Comparing Apple's HomePod versus the Fluance Fi70 speaker

Ever since Apple announced the HomePod, I've been intrigued with the thought of having a smart speaker that can assist me throughout the day. One that can handle tasks like answering questions, setting reminders, and controlling smart devices just like my Amazon Echo, but with better integration with my other Apple products, while at the same time offering improved sound quality that lets you enjoy your music instead of just filling the silence.

Unfortunately, after more than 6 months with the HomePod, the device and its spotty Siri integration misses the mark for me. The Fluance Fi70 on the other hand, while not perfect, does a better overall job while providing more powerful, high fidelity sound.

Presence

The Fluance Fi70's footprint is massive compared to HomePod, and the weight difference is even greater at 81 pounds compared to the relatively lightweight 5.5 pounds. While not as simple and elegant, the Fi70 looks like an art piece displayed on its included stand, and with the magnetic cover removed shows off its dual 1-inch silk tweeters, 6.5-inch speakers, and 8-inch woofers, all powered by a 280-watt amplifier.

On the back, we have an antenna for the built-in radio, USB for charging, optical input, and a 3.5mm input which can be used to squeeze out higher quality Chromecast audio sound than data transferred via Bluetooth. The HomePod, on the other hand, features 7 tweeters and a 4" subwoofer, each powered by their own amps, and no physical input or Bluetooth support, just AirPlay 2.

Power

In terms of sound quality, HomePod beat out each one of its direct competitors, and I have to admit at low volumes it does sound better than the Fluance. Apple did an amazing job developing this speaker's hardware and getting it to sound great with all genres of music.

The only audio complaint I have is it doesn't get that loud especially for large rooms, and the deep satisfying bass that you get at low volumes quickly fades away when set to its maximum. The HomePods at its highest volume out sound like the Fi70 at 60%, and at full blast the Fluance sounds more than twice as loud as HomePod.

The difference in bass is shocking, as you can only hear the HomePod's bass but with the Fluance you feel it in the floor, the furniture, and even in your guts. You can literally have a full-on dance party with the Fi70, shake your walls, and really annoy your neighbors.

Thankfully I live at the quiet end of a street.

Problems

Apple offers a solution to help those who want more volume and bass in the form of a second HomePod, which does help a lot but costs a total of $700. What's more, a pair of HomePods still can't compete with the Fluance, which is cheaper at $500, not including the $40 to $100 it costs to add on an Echo or Google Home.

Before the Fi70, I was mostly happy with the output of the stereo paired HomePods, but after months of frustration with Siri, I couldn't help but think if the money would be better spent on a higher end speaker that could somehow pair with my Echo. Most would agree that Siri is behind many of its competitors, and the version that ships with HomePod is even more limited.

Even more frustrating is that the HomePod takes over any "Hey Siri" request within range, and the response often results in "I can't get the request on HomePod". This makes having "Hey Siri" support on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac worthless.

The HomePod's mic is so sensitive, as it picks up my normal speaking voice around two corners and halls in my bedroom. I now manually enable Siri on my devices instead of using my voice to avoid triggering Siri on HomePod.

We were hoping to see some improvements to HomePod's software at WWDC, and even made a list of our most requested features, but unfortunately nothing happened.

On top of that, there are many more devices that support Amazon's Alexa assistant, and a few of mine aren't compatible with HomeKit, so I need to keep my phone close to toggle those using their apps. This isn't always possible, especially when cooking.

It was refreshing experiencing a higher level of intelligence after switching back to the Echo, and the more-open ecosystem allows integration with a variety of audio services, not just Apple Music. The Echo also easily connects to any Bluetooth speaker for audio output, like the Fluance Fi70.

The result is a surprisingly good combination that I'm very happy with, but with a few limitations. The Fluance F7i will shut down if it's not used for awhile, which requires turning it on using the touch controls on top or the remote, then asking Alexa to reconnect. The second annoyance is the Echo can't control speaker volume, like it can with my old LG Bluetooth enabled sound bar.

To get around this hurdle, I keep the Fluance at its max setting of 40 and adjust Alexa's output, but every once in a while I'll accidentally play something when both are maxed out, and scare my family and myself.

The last downside is no Alexa voice support for Apple Music, but it should be noted that HomePod has the same issue with other services, so it really depends on what service you use to stream. I'm still using Apple Music with the Fluance, but connecting directly to the speaker using Bluetooth and then using the app or Hey Siri to control the tunes.

So after about a month, I'm very happy with my slightly inconvenient but great sounding, much more capable, and extremely loud HomePod replacement that costs less money.

If you're someone who is a casual listener at normal volume levels and don't heavily rely on voice control, especially if you're an Apple Music subscriber, a single HomePod may still be the better choice. For me, someone who loves loud high-quality music and the convenience of a good smart assistant, the choice is an easy one.

Where to buy

The Fluance Fi70 Three-Way Wireless High Fidelity Music System, which retails for $499.99, is available in three colors: Black Ash, Lucky Bamboo and Natural Walnut. Fluance Audio with Amazon has each finish in stock with free shipping.