macgui

First off, I like the look of the Beats Solo Pros. I've never listened to any Beats product so know them only by reputation. Basically, that they made cheap, bass-heavy thump thump products for the kids. There've been several reports that quality has improved. Again, I have no experience in their products before or post Apple acquisition, so no judgement so far. Well, I do like the look of the Beats Solo Pros depicted above.

At $349, I wouldn't expect a lot from the proposed Apple cans. They will be BT and not AirPlay (WiFi). That will be disappointing. AP/WiFi means easier moving form source device to device, and more importantly - audio everywhere in the house, without dropouts, and possibly less latency. I wouldn't have to carry the phone around, and I could listen to my Mac while moving around. That doesn't work so well with AirPods.

As Apple doesn't support aptX of any flavor, WiFi would provide for potentially better audio with bandwidth supporting hi-res files.

I'd be happy if they where just higher-performance headphones, not headsets, no active noise cancellation, and no Siri (but there will be Siri). I've got a few wired circumaural headphones for really critical listening. These Apple cans would only have to be really good not great, to get my money. An app that provides some equalization (yes, "audiophile purists" hate it) would be welcome. Apple could make some wave-form shaping voodoo that considers your individual ear bits' shape, but like the HomePod, you're limited to what Apple thinks is best. What's new.

I wish consumer "flagship" headphones didn't mean active noise-cancellation. It's a specific function that not everyone can benefit from. Can it be switched off in the WH-1000MX3s? A quick look shows them to be well regarded. A set of cans are no value to me if when noise cancellation is turned off the remaining audio is subpar.

AirPod audio quality is fine if you manage expectations. Saying it's great is like saying there're no better headphones for listening to music than ATH-M50s.

SpamSandwich said:

That design is idiotic.

Which is what a lot of people said about AirPods when Apple cut the cord.

ITGUYINSD said:.

The fact you can get 6 Alexa speakers for the price of one HomePod says something about the price of the HomePod. 

The fact that you can get 6 Alexa speakers for the price of one HomePod says something about the quality of "Alexa Speakers". And yes, you made a stupid comparison.

I bought a HomePod when somebody had them new for $249. I'm still not enthused. I don't know that a smaller version would be any better. To may ear, the HP is a lacking as a high fidelity speaker. There are many many cheaper (not cheap) speakers that actually a better balanced sound than the HP, though they don't have the auto-equalizing or any digital assistance. (I can't speak to Sonos or Google products).

I appreciate it's less sensitive to placement than most traditional speakers but the user has no control over frequency response. As a result, I can't correct for what Apple feels is a proper response curvy, that's lacks midrange and highs compared to many other speakers.

Without Siri being much improved, I don't see it as  a decent HomeKit hub, unless it's just used as a hub, but voice control is left to the Watch, phone, or iPad. TBH, I don't know what's acting as the HK hub now. I had a lot of HK stuff before the HP, and no ATV. The phone?

Right now, I use Echo Dots a lot and an Echo Show5. Alexa has its faults but overall has been a better experience than Siri. I hope anybody who gets a HP mini is happy with it. It'll be pricey. Apple's iPad mini 5 was more than the iPad, last I checked. The HPm may not go that way, but it won't be cheap. I'll be a very late adopter, if ever.

I hope not having an AppleTV in now way affects updates, or that Apple sloughs off on Siri and music applications.

iOS HomeKit Siri sucked. I have no hope that it will get better on tvOS for us non-tvOS people, or at least not worse, if that's even possible.

genovelle said:

I think some of these leaks are intentional. Especially now while they can’t do the press events. 

Me too. It's been claimed by many tech reporters that they have specific knowledge of various levels of Apple leaking intel. This may well just show up on the site like the new MBA and mini did. There probably won't be a bunch of journalists posting reviews having had the phone for a week or less.