SoundGuys Weekly: Jabra Elite 65t vs. Jabra Elite 75t

Our weekly dive into the best mobile audio gear - 12/19/2020 [SoundGuys]( SoundGuys Weekly - published Saturday, December 19, 2020 [Jabra Elite 65t vs. Jabra Elite 75t]( Does newer mean better? Jabra is no stranger to making true wireless earbuds , offering products with great design and good sound at a relatively affordable price tag. With the Elite 65t and Elite 75t, Jabra has created two products that appeal to workout enthusiasts and casual listeners alike, thanks to the earbuds’ durable construction and comparable internals. [Read all about it]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Expand your audio knowledge: - [Samsung Galaxy Buds vs. Apple AirPods (2019)]( - [Apple AirPods vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Live]( - [Apple AirPods vs. Google Pixel Buds (2020)]( - [Apple Music review]( - [Sony WF-1000XM3 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2]( --------------------------------------------------------------- New and updated reviews: [Apple HomePod review]( Hey, Siri! The HomePod has a simple silhouette that allows it to blend into any setting. One of the more exciting new categories in audio comes in the form of smart speakers . After the surprise hit that was the Amazon Echo it seemed that every company was trying to put a speaker in your home, but they didn’t always sound good. The original Google Home was like the Echo in that it wasn’t exactly built for listening to music, it was made to be the central hub of your smart home (assuming you installed smart door locks, thermostats, and light bulbs in your house). But now we’re seeing the transition from helpful kitchen assistant to the center of attention when you listen to music. We already looked at the Google Home Max , but there is also the Apple HomePod to consider. Unlike the Home Max, the Apple HomePod is pretty small and has a few significant limitations. But does that even matter? Let’s find out in our full Apple HomePod review. Editor’s note: this post was updated on December 18th, 2020 to answer questions in the FAQ and ensure information is up to date. Who’s it for Someone who owns Apple hardware (iPhone, iPad, Mac). Actually, this part is mandatory. It’s usually easier to get the most out of an Apple product if you already have another Apple product. Just look at Airdrop as an example. But in the case of the Apple HomePod, having another Apple device is basically mandatory. Without a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, the HomePod can’t be used. Apple Music subscribers. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, this speaker is perfect for you. You can ask Siri to play everything from that new Miley Cyrus song to jock jams and it’ll oblige seamlessly. Anyone that doesn’t want Google tracking them.  If you’re not too happy about the fact that Google has a record of everything you ask the Google Home, then the added privacy of the Apple HomePod might just be the deciding factor for you. Of course, it’s only a little better. They’re still recording you, but your inquiries are assigned a random ID instead of being associated with your account. Also, the legal implications of having something in your home that’s always listening are still being debated. We spoke about this topic extensively in our podcast episode titled, “Smart Speakers, A New Legal Frontier” so make sure to give that a listen if you’re interested in learning more about the subject. How do you connect to the Apple HomePod? Up top is a touch-sensitive pad for controls that also lights up when you say the hotword. The Apple HomePod is a smart speaker, which means you have to connect it to your WiFi if you want it to work. Once you plug it in you’ll need a device running iOS 8 or higher in order to set it up. Go into the Home app on your phone and simply follow the instructions to get it up and running. If you’re doing this on an iPhone or iPad, the process is seamless and you’ll be done within minutes. But if you’re an Android user or don’t have any device running iOS 8 or newer: then you’re up a creek without a paddle. If you’re an Android user or don’t have any device running iOS 8 or newer: then you’re up a creek without a paddle. Unlike Google’s Home Max which doesn’t really care what phone you have, the Apple HomePod requires another Apple device to get it up and running. (Pro tip: If you manage to get the HomePod set up with an iOS device but want to use an Android phone as your primary source device, you can try this app that will let the HomePod show up in Spotify connect.) Once you sign in you’re good to go—just ask it to play a song and it’ll oblige. Does the Apple HomePod work with Spotify? Previously, the HomePod only pulled music from Apple Music service natively but now you can select your default music streaming service by going into the Home app on iOS. An update to iOS 13 allowed Siri to play music via Spotify if you add the words “- from Spotify” to the end of your voice request and now that iOS 14 is out many were hoping that the ability to select a default music player would come to iPhones. Unfortunately, that still hasn’t happened but at least you can choose the service on your HomePod. Unfortunately, if you want to use other music streaming service like Tidal or Deezer you’ll need to use AirPlay from your device. It’s a little clunky and not as seamless, but at least it’s possible. Asking Siri to do it with your voice will get you nowhere unless you set up a Siri shortcut for it. Additionally, there’s no 3.5mm input on the device, so you can’t sidestep this by connecting an audio cable. One way around this is to AirPlay audio to the speaker, but again: that’s only if you have an iOS device, as Airplay isn’t available on Android devices. One cool feature of Airplay 2 is the ability to sync up two HomePods and turn them into left and right channels. Unfortunately, we only had one HomePod available so we weren’t able to test this feature out for ourselves. For playback controls you’ll get the plus or minus signs for volume, and the space between can be tapped for pausing. One good thing about the Apple HomePod is the microphones do a great job at picking up your voice, which is important as that’s the main way to control playback if you’re not within arms reach. Whether volume was on ten percent or on 100 percent, it usually picked up my voice on the first or second try of saying the hotword. This is great when you compare it to something like the Google Home Max which had trouble picking up my voice when music was playing loudly even if I was standing close to it. If you don’t feel like using your voice, there is a touch-sensitive pad on top of the speaker which lets you pause or play music by tapping the middle, adjust volume by pressing the minus or plus signs, and even access Siri by long-pressing the middle of the pad. Where are the HomePod settings? If you’re looking to adjust the settings of your HomePod then you’ll need to go into the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. Once there you’ll need to locate the HomePod icon and click on it. In the lower right hand corner you’ll see a button that says “Details” that you need to press. From there you’ll be able to access all the settings for the HomePod. You can do things like change the name of the speaker, select a default account, and even allow or disable explicit content to play. How’s the build and design of the Apple HomePod The only cable you have to worry about with the HomePod is the power supply cable on the back. For the most part, the build quality of this speaker is great. It’s covered entirely by a plush fabric that hides most, if not all, of the plastic that the speaker is surely made out of. I have basically nothing negative to say about the way this speaker is put together. And although I do find the minimal design to be absolutely gorgeous when it’s sitting on my counter-top or bedside table, I did find the placement of the touch-sensitive screen on top of the speaker to be more inconvenient than it was helpful. As Gary would say, let me explain. The fabric surrounding the speaker is padded and easy to move from one place to another, assuming you don’t mind unplugging it to do it. Every time you say “Hey Siri,” the Siri graphic appears on the touch-sensitive display letting you know that it heard you and is now listening for your next command. It’s useful when you’re standing next to it, but if you’re across the room it’s almost impossible to tell if the speaker heard you. More than once I ended up repeating the hotword at the same time that Siri was answering my question just because I didn’t realize it heard me. Related Articles   Best Google Assistant smart speakers 1 week ago   Google Home Max review: Sound for the masses September 30, 2020 In contrast, the Google Home Max has four lights embedded in the fabric on the front of the speaker that light up to let you know it’s listening. The Amazon Echo does something similar with its ring of light. The Apple HomePod basically asks you to trust that it’s working (which is a good metaphor for Apple products in general actually). To be fair, more often than not the microphone picks up my voice perfectly fine—but a slight visual cue would be nice. How does the Apple HomePod sound? When you’re talking about how the HomePod actually sounds things get interesting. Like the Google Home Max, the HomePod also has microphones inside that self-adjust the EQ depending on how close it is to a wall or other objects so that the sound stays relatively constant throughout using it. If you place a speaker near a corner, the low end gets a nice boost from bouncing around. The microphones can hear that this is the case, and then tone down the bass notes to maintain a reliable sound. As was the case with the Google Home Max, I can’t really prove that it’s doing this. But I can say that whether the speaker was in a corner on my counter or in the middle of a room, I couldn’t hear any meaningful differences between the two. The Apple HomePod isn’t a large speaker, so its low end isn’t going to be overwhelming like it is with the Google Home Max. It also doesn’t get as loud as the Google Home Max, but both of these traits work to its advantage. There’s still a strong enough bass where it’s easy enough to follow the bassline all throughout the song Let It Happen by Tame Impala, but it isn’t strong enough that it gets in the way of any of the vocals or other instruments in the lower mids. Bass kicks easily pulse along underneath the synths and keeps the rhythm easily felt, but it definitely isn’t as powerful as something like the Google Home Max. Not to make it seem like the Home Max is a bass-hungry monster, but the HomePod definitely seems like it’s holding back at times in order to put equal emphasis on other elements besides just bass. Vocals in the song Send Me a Peach by The Blasting Company has plenty of clarity and the backing bass vocals never mask what’s going on. When it comes to highs, the HomePod also shows a good amount of control. Highs definitely seem under-emphasized a bit in order to avoid harshness, but there’s also a slight push in a few narrow bands so that cymbals can still be made out even if they’re lacking in prominence. A good example of this are all of the cymbals crashes in the song Step Out by Jose Gonzalez which can be plainly heard all throughout the chorus, even if they sound almost muffled when compared to, say a good pair of open-back headphones. Should you get the HomePod? When it comes down to it, I have no problem saying that the Apple HomePod is the best sounding smart speaker I’ve heard. And yes, that includes the Google Home Max . The HomePod doesn’t have the same bass-heavy response that manufacturers tend to be leaning towards, but I personally like that. By keeping things tastefully focused on sound quality and not mass-appeal tuning, music is much clearer-sounding. The Home Max has a more “consumer friendly” sound with a bigger bass response that I think more people will enjoy, plus the Google Assistant is light years ahead of Siri. Unfortunately, the HomePod has far too many limitations to recommend to most people. It’s actually impossible to recommend to anyone who doesn’t have at least one device in the Apple ecosystem. And unless you’re a subscriber to Apple Music or like the thought of taking some time to build a Siri Shortcut or download a separate app, it won’t work as seamlessly as you’d want it to with other services. The addition of Spotify working natively is nice, but it took forever to get that feature and for everything else you’ll have to use AirPlay which isn’t as seamless. If you’re already neck-deep in the Apple ecosystem, I’m going to guess that you’ll love using this speaker. Apple HomePod (2018) All prices listed in USD unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and vary by region. Unfortunately, we cannot list Amazon prices on the site, as they vary greatly by currency. $299.99 at Apple $299.99 at Best Buy What are some alternatives? The Sonos Move looks great and will blend into the design of any situation. If the HomePod doesn’t do it for you then it’s still worth looking into the Google Home Max or even something like the Sonos One before you make your final choice. The Sonos One still provides good sound, has a trustworthy ecosystem backing it up, and promises support for all the major voice assistants. Then there’s also the newer Sonos Move which also has built-in Bluetooth so you can pick up the speaker and take it with you outside if you want. Of course, it doesn’t have Siri but if you use Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant it’s definitely worth looking into. But heck, if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem: none of this matters anyway. You’re just going to buy the HomePod anyway, right? What about the HomePod Mini? The HomePod Mini has a new small, and round design with the Siri indicator lights on top. On October 13th, 2020 Apple announced the HomePod Mini for just $99 USD. The HomePod Mini is a new product that puts Siri in a more compact design. It should do everything that the regular-sized HomePod can do regarding smarthome things like controlling smart lights and asking Siri questions. It features a single driver and dual passive radiators of. It has the Apple S5 chip inside which allows for the speaker to automatically EQ itself 180 times per second (according to Apple). When you place two speakers in the same room they will also automatically become a stereo pair which is pretty cool considering the Nest Audio requires you to go through the Google Home app. On top of that, it can detect when your iPhone is nearby. So as you bring your phone near the speaker it will automatically bring up the appropriate controls on your iPhone. While we can’t say how good of a product the HomePod Mini is for sure until we get one in for review, we’re definitely excited to get one in. We’ll be sure to update this review once we put it through our own tests . Pre-orders opened up on November 6th, but we recommend against that . [Read the full review]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review]( Are these beans bold enough to take on tech's greatest Apple? Someone get the can opener, because the beans are in. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have attracted plenty of media attention for their kidney bean-shaped design, and rightfully so: these non-sealing, noise cancelling earbuds are unlike any other earbuds on the market. Samsung may have bitten off more than it can chew with the Galaxy Buds Live, so we’re going to see how these buds held up in the real world. Grab your spoons, and let’s dig in. [Read the full review]( --------------------------------------------------------------- From around our network: - [Android Authority:]([Download the Samsung Galaxy S21 wallpapers here]( - [Drone Rush:]([DJI to be added to U.S. Entity List, along with 76 others]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Motorola Escape 500 ANC review]( For the price, these noise cancelling headphones sound surprisingly okay. The Motorola Escape 500 ANC may be very cheap noise cancelling headphones, but they’re a bit better than you might be thinking. They lack high-quality codec support, have acceptable microphone quality, and underwhelming battery life; yet, there’s still plenty to appreciate about these cans. [Read the full review]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Edifier TWS1 review]( Cheap true wireless earbuds that don’t skip a beat. It’s hard to find something that sounds good when you’re on a tight budget and value audio quality, but the Edifier TWS1 are some of the best cheap earbuds around. These buds support aptX for high-quality listening on Android devices, and they’re among the of few earbuds to support Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus, for a stable wireless connection. They’re not without their faults: build quality is cheap and the case uses microUSB for charging, but if corners must be cut, these are ones I can do without. [Read the full review]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Only the best headphones: - [Best PC gaming headsets in 2020]( - [Best smart speakers]( - [Best true wireless workout earbuds]( - [Best Sonos speakers]( - [Best PlayStation 5 headsets of 2020]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Staff picks [Adam Molina]( - [Apple HomePod review]( - [JBL Flip 4 Review]( [Chris Thomas]( - [Best wireless JBL speakers]( - [Sony WH-1000XM3 review]( [Lily Katz]( - [Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review]( - [Motorola Escape 500 ANC review]( [Sam Moore]( - [Best PC gaming headsets in 2020]( - [LucidSound LS50X review]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Free audio gear! We give away popular mobile audio gear every month, enter for your chance to win. [Enter the giveaway]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our other great newsletters with just one click. • [Daily Deal Alerts]( - Once a day newsletter with all our top deals. • [Weekly Authority]( - The latest smartphone news and reviews. • [Daily Authority]( - Daily tech newsletter delivered each morning at 7AM. [tw]( [ig]( [fb]( [yt]( [pc]( Copyright © 2020 Authority Media, All rights reserved. PO 20547 Howe St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z2N8, Canada. No longer want to receive these emails? [Unsubscribe](.