quantity controls, I shortly adjusted the degrees, switching between the previous and new HomePod seamlessly to detect variations and modifications.
Extremely, Apple has someway managed to enhance on the system of the unique HomePod with a fair cleaner, crisper, and brighter sound that’s altogether extra spacious, much less muddled and muddy, and but simply as punchy because the final one. I didn’t even assume the previous one had any issues however in comparison with the brand new one the issues of the previous one stand out like a sore thumb.
I can’t start to explain precisely what Apple has accomplished right here internally, I couldn’t presumably know, however as soon as you already know what to hear for the distinction is like evening and day. It’s like going from 60Hz to 120Hz on Apple’s greatest iPhone, the iPhone 14 Professional – you already know you don’t want a 120Hz refresh price, however one swipe on an LTPO show and unexpectedly you may’t use anything. To be fairly frank, I’m completely shocked by the brand new HomePod. I didn’t count on Apple to have the ability to create this a lot distance between previous and new in relation to sonic signature alone.
Dialtone’s Resort Apache is a joyous refrain of synths and crisp vocals, with each single layer of digital goodness afforded its personal spacious berth within the lineup. Swap it up, and Ryan Gillmor’s In My Bloodline simply oozes crispy kick drum and rolling snares, the punchy guitars and bass set the desk for a garnish of hovering guitar solos, I’m in heaven.
Listening to Think about Dragon’s bass-heavy Thunder, I immediately turned conscious of 1 massive enchancment that could be serving to audio efficiency. With the brand new HomePod 2, Apple has dramatically lowered the vibration from the bass and total sound that the HomePod emits. That is noticeable, each while you relaxation your hand on the enclosure of every speaker, and within the response to the floor that your HomePod is sitting on, which can be due to the flatter floor of the bottom within the newer mannequin.
After I push the quantity on my authentic HomePod, the wooden of my Ikea Linnmon desk trembles like a reasonably anxious kitten, but the HomePod 2 at equal volumes doesn’t disturb the floor in any respect, with no vibration in anyway, it’s simply uncanny. This additionally makes the HomePod 2 a lot clearer and helpful at decrease volumes, so you may take pleasure in higher listening with out disturbing the home, and imagine me you’ll disturb the home. The HomePod 2 is terrifyingly loud at full tilt, nearly uncomfortable, however excellent for internet hosting events and the like. Apparently, nonetheless, on the similar stage of quantity setting, the HomePod 2 is noticeably quieter than the previous one. Facet by aspect, I requested Siri to set the quantity to 25%, and the previous one dominated the brand new one by way of quantity. As I mentioned although, the brand new one continues to be thunderous and highly effective.
Whereas not an exhaustive check, I did run each the previous and new HomePods by Logic Professional X utilizing a high-end Rode microphone and introduced up the EQ plug-in to investigate the sound waves of each. As you may see beneath, there are some delicate variations within the curves. Notably, The HomePod 2 (high) has a barely punchier base signature, with much less wasted house beneath 30Hz and the sound dropping off earlier. Trying on the graphs, I may see the sound sample was a lot much less cluttered, quantifying partly the enhancements I may hear.
In a phrase, I would describe the enhancements to the audio as “remastered”, it sounds just like the distinction between a monitor on both aspect of a studio manufacturing session, with the entire proper bits boosted and the entire gritty stuff toned down. It’s value noting one factor although, in altering up the audio profile of the unique HomePod, the brand new HomePod sounds notably chillier than the previous one. I heard one evaluation describe it as the results of attempting to create the right speaker sound in a laboratory, and it is true. The brand new HomePod is a lot extra medical with its EQ than the final one, however which means the nice and cozy, fuzzy glow of the previous one is gone. When you preferred that in regards to the previous HomePod, the brand new one would possibly disappoint you. It is tangibly higher, however that does not essentially imply you may favor it.
The HomePod sounds greatest when mixed with one other in a stereo pair. I purchased two, and dealing in tandem the upgrades in sound over the previous ones are amplified much more. Listening to Boyce Avenue’s acoustic cowl of Blink 182 – I Miss You – the piano and acoustic drum sounds meet in the course of the stereo setup with surgical precision, the audio is so clear and the stereo soundscape is so convincing that, eyes closed, I may have been sat within the studio for the recording.
It appears like there’s completely no audio emanating from the HomePods themselves as a result of it initiatives the sound so properly into the middle house between the 2. I can’t fairly imagine it, however I’m pleased to confess I used to be genuinely moved by the expertise.
King of Leon’s Intercourse on Hearth depends extra closely on a stereo unfold of devices, with lead and rhythm guitar traces pushed huge left and proper to create extra room for the vocals. Once more, right here the HomePods completely shine as a stereo pair. To revisit desk vibration, even in stereo because the refrain kicks in, my desk stays remarkably unmoved by the shortage of rumble and shake. I stay flabbergasted by the efficiency, questioning every little thing I believed I knew about audio engineering.
I used to be notably impressed with the vocal isolation for rap and hip-hop, the HomePods didn’t break a sweat enjoying Younger M.A’s Automobile Confessions, with the vocal slicing by the center of the stereo panorama like a scorching knife by butter. Perfection. Songs in Dolby Atmos, similar to Coldplay’s Greater Energy are tangibly higher by the HomePod than common peasant audio, so whereas every little thing sounds good by HomePod 2, Dolby Atmos sounds higher, this isn’t a nasty factor, simply one thing to remember in case your music style contains a variety of older stuff that tends to not be optimized for this.
The HomePod 2 additionally leverages the entire similar audio enhancements in relation to house theater. The sound is noticeably clearer and extra spacious, particularly within the mid and higher ranges. I fired up Netflix’s The Witcher, which places out Dolby Atmos. Each element within the sound is crisp and clear, from the faintest leaf rustle to the trundle of a cart on the highway. As I watched Henry Cavill’s Geralt lower his means by the village of Blaviken, each sword clink and blow was completely synchronized, every loss of life palpable, as if fragments of cranium had been truly falling onto the ground of our front room.
James Bond’s No Time To Die was equally spectacular, largely partly due to how little it’s worthwhile to push the HomePods in an effort to get sound that fills the room and is crystal clear. Even at modest volumes, the HomePod in a stereo configuration can fill a room with ease, with out ever sacrificing readability. At larger volumes, there’s nonetheless no distortion, and your TV setup will thanks for the lowered vibrations, as will your neighbors.
The sound is greatest while you use two HomePods, of this, there isn’t a doubt. Right here although, it falls down in the identical means the HomePod mini did, the place the sum is larger than the elements. Whereas that is good in precept, sadly, the elements are $300 every, so that you’ll should pay by the nostril for the total expertise. It’s value it although.
HomePod 2: Siri, Software program, and Sensible House
I can’t lie, Siri nonetheless form of stinks. I’ve a regional British accent, and routinely ask Siri to cease timers, just for it to reply “For a way lengthy?”. Nonetheless, when Siri does work on the brand new HomePod it’s extremely snappy and responsive in comparison with the previous one due to the brand new S7 chip. The brand new HomePod is noticeably sooner in responding to Siri requests, even when that response is typically “maintain on” or “I’m engaged on that.” Each the previous one and the brand new HomePod had been/are held again by Siri in some regards by way of its total functionality, however the HomePod 2 is a transparent improve on responsiveness alone. Siri’s total limitations stay, nonetheless. Specifically, the shortage of on-device Siri directions is actually irritating to me in relation to primary features like pause and play.
Apple’s audio interface, primarily by the iPhone on iOS 16 can also be an absolute nightmare, I’m afraid. This let down the previous HomePod and plagues the brand new one too. Who on earth thought the ‘Management Different Audio system & TVs’ interface was a good suggestion I have no idea, and the AirPlay pop-up menu in Apple Music isn’t a lot better. Nonetheless, this janky interface troubles Apple’s whole ecosystem, so I’m remiss to penalize the HomePod particularly for it. The HomePod principally shines while you use it managed by Siri, asking for music over Wi-Fi is basically a breeze, and once more it’s a a lot snappier expertise in comparison with the previous one.
The interface and performance of those menus stays completely abhorrent. There have to be a greater means… https://t.co/kGar0OFMSu pic.twitter.com/ljrjk38GCWFebruary 6, 2023
This clumsy interface and continued Siri frustrations aren’t sufficient to belay a five-star ranking, however it is a bit of a disgrace. One redeeming addition is the brand new hand-off function, which works just like the HomePod mini at hand off music in each instructions between an iPhone and a HomePod, it’s totally snappy and works each time. The previous one had a hand-off function of kinds, however this one is a lot better.
Spotify, Apple Music’s essential rival, stays unsupported on the HomePod, however you may blame Spotify for that. Booo, Spotify. Boooo. The extremely heavy reliance on Apple Music and Siri does slim the attraction of the HomePod considerably, this isn’t a Bluetooth speaker you may simply plug in and pump out tunes from anyplace, it’s a curated audio expertise that depends on you already proudly owning not less than one different Apple machine, an Apple Music subscription additionally helps so much.
Apple has additionally beefed up sensible house capabilities with the brand new HomePod and is eager to emphasise the HomePod’s utility as a hub for all issues sensible house, and particularly, Matter. The latter is the brand new title in sensible house connectivity, greatest described because the equal of Bluetooth for headphones. With that in thoughts, you’ll quickly have the ability to use the HomePod 2 to manage sensible house units from locations like Amazon and Google in addition to the same old suspects, Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, Eve, and extra. Right here, you may once more profit from main improve to Siri and the brand new S7 chip.
The interior temperature and humidity sensor is one important improve over the previous HomePod too. You may ask for a studying, or set automations, for instance turning in your heating utilizing a sensible thermostat if the temperature drops beneath a sure stage. The HomePod mini additionally does this, nonetheless, and having used each I’d suggest the smaller, cheaper HomePod as the inspiration of any sensible house. The HomePod, in my eyes not less than, stays at first an electrifying audio expertise first, and a “sensible” speaker on your sensible house a distant second.
HomePod 2: Competitors
So far as I’m involved, the HomePod is in a category of its personal, however that doesn’t imply there aren’t alternate options. You could possibly contemplate the previous HomePod in its place, however given the distinction in worth and availability, I’d fervently suggest the newer one. Apple’s HomePod mini doesn’t come near the brand new one in output and sound, but it surely’s a pleasant choice in the event you simply need a speaker for Siri and sensible house stuff.
Given its dimension and worth, the Sonos One performs remarkably properly from an audio perspective, so a few these can be nice for simply audio listening by AirPlay in addition to use together with your TV. There are additionally extra choices within the Sonos ecosystem for combining units for encompass sound combos. The Amazon Echo Studio is significantly cheaper however I’d hazard it doesn’t sound anyplace close to nearly as good as the brand new HomePod. The Bose 500 House Speaker sits in an analogous worth bracket, however alongside the HomePod its design seems to be awfully dated. Personally, I do not assume that even the greatest alternate options to HomePod come near Apple’s new providing.
HomePod 2: Do you have to purchase it?
You should purchase this if:
You need stellar house theater audio.
The HomePod is a house theater dream as a stereo pair, and excellent for audiophiles and film buffs.
You’ve bought an Apple TV.
The HomePod pairs completely with the Apple TV for playback they usually work seamlessly collectively. The brand new Apple TV additionally helps eARC to feed audio from different sources like a console to your HomePod.
You need the most effective Apple-compatible speaker going.
The HomePod is unequalled by way of a speaker that blends into the Apple ecosystem and supplies mind-bending audio.
You need unparalleled audio efficiency.
The HomePod 2 is among the greatest audio system ever.
You shouldn’t purchase the brand new HomePod if:
You don’t personal another Apple merchandise.
You want not less than one different product to arrange and use HomePod, and it requires funding within the Apple ecosystem to get essentially the most out of it.
You need a speaker that may take bumps and scrapes.
This isn’t a rugged speaker, it is a premium house speaker you’ll wish to take the very best care of.
You’re on a good finances.
The HomePod continues to be costly regardless of its lowered price ticket, particularly contemplating you want two to benefit from the full expertise.
HomePod 2: Verdict
I completely love the brand new HomePod. It’s a triumph. I nonetheless can’t imagine how Apple has managed to tug off the audio enhancements it has, but it surely actually is one thing. Whether or not it is listening to music or watching TV, this beats any sensible speaker, Bluetooth, or in any other case that I’ve ever heard. In actual fact, the brand new HomePod is so good that I’d even suggest it as an improve from the unique HomePod when you have one. It is the greatest sensible speaker I’ve ever heard.
I’d actually prefer to see Apple put extra effort into making Siri higher, particularly in relation to simple on-device requests, I shouldn’t want an web connection to pause and play music, amongst different issues. On-device requests would actually make an enormous enchancment right here, as would fixing up the interface for AirPlay and controlling the HomePod and numerous different audio in iOS 16 as a result of it’s an actual mess.
That apart, the brand new HomePod is one in all my all-time favourite Apple merchandise. I’m fully in love.
Backside Line: Do not imagine the haters, the brand new HomePod is again and higher than ever.
