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Unfortunately, I bought the minis over this past weekend thinking that I could pair them with my AppleTV. The sounds is great but I am disappointed. The work around is to connect them via AirPlay but the downside is that he gave to reconnect them every time you launch your AppleTV.
I have a one bedroom with 3 HomePods and one HomePod mini in my room and I can say the mini was quite surprising. Of course the bass wasn’t as prevalent but it really surprised me the clarity in the vocals. Initially I had two HomePods in a home theater and just added the HomePod mini in (not in my living room but nearby in the kitchen) and it actually made a huge difference listening to music. I eventually just got a third HomePod to fill the entirety of my downstairs with music and just put the mini upstairs in my room. I had the echo ecosystem before and apples BLOWS IT OUT IF THE WATER as far as ease of use and convenience.
I like the HomePod mini pair in my bedroom with my Apple TV. I have a nightstand on either side of my bed, and a mini on each stand, so its like being in your own little bubble of sound for movies and music
I have been spoiled with the bass that the HomePod has that when I got the HomePod Mini, I was kind of disappointed at the lack of bass. Overall, it still sounds good for a small speaker.
Got the HomePod paired with Apple TV 4K, the sound watching a movie is awesome. And a HomePod mini in every room to link of music around the house and intercom.
Very cool. I like that you have the minis everywhere. I agree with you the sound with the Apple TV is great. I am planning on doing a stereo pair with Apple TV and the new family room set up we’re doing. Thanks for sharing and watching.
@@TomBabula I have it in front of the sofa. The way my living room is set up I have a corner section that is center to the entire room and the sound is awesome from that location.
Great video, Craig. I agree with everything you said. There is a place for each of these and I think which you choose depends on what’s most important to your personal setup. Personally, I was surprised at the loudness of the HomePod mini stereo pair when compared to the OG, but as you mentioned, they just don’t have that full sound that you get with the original.
Thank you very much Shane. I appreciate that from the HomeKit man. 😀👍 I am right there with you. I was hoping to show people it goes beyond the sound. I recommend two of each. You are right about how loud the HomePod mini pair is. The HomePod mini really does sound good. I would love to see a new HomePod with all the new features of the Mini. Thanks for checking out the video.
Listening to this with my stereo homepods and it’s clear 2 minis can’t compete with even one HomePod. Thread is really the only reason to get a mini. I’ll probably get one used later in the year.
I know I’m 4 months late but I just got the minis for my bedroom and they are doing everything that my home pods are doing ie stereo and syncing them and playing in stereo
I did the same test when the HPMs came out and my audio sounds very similar to yours. My conclusion was that two HomePod Minis equalled one HomePod, but I did have slightly different reasoning. The advantage of the Minis is that you can have really good (surprisingly good, for omnidirectional speakers) stereo separation when watching movies or listening to tracks like Space Oddity. You can do that with HomePods too, but you'll have to spend $600 and take up a lot of space to get there. Another nice advantage of the HPM is that they fit underneath computer monitors really well. MacOS support isn't where it should be, but that will be changing (apparently) in the very next update, so more people are going to want to have these under their monitor or iMac as the normal HomePod is too tall for most (but not all) monitor stands. Of course, if you've got the desk space, you can just move them out, but I like to have them in front of me to use as a speakerphone.
by the way, in my testing, stereo separation aside, the sound was pretty much a perfect match for your recordings between the two sets. Speaking from personal experience testing them back to back, users can rely on what they're hearing (just keep in mind you're going to get stereo separation with dual HPMs)
That is some great points. I have mine under my monitor. Can’t wait to be able to use them with Mac OS. They are great little speakers. Thanks for watching and commenting
Thank you very much for verifying my results. That is great to hear. I really try to place the microphone to give me the results I hear in the room. Each speaker requires slightly different position to capture the most accurate and best sound. Hope your comment helps others.
@@PavelMisar in my opinion, the overall sound quality of 2 HPMs is shockingly similar to a single HomePod. But I will say that the HomePod, even one versus two, is considerably louder. The HPMs are loud enough for my purposes, but I have to adjust their relative volume when I play them all together or they'll get blown out by the full-sized HomePods. I'm not an audiophile, but I do generally use upscale stuff, and I'm impressed with how dual HPMs sound.
This was so helpful I am trying to decide on two stereo Homepods even though they are discontinued, I have a mini in my kitchen so have the more future proof features there but reading the comments think two of the original is the way. Would love to see a stereo set if/when you do that.
Good info thanks. Just ordered two more Homepods for my kitchen…love the sound and SO worth the extra cost. FYI an Apple tech guy told me the HomePod is not being discontinued…there is a shortage of microchips that is delaying production. Not sure if this is the “company line” or not, but I’m very glad t0 have my two pairs of stereo Homepods!
I’m getting the big HomePod and I’m pretty darn excited! I have an iPad Pro and a MacBook Pro so I think that’s going to be interesting to see how it interacts with it. Great video!
You are welcome Jorge. Thank you for the nice comment. That’s great to hear you are enjoying the channel. I appreciate you watching and for your support. Have a great day Jorge
I am using 2 OG HomePod with apple tv and the Dolby atoms is phenomenal......,... tested home pod minis as well though OG homepod is far more capable of them in terms of sound. For sound quality and clarity I would any day choose OG HomePod.
@@CraigsTechTalk Usually Apple will announce the new model before killing the old one though. So I’m not so sure. “HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.” This to me doesn’t sound like a new model is coming. 😔
@@man-bagdammit2297 It is sad to see the homePod get killed off, I hope a new one does show up, as it does produces great sound, but the price point steers people to just buy a home theater unit, while the mini does not.
Yeah true, the sound quality is just so good for a speaker that size. That’s why when I heard that it would be discontinued, I bought two of them before it’s too late. I’m not regretting at all.
Thanks for this, it was very helpful. I have just bought two HomePod Minis to replace two Echo Plus 3s. and looking forward to seeing how they compare.
Thanks for suggesting this video in a previous video I saw of yours. TBH, that low end is very impressive and the sound with the mini is very flat and disappointing. You are right if music is the priority the HomePod is the sure winner. Great sound and low end that enhances the songs. I just dislike the 2 colors available for the HomePod and those mini colors are terrific
I wish Apple did not discontinue the big Homepod without having a quality sounding speaker ready to replace it. My mini sounds OK but I want the best sound possible and the big Homepod had that over the mini. I guess I am a day late to the party. I may try some Sonos stuff because who knows what and when Apple will have something else coming to the table.
I am disappointed they didn’t have a replacement either. Hopefully that means will see something in the fall that is updated. I haven’t seen any rumors though other than an Apple TV/HomePod combination.
I was the exact same. I was a day late to the party but luckily not a dollar short. I got mine right as they discontinued, thankfully, because resellers just keep skyrocketing their prices.
I have a paired 2 HomePods on my pc desk that connects to iTunes and I have just placed an order for a HomePod mini, I have a Dolby atmos amplifier with 9 speakers and 2 subwoofers in my living room and this is the room where I'm going to place my HomePod mini and use it to better improve my smart ecosystem. Note: I have 3 Alexas in various forms dotted around my house. Thank you for your channel I find it so helpful and informative.
Thank you very much Pete. That is so nice to hear. I am glad to be able to help. Thank you for sharing your set up. I hope you enjoy the HomePod mini. That’s great you have a pair or HomePods. Those sound great. It’s what I am using for my TV speakers in my garage. A lot more echo users are making the switch. Thank you for watching. Enjoy your new HomePod mini.
Thread is the major selling point for the HomePod Mini in my view - as the future of smart home networks, it’s going to be a LOT more versatile than the U1 chip and future proofs your purchase! Having said that, I’d love to see a HomePod refresh in 2021 from Apple including both Thread and a U1 chip.
Mids and highs are just crisper and cleaner on the full size . Bass for me didn’t sound too different but the low end was better overall . I was Just about to buy 2 minis but gonna need to shop around the resale market now for 2 full size ones !! Grrrrr gonna cost me £400 for 2 of them by looks of it
I went to Apple Store before and they suggested me not to use HomePod Mini with HomePod due to the sound quality for Mini and HomePod is very different. And now they came out HomePod 2, so I’m wondering what if I use HomePod and HomePod 2 together?
I want Apple to release speakers that are in between the minis and the full size Homepod.... Sadly, I missed the boat on this one. Maybe, one day in the future Apple will release Homepod Pro or something...
I have to agree with you Rod. Although the echo studio is really close and may even be better. The studio is big though. Thanks for checking out the video.
Bottom line is we need a HomePod+ with the U1 and Thread. Right now, to setup the kind of automations you're describing in a home theatre/family/living room, you'd want a pair of HomePods AND a HP Mini, which just sounds preposterous. The Homepod doesn't seem like it was intended as a very high volume item compared to the Mini, but I bet sales are going to be stagnant until it's at least on par with the Mini for smart capability.
Wait what… You can run the pair through Apple TV and use the stereo pair by choosing the TV to stream through. It does the TV thing without ever turning the screen on, so it really isn’t any different than just using the pair.
Personally i buy the homepod mini’s for using siri commands, room to room communication, chime and so on. For the sound for my television and music i buy the sonos speakers. Maybe not the best audio speakers, but a whole lot better than the homepods and pretty wide integration in different apps or platforms
Hey, I am experiencing some audio video lag when using a pair of big HomePods with the latest Apple TV 4K. I did the sync option using a iPhone 6s, but still some lag. Do you have any advice for me?
I bought a HomePod Mini new for $90 (11/20) and a HomePod used for $120 (8/20) and love both. I wish I could pair them. I'm certain that Apple can pair them but won't. The HomePod has vastly better sound and my concern is it will no longer be supported soon since it is a 3-year device. I also bought an Echo Studio used for $100 and love it a well. I'm a tech guy and love finding deals and having the best of all worlds. Cheers!
You can't pair them, they have vastly different frequency responses and computation so the audio would sound wacky. It's not like apple can pair them, it's that it's not something they would do because it wouldn't sound the same. It's like wearing some Beats over ear headphones in one ear and some airpods pro in the other one.
Very cool. I have one white and I have not touched it much. I am not sure how to clean it. Here is apples cleaning suggestions. support.apple.com/en-us/HT208435
One can use a HomePod mini or stereo pair of minis with an AppleTV. It is selectable as an AirPlay 2 audio out device. Although it can’t be set as the default output like the HomePod, nor does it support home theater mode and Dolby Atmos, it works surprisingly well. In my apartment’s living room, I prefer my stereo pair HomePod minis to a single HomePod. The home theater mode seemed to cause more issues with my AppleTV’s performance, and some apps don’t support it well. The HomePods minis only lose their connection to the AppleTV if powered down, or another device sends audio to them. Since I plan to always use them with the AppleTV, I rarely have to reselect them. I only found dialogue to be clearer with stereo HomePod minis than a single HomePod. Sure, a stereo pair of HomePods is the way to go but they would be overpowering in my apartment. And to be honest, I wasn’t personally impressed with the performance of a single HomePods to feel it worth a try.
Sounds nice but I would think they are missing one key feature. Cross platform compatibility. In my house we have 2 iphone users and 4 android so I will have to stick with echo devices.
That is extremely annoying. I wish they would wake up and open it up to Android. Apple could be more like google. There isn’t much for an Apple user on Google assistant. If there was an Android app it opens it up for a family of both iPhones and Android phones. That is the beauty of the Echos, they meet nicely in the middle for Android and iPhone users. Thanks for checking out the video Jon.
I have been enjoying my Homepod mini. Works great with my LIFX bulbs - very snappy. Its a solid little device for music. Really surprised how much sound Apple got out of it. And through Siri Shortcuts I can get it to run my Tp-Link smart home gear without my phone being used. Nice perk even if it is a bit glitchy at times. Great video as usual.
I have 3 HomePods, 1 in the kitchen and a stereo pair in the bedroom. Paired HomePods 🤯 Got a new 13" MacBook Pro and just picked up two HomePod Minis. Thought I could use the minis for my computer speakers. That was a mistake 😕 There is such a delay when using airplay from the MacBook Pro. Zoom calls with the minis are just...no...3 second lagging, causing echo and feedback. It was horrible. Debating on keeping the minis for use later or return them. Just ordered a Klipsch speaker set for my computer use.
Supposedly with the 14.5 update you will be able to use a pair of HomePod as your speakers for your computer. That is what I am understanding. That would be great. But if you instead aren’t going to use them as a stereo pair personally I would split them up and put them in different rooms. Hopefully will see a good update.
Made my mind after watching this. I am going for HomePod as its 1.7 x the price of one mini.. so costs less than two minis and hopefully would sound much better..
@@dmitryovsyannikov4874 Resellers are offering them for $1,000 in Korea... Way too much money. I wish I would have bought one when it originally came out.
I got three of the originals shortly before they announced the minis. I’m interested in the tech and the sound. If I can’t get good quality sound I’ll go elsewhere. I have two paired with my Apple TV and one in the kitchen. I love them except for the competing Siri’s.
Craig , Thread you speak of sounds similar to Amazon’s Sidewalk are they similar too you ? I already have an Alexa Echo , Studio, Flex and a few dots .
The tough part with that is who knows when there will be a two point now. They have held onto the same Apple TV for such a long period of time. I think with these they will hold onto them until they can make some big leap each year. But saying that if you go buy one now somehow a new one will come out. I would wait until end of March and see if anything has announced that their upcoming events.
Hi Craig, brilliant review video as always. Can I please ask what the name of the second track of music you used, just love the track and would like to listen to all of it?
I’m confused…this video explains that you can’t pair minis with your Apple TV; but your video of September last year, you explain how great they are paired with your Apple TV…where am I getting them wrong? If you use minis, where are you getting that “bass punch” watching movies and such (if you didn’t have HomePod)?
You have watched the videos out of order and things have changed. This video was made before you were able to pair minis to an Apple TV. That was a recent update. I do have 3 full sized HomePods i use with various TVs. I do say the Minis do sound great and standby that. Even without much low end, the blow away the majority of TVs internal speakers. They sound really good with clean sound. But they aren’t going to compete with speakers with dedicated speakers.
I’m as big of an Apple fanboy as anyone but the existence of the echo flex was ultimately what caused me to pick Amazon over Apple for multi room audio. Is there anything similar to the flex rumored in apple’s future lineup?
As far as I’m aware, no, there isn’t anything in Apple’s line up like this - at least not in 2021... The problem is that a lot of average consumers are still extremely hesitant about “always listening” smart devices - and Amazon’s less than zealous approach to consumer privacy fuels that concern. As a result, I can’t see Apple moving in that direction anytime soon...
I’ve always wondered why my Amazon devices just turn on when my family never, ever used the wake word. Check out your Amazon recording history. You’ll be shocked how much it records when the wake word was never initiated. You’ll see the recording as Audio could not be understood. I promptly deleted all my recordings and removed my last remaining echo.
I like that idea. I am curious if apple tags when they come out will give you that option. Will it recognize when the Apple Watch comes near it and will it trigger an automation or device? That would be great. Thanks for watching.
I still think that top end smart speakers like the HomePod, Google Max and Echo Studio are well overrated and over priced. You can get a great 2.1 system which sounds so much better and cost less than 2 paired smart speakers.
What would you recommend for a small home? I have a 2bed 1ba and don’t want the bass too loud if the living room is right next to a bedroom, or the bedrooms competing for sound.
I think if you’re listening at high volumes the base on the full-size can be annoying. But at a comfortable listening level that wouldn’t bug anybody in another room the base is not overpowering. But if you’re concerned a single or a pair of minis could be a really good sounding option.
The U1 chip in principal could make a 4 speaker sound surround system possible at the same cost as 2 homepods. The only thing that might be different is the depth of base, that is assuming the one speaker has the mids and trebles balanced. With 4 HomePod minis two could focus on the trembles (I would assume the ones infringe of you would be best) with the two at the back boosting the base tones, which carry further.
That would be very cool to make a surroundsound system. You might like a little bit of the base like you said. But for the convenience it could be worth it.
I think you’ve made some great points. I will have to listen to the minis next to the HomePod more for that warm sound. But it makes a lot of sense with that S5 in there that it would lean that way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and watching.
You can pair them with your Apple TV Because I’ve just purchased an Apple TV and got two of the first HomePods And I’ve got to HomePod minis and they both work on Apple TV But the only thing I cannot make them surround sound it works on the music But not on the TV
I have one of each but would love to work towards a stereo pair of either in each room (mini upstairs, full size down). Would love to see the full size gain U1 chip and thread but we all know that the already high price on it would then rocket.
Lady-A kept reaching for the dislike button. I kept hearing her mumble about sound tests on a hard surface, through and iPad speaker, blah, blah blah! I’ve been happy with my 2 Echo Studios tied to the 4K Fire stick. :)
Larry I am sorry for angering your Lady A. I understand her frustration. Tell her she’s the best still. The Echo studios are a beast. I bet the sound great as a stereo pair. Thanks for checking out the video. Have a great dat Larry.
I just want a better Siri. I bought the original HomePod and it sounded amazing, better even than the Sonos Play One. But Siri is so dumb, I sent it back and stuck with the Sonos.
