Finally someone reviewed this use case properly!!! So many reviews reading off stats you already know… and this was the right speaker comparisons thanks!!
We had a 1st gen Echo in our master bathroom for listening to music in the morning th-cam.com/users/postUgkxABghAEkaIDGZfHRBH3D3rBrlraNmnC71 and while in the shower. I didn't realize how tinny and awful the sound output on the original Echo was until we replaced it with the Studio. It was a sonic upgrade far beyond what I was expecting. Just wow. I love it because it's like having speakers IN the shower. My friend likes it because the music is so loud that she can no longer hear me singing. So that's a win-win.
This is hands-down the best review of the new HomePods on TH-cam. I liked the comparison to the OG and to Sonos and even 7.1 surround, with how well each handles music, movies, AirPlay, etc… Bravo!
The Homepod pair sounds kinda perfect for small apartments where you don't want a subwoofer on the floor and don't have that big of a room to fill but still want Atmos/spacial audio... i really wasn't thinking that these would be worth considering but damn
Great review. I have Sonos setup, and what I like about Sonos is the ability to expand whenever you want. I started with sonos one g2 then after few months added arc then sub, and now having a great time watching movies with family and always impress friends. Was considering HomePods but very hard to drop $600 for two speakers that can never be expanded and stuck with two speakers that will always lack against front and rear speakers.
I'm in the same boat. The rear speakers in a Sonos setup (even if they are only two One SL's) make an incredible difference. Also being able to allow the system to grow with you is really nice. Especially now that the new Sonos Era speakers have just been announced.
Same here. Also, not sure if the sub is even necessary for the Sonos system if we want to compare it with the HomePod. Sounds pretty great without it as well.
amazing review. I’ve watched probably 20+ reviews from the HomePod 2 and this is the best by a mile. tech reviews are getting lost in the technical facts and stats. I love that you just gave real life scenarios and your own opinions. I would love to see you review more things I think you have a unique perspective that is needed. The only thing I wish you would’ve touched on was basic TV watching, and maybe sports e watching with the HomePods
This is a really excellent review. Thanks. Now my gripes ;) I realize it blows the budget, but when you add a couple of Sonos Ones to the Arc and Sub Gen 3, you get a whole new world that a pair of HomePods can't really touch. So your comparison is quite valid without surrounds. Again, the Sonos budget is WAY higher than a pair of HomePods, and there's no surround option, so I understand that it's not really fair. Also, as a side note, I used to lose the Sonos sub and a surround randomly until I wired the Arc, and then cleaned up (bought a better ethernet router) my networking. I also did your weather test with my OG HomePods, and they responded as quickly as your Gen 2s. I'm not defending Siri, but I've never really had a problem with it. I LOVE my HomePods for music. I use Sonos for Home Theatre. If a person only wants a soundbar, then the HomePods are an excellent choice.
One thing to add as someone who owns all of these products is that the Sonos Arc and Sub combo can get earth-shatteringly loud compared to the HomePods. I’ve been really impressed with my HomePods but I have an open concept living room and wish they got louder. Max volume on them is like 65% on the Sonos Arc.
Do you agree with what he says that the pair of Homepods sounds better than Arc alone? I live in an apartment and have already had issues with my neighbour downstair over noise complaints. I don’t think I can add a sub, lol, so I’m debating between a pair of homepods and the arc alone.
I’m not sure I’d ever want to listen to earth-shatteringly loud audio, so not sure what the benefit of the capability is other than to say it can be done.
Stephen Robles - Currently have a Beam Gen 1 and looking to upgrade. Started considering the HomePod 2 pair for something that just blends in with decor. Thanks for sharing the perspective. What TV mount are you using for the Sonos Beam? We are moving our Sonos Beam to the workout room.
Cost was a big factor and I couldn’t justify over $1,000 for sound. So I went with two HomePod Gen 2’s. Overall I think they sound great for my use case and replaced my old LG soundbar. I factor in to these just came out and will receive years of new updates.
Just wanted to let you know something I discovered about the bass on the HP2. The bass on the HP1 was the defining reason on my returning the HP1 (my wife said ‘we’re not keeping that). I just go my 2 x HP2 today and the bass is excellent IMHO… really present and noticeable. However if you have a smaller TV room like mine, it may be too much. BUT there is a reasonable solution. In the Home app on the IPhone (IPad) when you go into the HomePod 2 section there is an option to ‘reduce bass’ which does not eliminate the bass but significantly reduces what might be called that bass ‘thump’ which is prevalent in some music and shows. Hope this info is useful to you and your fellow viewers.
Dude, you are like the only reviewer who has made a comparison on speed of response. Of course sound on both is good, but the speed on H1 is at times glacial. Gets lost sometimes, plays one thing when it clearly acknowledges I asked it to play another. Thanks dude.
First, I’ve got that shirt and the other one. Secondly, I’m so happy to hear a review from someone who listens to classical music. I’ve got a small basement theater/living space where the couch will be maybe 10-12ft from where the TV will be. This is a newly finished space so nothing there yet but, I’m vacillating between sound bar / sub and a pair of homepods. Your review was so helpful so thank you for doing it.
I'm currently running two original HomePods and two Minis for home theater through Apple TV 4K. However, I've got the big Pods about four feet from the sides of the TV as left and right channels, one Mini mounted centrally above the TV and one Mini as a rear channel. The HomePods are paired for stereo and the Minis are individual. I raise the Mini volume above the TV to emphasize the center channel effect while the rear one is lower to provide some spatial impression. Add the Dolby Atmos mix from the HomePods and I've got this quasi-surround sound thing that works reasonably well. Of course, I should just go full 7.1 home theater, but I'm so fully immersed in the Apple universe, I can't escape! 😉
I’ve now watched a couple of your reviews and really appreciate your overviews of Sonos and HomePod 2s. I have stereo pair of original HomePods playing my tv and music. I also have NAD 3028 integrated amp and book shelve speakers for vinyl. The HP1s sound great but I have been in perpetual hunt for something that might be even better. Your reviews have helped me immensely as I will put aside Sonos hunt and instead focus on HPd2s upgrade for tv and purchase a pair of KEF Metas for vinyl. Subbed and looking forward to going back through your content and eagerly awaiting new stuff too.
You just gain a new fan! This is so detail and hands down the best comparison video I have seen. Thank you so much for making my buying decision super easy. Thanks thanks!
Great review! I have the OG HomePod in my bedroom and two HomePod minis for my home theater system. It was lacking bass obviously with their size but i recently bought a used AirPort Express with airplay 2 compatibility and connected it to a spare powered sub I had laying around and now it sounds amazing.
The potential deal breaker for me is the inability to have rear speakers with the HomePod setup. It'd be great if they add the ability to have a second pair of HomePods (or a pair of home minis I guess) as rears which would turn the system into something like the Sony HT-A9. Or - might as well shoot for the moon while I'm dreaming - add a version of the apple tv that has a Sonos Beam-like soundbar integrated into it, and turn the homepod pair as rears. That'd be better to reduce reliance on wifi and latency (since for movies and games the bulk is through the front which would not go through the wifi). That's an entire new product but hey, a man can dream.
I’m there with you. I’m wanting apple to do a software update to use two minis as rears and HomePods as fronts. That way when I’m done I can put the minis back in my bedroom. Best bang for buck honestly.
Great review, very in-depth. Just wondering if you need to say that you'll need an Apple TV to go with the HomePods as there's no other connection method for movies unless I missing something. No HDMI input from your TV
ditched Spotify, sold 2 sonos ones and 1 beam, got 2 Hompods 2. Already have AppleTV4k and apple Music. now i´m happy. Siri gets the song I ask for every time, Alexa not always (sonos)
Great video thanks! I'm coming from an old Samsung HT-E6750W surround sound (not using the rear speakers tho). Do you think HomePods around loud enough in a bigger space, say 5m viewing distance?
Thanks! Depends on how big the actual room is, but I've found their volume sufficient for many different sizes. If you're considering Sonos for home theater, here's my video breaking down all their options too: th-cam.com/video/CrkbLsKRiDY/w-d-xo.html
Great review! I have OG HomePods in bedroom and the full a7000 Sony soundbar w sun and surrounds. I swear HomePods sound better sometimes its impressive
I forgot you had a true Atmos setup, Andrew is always talking about wireless options on th e HK podcast. But when it comes down to it nothing beats a wire 5.1.2+ setup. Great review.
Great review. One part of the Sonos ecosystem you didn’t discuss (and what keeps me using their stuff) is that you can buy Sonos products to connect to your existing audio equipment, such as outdoor speakers or a turntable. They are also cross platform and offered seamless multi-room playback decades before Apple did. They also have a broad range of speakers that appeal to many budgets… which makes me wonder how the Sonos one compares to the HomePod mini or big HomePod to Sonos five… 🤔
Great point, and for many the Sonos amp is the *best* solution for things like turntables, etc. I don't have a Sonos 5 personally but would love to compare to the new HomePods.
I have a Sonos Arc complete set up (with rear SLs and the sub), and it is incredible. But what can't be understated is how amazing their seamless pairing between rooms is. I have a Turntable connected to a Sonos 5 and Sub Mini in another room, and having my turntable instantly play to my Arc setup in another room is so good. Or having the audio from my TV playing on any other Sonos speaker in the house so I can still listen to a show while I'm walking around my house is pretty great. Basically I feel like I'm getting a comparable or better experience to what one of my relatives has at their home with an overpriced high maintenance Control4 system.
Oops, if it was me being totally in the Apple ecosystem, I'd go with a pair of HomePods. This way you can still request Siri play music or set reminders while you're in the room.
Great video😊. I have one comment: In my opinion, two things were not discussed enough: firstly, the HomePods only really make sense as a TV setup if you already own an Apple TV. Otherwise, this would have to be included in the price, because otherwise I don't see any way to (permanently) connect the HomePods to an existing TV setup? In addition, compared to Apple, Sonos offers the option of expanding the setup at any time, so you can start with a Sonos Arc, for example, and then add a subwoofer and rear speakers. Unfortunately, the Sonos Arc with the small subwoofer was not included in the comparison in the video, which I think is an interesting setup in terms of price, especially for apartments.
hi, great review. I have an apple TV 4K and bose soundbar 900. How is the bose soundbar in comparison to Sonos and new homepods setup. Is it worth getting the Bose surround 700 speaker to pair with my current soundbar?? I mostly use the setup for movies.
I had issues with my HomePod minis losing connection, seeming to unpair, and other general weirdness. Then I moved one of them away from a wall where there was a metal filing cabinet on the other side. All issues gone. So if you're experiencing connectivity issues, try changing speaker locations. Could be someinhting in, or behind, the wall, causing problems.
Hello Stephan ! I have a question I hope you can answer soon! I was wondering to get an homepod 2 and homepod 1(for bass) for tv and music listening. Would you recommend a pair of homepods 2's or homepod 2 with a homepod 1 ? I don't have any speakers besides my pebbles that I dont even use and I really want a good experience with watching TV and listening to Music, I got an newer Iphone too. Cheers Sune
Hi Sune! Unfortunately you can’t pair a gen 1 and gen 2 HomePod together, they both have to be the same generation. Considering the speed improvements of the HomePod 2, and they still have good bass, I’d go with the newer versions.
Hands down the best video when needing to know or thinking about if you should buy 1 or 2 HomePods. This video should have been #1 in the TH-cam search.
Great review! I am searching for a Home Theater setup for an apartment with a small living room and planning on not using high volume most of the times. I do have a full Apple HomeKit setup/ecosystem. Would you recommend a pair of HomePods or a set of Sonos Beam Gen 2 + 2x Sonos One SL? I just cannot think of any other use case for the AppleTV 4K since my LG C2 already has apps for most of the streaming services. I am also a bit worried for the latency when wirelessly connecting HomePods and playing PS5 in comparison to directly connecting the HDMI eARC to Sonos. Sonos setup would cost me 700 euros since it’s now on offer. On the other hand a pair of Homepods + AppleTV 4K would cost around 800. Thanks 🙏
Thanks! Considering you plan to use your PS5 in this setup, I've latency can be an issue with HomePods. I'd recommend the Sonos Beam, and Era 100s for the rear! Personally, I would choose a sub mini over the rear speakers, but if your environment doesn't allow for higher volumes (and bass may annoy others) go with the rears.
@@beardfm Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention that I will anyway need to purchase an Apple Home hub since I currently don’t have one. So maybe in this case I could get away with just the Homepod mini? Being an Apple fanboy I kinda wanted the Homepod to be better than Sonos 😆
been using homepod 1 since launch and the biggest problem with it is that you have to put it at a very specific place in your room to get the best sound out of it if its too close you will hear the punchy bass but not the deep bass! I hate and also love the fact the its tweeters are placed in 360. To get the best sound out of it you have place it a little far from you, on a hard surface(wooden prefered) with no other object placed atleast 2 Metre from it and at atleast your waist level !
that is how all speakers are. there is the Triangle rule, bass trap rule, and so on. the first one is that all 3 (the 2 speakers and you) are equal distance from each other in a triangle. so for example if the speakers are 5 feet from each other than the sweet spot would be 5 feet away from the speaker in the middle.
Hello and thanks for this video, I don't know if it could work but have you ever tried with 4 HomePods to generate the audio scene with sound even from surrounds? It would still be a very clean solution and would avoid buying an amplifier
It’s not going to produce the proper surround layout that way. I’d say stick with the Bose or repurpose that and get a pair for home theater by themselves
You are the person that can give the BEST answer on this question i keep having. Im buying an apartment soon. Should i keep my sonos arc + sub mini + ones as surround? Or should i go 5.1.4 atmos with a receiver? How much better does the 5.1.4 sound? Since you pretty much tested it all and u must know :)
I would say depends on the room size, but if it’s not too large I’d stick with the Sonia setup. You’ll still have virtual Atmos and it’s less finicky than a full receiver
You also need to get an Apple TV 4K to watch movies with 2 HomePods, so the comparison should take into account this increased cost. Personally, I am happy with Sonos setup - thank you for the excellent review!
Stephen, thanks for the excellent review. Do you know if I can put two stereo-linked pairs of HomePods in the same room (four total speakers). I just want to listen to music, but want to fill the space with sound.
Hi Steven! You’re welcome. And you can have two “pairs” in the same room, and then using AirPlay, send the same audio to all four speakers, but you can’t group four together to appear as one set.
This is the review I’ve been looking for. I did want the comparisons to the Sonos products mentioned and I only care about a pair of speakers. And a great presentation.
Thanks! I'm not quite sure, can I have the Dolby Atmos surround effect in only 2 Homepod-2 speakers? Doesn't the effect need rear and back speakers? Are they creating only a virtual surround effect?
Apple claims two HomePod 2s can do “Dolby Atmos” virtually. Sonos Arc and Beam claim the same thing with no rear speakers. For a theater experience the Sonos sound bars do a better job faking it.
When you say "a larger room" just how big are you talking about? My home theater/gameroom is 16'x42'. Do they pump out enough sound for a room that size? Or, do I need to go with a Sonos 7.1 type system.
That’s a big room. I have my Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 in a room similar to that, but I don’t think a pair of HomePods would do it. Arc + Sub is probably a better option for you there
Thank you! I may be able to summarize here honestly: HP1 has stronger bass presence but dialogue and highs lose clarity. HP2 still has good bass and explosions/action sounds great, but dialogue and highs have greater clarity.
I would say depending on the size of your room where you’re placing HomePods plays a big factor. I have 2 in my bedroom and 2 in my living room so when I’m not using my 7.1 Sony surround system I have good sound from the tv. But I will say the HomePods in the bedroom sound better due to a lower ceiling and a smaller room. I’ve gotten that surround affect from the bedroom HomePods but not so much from the living room ones. So you’re a person with a small or medium size living room with not a lot of space or just don’t want a full system set up. HomePods are definitely a great choice.
Dude, great job on the review. I hate to say it but this was the review I think most people were looking for. The big channels MKBHD's and others only focused on Siri and not Stereo Pair which I believe apple is pushing for. Well done.
Good review! I personally switched from a beam with 2 surrounds no sub to the HomePod 2's. I feel for movie watching for me it outshined. It's a combination of better lows, the clarity of voices when a lot is going on and looks of the system.
Cool, just wandering if you have them connected trough an Apple TV? That’s the thing that bothers me, because I’m pretty satisfied with the lg c1 Apple TV app and buying an Apple TV just to get the HomePods to work properly with the tv for movies and videogames seems too expensive…
@@mastergoncalo personally the apple tv is a fantastic product also, especially compared to using the tv apps. I find the tv's to be extremely slow. The apple tv is extremely fast and snappy.
I have already invested in Sonos throughout my house, Beam with 2 Ones as surrounds and sub bass for my tv / movie set up and I love it. But in my kitchen and to place elsewhere I have a pair of Moves for my music listening, how do a pair of HomePods compare to a pair of Moves?
Very interesting review. I have a Beam Gen 1 (no sub). I found the 2x HomePods lacking in fullness, almost a little tinny / laptop speaker-like and certainly less loud. Did you not find that? Also, if you stream from an app on Apple TV that only supports PCM Stereo, the HomePods take this tinnyness to another level, and you can almost speak over their max volume. Switch to the beam and it sounded so much more “full”. Super intrigued to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks for the review 👍
The Beam sounds great, for sure, but I think HomePods offer a better bass sound. The new HomePods do have a different higher end sound than the OG…may be worth a follow up
All in on Sonos in the living room, Arc, 2 S1 & the big Sub. Drop connectivity was a pain in the ass… solved with boost device from Sonos, Arc is ethernet connected to boost device. 2 OG HomePods in the kitchen, 2 in the master bedroom & 1 in the bathroom….. quality sound is my number one priority, Sonos & HomePod have checked that box.
Thanks for a great video. As someone with the new HomePod and a Gen 1, can you tell us if you can put a Gen1 and Gen 2 into a Stereo pair? Used to have 2 Gen1s, but one recently died so would like to be able to create a pair again.
What about volume level? The HomePods don’t seem to get very loud with atmos content unless I put at max volume, and even then it’s not as loud as other speakers I’ve heard. Is the arc louder than HomePods?
When my A/V receiver died, I decided to ditch my 30 year old 5.1 system and replace it with the latest Apple TV and 2 new HomePods. The base is not as strong as a 15” sub-woofer of course, 10 lbs. of speakers vs 150 lbs. of speakers make a difference 😅. The new sounds almost as good and is neater and easier to maintain, plus I can tell to dim the lights for movie watching.
On the chance this comment is seen on an old video. I live in an apartment. I currently have an Arc and a pair of OneSL ( no sub ) for surrounds. I’m thinking of replacing it with a pair of HomePods 2. Thoughts?
Hm, that's a tough one. Pair of HomePods will do well, but if you added a sub mini (which costs less than 2 HomePods), it would sound amazing with that Arc. If your priority is Siri and smart home stuff, then HomePods may be a better option.
@@beardfm thanks for the reply. I have homepod minis everywhere so Siri is more than taken care of. I’m slightly concerned with the sub mini making my neighbours miserable
I live in a townhouse that has a 20x10 living room with 20 foot ceiling. It’s my first owned house, so I’m fine doing any wiring that needs to be installed. But I’m really struggling between the HomePod 2’s or a full surround system from Sonos. Just can’t decide how the ceiling height will affect the sound.
I have 12' ceilings in a room with Sonos Arc and the Sub Gen3 and it sounds great. For your size room, the HomePods may not have the power needed to make a great theater affect. Sonos may be a better option.
Probably not the right place to ask, but for those of you using HomePods with a television... Do you have any sense of their being a center channel? I have a larger room, it would seem the required separation would make the lack of a center painfully obvious. Coming from an Arc/Sub which sounds horrible in this room, (30' ceilings, odd shape room).
Great review! exactly what I was looking for. As far as the Siri responses between OG HP vs HP2 - my OG HomePod responded faster than your HP2, so something is definitely up with your network. OG HomePod is not that slow for sure!!!
i pick up 2 OG homepods when the apple tv supported earc. Got them $150 each new. so $300 total. been thinking about upgrading to really nice system but haven't found anything that will work with my needs just yet. So my $300 setup stays till apple not longer supports the OG homepods lol
Even after 2 generation upgrades of Apple TV, I’ve been having issues using Dolby Atmos between Apple TV and Sonos Beam 2….causes a loud pop followed by a restart of the Apple TV and Sonos beam. Both sonos and apple support advice was to turn off Dolby Atmos in Apple TV. 😒 Been considering a pair of HomePods 2 to replace the Sonos beam. Did you experience any delay between audio and video being that there is no wired connection between HomePods and Apple TV?
The only thing that I don't like about this review is that the price comparison hasn't considered that you need apple TV. Otherwise fantastic review, please keep them coming
I have the OG HomePods in a pair. They are quick. Never had the experience you demonstrated. It’s been fantastic, but before Siri got updated it was frustrating
I don't think they will, unfortunately. The bass in the HomePod 2 is probably enough for most people, although I would love to see them make a sound bar or sub!
If homepod stereo and sonos arc playing together, how is that combination towards dolby atmos movie effects with apple tv? Please let me know. Another combination:homepod stereo plus sonos SL.
@@beardfm you are right. Since sonos arc is lacking the bass and homepod stereo is lacking the rear sound, I am thinking to combine this two to complete the whole. What will be the effect of this combination in atmos content? Please practically hear this combo and let me know.
I am looking for a home theatre solution and I am a little overwhelmed. Well more of a "home cinema" solution if you will. Right now I have my eyes on the Samsung Q990C which is ranked as number one for the best surround sound bar system and the Bose 900 sound bar + Bass Module and satellite speakers which was ranked 1 by rtings as number 1 before the Samsung one came out. However, there are also non soundbar solutions such as the Enclave CineHome PRO 5.1 THX certified system or the Klipsch referecne 5.1 line of speakers. What are the advantages of a sound bar surround vs a traditional receiver based speaker setup? Also I think I want a Dolby Atmos system but there are receiver based systems like the Enclave that do not support it, but Klipsch and Polk do. Dolby Atmos is a virtual surround technology so does it matter if a traditional receiver based surround sound does not support it since the receiver based systems surround you with actual speakers anyway?
Little known fact. You can add a subwoofer by using an Apple AirPort Express and a RCA to 3.5mm cable. Enable it in "Temporary Audi Output". I have mine hooked up to a Klipsch R-12SW and it sounds fantastic!
Hello brother, I just watch your Vlog. can you please tell me if I used to HomePod with the Sonos SL rear speaker my room is 10 x 10 and I am using with Apple box to make a Dolby at song thank you.
I currently have 2 homepods mini on my tv (small living room) and I was thinking about getting a Sonos Arc. The pair of homepods is very nice but lots of times is a nightmare, suddenly I realize that only one is playing music, when they are perfectly connected, I don’t know, lot’s of times is unreliable for me, and also I cannot use them with my steam deck and nintendo switch. But after this video im still confused.
Since you already have HomePod mini for Siri and smart home features, a Sonos sound bar would serve you well. But I would get a Sonos Beam + Sub mini before just an arc by itself
does the homepod have to be placed beside the tv? if it were placed behind the tv audience will it have a huge difference? or does it asks during setup where it will be placed?
The speakers are tuned to be in front of the viewers, that being said, in my old bedroom we had a pair of homepods setup behind us and it sounded fine. Dolby Atmos and virtual surround gets a little off but it can work.
Actually apple spatial audio sounds better if you are closer. In home theater setup the speakers will sound better on either side of the sofa facing the tv , where the listener is seated
Paid $1600 for a Sonos setup in 2014. It included a sound bar, sub woofer and two Play 2’s. Sounded incredible! Only thing that really bothered me was the audio would occasionally ‘skip’. I thought oh its just a bug. Sonos will fix it. Years later and different WiFi routers later it still skipped from time to time. Found out that it needed some kind of esoteric protocol called STP or “Spanning Tree Protocol”. I’m not a networking geek. Will never buy them again. Once burned.
Sonos creates its own mesh network called the SonosNET, which creates its own network for all the sonos speakers in your home to connect to. it does this to reduce latency as well as improve connection to the speaker if it happens to be further away from the router. if all of your speakers are too far from the router, you needed a sonos boost adapter, placed somewhere between your router and your speakers. OR. you needed atleast one speaker, attached through ethernet so it can act as an access point for the rest of the speakers. Sorry to hear that it wasn’t a great experience. but sonos is freakin awesome and I encourage you to give it one more chance lol.
Great video and I really like the comparison of the HomePod with Sonos and a home theater system. Thank you for that 😀👍. Your comparison give me a better understanding of the sound of the new HomePod because I have a 5.1 home theater system and four Sonos one in my apartment.
Finally someone reviewed this use case properly!!! So many reviews reading off stats you already know… and this was the right speaker comparisons thanks!!
Thanks so much 🙏🏻
We had a 1st gen Echo in our master bathroom for listening to music in the morning th-cam.com/users/postUgkxABghAEkaIDGZfHRBH3D3rBrlraNmnC71 and while in the shower. I didn't realize how tinny and awful the sound output on the original Echo was until we replaced it with the Studio. It was a sonic upgrade far beyond what I was expecting. Just wow. I love it because it's like having speakers IN the shower. My friend likes it because the music is so loud that she can no longer hear me singing. So that's a win-win.
I enjoy mine for sure!
This is hands-down the best review of the new HomePods on TH-cam. I liked the comparison to the OG and to Sonos and even 7.1 surround, with how well each handles music, movies, AirPlay, etc… Bravo!
Thanks so much! Appreciate that
Truth.
The Homepod pair sounds kinda perfect for small apartments where you don't want a subwoofer on the floor and don't have that big of a room to fill but still want Atmos/spacial audio... i really wasn't thinking that these would be worth considering but damn
For that kind of setup, HomePod 2 pair *would* be ideal.
Hoping one day Apple allows for more than 2 HomePods or HomePod Minis to work together for an even better Atmos surround setup!
They allow multiple stereo HomePods to work together
@@Anonyme09865 Right, but that's not technically surround. it's just duplicating the front channels.
@@WillTung yep. But with Dolby atmos content you can amplify your experience
I’m only 2.5 mins in and I can tell this is the best most practical review there is
Thank you!
Great review.
I have Sonos setup, and what I like about Sonos is the ability to expand whenever you want. I started with sonos one g2 then after few months added arc then sub, and now having a great time watching movies with family and always impress friends. Was considering HomePods but very hard to drop $600 for two speakers that can never be expanded and stuck with two speakers that will always lack against front and rear speakers.
That’s a good point. And I have enjoyed adding Sonos speakers (like the move) for various use cases around the house.
I'm in the same boat. The rear speakers in a Sonos setup (even if they are only two One SL's) make an incredible difference. Also being able to allow the system to grow with you is really nice. Especially now that the new Sonos Era speakers have just been announced.
Same here. Also, not sure if the sub is even necessary for the Sonos system if we want to compare it with the HomePod. Sounds pretty great without it as well.
2 sonos and a beam gen2 I think it’s the best solution if you don’t want to spend a lot of money
amazing review. I’ve watched probably 20+ reviews from the HomePod 2 and this is the best by a mile.
tech reviews are getting lost in the technical facts and stats. I love that you just gave real life scenarios and your own opinions. I would love to see you review more things I think you have a unique perspective that is needed.
The only thing I wish you would’ve touched on was basic TV watching, and maybe sports e watching with the HomePods
Appreciate the kind words 🙏🏻 and will keep those use cases in mind for the future!
This is a really excellent review. Thanks. Now my gripes ;) I realize it blows the budget, but when you add a couple of Sonos Ones to the Arc and Sub Gen 3, you get a whole new world that a pair of HomePods can't really touch. So your comparison is quite valid without surrounds. Again, the Sonos budget is WAY higher than a pair of HomePods, and there's no surround option, so I understand that it's not really fair. Also, as a side note, I used to lose the Sonos sub and a surround randomly until I wired the Arc, and then cleaned up (bought a better ethernet router) my networking. I also did your weather test with my OG HomePods, and they responded as quickly as your Gen 2s. I'm not defending Siri, but I've never really had a problem with it.
I LOVE my HomePods for music. I use Sonos for Home Theatre. If a person only wants a soundbar, then the HomePods are an excellent choice.
One thing to add as someone who owns all of these products is that the Sonos Arc and Sub combo can get earth-shatteringly loud compared to the HomePods. I’ve been really impressed with my HomePods but I have an open concept living room and wish they got louder. Max volume on them is like 65% on the Sonos Arc.
💯
Do you agree with what he says that the pair of Homepods sounds better than Arc alone? I live in an apartment and have already had issues with my neighbour downstair over noise complaints. I don’t think I can add a sub, lol, so I’m debating between a pair of homepods and the arc alone.
@@jonathanjuha2329 same here
@@jonathanjuha2329 yea subs are not apartmentfriendly
I’m not sure I’d ever want to listen to earth-shatteringly loud audio, so not sure what the benefit of the capability is other than to say it can be done.
Stephen Robles - Currently have a Beam Gen 1 and looking to upgrade. Started considering the HomePod 2 pair for something that just blends in with decor. Thanks for sharing the perspective.
What TV mount are you using for the Sonos Beam? We are moving our Sonos Beam to the workout room.
The Sanus mount! You can get it at Best Buy or from Sonos: www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sanus-tv-mount-beam
Cost was a big factor and I couldn’t justify over $1,000 for sound. So I went with two HomePod Gen 2’s. Overall I think they sound great for my use case and replaced my old LG soundbar.
I factor in to these just came out and will receive years of new updates.
I still love my pair of HomePod 2s, incredible value!
Just wanted to let you know something I discovered about the bass on the HP2. The bass on the HP1 was the defining reason on my returning the HP1 (my wife said ‘we’re not keeping that).
I just go my 2 x HP2 today and the bass is excellent IMHO… really present and noticeable. However if you have a smaller TV room like mine, it may be too much. BUT there is a reasonable solution. In the Home app on the IPhone (IPad) when you go into the HomePod 2 section there is an option to ‘reduce bass’ which does not eliminate the bass but significantly reduces what might be called that bass ‘thump’ which is prevalent in some music and shows. Hope this info is useful to you and your fellow viewers.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing
Bonjour, vous voulez dire que les basses du HomePod première génération sonnais mal ?
Dude, you are like the only reviewer who has made a comparison on speed of response. Of course sound on both is good, but the speed on H1 is at times glacial. Gets lost sometimes, plays one thing when it clearly acknowledges I asked it to play another.
Thanks dude.
Thanks for watching, and appreciate that!
First, I’ve got that shirt and the other one. Secondly, I’m so happy to hear a review from someone who listens to classical music. I’ve got a small basement theater/living space where the couch will be maybe 10-12ft from where the TV will be. This is a newly finished space so nothing there yet but, I’m vacillating between sound bar / sub and a pair of homepods. Your review was so helpful so thank you for doing it.
Glad it was helpful! And good to hear from another classical music aficionado 😉
I'm currently running two original HomePods and two Minis for home theater through Apple TV 4K. However, I've got the big Pods about four feet from the sides of the TV as left and right channels, one Mini mounted centrally above the TV and one Mini as a rear channel. The HomePods are paired for stereo and the Minis are individual. I raise the Mini volume above the TV to emphasize the center channel effect while the rear one is lower to provide some spatial impression. Add the Dolby Atmos mix from the HomePods and I've got this quasi-surround sound thing that works reasonably well. Of course, I should just go full 7.1 home theater, but I'm so fully immersed in the Apple universe, I can't escape! 😉
This is the best most comprehensive review on the new HomePod I've watched. Well done Stephen!
I’ve now watched a couple of your reviews and really appreciate your overviews of Sonos and HomePod 2s. I have stereo pair of original HomePods playing my tv and music. I also have NAD 3028 integrated amp and book shelve speakers for vinyl. The HP1s sound great but I have been in perpetual hunt for something that might be even better. Your reviews have helped me immensely as I will put aside Sonos hunt and instead focus on HPd2s upgrade for tv and purchase a pair of KEF Metas for vinyl. Subbed and looking forward to going back through your content and eagerly awaiting new stuff too.
Thanks a lot Chris, I’m glad it been helpful 🙏🏻
You just gain a new fan! This is so detail and hands down the best comparison video I have seen. Thank you so much for making my buying decision super easy. Thanks thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Great review! I have the OG HomePod in my bedroom and two HomePod minis for my home theater system. It was lacking bass obviously with their size but i recently bought a used AirPort Express with airplay 2 compatibility and connected it to a spare powered sub I had laying around and now it sounds amazing.
Great video!
Which version of Apple TV is required to run a pair of HomePod 2’s?
Any Apple TV 4K can do it!
The potential deal breaker for me is the inability to have rear speakers with the HomePod setup.
It'd be great if they add the ability to have a second pair of HomePods (or a pair of home minis I guess) as rears which would turn the system into something like the Sony HT-A9.
Or - might as well shoot for the moon while I'm dreaming - add a version of the apple tv that has a Sonos Beam-like soundbar integrated into it, and turn the homepod pair as rears. That'd be better to reduce reliance on wifi and latency (since for movies and games the bulk is through the front which would not go through the wifi). That's an entire new product but hey, a man can dream.
I agree! An Apple sound bar with ability to mix HomePod pairs for front and rear speakers would be huge
I’m there with you. I’m wanting apple to do a software update to use two minis as rears and HomePods as fronts. That way when I’m done I can put the minis back in my bedroom. Best bang for buck honestly.
Great review, very in-depth. Just wondering if you need to say that you'll need an Apple TV to go with the HomePods as there's no other connection method for movies unless I missing something. No HDMI input from your TV
You’re right and definitely should have mentioned.
How is HomePod audio delay when watching a movie on the Apple TV?
No delay for me. Better than my Samsung soundbar via arc!
ditched Spotify, sold 2 sonos ones and 1 beam, got 2 Hompods 2. Already have AppleTV4k and apple Music. now i´m happy. Siri gets the song I ask for every time, Alexa not always (sonos)
Love my HomePods for sure!
Man the best review I've seen on TH-cam. It's cool that you made such a material. You answered all the questions I had. Thanks.
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏
Great video thanks! I'm coming from an old Samsung HT-E6750W surround sound (not using the rear speakers tho). Do you think HomePods around loud enough in a bigger space, say 5m viewing distance?
Thanks! Depends on how big the actual room is, but I've found their volume sufficient for many different sizes. If you're considering Sonos for home theater, here's my video breaking down all their options too: th-cam.com/video/CrkbLsKRiDY/w-d-xo.html
Great review! I have OG HomePods in bedroom and the full a7000 Sony soundbar w sun and surrounds. I swear HomePods sound better sometimes its impressive
I forgot you had a true Atmos setup, Andrew is always talking about wireless options on th e HK podcast. But when it comes down to it nothing beats a wire 5.1.2+ setup. Great review.
True Atmos has been a longtime dream, love mine. Thanks for watching!
Great review. One part of the Sonos ecosystem you didn’t discuss (and what keeps me using their stuff) is that you can buy Sonos products to connect to your existing audio equipment, such as outdoor speakers or a turntable. They are also cross platform and offered seamless multi-room playback decades before Apple did. They also have a broad range of speakers that appeal to many budgets… which makes me wonder how the Sonos one compares to the HomePod mini or big HomePod to Sonos five… 🤔
Great point, and for many the Sonos amp is the *best* solution for things like turntables, etc. I don't have a Sonos 5 personally but would love to compare to the new HomePods.
I have a Sonos Arc complete set up (with rear SLs and the sub), and it is incredible. But what can't be understated is how amazing their seamless pairing between rooms is. I have a Turntable connected to a Sonos 5 and Sub Mini in another room, and having my turntable instantly play to my Arc setup in another room is so good. Or having the audio from my TV playing on any other Sonos speaker in the house so I can still listen to a show while I'm walking around my house is pretty great. Basically I feel like I'm getting a comparable or better experience to what one of my relatives has at their home with an overpriced high maintenance Control4 system.
Would two HomePods be overkill for a small bedroom with a 42” LG C2? Or should I just get a Beam (I don’t want a sub). Thanks!
Oops, if it was me being totally in the Apple ecosystem, I'd go with a pair of HomePods. This way you can still request Siri play music or set reminders while you're in the room.
Great video😊.
I have one comment: In my opinion, two things were not discussed enough: firstly, the HomePods only really make sense as a TV setup if you already own an Apple TV. Otherwise, this would have to be included in the price, because otherwise I don't see any way to (permanently) connect the HomePods to an existing TV setup?
In addition, compared to Apple, Sonos offers the option of expanding the setup at any time, so you can start with a Sonos Arc, for example, and then add a subwoofer and rear speakers. Unfortunately, the Sonos Arc with the small subwoofer was not included in the comparison in the video, which I think is an interesting setup in terms of price, especially for apartments.
Thank you, and good points! I addresses some of these in my follow-up videos: th-cam.com/video/CrkbLsKRiDY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=bYoRorHMu4cSUHbs
hi, great review. I have an apple TV 4K and bose soundbar 900. How is the bose soundbar in comparison to Sonos and new homepods setup. Is it worth getting the Bose surround 700 speaker to pair with my current soundbar?? I mostly use the setup for movies.
Thanks! Unfortunately I have no experience with the Bose sound bars. If there’s a Bose sub option I’d consider that before surrounds
Nice review, want to hear about the clear voice with the new update
Will be trying out next week when it launches!
I had issues with my HomePod minis losing connection, seeming to unpair, and other general weirdness. Then I moved one of them away from a wall where there was a metal filing cabinet on the other side. All issues gone. So if you're experiencing connectivity issues, try changing speaker locations. Could be someinhting in, or behind, the wall, causing problems.
Good point. My HomePods have been fine and Sonos sun is against drywall, but may move away a little
Thanks for the review. You sold me on picking up another Homepod vs. just it by itself.
Stereo pair is great!
Hello Stephan ! I have a question I hope you can answer soon! I was wondering to get an homepod 2 and homepod 1(for bass) for tv and music listening. Would you recommend a pair of homepods 2's or homepod 2 with a homepod 1 ?
I don't have any speakers besides my pebbles that I dont even use and I really want a good experience with watching TV and listening to Music, I got an newer Iphone too.
Cheers Sune
Hi Sune! Unfortunately you can’t pair a gen 1 and gen 2 HomePod together, they both have to be the same generation. Considering the speed improvements of the HomePod 2, and they still have good bass, I’d go with the newer versions.
Hands down the best video when needing to know or thinking about if you should buy 1 or 2 HomePods. This video should have been #1 in the TH-cam search.
Wow, appreciate that!
This is the comparison review I’ve been looking for. Thank you!!
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Just Great review. I was wondering if it was worthly to change my sonos one’s to homepod….. dilema answered.!
This is the type of home theater review I needed to see. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review, thank you. I think you really need to be including the cost of the Apple tv in the 2x Homepod movie experience.
Appreciate that! And yes, should've mentioned that. Thanks
Great review. But did you factor in the cost of Apple TV 4K for Home Theatre mode?
Very true, that’s an additional $99 at least
Great review! I am searching for a Home Theater setup for an apartment with a small living room and planning on not using high volume most of the times.
I do have a full Apple HomeKit setup/ecosystem. Would you recommend a pair of HomePods or a set of Sonos Beam Gen 2 + 2x Sonos One SL? I just cannot think of any other use case for the AppleTV 4K since my LG C2 already has apps for most of the streaming services. I am also a bit worried for the latency when wirelessly connecting HomePods and playing PS5 in comparison to directly connecting the HDMI eARC to Sonos.
Sonos setup would cost me 700 euros since it’s now on offer. On the other hand a pair of Homepods + AppleTV 4K would cost around 800.
Thanks 🙏
Thanks! Considering you plan to use your PS5 in this setup, I've latency can be an issue with HomePods. I'd recommend the Sonos Beam, and Era 100s for the rear! Personally, I would choose a sub mini over the rear speakers, but if your environment doesn't allow for higher volumes (and bass may annoy others) go with the rears.
@@beardfm Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention that I will anyway need to purchase an Apple Home hub since I currently don’t have one. So maybe in this case I could get away with just the Homepod mini? Being an Apple fanboy I kinda wanted the Homepod to be better than Sonos 😆
been using homepod 1 since launch and the biggest problem with it is that you have to put it at a very specific place in your room to get the best sound out of it if its too close you will hear the punchy bass but not the deep bass! I hate and also love the fact the its tweeters are placed in 360. To get the best sound out of it you have place it a little far from you, on a hard surface(wooden prefered) with no other object placed atleast 2 Metre from it and at atleast your waist level !
that is how all speakers are. there is the Triangle rule, bass trap rule, and so on. the first one is that all 3 (the 2 speakers and you) are equal distance from each other in a triangle.
so for example if the speakers are 5 feet from each other than the sweet spot would be 5 feet away from the speaker in the middle.
Hello and thanks for this video, I don't know if it could work but have you ever tried with 4 HomePods to generate the audio scene with sound even from surrounds? It would still be a very clean solution and would avoid buying an amplifier
That would be great, unfortunately Apple TV will only do home theater sound with a max of two.
@@beardfm And of course he can't play the surround sound even with Dolby atmos, right?
What if you have Bose system and you will pair two HomePods? Would that be an overkill? Just curious.
It’s not going to produce the proper surround layout that way. I’d say stick with the Bose or repurpose that and get a pair for home theater by themselves
In regards to cost, not to forget you need Apple TV 4K as well if you’re using HomePods for TV/film
You are the person that can give the BEST answer on this question i keep having. Im buying an apartment soon. Should i keep my sonos arc + sub mini + ones as surround? Or should i go 5.1.4 atmos with a receiver? How much better does the 5.1.4 sound? Since you pretty much tested it all and u must know :)
I would say depends on the room size, but if it’s not too large I’d stick with the Sonia setup. You’ll still have virtual Atmos and it’s less finicky than a full receiver
You also need to get an Apple TV 4K to watch movies with 2 HomePods, so the comparison should take into account this increased cost. Personally, I am happy with Sonos setup - thank you for the excellent review!
I have a first gen Apple TV and they work fine
Stephen, thanks for the excellent review. Do you know if I can put two stereo-linked pairs of HomePods in the same room (four total speakers). I just want to listen to music, but want to fill the space with sound.
Hi Steven! You’re welcome. And you can have two “pairs” in the same room, and then using AirPlay, send the same audio to all four speakers, but you can’t group four together to appear as one set.
@@beardfmthanks so much for your help; I’ll give it a try! I’ll continue to watch your channel as I set up my smart home.
Very nicely produced but probably need to add the cost of Apple TV 4K to HomePods for fair comparison.
And how does perform the Sonos Arc as a standalone soundbar (currently for around 800$/€ I guess) against two HomePods in your opinion?
It’s a great sound bar. I honesty think it doesn’t have as good bass as two HomePods, but if you ever consider adding a sub mini get the arc
This is the review I’ve been looking for. I did want the comparisons to the Sonos products mentioned and I only care about a pair of speakers. And a great presentation.
Thank you!
My OG HomePod is responding as fast as the new HomePod in your video. Maybe the issue is more in the network and not in the HomePod itself?
Thanks! I'm not quite sure, can I have the Dolby Atmos surround effect in only 2 Homepod-2 speakers? Doesn't the effect need rear and back speakers? Are they creating only a virtual surround effect?
Apple claims two HomePod 2s can do “Dolby Atmos” virtually. Sonos Arc and Beam claim the same thing with no rear speakers. For a theater experience the Sonos sound bars do a better job faking it.
When you say "a larger room" just how big are you talking about? My home theater/gameroom is 16'x42'. Do they pump out enough sound for a room that size? Or, do I need to go with a Sonos 7.1 type system.
That’s a big room. I have my Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 in a room similar to that, but I don’t think a pair of HomePods would do it. Arc + Sub is probably a better option for you there
Thanks for a very complete review of HP2 vs. Sonos. Can you do a complete review of HP1 vs. HP2 in pairs as a home theater replacement?
Thank you! I may be able to summarize here honestly: HP1 has stronger bass presence but dialogue and highs lose clarity. HP2 still has good bass and explosions/action sounds great, but dialogue and highs have greater clarity.
@@beardfm Thanks, BT. For the difference in price, I may opt for a set of HP1s.
Good review! I think the verdict is to stick with my OG pair with its seven tweeters vs replacing them with the HomePod 2
I would say depending on the size of your room where you’re placing HomePods plays a big factor. I have 2 in my bedroom and 2 in my living room so when I’m not using my 7.1 Sony surround system I have good sound from the tv. But I will say the HomePods in the bedroom sound better due to a lower ceiling and a smaller room. I’ve gotten that surround affect from the bedroom HomePods but not so much from the living room ones. So you’re a person with a small or medium size living room with not a lot of space or just don’t want a full system set up. HomePods are definitely a great choice.
Dude, great job on the review. I hate to say it but this was the review I think most people were looking for. The big channels MKBHD's and others only focused on Siri and not Stereo Pair which I believe apple is pushing for. Well done.
Wow, appreciate that 🙏
Good review! I personally switched from a beam with 2 surrounds no sub to the HomePod 2's. I feel for movie watching for me it outshined. It's a combination of better lows, the clarity of voices when a lot is going on and looks of the system.
So you would recommend using the HomePod 2 paired for movies?
Nice! And I agree, a pair of HomePods beat out a Beam alone for movies!
Cool, just wandering if you have them connected trough an Apple TV? That’s the thing that bothers me, because I’m pretty satisfied with the lg c1 Apple TV app and buying an Apple TV just to get the HomePods to work properly with the tv for movies and videogames seems too expensive…
@@beardfm un beam o un beam 2 generación?
@@mastergoncalo personally the apple tv is a fantastic product also, especially compared to using the tv apps. I find the tv's to be extremely slow. The apple tv is extremely fast and snappy.
I have already invested in Sonos throughout my house, Beam with 2 Ones as surrounds and sub bass for my tv / movie set up and I love it. But in my kitchen and to place elsewhere I have a pair of Moves for my music listening, how do a pair of HomePods compare to a pair of Moves?
HomePod 2 is better than a Move, and a pair will blow the Move away! I have a move and really like it, but more for outdoor and wireless scenarios
Very interesting review. I have a Beam Gen 1 (no sub). I found the 2x HomePods lacking in fullness, almost a little tinny / laptop speaker-like and certainly less loud. Did you not find that?
Also, if you stream from an app on Apple TV that only supports PCM Stereo, the HomePods take this tinnyness to another level, and you can almost speak over their max volume. Switch to the beam and it sounded so much more “full”. Super intrigued to hear your thoughts on this!
Thanks for the review 👍
The Beam sounds great, for sure, but I think HomePods offer a better bass sound. The new HomePods do have a different higher end sound than the OG…may be worth a follow up
All in on Sonos in the living room, Arc, 2 S1 & the big Sub. Drop connectivity was a pain in the ass… solved with boost device from Sonos, Arc is ethernet connected to boost device. 2 OG HomePods in the kitchen, 2 in the master bedroom & 1 in the bathroom….. quality sound is my number one priority, Sonos & HomePod have checked that box.
Thanks for a great video. As someone with the new HomePod and a Gen 1, can you tell us if you can put a Gen1 and Gen 2 into a Stereo pair? Used to have 2 Gen1s, but one recently died so would like to be able to create a pair again.
Unfortunately you can't. Can only Pair Gen 2 with Gen 2 or Gen 1 or Gen 1
Finally someone that tested them properly and has sound advice. A pair of HomePods are a great value!
Thanks Rod!
Great review with practical product comparisons. I am not in the market for HomePods, but this review has me thinking about it. Subbed.
Would you recommend a stereo pair of Homepod Minis for a desktop audio setup?
What about volume level? The HomePods don’t seem to get very loud with atmos content unless I put at max volume, and even then it’s not as loud as other speakers I’ve heard. Is the arc louder than HomePods?
Fair point. Arc can get louder, but really needs a dedicated sub to have clarity. Arc will get muddy by itself.
When my A/V receiver died, I decided to ditch my 30 year old 5.1 system and replace it with the latest Apple TV and 2 new HomePods. The base is not as strong as a 15” sub-woofer of course, 10 lbs. of speakers vs 150 lbs. of speakers make a difference 😅. The new sounds almost as good and is neater and easier to maintain, plus I can tell to dim the lights for movie watching.
On the chance this comment is seen on an old video.
I live in an apartment. I currently have an Arc and a pair of OneSL ( no sub ) for surrounds. I’m thinking of replacing it with a pair of HomePods 2. Thoughts?
Hm, that's a tough one. Pair of HomePods will do well, but if you added a sub mini (which costs less than 2 HomePods), it would sound amazing with that Arc. If your priority is Siri and smart home stuff, then HomePods may be a better option.
@@beardfm thanks for the reply. I have homepod minis everywhere so Siri is more than taken care of.
I’m slightly concerned with the sub mini making my neighbours miserable
I live in a townhouse that has a 20x10 living room with 20 foot ceiling. It’s my first owned house, so I’m fine doing any wiring that needs to be installed. But I’m really struggling between the HomePod 2’s or a full surround system from Sonos. Just can’t decide how the ceiling height will affect the sound.
I have 12' ceilings in a room with Sonos Arc and the Sub Gen3 and it sounds great. For your size room, the HomePods may not have the power needed to make a great theater affect. Sonos may be a better option.
Hi, if i decide to buy pair of HomePod’s I will be able to use them with ps5? Or do they only work with apple tv?
You need an Apple TV, but if you get one you can use eARC to pipe music from PS5 to TV to Apple TV to HomePods (easier to setup than it sounds).
Probably not the right place to ask, but for those of you using HomePods with a television... Do you have any sense of their being a center channel? I have a larger room, it would seem the required separation would make the lack of a center painfully obvious. Coming from an Arc/Sub which sounds horrible in this room, (30' ceilings, odd shape room).
If an Arc/Sub combo sounds bad then a HomePod pair will not be an improvement. For a unique room like that it may require a bespoke theater setup
Does it work with bluetooth?
No. No Chromecast either. Just Airplay.
Love the comparison, but for someone who doesn't have air play connectivity to my tv, I'd probably do the Sonos route instead.
Great review! exactly what I was looking for. As far as the Siri responses between OG HP vs HP2 - my OG HomePod responded faster than your HP2, so something is definitely up with your network. OG HomePod is not that slow for sure!!!
i pick up 2 OG homepods when the apple tv supported earc. Got them $150 each new. so $300 total. been thinking about upgrading to really nice system but haven't found anything that will work with my needs just yet. So my $300 setup stays till apple not longer supports the OG homepods lol
2 OGs are a great setup!
Great review. The comparison for music playback was what I'd been waiting for. Thanks!
Even after 2 generation upgrades of Apple TV, I’ve been having issues using Dolby Atmos between Apple TV and Sonos Beam 2….causes a loud pop followed by a restart of the Apple TV and Sonos beam. Both sonos and apple support advice was to turn off Dolby Atmos in Apple TV. 😒
Been considering a pair of HomePods 2 to replace the Sonos beam. Did you experience any delay between audio and video being that there is no wired connection between HomePods and Apple TV?
Came here because this video was mentioned in today’s ATP! Guess the t-shirt worked. 🤣😉 Great video! Subscribed!
Appreciate they mentioned it, and thanks for subscribing!
The only thing that I don't like about this review is that the price comparison hasn't considered that you need apple TV. Otherwise fantastic review, please keep them coming
Definitely should have mentioned. Thanks though!
I have the OG HomePods in a pair. They are quick. Never had the experience you demonstrated. It’s been fantastic, but before Siri got updated it was frustrating
Sometimes mine can be quicker to respond, but I also feel like iOS 16 has introduced some bugginess everywhere in the smart home
Do you think Apple will come out with a sub to add for movie watching to compete with the Sonos setups?
I don't think they will, unfortunately. The bass in the HomePod 2 is probably enough for most people, although I would love to see them make a sound bar or sub!
If homepod stereo and sonos arc playing together, how is that combination towards dolby atmos movie effects with apple tv? Please let me know. Another combination:homepod stereo plus sonos SL.
You can’t really combine those. You can get audio playing from all speakers simultaneously but audio channels won’t route properly for Dolby Atmos
@@beardfm you are right. Since sonos arc is lacking the bass and homepod stereo is lacking the rear sound, I am thinking to combine this two to complete the whole. What will be the effect of this combination in atmos content? Please practically hear this combo and let me know.
I am looking for a home theatre solution and I am a little overwhelmed. Well more of a "home cinema" solution if you will. Right now I have my eyes on the Samsung Q990C which is ranked as number one for the best surround sound bar system and the Bose 900 sound bar + Bass Module and satellite speakers which was ranked 1 by rtings as number 1 before the Samsung one came out. However, there are also non soundbar solutions such as the Enclave CineHome PRO 5.1 THX certified system or the Klipsch referecne 5.1 line of speakers. What are the advantages of a sound bar surround vs a traditional receiver based speaker setup? Also I think I want a Dolby Atmos system but there are receiver based systems like the Enclave that do not support it, but Klipsch and Polk do. Dolby Atmos is a virtual surround technology so does it matter if a traditional receiver based surround sound does not support it since the receiver based systems surround you with actual speakers anyway?
Little known fact. You can add a subwoofer by using an Apple AirPort Express and a RCA to 3.5mm cable. Enable it in "Temporary Audi Output". I have mine hooked up to a Klipsch R-12SW and it sounds fantastic!
I used an AirPort Express to play audio from my Apple TV to a pair of Bose bookshelf speakers for a long time! Crazy it still works.
I was thinking about running a sub mini w/ Sonos beam 2 and using my HomePods as rear speakers... is that possible?
It’s not, the HomePods can’t integrate with the Sonos system. But the Bream + Sub mini is a great combo by itself!
@@beardfm so you cant use the Apple TV to connect all 3 devices at the same time?
Hello brother, I just watch your Vlog. can you please tell me if I used to HomePod with the Sonos SL rear speaker my room is 10 x 10 and I am using with Apple box to make a Dolby at song thank you.
Unfortunately you can’t pair HomePods and Sonos speakers into a single theater setup
I currently have 2 homepods mini on my tv (small living room) and I was thinking about getting a Sonos Arc. The pair of homepods is very nice but lots of times is a nightmare, suddenly I realize that only one is playing music, when they are perfectly connected, I don’t know, lot’s of times is unreliable for me, and also I cannot use them with my steam deck and nintendo switch.
But after this video im still confused.
Since you already have HomePod mini for Siri and smart home features, a Sonos sound bar would serve you well. But I would get a Sonos Beam + Sub mini before just an arc by itself
I’m surprised Apple haven’t enabled the HomePod minis as surrounds with 2 HomePods,nice review
That would be nice…
Do you need an Apple TV 4K to pair the 2 homepods?
Nope, you can use a stereo pair without an Apple TV
does the homepod have to be placed beside the tv? if it were placed behind the tv audience will it have a huge difference? or does it asks during setup where it will be placed?
The speakers are tuned to be in front of the viewers, that being said, in my old bedroom we had a pair of homepods setup behind us and it sounded fine. Dolby Atmos and virtual surround gets a little off but it can work.
Actually apple spatial audio sounds better if you are closer. In home theater setup the speakers will sound better on either side of the sofa facing the tv , where the listener is seated
Great video, actually very helpful and answered all my questions. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Trying paring the two HomePod 2 with two minis via appletv share
i searched for a video comparing a high end soundbar but didnt find one thank you for making this video!
Awesome, thanks for watching!
Paid $1600 for a Sonos setup in 2014. It included a sound bar, sub woofer and two Play 2’s. Sounded incredible! Only thing that really bothered me was the audio would occasionally ‘skip’. I thought oh its just a bug. Sonos will fix it. Years later and different WiFi routers later it still skipped from time to time. Found out that it needed some kind of esoteric protocol called STP or “Spanning Tree Protocol”. I’m not a networking geek. Will never buy them again. Once burned.
Ooph, that’s tough. I haven’t experienced that but the flaky connection to the sub gen 3 is a thorn in the side for sure.
Sonos creates its own mesh network called the SonosNET, which creates its own network for all the sonos speakers in your home to connect to. it does this to reduce latency as well as improve connection to the speaker if it happens to be further away from the router. if all of your speakers are too far from the router, you needed a sonos boost adapter, placed somewhere between your router and your speakers. OR. you needed atleast one speaker, attached through ethernet so it can act as an access point for the rest of the speakers.
Sorry to hear that it wasn’t a great experience. but sonos is freakin awesome and I encourage you to give it one more chance lol.
Do you have your setup configured using SonosNet or wifi?
@@jasperverkroost SonosNET
Great video and I really like the comparison of the HomePod with Sonos and a home theater system. Thank you for that 😀👍.
Your comparison give me a better understanding of the sound of the new HomePod because I have a 5.1 home theater system and four Sonos one in my apartment.
Great , genuine, simple and educational review !!!
I appreciate that!