aressaress

Great news! Throughout the house I've got four Yamaha stereo receivers and two Como Audio radios that are just waiting for these Belkin devices in order to stream to them from my iPhone and iPad via Airplay 2.

davgreg said:

I would still like to see a dot like device to connect to a decent amp and speakers.
While it is obvious that Apple has invested a lot of time into these devices, the sound quality of the HomePod is not up to the job.

Agreed. I currently use five Airport Expresses connected to five stereo and AV receivers to distribute Airplay 2 audio throughout the house. I commend Apple for updating the Airport Express to support Airplay 2, but since that device is no longer manufactured somebody needs to make a small Airplay 2 receiving device with audio output to connect to existing receivers and powered speakers.

foregoneconclusion said:

aressaress said:

This review states, "Each HomePod unit by itself delivers wide, stereophonic sound." That is absolutely untrue! One HomePod delivers only MONO sound.

Incorrect. Seven tweeters = stereo reproduction in highs/mids. One woofer = mono reproduction in lows. So although HomePod is not capable of delivering true stereo (more than one channel for both tweeters and woofers) with a single unit, it's not a mono speaker. 

Actually your statement is incorrect. The left and right stereo channels are combined and folded down to mono for both the woofer and tweeters when using a single HomePod. The fact that the HomePod has seven tweeters has absolutely nothing to do with stereo reproduction, since they are all outputting the same MONO information. The sound emanating from one HomePod is always mono. As I referenced in my original post (#14), Apple clearly states, (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208807), for stereo reproduction you must use two HomePods and the Home app to set them up as a stereo pair, with the result that one HomePod will deliver the left channel of the stereo signal and the other will deliver the right channel. The seven tweeter array in a single HomePod provides for a wider soundstage, but it is in no way stereo.

This review states, "Each HomePod unit by itself delivers wide, stereophonic sound." That is absolutely untrue! One HomePod delivers only MONO sound. It's dispersed in all directions (on a horizontal plane) for a wider soundstage, but when using only one HomePod the two stereo channels are combined and folded down to MONO. To listen in stereo, as Apple clearly states, (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208807), you must use two HomePods and use the Home app to set them up as a stereo pair, with the result that one HomePod will deliver the left channel of the stereo signal and the other will deliver the right channel.

Great news! Just updated my Airport Expresses. Thank you, Apple, for this update.

Now, since the Airport Express is not longer sold, Apple and/or one or more other vendors need to offer an Airplay 2 device with an audio line level output to connect to stereo receivers, powered speakers, etc.