HomePod 2 (2023) sound quality "worse" than OG HomePod as bass is too quiet or muddled, according to some users

Here’s the crux of the article in video form

Apple has tried to improve its newer HomePod 2 by adding multi-room audio and multi-user support, but some feel that the company was not able to improve the overall sound quality when compared to the OG model.

According to reports (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10), multiple HomePod 2 owners are of the view that its sound quality is worse than the first-generation HomePod.

It is alleged that although the mids and highs are crisper on the 2nd-Gen HomePod, the bass sounds way better on the original one.

A customer claims that even though they paired and set up their next-gen HomePods in stereo mode, the original HomePod sounds better to them.

Users also complain that activating the bass reduction on the new model generates a kind of a flat sound. Customers are unhappy and disappointed and expected more from the so-called next-gen speakers.

Are there any ways to adjust bass or sound besides the “Reduce Bass” setting? I can’t find any but I’m no expert. 😂 The HP2 bass is so heavy it’s annoying, but reduce bass sounds like a transistor radio.
Source

the original HomePods are able to achieve a level of bass the new ones simply can’t.
Source

Some have even tried playing content from different applications or services such as Apple TV+, YouTube, Peacock and Paramount+, but they couldn’t get the desired sound output.

It is quite possible that this is another downgrade that the company has brought to the newer HomePods, just like the one to Wi-Fi 4.

A user on Twitter even points out that sound output may have been affected as Apple downgraded the product by reducing the number of tweeters from seven to five.

Fortunately, we did come across a potential workaround that may help solve the problem for some. It has been suggested that you turn off the Dolby Atmos (Spatial Audio) feature on the HomePod.

Doing so may help you get the desired audio quality.

For a detailed guide on the steps to be followed, click here.

Note: You can check out more stories related to Apple on our website.

Featured image source: Apple HomePod 2

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.