An audiophile review:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/7wwtqy/apple_homepod_the_audiophile_perspective/

If accurate, Apple seems to have done a remarkable job, achieving omnidirectional sound and flat frequency response in a small, relatively inexpensive product.

I'd love to see Axiom test the Homepod to see where its limitations lie. But perhaps a major advance, using highly sophisticated active management to achieve transparent sound at low size and cost.