Apple HomePod Mini

The Apple HomePod Mini has Fair overall sound quality. Bass has decent impact, but is tubby and doesn't go deep. Midrange is a bit nasal, somewhat, hazy, grainy, congested, constricted, and sounds like it's pumping (on what would be loud parts of the program material the volume actually drops instead of increases). Treble is somewhat subdued, smeared and sizzly and upper treble is muted. So-so recovery of room ambience and sounds somewhat congested. Provides a decent volume level in a small to medium sized room but is better suited to near field listening. Can get more constricted sounding at louder volumes. The speaker is monophonic and its sound field has good width beyond the sides and decent extension above the speaker, but depth is flat. Can be paired with a second HomePod Mini to form a stereo pair that can be placed to provide better stereo separation than single enclosure stereo models.

Versatility is good. It's a monophonic speaker, it has multi-room support and stereo pairing with another HomePod Mini. Wireless: WiFi support is dual-band. Bluetooth is available for speakerphone functionality but can't be used to stream content. Communications: Has support for calling, texting and messaging through the connected iOS device with verbal commands to the speaker. Digital Assistant Muting: Lacks a button, switch or touch control to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Siri can be disabled to stop listening with a verbal command "Hey Siri, stop listening". Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and outputs. Audio Tailoring: Lacks any user tone controls. OS Support: Less than other models - iOS only. Other connections and features: Lacks USB port. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of several common streaming services such as Pandora, Tune-In, iHeart Radio and Apple Music. Voice ID: Has support for voice identification of up to 6 people - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.

Overall ease of use of the Apple HomePod Mini is very good. Wireless setup: Requires an iOS device with Bluetooth enabled and near the unit to initiate WiFi setup, no app installation required, steps are fairly intuitive. Bluetooth: Easy to use with paired device (Wireless setup and Speakerphone function). Console controls: Lacks volume control label or symbol but some other markings suggest (+/-) that it is a volume control and lacks graphical position marking. Volume may also be controlled via a natural language command which has a index "marking" via verbal command and acknowledgement. Audio mute: Play/pause as mute is an unlabeled multi-function touch surface (not involving volume buttons), well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Microphone mute: Lacks a physical mute control. But Siri can be deactivated by saying "Hey Siri, stop listening" and re-activated by touching top of unit and give the command to "Activate Siri" to activate Siri or in the device settings in Home app. Source selections: Supports selecting content by voice command from some common streaming providers or once the HomePod Mini is selected for Airplay, switching between 3rd party streaming apps is easy as they automatically get relayed to the speaker. App remote: Has a volume control that initially may be difficult to locate in the Home app HomePod Mini device settings - although it can play/pause by tapping the HomePod Mini icon in the Home app; However, native music app has a prominent volume control slider with a persistent position that lacks specific index markings. Mute: Play/pause as mute in native music app the marking is obvious with clear indication when it is engaged. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.