January 29, 2018 · 23:00

If you’re not looking for Siri or don’t use HomeKit, there’s a vast array of speakers, which support AirPlay, that could can purchase, from the likes of Devialet, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Bang & Olufsen, and more. We’ll need to wait for AirPlay 2 support from competing products (the HomePod doesn’t have it either at the moment), but for people who don’t need a digital assistant and want more versatility (e.g. Spotify), there are many interesting options out there that range from 100 to many thousands of dollars.

I’m mentioning this because ‘everyone’ keeps on saying how the HomePod doesn’t really compete with Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home, but they fail to include any comparisons or even acknowledge the existence of more traditional solutions to listening to music or audio.


Dear B&O, I’m Still Waiting for a Pair of Wireless H6s →

March 27, 2017 · 11:46

Vlad Savov, writing for The Verge:

Speaking with B&O Tonmeister Geoff Martin (who’s responsible for tuning everything right up to the company’s $80-something-thousand BeoLab 90 speakers) this week, I asked directly if the company could produce a wireless H6. And he answered, just as directly: “yes.” The actual reason for why B&O Play doesn’t offer a wireless headphone tuned like the H6 is that its sound signature is too light on bass to be used in the noisy environments of an underground commute or a long flight. That’s why the wireless models that B&O Play does offer — the H7, H8, and H9 — have an extra slice of low-end rumble, with the intention being that they’ll sound their best when circumstances around the listener are less than ideal.

Dear B&O,

I have a pair of H6s, which I absolutely love1. I will continue waiting for a wireless version, despite your hesitation. Also, I don’t much care for the touch-controls on the current wireless line-up. Please make this happen.

Sincerely,

Many people

  1. Which I will upgrade to the 2nd Edition sooner or later.