Comment: The three factors that may be behind the HomePod’s semi-removable cable

We saw a lot of confusion last week about the HomePod’s cable. We’d heard conflicting stories about whether or not it would be removable, and the confusion didn’t end once it went on sale.

Once it was available, Apple seemed to confirm the non-removable theory by stating that a damaged cable require returning the speaker to Apple.

But then a Reddit user revealed that the cable can indeed be removed, and we confirmed it in a video demo. So what’s the story here … ?

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HomePod impresses audiophiles in technical measurement tests

The HomePod launched on Friday and people continue to praise its sound quality. A user on the r/audiophiles subreddit conducted an extensive set of measurements, testing frequency response, distortion and much more.

The review is a very in-depth and dense exploration of how the HomePod sounds, with favourable comparisons to higher-end real speakers. The results are certainly impressing people with the necessary technical understanding. Even Apple’s Phil Schiller liked it.

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HomePod hands-on: The best (and worst) of Apple’s new smart speaker [Video]

The highly anticipated $349 HomePod arrived on Friday afternoon, and I’ve been playing around with it for the last day or so. A few things, like the speaker’s build quality and design, are things that I can immediately appreciate upon unboxing. The one surefire conclusion that I can make after using the HomePod is that Apple has, as we know by now, prioritized sound quality over everything else. more…

How to use HomePod with Apple TV … it mostly works but there are some drawbacks

Apple doesn’t advertise HomePod as a TV speaker in any of its marketing, but it’s a question we’ve got a lot over the past couple weeks. With AirPlay, it’s very possible to connect HomePod to Apple TV and use it as your TV speaker … with some caveats and drawbacks to consider.

For some people, it may make sense to do it. I think for many it won’t. However, there are some tips and tricks to make using HomePod with Apple TV a better experience …

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The HomePod power cable can be removed, but you probably shouldn’t [Video]

The HomePod’s power cable is technically user-removable, as is demonstrated by our hands-on video. A very brave user on /r/apple took the plunge and forcefully removed the power cable from their space gray HomePod. We were able to do likewise with our white HomePod, and although it was a little scary and required an inordinate amount of force, it is indeed user-removable. more…

Sonos co-founder & former CEO praises HomePod sound quality, but says Spotify support needed

Apple’s HomePod is largely the company’s direct competitor to Sonos. To commemorate its newfound competition, Sonos yesterday released a custom Spotify playlist with a hidden message for Apple.

Now, Sonos co-founder and former CEO John MacFarlane has taken to Twitter to share his first impressions of HomePod. MacFarlane was CEO of Sonos until last January.

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