HomePod Who else finally gave up with their HomePod?

[beanbaguk]

I absolutely love the audio quality of my two OG HomePods. They’ve been connected as a stereo pair since day one, and the sound has been nothing short of phenomenal. But after two years of frustration, I’ve finally given up. They’re up for sale, and in their place, I’ve brought in a pair of Sonos Era 100s.

Now, I’m fully aware that Sonos software is dreadful—I’ve got plenty of Sonos gear around the house to remind me—but the HomePod’s software, combined with Apple’s walled-garden approach, has finally worn me down.

Siri is, to put it bluntly, garbage. Truly atrocious. I’m not saying Alexa is incredible, but it’s just miles ahead in terms of flexibility and compatibility. The constant need for HomeBridge to get devices working with HomeKit is exhausting, and even then, it’s a roll of the dice whether they’ll actually communicate properly.

Then there’s the complete lock-in to Apple’s ecosystem, which you’d think would at least mean seamless integration—but nope. AirPlay is fantastic… when it works. More often than not, it doesn’t. My HomePods would randomly disconnect, sometimes playing from just one speaker, sometimes both, and occasionally not at all.

The lack of Bluetooth or any wired connection never seemed like an issue—until it was. AirPlay’s lag is ridiculous, making it impossible to connect them to my MacBook for anything in real time.

But the one thing the HomePod absolutely nailed was sound. The rich, full soundstage, deep bass, and immersive experience were genuinely impressive. When they worked, they sounded spectacular. But that’s the key: when.

I have no idea if the Gen 2 versions fixed these problems, but the original HomePods were plagued with issues. And as much as I know Sonos isn’t perfect, on paper, the Era 100s outperform both generations of HomePods in sound quality. More importantly, the connectivity is leaps and bounds ahead. I’ve now hardwired one of my Era 100s to my dock, and the stereo pair works flawlessly with zero delay. Even AirPlay seems to have less lag, and while I haven’t tested the Bluetooth yet, just knowing it’s there is a huge plus.

I know it’ll never happen, but if Apple truly wants the HomePod to succeed, they need to open it up. Until then, it’ll remain a niche product, forever held back by its own ecosystem.

Cheerio, HomePods. It was an interesting ride… but I’m moving on.

 

[SalisburySam]

I regret your experience here. My two HomePods(2nd Gen) have performed well as stereo speakers to my TV and AppleTV4k devices with no connectivity, no communication, no performance issues in the two years I’ve had them.

Siri remains a crapshow. But I’ve not found Alexa much better to be honest. I’ve had several Alexa devices including the Shows and returned all of them within a week of delivery. At least the HomePods give an outstanding sonic experience despite Siri’s lack of capability.

I’ve added a couple of HomePod minis in the kitchen and our office. Both work well, again with no issues just like their bigger brothers. Siri remains puzzlingly incapable.

I also like the internal thermometer and humidity sensor in all four units. These can give spot temps/humidity levels where they’re located, report those items in other rooms, and give whole-house averages. Pretty neat actually though I have not determined their accuracy with independent measurements.

 

[Basic75]

From what I saw the HomePods really need perfect Wifi without interference. And even then the latency is atrocious and you can't use them with a Mac. And of course you can't just connect them to Ethernet when your Wifi is not always perfect.

 

[Bogstandard]

I have 4 OG units decommisioned.
Once the novelty of the "fake soundstage" wore off, and the home assistant was unreliable, I realised that I they needed to be replaced with a real amp/speaker rig that does pump flabby midbass and no decent treble.

In my opinion, they were also hamstrung once Eero mesh network was sold to the bozo co.
Just after that sale, I noticed my Eeros not playing well with homekit.

 

[beanbaguk]

I just sold each one for the price of a Sonos Era 100. (180eur each). To be honest, I couldn't be happier with my pair of Era 100's. I have them hardwired to my OWC dock, using a HiRes USB-C DAC, and when watching AppleTV, I just connect them using Bluetooth which takes seconds.

On both audio connections, there is no lag (which weirdly I read in the forums), or perhaps its so little, I simply can't tell its there. I've used them with video conferences and it's perfect when pairs with my Logi Streamcam and its built in mic. There is no echo or delay that I can tell. Using AirPlay there is huge lag but it works. I don't use it though.

The one downside. They do lack the bass depth of the HomePods, but they are louder, crystal clear and work very well with no reliability issues thus far.

Because of the depth, I am considering a Sonos Sub Mini which is essentially the price of a new 2G HP second hand (about 300eur), but I've been told it's worth the investment as the sound is phenomenal when paired. Of course, this would take it to another level compared to any HomePod.

 

[SalisburySam]

I have 4 OG units decommisioned.
Once the novelty of the "fake soundstage" wore off, and the home assistant was unreliable, I realised that I they needed to be replaced with a real amp/speaker rig that does pump flabby midbass and no decent treble.

In my opinion, they were also hamstrung once Eero mesh network was sold to the bozo co.
Just after that sale, I noticed my Eeros not playing well with homekit.

If you still have them and they are working, I’d be happy to take these. DM?

 

[Kenny99]

Have 2 Mini's, set them up for my TV, just OK because of lack of Base. A surround system for a little more $ and much better performance is their now. Moved one to the wife's office and the other to the bedroom for background music, Too much trouble connecting to iPad / iPhone for music and then to News. She gave it back so now hey are on my computer desk as a stereo pair used rarely when I don'd use my headphones. Sound just OK and are a real pain to update. No I don't have Siri on (type to Siri is on) just don't trust it listening to me all the time. The NEW HomePod with the screen seams like a gimmick. Apple should make more of an effort to FIX the current problems than make more.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Siri remains a crapshow. But I’ve not found Alexa much better to be honest. I’ve had several Alexa devices including the Shows and returned all of them within a week of delivery. At least the HomePods give an outstanding sonic experience despite Siri’s lack of capability.

I found that 99% of the time all anyone uses Alexa for is either playing music, asking the weather, or setting a timer. How is HomePod/Siri for these tasks?

 

[beanbaguk]

I found that 99% of the time all anyone uses Alexa for is either playing music, asking the weather, or setting a timer. How is HomePod/Siri for these tasks?

It can do them all but Amazon devices are garbage sonically. This is why if you want a better experience, use Sonos which integrates Alexa with better hardware.

 

[oneMadRssn]

It can do them all but Amazon devices are garbage sonically. This is why if you want a better experience, use Sonos which integrates Alexa with better hardware.

Thanks. My issue with Alexa is privacy. At least with Apple, much of the processing happens and they take data privacy somewhat seriously. For that reason alone, I have Alexa disabled on all my Sonos products.

But more importantly, Sonos' new app is just terrible. I downgraded what I could to S1 and holly cow is it better. Since staying on S1 forever is not sustainable, I think I want to move away from Sonos and their debacles.

 

[I7guy]

My homepod is two feet away from me. I use airplay to stream what I can't play natively from the homepod. Siri is at times hit or miss, but I like the sound from my HomePod OG.

 

[SalisburySam]

I found that 99% of the time all anyone uses Alexa for is either playing music, asking the weather, or setting a timer. How is HomePod/Siri for these tasks?

HomePod handles those tasks very well in my opinion. One example: I can ask Siri (and get the right answer) what is the temperature and humidity outside as well as in the specific room where each HomePod is located. And get this from any HomePod anywhere in the house. So standing in the kitchen I can ask the Kitchen HomePod mini “Siri, what’s the humidity in the master bedroom?” and she’ll give it. Also the minis sound pretty good, the HomePod 2nd gens sound very good.

 

[martens]

HomePods and AirPlay work very well for me. HomeKit also, once I sorted out some WiFi issues, but it's just for some light switches right now. Siri does fine with my minimal use cases for it. I have not integrated much third party hardware, apart from a Belkin AirPlay receiver, and that works reliably.

I have had difficulty finding HomeKit security cameras that meet my requirements but I don't really need any where I live, I'd just like to see what sort of animals pass through the yard at night and that sort of thing.

 

[MBAir2010]

I gave up last august and switched to Klipsch spekars and sony mp3 players
Since they sound, last and operate MUCH BETTER!
In a drawer are 3 homepod minis and an tv 4g as i wont execute their software.
foobar rules!

 

[ckuttner]

Rant warning: I was going to post a picture of my current HomePod Mini placement, in the trash can, but I didn't bother.

We have bought dozens of Apple products over the decades, from a Mac Plus on. I have never seen worse crap than the HomePod Minis.
Don't get me wrong, the sound quality is good and they work pretty well with Airplay. But I'm an idealist, who, when I'd like to play my local NPR news stations, would like to say, "Siri, play radio station K-O-P-B," or even add "Tunein" to that phrase, and not get a response like, "Sorry, you don't have that app," or "Here's some great HipHop for your enjoyment." Siri + HomePod = total crap.
I speak directly to the HomePod, I have clear, unaccented English, and I might as well say some random rubbish for al the response we get most of the time. My wife has the same issue, so it's not just my voice. I've rebooted the HomePods, we have no background noises, we're up to date with software.
The sad part is I've kept on trying these well over a year, so it's too late to send them back.
OK, end of rant. Other than tuning up the local station on my iPhone and Airplaying it to the HomePods, is there any way to get Siri to work correctly?

 

[SalisburySam]

To those for whom HomePods are not meeting your needs like @MBAir2010 and @ckuttner and you’ve put them aside, I’d love to have them. If interested please send me a private message.

 

[ckuttner]

Salisbury Sam....having uttered my rant, I will say that I like the way I can Airplay podcasts and such. And remarkably, today Siri actually tuned in my desired station when I asked her to play "Oregon Public Broadcasting." Whether it will do it on another occasion is subject to Siri's whims.

 

[kagharaht]

I have 10 of these things. Working great with HomePod firmware 14. Starting with HomePod firmware 15, these things have been on stupid mode till this day. There are days when it's all playing in sync. There are days when one of 2 speakers refuses to play anything. There are days when several are out of sync, then stops, then plays back in sync only to go out of sync again. There are days when asking Siri to play in a room, certain room or all rooms and the thing will do it, maybe do it, maybe all speakers will do it, maybe some will maybe some won't. Since firmware 15 I've done all the BS it's your network issue. LOL.... I keep them because I will ask the thing 2,3,4 times and it eventually does what I ask. The sound is beautiful. The firmware/software is pure CRAP. Funny how I rarely had an issue with version 14.

 

[SalisburySam]

I have 10 of these things. Working great with HomePod firmware 14. Starting with HomePod firmware 15, these things have been on stupid mode till this day. There are days when it's all playing in sync. There are days when one of 2 speakers refuses to play anything. There are days when several are out of sync, then stops, then plays back in sync only to go out of sync again. There are days when asking Siri to play in a room, certain room or all rooms and the thing will do it, maybe do it, maybe all speakers will do it, maybe some will maybe some won't. Since firmware 15 I've done all the BS it's your network issue. LOL.... I keep them because I will ask the thing 2,3,4 times and it eventually does what I ask. The sound is beautiful. The firmware/software is pure CRAP. Funny how I rarely had an issue with version 14.

Yeah, AI has done wonders for the already flawless Siri…not. I continue to be wowed by what it will not do, what it will do instead of as desired, and ultimately what it simply cannot comprehend. The voice command functions in 3 of my cars all do a better job.

 

[kagharaht]

Yeah, AI has done wonders for the already flawless Siri…not. I continue to be wowed by what it will not do, what it will do instead of as desired, and ultimately what it simply cannot comprehend. The voice command functions in 3 of my cars all do a better job.

I started to create Scenes so that I can avoid yelling at it. Hahaha... now I have 10 scenes to do various things that Siri Voice command fails and I end up raising my voice! LOL... It doesn't solve the issue really. At least I just keep tapping the scene maybe 4 times or so before it actually really works. I don't seem to get as frustrated tapping 4x vs asking 4 x and cursing before trying again with Siri.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I use a single OG HomePod with my Apple TV, never had any issues with it aside from the rare time it might not connect (maybe once a year). What kind of frustrations are you having with it? I’m aware the original HomePod is getting kind of old now, I’m expecting it to stop functioning correctly at some point down the line.