Apple HomePod 2

The sound coming from this speaker is remarkable. The room-sensing spatial audio actually works — I moved it between rooms and it recalibrated, and the sound difference in each space was audible. For Apple Music, it's the best wireless listening experience I've had at home. But Siri continues to frustrate. I asked Alexa and Google Home to control my Nest thermostat for years without issues. Siri struggles with the same commands regularly. If you're all-in on Apple Music and HomeKit, this is magical. If you rely on Spotify or want robust smart home control, look elsewhere.

I have a stereo pair of HomePod 2s connected to my Apple TV 4K and the result is a home theater experience that sounds better than most budget soundbars costing more. For music, the low-end extension and stereo imaging of two HomePods is extraordinary for the price. The room adaptation technology recalibrates every time I move them. I'm entirely in the Apple ecosystem — iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple TV, HomeKit — and in that context these speakers are phenomenal. If you're not in Apple's world, don't buy them. But if you are, they're the best thing Apple makes at this price.

The sound quality is excellent and I loved it for the first few weeks. Then I noticed a white ring on my solid oak side table where the silicone base sits. After research I found this is a known issue Apple acknowledges. The ring hasn't come off despite my attempts to remove it. Apple's advice is to use a non-scratch mat under it. I wish this had been more prominently disclosed before purchase. The speaker itself is lovely but now I'm paranoid about where I place it. Also, Siri frequently mishears my South African accent which limits the smart home utility.