HomePod Alternative to HomePod 2

[maverick786us]

Can someone recommend me some alternative to Apple HomePod 2 that I can paid with my Apple TV and 4K? No doubt HomePod 2 are amazing speakers, but it all boils down to price. A pair of HomePod 2 will hurt my pocket. Can someone recommend me some alternatives with good speakers quality and loudness, but slightly cheap that HomePod 2?

I can afford Mini but I looking into the form factor i am not sure how good those speakers for deep, loud sound for home theater and music

 

[Hudzilla95]

I got second hand 1st generations from Ebay for around £350 for both... They are flawless.

 

[waw74]

What do you want from them?

since you already have an aTV on that TV, you don't gain much by using HomePods, since the aTV can already handle HomeKit homehub, and airplay. The HomePods will give you always listening siri, but that's about it.

There are plenty of soundbars and speaker systems that will hook into the TV via HDMI, which will give you a much more stable connection than depending on apple's wireless connection over your wifi. And some of those might give you the option for physical rear or center speakers, instead of the virtualized ones that HomePods give you.

you might look at a sound bar that supports airplay or has it's own player built in like sonos, so you can send music to it without having the TV on.

 

[maverick786us]

What do you want from them?

since you already have an aTV on that TV, you don't gain much by using HomePods, since the aTV can already handle HomeKit homehub, and airplay. The HomePods will give you always listening siri, but that's about it.

There are plenty of soundbars and speaker systems that will hook into the TV via HDMI, which will give you a much more stable connection than depending on apple's wireless connection over your wifi. And some of those might give you the option for physical rear or center speakers, instead of the virtualized ones that HomePods give you.

you might look at a sound bar that supports airplay or has it's own player built in like sonos, so you can send music to it without having the TV on.

I don't have Apple TV yet. I am planning to have a home theater system with a 4K LED, I will use Apple TV 4K with WiFi to watch those streaming channels (Which I am watching in my MacBook Pro ATM). Good home theater needs good stereo speakers, so I thought a pair of HomePod 2 connected with ATV and good 52 inch 4K LED will give amazing mini cinematic experience. I also want to use those HomePods for listening to music though my iPhone, MacBook even when the TV is off. But I am finding it hard to save money for that setup.

Can you list me those soundbars, I did look for alternative speaker systems Sonos Era 100, but those speakers are expensive too.

 

[maverick786us]

I got second hand 1st generations from Ebay for around £350 for both... They are flawless.

Are first generation homepods as good as second generation?

 

[MBAir2010]

Im in the same boat since my home pods are not connecting that well these past months.
I searched for play speakers and there are several brands that can perform great for a lesser price.
Denon has a wonderful pair of speakers for under the price  wants and a great company.
Sony, JBL has speakers as well that use wifi including Bluetooth.

I used a bose soundtouch since 2009 with an airport express connection but not with  airplay recently.
(this speaker system needs a new ribbon connection which is in th email now)
hopefully that can replace the pair of homepods next week.

keep searching and you can find a nice alternative.

 

[Hudzilla95]

Are first generation homepods as good as second generation?

I think the specs are actually better for the 1st gen... I may be wrong though. Another thing to consider is how long they will be supported for too. I've had mine since 2020 so they were only a few years into their lifecycle.