To say that the 2nd-generation HomePod announcement was a shock is one thing of an understatement. Whereas there had been some rumblings {that a} new mannequin was within the works, the timing was fully sudden, arriving on a Wednesday morning in the course of January following the launch of the M2 Mac mini and MacBook Professional.
However what’s even stranger than the timing is the HomePod itself. The HomePod website provides little indication that it’s a brand new mannequin, and Apple has seemingly gone to nice lengths to design a brand new HomePod that appears and sounds similar to the outdated HomePod. Early reviewers predictably say the brand new HomePod “stays true to the unique” with “beautiful and deep” sound that nonetheless presents “expression and punch,” particularly when paired with a second one.
That final level is vital. Whereas music is actually a serious promoting level with the 2nd-gen mannequin, Apple can also be positioning HomePod as a part of your “cinematic house theater expertise,” a function that wasn’t initially obtainable when the primary mannequin launched. Certainly, early accounts say a HomePod pair is “nice at including top when it comes to positioning sounds to match the motion on the display” and delivers “good readability, good bass, and nice dimensional audio.”
Sound high quality was by no means HomePod’s downside.
Foundry
After all, sound high quality was by no means HomePod’s problem. Like iPod and AirPods, music was HomePod’s one fundamental job and it did it extraordinarily effectively. Whereas some audiophiles criticized it for being too bass-heavy, the HomePod was extensively thought to be the most effective standalone good audio system round at its worth. It was restricted to Apple Music (or AirPlay from an Apple system), and couldn’t simply operate as a Bluetooth speaker, nevertheless it actually sounded good! Everyone knows the way it ended—Apple discontinued HomePod in March 2021 following an uncharacteristic worth lower, presumably as a result of flagging gross sales.
So if the primary one didn’t survive as a dear and restricted music speaker, why didn’t Apple re-imagine the brand new HomePod as a soundbar? Not solely would it not have turned heads and re-ignited curiosity within the speaker, however a radical redesign would additionally immediately make HomePod a participant within the house theater house. Together with Apple TV+ and Apple TV 4K, Apple would have a real one-two punch rivaled by no different speaker maker or streaming service.
Arc de triumph
The items are all there. As a stereo pair, HomePod has two 4-inch high-excursion woofers and 10 horn-loaded tweeters with particular person neodymium amplifier magnets, greater than sufficient to rival the Sonos Arc’s 11 Class-D amplifiers, three angled silk-domed tweeters and eight 2-inch by 3-inch elliptical woofers. In reality, Apple already needs you to purchase two HomePod audio system with Apple TV 4K “to take pleasure in Dolby Atmos audio for a whole cinematic house theater expertise.” What if that included utilizing a pair of HomePod minis for rear audio system and full encompass sound?
About the one factor it might really want is an extended, flatter design and a pair of HDMI ports. A HomePod soundbar might nonetheless be a music participant, Dwelling hub, and always-on Siri speaker, however with a brand new concentrate on the house theater. Possibly a Dialogue mode that enhances conversational speech or a Film mode that leans extra towards motion or explosions.
Two HomePods are higher than one, so why didn’t Apple construct a multi-channel sound bar as an alternative?
Foundry
Apple already encourages you to purchase two HomePods at $299 every. So even when a HomePod soundbar price $799 and an additional $199 for 2 HomePod minis, it might nonetheless be cheaper than a Sonos Arc system with two rear One audio system. And the design can be a lot friendlier for house theater use than two fairly tall audio system that would hinder sure views of your tv.
I’m not aware about gross sales figures for the unique HomePod or preorders for the brand new one, however I doubt anybody who has an authentic HomePod is speeding out to purchase a 2nd-gen mannequin. Aside from a temperature sensor and the flexibility to inform you when it hears an alarm, the press releases saying the audio system might have been the identical—Apple doesn’t even point out the unique HomePod anyplace on the location as a degree of comparability.
As a substitute of a sequel that actually builds on the unique, Apple’s second try at making a high-end high-fidelity speaker for the house appears like a rerun. And I’m afraid it’s going to have the identical ending as the primary one.
