CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reported that the HomePod mini 2 sounded louder and clearer, with greater range, than the original HomePod mini. That is a listening impression, not a measured acoustic result. For context on other differences between the generations, see NeoTeo’s earlier HomePod mini comparison.
What the comparison found
Lacoma’s side-by-side listening favored the mini 2 over the original: he described greater range and louder, clearer sound. Cult of Mac reviewer Ed Hardy also reported that the mini 2 sounded better in a side-by-side comparison, particularly in bass; MacRumors quoted his impression.
How the speakers were compared
Lacoma placed the HomePod mini 2, the original HomePod mini and the second-generation HomePod together. He played the same audio at the same volume, repeatedly switching between speakers, with Apple Lossless streaming through Apple Music. Keeping the track and playback level constant gave him a direct listening comparison.
The result for the larger model was distinct: Lacoma said the second-generation HomePod delivered the strongest audio in his comparison, particularly in bass and volume. The mini 2’s reported improvement over the original therefore did not put it ahead of the full-size speaker in that listening test.
What the listening result tells you
The comparison supports a qualitative answer: Lacoma heard the mini 2 as louder, clearer and broader in range than the original. It does not give a decibel or frequency-response result. Those measurements would quantify sound output or how it varies across frequencies; Lacoma’s account describes what he heard instead.
