Apple HomePod

The Apple HomePod has very good overall sound quality. Bass has good impact and goes deep but is somewhat prominent and a bit boomy. Midrange is fairly even but is somewhat hazy, a bit grainy and a touch edgy. Treble is extended and fairly detailed but is somewhat subdued and lacks treble air. So-so recovery of room ambience, sounds a bit congested, and lacks fine detail. Provides a decent volume level in a medium to large sized room. The speaker is monophonic. As a stereo pair they can be placed to provide better stereo separation than many other models and the sense of the width and height of the sound increases but tonality and clarity remains pretty much the same as a single HomePod except treble goes from somewhat subdued to slightly subdued and the room recovery is slightly better although it's still in the so-so range - score remains very good.

Versatility is good. It's a monophonic speaker, has multi-room support and stereo pairing with another HomePod. Wireless: WiFi support is dual-band. Bluetooth is available for speakerphone functionality but can't be used to stream content. Communications: Has support for calling, texting and messaging through the connected iOS device with verbal commands to the speaker. Digital Assistant Muting: Lacks a button, switch or touch control to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Siri can be disabled to stop listening with a verbal command "Hey Siri, stop listening"; however, the microphones remain active for the auto calibration of audio and bass response. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and outputs. Audio Tailoring: Has auto calibration, but lacks any user tone controls. OS Support: Less than other models - iOS only. Other connections and features: Lacks USB port. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of several common streaming services such as Pandora, Tune-In, iHeart Radio and Apple Music. Voice ID: Has support for voice identification of up to 6 people - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.

Overall ease of use of the Apple HomePod is very good. Wireless setup: Requires an iOS device with Bluetooth enabled and near the unit to initiate WiFi setup, no app installation required, steps are fairly intuitive. Bluetooth: Easy to use with paired device (Wireless setup and Speakerphone function). Console controls: Lacks volume control label or symbol but some other markings suggest (+/-) that it is a volume control and lacks graphical position marking. Volume may also be controlled via a natural language command which has a index "marking" via verbal command and acknowledgement. Audio mute: Play/pause as mute is an unlabeled multi-function touch surface (not involving volume buttons), well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Microphone mute: Lacks a physical mute control. But Siri can be deactivated by saying "Hey Siri, stop Hey stop listening" and re-activated by touching top of unit and give the command to "Activate Siri" to activate Siri or in the device settings in Home app. Note: Microphones still work while Siri is "muted" to auto calibrate audio and adjust bass level. Source selections: Supports selecting content by voice command from some common streaming providers or once the HomePod Mini is selected for Airplay, switching between 3rd party streaming apps is easy as they automatically get relayed to the speaker. App remote: Has a volume control that initially may be difficult to locate in the Home app HomePod device settings - although it can play/pause by tapping the HomePod Mini icon in the Home app; However, native music app has a prominent volume control slider with a persistent position that lacks specific index markings. Mute: Play/pause as mute in native music app the marking is obvious with clear indication when it is engaged. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.