ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Apologies my apple product is not helping me post.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
BeoNut since '75
The HomePod is of limited interest for most of Europe until it becomes available in more locations.
The sound quality is one crucial aspect of the buying decision, but the user experience also plays a major part for most traditional B&O owners - and I do expect Apple to excel here. B&O still hasn't released the "final" sw-solution to their wireless speaker range, and it's sad that the recommendation in the "firmware" thread seems to be to wire them. That issues will never come up for the HomePod - it will just connect.
The other concern, seen from a B&O perspective, should be the price point: The HomePod will cost approx. 25% less than the BeoLit 17.
Roger
elephant:This thread has been quiet for 10 days - perhaps indicating that the HomePod is a storm in a teacup (or perhaps a kettle !). Anyway I have still been playing with mind and testing tracks that reviewers and MacRumor’s forums have reported. One popular review that generated much debate was Pogue’s blind test of these tracks: * “Star Wars: Imperial March.” Full orchestra, full volume, full of brass. * “Havana” (Camila Cabello). Current pop hit. Distinct bass, drums, piano, and voice. Lots of rhythm. * Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major. All strings, full range of pitches and dynamics. * “Hallelujah” (Pentatonix). A cappella ballad, five voices, very exposed and close to the mikes. * “Helpless” (from “Hamilton”). Broadway pit band, pop sound, female harmonies. Here is a photo of one of my tests ... in a new setting for the HomePod ... an Ikea bookshelf: I did conduct a discrete test with my wife of piano, non-vocal versions of “Havana” and for once she rated the BL6000s below the HomePod ! Finally I tried an artist recommended by someone on MacRumors ... TIPPER ... with three tracks that were um “interesting” 😮 - Scapula - Dead Soon - Six Pak So far I find the HomePod good for background listening and in its current guest bedroom bookshelf position I have been using it while riding our exercise bike ! BeoNut since '75
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
elephant:
Apple is not my cup of coffe but LEGO..
Great AT-AT MOC!
BS A1 2nd gen, BS 1, Beo 1, BL 2, BeoCom 2, 2x LC 2, Form 2, BS 2, Beosound 2, Beplay M3, 2x BS 3, BS 4, 2x Beo 4, BS 5 + CD rip, BM 5, BL 5, BL 6000, Beo 6, BS 6, H6, BL 8000, 2x A8, BV 8-40, H9, 3x A9 Keyring, BL 12 - 3, Serenata, BeoTime, BeoTalk 400, B&O Bottle Opener, BV Eclipse 55 My LEGO
KMA
B&O product history since 1991: Ridiculously long to list in a signature.
KMA:Just got a HomePod from UK, will test it this weekend in my typically moderately-sized Scandinavian living room. A/B comparison with BeoPlay A6 and BeoSound 8. I really do not know what to expect, so this might be fun! I'll do some HomeKit upgrades at the same time. The toys: KMA B&O product history since 1991: Ridiculously long to list in a signature.
Well, I think it won't kill BeoPlay, Because HomePod is just for Apple Music so as for those who play other streaming music, they still have chance for playing their music on other devices, like BeoPlay. BTW, I am Apple Music users, so I might to buy HomePod for my Apple Music.
WilliamsSmith:Well, I think it won't kill BeoPlay, Because HomePod is just for Apple Music so as for those who play other streaming music, they still have chance for playing their music on other devices, like BeoPlay. BTW, I am Apple Music users, so I might to buy HomePod for my Apple Music .
I'm in Canada and homepod is not available here yet. A friend imported one. My first reaction was shock at how small it is. Was expecting something larger. Despite all of Apple's mumbo-jumbo about magical technology, this doesn't even sound as good as Sonos Play:1. And really the only thing I like about the Play:1 is that it moves a lot of air for such a small speaker. My opinion: the raving articles saying people will abandon their stereos for these things are just internet noise. It sounds fine and balanced, but the max volume was not impressive at all.
For me it's similar to every iPhone announcement where they claim to have created the best camera ever made, then you get the new phone and it takes typical disappointing photos in all but perfect lighting conditions. No better than a $100 compact camera.
elephant:What I will say is I am very happy with the HomePod being located in the Guest room with the exercise bike so I try to use both daily
Hey Siri :
Jump on that bike and go for a 40mn exercise
elephant:Looks like a busy weekend ! I have started renaming my HomeKit devices ... what made sense for using an iDevice or an ATV App did not make sense when I am trying to give the HomePod voice commands. Eg Hey Siri switch on chandelier only activated one bulb. They had been labelled chandelier 1, chandelier 2, ..., chandelier 5. Now they are C1, C2, etc I did not go to Michael H’s extreme of 1, 2, 3, etc ! So try some experiments before setting up everything only to have to change it. BeoNut since '75
Alen:Apple is not my cup of coffe but LEGO.. Great AT-AT MOC! BS 1, Beo 1, BL 2, BeoCom 2, 2x LC 2, Form 2, BS 2, 2x BS 3, BS 4, 2x Beo 4, BS 5 + CD rip, BM 5, BL 5, BL 6000, Beo 6, BS 6, H6, BL 8000, 2x A8, BV 8-40, 3x A9 Keyring, BL 12 - 3, Serenata, BeoTime, BeoTalk 400, B&O Bottle Opener, BV Eclipse 55 My LEGO
Please do keep posting your findings !
I find myself checking these forums once in a while in the hope of finding a nice comparison between a BeoSound 1/2 and the HomePod.
No luck yet, but your posts come close
elephant:I stopped reporting all my testing ... after all this is a B&O forum :) However I would have appreciated KMA’s feedback ... What I will say is I am very happy with the HomePod being located in the Guest room with the exercise bike so I try to use both daily Where Siri let’s me down is after ~40 minutes of exercise ... but that may be because I am puffing 😤like whale 🐳 at that stage BeoNut since '75
Power outlets with firmware...pretty much defines the concept of gilding the lily.
Just be thankful they're not BeoOutlets. The next s/w update would result in a blackout.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Jeff:Power outlets with firmware...pretty much defines the concept of gilding the lily. Just be thankful they're not BeoOutlets. The next s/w update would result in a blackout. Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
KMA: Jeff: Power outlets with firmware...pretty much defines the concept of gilding the lily. Just be thankful they're not BeoOutlets. The next s/w update would result in a blackout. Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list! Elgato's products work perfectly with Apple. A very positive user experience. I just wish I could rename Siri as "Honey", so that I could say things like "Hey Honey, I'm home!" to control scenes
Jeff: Power outlets with firmware...pretty much defines the concept of gilding the lily. Just be thankful they're not BeoOutlets. The next s/w update would result in a blackout. Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
Elgato's products work perfectly with Apple. A very positive user experience. I just wish I could rename Siri as "Honey", so that I could say things like "Hey Honey, I'm home!" to control scenes
You should name her Lucy. "Lucy, I'm home!" Ahhhh, Ricky...
Jeff:You should name her Lucy. "Lucy, I'm home!" Ahhhh, Ricky... Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
Aussie Michael: Jeff: You should name her Lucy. "Lucy, I'm home!" Ahhhh, Ricky... Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list! I re watched Lucy the other night. It’s a good flick.
Jeff: You should name her Lucy. "Lucy, I'm home!" Ahhhh, Ricky... Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
I re watched Lucy the other night.
It’s a good flick.
I think you got the wrong Lucy there Babalooo.
Jeff:I think you got the wrong Lucy there Babalooo. Jeff Beovirus victim, it's gotten to be too much to list!
Hey Lucy - play Hey Juicy ?
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
If you want it to improved your musical experience, call it Jude...
"Hey Jude, don't make it badTake a sad song and make it better..."
CB:If you want it to improved your musical experience, call it Jude... "Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and make it better..."
Waiting for KMA's comparative sound review ;-)
M3 is not expensive.
Aussie Michael:Has anyone actually bought a HomePod?
elephant:I know of four in Melbourne BeoNut since '75
Home pod sales are lackluster. Apple just cut orders to supplier. I think B&O is safe for now.
Lackluster for an Apple product..., I bet B&O would kill for the buzz and revenue HomePod has generated.
Also remember, a similar headline has appeared for almost every Apple product since the launch of the original iPhone.
I think thats right i.e. dont underestimate Apple's ability to persevere with products and succeed to some degree.
That said, i was struck by how little prominence the HomePod had in my local Apple retail store.
They had one on display on the table, and its a big store.
And look at Apple Music subscriber growth / base...its ok at best, especially considering the install base of iOS devices. When they launched the subscription service, plenty speculated that they would catch Spotfy's paid base relatively quickly, but those expectations have not really been met as yet.
So not all Apple products and serves reach lift off. And i say this as an avowed Apple fan.
Jacques
chartz:Hi, To me, all this nonsense is so far from what real hi-fi has to offer. Just computer speakers, that will never ever replace my big boxes or panels, my all analogue setup, sorry. The sound these devices produce - B&O or Apple alike - is just bad, not hi-fi. Expensive kitchen radios, perhaps.
To me, all this nonsense is so far from what real hi-fi has to offer. Just computer speakers, that will never ever replace my big boxes or panels, my all analogue setup, sorry.
The sound these devices produce - B&O or Apple alike - is just bad, not hi-fi.
Expensive kitchen radios, perhaps.
Exactly my thoughts too. Manufacturers are brainwashing everyone to the idea that these little speakers, all around the home, with poor bass output, are somehow superior to true HiFi.
Graham
vikinger:Exactly my thoughts too. Manufacturers are brainwashing everyone to the idea that these little speakers, all around the home, with poor bass output, are somehow superior to true HiFi. Graham
I have now a HomePod since some days and did a side by side listening with my BeoSound 2. Setting up was fluent and took less than 5 minutes. Just approach the iPhone and answer some few questions and done.
BS2 can get far louder but as I live in a condo I cannot push that much the level. I use the BS 2 at 35-55% when with the Homepod I'm between 40 and 60%. Max level of the HomePod is 2/3 of the BS2 I would say, but far too loud for my flat. (I refer to the sound cursor position in iTunes as I only Airplay music from my MacBook or iPad).
BS2 is a bit more clear sounding. Better mediums and trebles. Bass are sometimes a bit more heavy (boomy) on the HomePod (but I reduced them in the BS2 settings) and not as much as on my previous Beolit 15 which was very placement dependent.
To my ears I have to tell that I'm impressed with the feeling of having sometimes the voices placed in front of the instruments in some tracks. When I move around in my small living room (24 sqm) I think that the 360° is slightly better with the HomePod. None of them are stereo but the wideness of the scene seems better with the HomePod.
Design wise the BS2 is far better with perfect aluminium finish. HomePod is not bad but more discrete; it's very heavy for it's size, and well built as well.
If I had now to decide what to buy I couldn't anymore justify to spend 5 times more for a slightly better sounding device. HomePod is not bad at all. I'll see as the time passes if I feel the BS2...
Duels: I think manufacturers are responding to a generation who value portability and accessibility over sitting in a sweet spot to listen to music. Tastes have changed.
I think manufacturers are responding to a generation who value portability and accessibility over sitting in a sweet spot to listen to music.
Tastes have changed.
Exactly - and that was the reason for Bang & Olufsen to create the subbrand B&O Play.
Different kinds of taste and needs.
Those who value mobility as their luxury, tent to buy Beoplay products - those who value durability and constancy as their luxury,
prefer the B&O products (or even the older B&O products).
Nowadays most of us mix....because we are versatile and live complexe lives.
However, there has been a general shift towards more flexibility and portability - and Bang & Olufsen as a company does well in serving both.
Actually they were pretty fast to understand this.
I'm afraid that for the modern B&O products durability and constancy are not the words that come to mind to describe the ownership experience. Older B&O, yes, as I sit here listening to my 20 plus year old BS9000 setup. Newer, not so much.
Duels: vikinger: Exactly my thoughts too. Manufacturers are brainwashing everyone to the idea that these little speakers, all around the home, with poor bass output, are somehow superior to true HiFi. Graham I think manufacturers are responding to a generation who value portability and accessibility over sitting in a sweet spot to listen to music. Tastes have changed.
vikinger: Exactly my thoughts too. Manufacturers are brainwashing everyone to the idea that these little speakers, all around the home, with poor bass output, are somehow superior to true HiFi. Graham
Well my tastes haven't changed! With a proper system you can enjoy the sweet spot or listen to reflected sound all around the house.
The current trend is rather as if transistor radios in every room had been marketed as superior to Hi Fi in the 1960's.