There are a few smart speakers that focus on audio quality, but the majority are focused more on their virtual assistants and price point. That doesn’t mean they sound bad, necessarily, but some sound better than others. We’ll take a look at both types of smart speakers.
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Best Sounding High-End Smart Speaker
Small, affordable smart speakers are very popular, but there are also smart speakers that focus more on the “speaker” part of the term. If money is no object, which smart speaker sounds the best?
What about Apple and Google?
Apple used to have a high-end HomePod, but it was discontinued in 2021. Google’s high-end smart audio device is the display-equipped Nest Hub Max. The company’s best speaker-only option is the much more affordable Nest Audio. Both the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio are included below.
Best Sounding “Mini” Smart Speaker
Apple HomePod Mini
Audiophiles love the HomePod Mini for its excellent sound quality. It features a proprietary full-range driver design that sends sound down and out in 360-degrees. The driver is suspended to reduce distortion, and passive radiators help give depth to the sound.
Just like the full-size HomePod, the Mini model has the same optimizations for the environment. The results are great sound in a very tiny package. The only trade-off is you’re limited to Siri, which is not as feature-packed as Alexa or Google Assistant.
Google Nest Audio
For Google lovers, the Nest Audio is the obvious choice for sound quality. Your only other non-display option is the Nest Mini. The Nest Audio costs around the same as the HomePod Mini and is often on sale.
The Nest Audio features a 19mm tweeter and a 75mm woofer. Google claims the Nest Audio is 75% louder and has 50% more bass than its predecessor. However, users report it’s not great at providing room-filling, immersive sound.
A handy smart speaker doesn’t have to sound bad. You’re probably using it to stream music and podcasts, so make sure you choose one that will make your ears happy. There are plenty of other good smart speakers to choose from if sound quality isn’t as important to you.
