Argon Forte A5 WiFi vs HomePods?
For my new flat, I want to get a simple “does-it-all” audio setup to cover all my use cases.
Please excuse if this is not a 100% match for this sub, but I thought it fits well enough to give it a shot.
Previously I used a Polk Magnify Mini soundbar + sub but was never quite happy with its mid range and general audio playback, being kinda muddled.
We’re an Apple household (Macs, iPhones, Apple TV 4K) using Apple Music as primary streaming platform.
The new setup should basically handle music streaming via Airplay / WiFi, and function as the audio output for TV and occasional gaming on the Nintendo Switch. The setup will reside in the ~45sqm open plan kitchen / living room of the flat. It’s a newly built apartment with oak flooring, in case this has any impact on the setup.
From an “ease-of-use” perspective I lean towards buying a pair of Apple HomePods running in stereo. I like the fact that they‘re using 3D audio, look very minimalistic and adjust automatically to the room’s acoustics. We do not really use or like to use Siri, though, so they would really just be controlled via iPhone or Apple TV.
At the same time, I fear the vendor lock-in and inconvenience that could come up if any part of the family ever move away from Apple or pick up a device/hobby that needs physical cabling (like Vinyl, DJing, etc).
Another cool alternative would be Argon Audio’s Forte A5 WiFi. At least on paper it looks like they have all the bells and whistles of the HomePods — WiFi, AirPlay, and so on. Additionally they have virtually all input jacks you might wish for and (at least theoretically) should have a better sound quality when it comes to HiFi music (as with Apple Music Lossless). However, with Argon being geared towards music primarily, I’m unsure if they’ll perform just as good when used for watching movies or series. I also heard that they might need to break in and may need me to adjust the room’s acoustics to meet their full potential. They‘re also slightly more expensive (~800€ vs ~700€ for two HomePods) where I live.
Does anyone here have experience with both devices or can help me make an informed decision on which system to choose?