FOR Weighty, assured sound; effective processing; stylish
AGAINST Reliance on voice control; too Apple-focused
That Apple does things in its own sweet time is no new discovery – but, even by its own standards, the company has arrived late to the wireless speaker party. Still, as everyone knows, being late is perfectly acceptable if you’re the life and soul when you arrive – and that’s pretty much the story with the HomePod.
Despite some flaws and limitations, the HomePod is the best-sounding smart speaker available by quite a margin. When combined with Siri’s reinvention as your personal DJ/musical guru, it makes for an endlessly entertaining all-in-one system. Assuming you’re already deep in the Apple ecosystem, that is.
Classy understatement
It comes as no surprise that the HomePod is beautifully made and looks classy. It’s also smaller and heavier than you imagine, but is a subtly styled device, particularly in the Space Grey finish of our review sample. This is a speaker that, between its cylindrical shape and seamless mesh fabric cover, is designed to blend into, rather than dominate, its surroundings.
Not that it’s without neat touches. That glossy top panel, uniformly black when the speaker is resting, is where Siri appears as a shifting ball of colour. The way it floats within the blackness of the panel is undeniably cool. When playing music, plus and minus symbols appear, giving you touch points to raise or lower the volume. Tapping the centre of the surface will play/ pause, skip a track or go back to the previous track, while keeping your finger pressed will summon Siri.
Denne historien er fra April 2018-utgaven av What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2018-utgaven av What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WHAT HI-FI? AWARDS 2024
Presenting the very best hi-fi and home cinema gear you can buy right now - winners each and every one
RECORD PLAYERS ARE GETTING BETTER: IT JUST ISN'T OBVIOUS
Record replay continues to improve, but it does so in a subtle way, writes technical editor Ketan Bharadia
Hisense PX3-Pro
Gaming-focused UST projector that's great for films too
Cambridge Audio EXN100
Extensive features, refined performance
BenQ GS50
Prepare to be the talk of the campsite
Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2
An appealing turntable in looks and sound
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
How do you follow a three-time Award-winning soundbar? This is how
Rotel A8
It's no-frills’, but this amp hits the mark
Samsung Q8OD (QE55Q80D)
Even without Mini LEDs, this Samsung mid-ranger hits the mark
Epos ES-7N
Small box, flexible nature and a huge talent