For context I am a big Apple fan and not coming here just to hate. I’m also fairly embedded in the ecosystem with an Apple TV, AirPods, Mac, iPhone, etc.

I bought the HomePods per a recommendation from a friend and ever since I’ve regretted not just buying a sound bar instead. My list of grievances:

  • I’d expect plug in speakers at the size, price, and needing to get plugged into be louder and have more bass.
  • Nonstop connectivity issues that aren’t user friendly. Sometimes there’s a lag in connecting, sometimes I need to plug it out and plug it back in, sometime I want to connect to just my HomePods and not my Apple TV, and sometimes I want to be able to disconnect easily. Yes most of these things are doable but none of them are easy.
  • Even with an Apple TV I can’t play things like my Xbox audio through the HomePods because of no eArc and an older tv
  • This one isn’t technically Apple’s fault but serious lag with Spotify. Skipping songs or fast forwarding ads on podcasts is a pain

I honestly expected a lot more from Apple given the emphasis on quality and that I was paying a premium on these speakers. Had I known all of these friction points I would’ve opted for a Sony soundbar instead

  • Iwantthegreatest@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I mean, it’s supposed to be a smart speaker and lifestyle product, so what do you expect. I mean for what it is, it actually sounds really good, but it is by no means on an objective scale great.

    It’s kind of like how the MacBook and iPhone built in speakers are great for what they are, but overall, they’re still terrible (granted, of course a HomePod is better sound than a MacBook.

    It’s sad because I’m sure apple has the ability with their engineering if they wanted to they could make some of the best sounding audio gear in the world, but of course, that’s not their industry or target consumer so they don’t and won’t.

    Also, I’m not very fond of soundbars either. Something that would be considered hot garbage on here, the klipsch pro media 2.1 pc system, even is better than the majority of soundbars I’ve heard.

    Ideally, get some bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer and build yourself a 2.1, or if you want to go all out, some tower speakers and build yourself a surround sound if you so desire.