Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo HomePod

Stereo everywhere, a.k.a headphones? You'd still need to between the two sources for anything close to a proper image, but perhaps the sweet spot will be larger than expected.

Compared to my primary system, M22 + EP500, the HomePod can't really compete. Think of the HomePod as a very high-quality small omnipolar speaker with a true 360° sound field. Although the sound coming from such a small device is deceptively large thanks to the beam-forming ability of the tweeters and the highly controlled woofer, there's simply no substitute for a stereo image that's only possible by physically separating the left and right channels. I still love my M22s and they'll continue to be my go-to for active listening.

Even if I do get a second HomePod and fall in love with their stereo imaging capability, I would not stop using my Axioms. They can play more audio sources, thanks to my receiver.

One other thing. To achieve a worthy stereo image in a bounded environment like a room, Apple will have to adjust the pod's off-axis response to fall off smoothly yet exponentially. Apple will have to designate a "front" to the pod.

"If it’s in free space, sound will be dispersed equally around the speaker, but if it’s close to a back wall the HomePod will actively split out some of the more ambient elements of your music and bounce them off the rear surface while projecting the vocals and more direct sounds straight into the room."

Read more at https://www.whathifi.com/apple/homepod/review#14Ajr6HVQVVwpWji.99"

Jean-Louis Gassée on HomePod reviews:

https://mondaynote.com/the-trouble-with-homepod-reviews-585075add9d2