You are of course right that it can't "optimize for location" of the listener. But it can, at least theoretically, estimate the "environment acoustics" from its

You are of course right that it can't "optimize for location" of the listener. But it can, at least theoretically, estimate the "environment acoustics" from its own standpoint and somehow adjust itself to it. I'm not claiming it does, it doesn't fit much to the Apple's concept of "it works as soon as you plug it in." So some honest review is still needed. 350 USD is expensive, but it "competes" with a lot of the small consumer products that have just one or two speakers, one amplifier and still cost, for example, in the range of 200 USD. Apple can of course easily double the price when competing with them. It's simply a different market: a lot of people do want the small device that "just" works in the given (possibly small and with "wrong" configuration) room, even if making the room to be good for the sound is the best way.