We made an Apple home theatre. It was bad

The video undertakes a practical experiment to assess whether Apple’s HomePod based home theater setup can compete with traditional or non-Apple options, all while aiming for a sleek Apple lifestyle. The presenter lays out the premise: avoid messy speaker wires and opt for a polished, Apple-integrated experience using two HomePods, an Apple TV 4K, and wireless connections to create a compact 2.0/2.1 style home theater. They acknowledge the potential benefits, such as stereo imaging, spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos support, plus the convenience of AirPlay, Siri, and centralized control. However, the core tension quickly emerges: the $600 asking price for a HomePod pair, coupled with the need for an Apple TV and other accessories, raises questions about overall value versus traditional speakers and simpler setups. The discussion centers on whether the promise of seamless integration translates into superior sound and user experience, or if compromises in sound quality and usability erode that value proposition. The host is explicit about expectations, emphasizing the blend of design, ecosystem, and performance as the deciding factors for a modern home theater buyer. In the middle section, the reviewer provides a side-by-side examination of sound quality and user experience, noting that the HomePod setup offers a surprisingly broad soundstage when used in stereo for movies like Rogue One, with deep bass that exceeds expectations for such compact speakers. Atmos playback is explored but with mixed impressions, as the reviewer finds Atmos playback distant and sometimes echoey, and suggests that turning Atmos off can actually improve music playback. They compare these dynamics to an alternative Amazon Fire TV/Echo Studio setup, highlighting differences in interface, remote quality, and the presence or absence of AirPlay. The testing process includes listening to a diverse playlist, testing with games via War Thunder, and conducting measurements to illustrate how the second-generation HomePod differs from the first generation, including a noticeable 2 to 4 kHz dip and an overemphasized high end that can affect vocal clarity. The summary of results begins to tilt toward the conclusion that while HomePods offer certain advantages in home theater contexts, their audio tuning and price point create a gap relative to expectations, especially for listeners seeking flat, accurate studio monitoring. Toward the end, the video pivots to a clear alternative: Edifier S2000MKIII bookshelf speakers, paired with a Belkin AirPlay 2 adapter to achieve smart functionality without being tethered to Apple’s ecosystem. The Edifier option is presented as more affordable, offering straightforward, tunable EQ and multiple inputs including RCA, optical, and Bluetooth, albeit without built-in Wi-Fi. The host emphasizes that these speakers provide louder, clearer sound with less reliance on software finesse, and they conclude that for many listeners, this non-Apple route delivers better value and sound quality per dollar. A candid takeaway emerges: the HomePod approach prioritizes aesthetics and ecosystem features over raw audio performance, making it suitable for some users but not a universal best choice for a home theater, especially at higher price points. The video closes with a pragmatic verdict and a call to viewers to share their own home theater configurations, inviting discussion about what people would actually use in living rooms and why.

Topics · Technology · Home Theater · Product Review · Audio