Google Nest Audio Speaker Review

[ninetylol]

Ok, I did not make myself clear enough. I want to avoid the app and the microphones even more so, just Bluetooth. Maybe I am just naive. ;-)
About Chromecast, that does not work on iOS, does it?

I dont think you can use it without at least setting the speaker up with the App. It's sold as a smart speaker after all. Sadly there are no physical analog or digital inputs.

 

[EJ3]

Yeah, would be an interesting little experiment, I wonder if @amirm would measure it again without the grill? On a practical level it's fugly without the grill though, but would be interesting to see if that's what's creating the jaggedness in the treble.

In my opinion it's fugly anyway but more fugly without the grill.

 

[Walter]

Adding a subwoofer is relatively easy: find a long-discontinued Chromecast Audio dongle (might cost as much as the speakers) and plug it into the sub of your choice. Then add it to the group w/ the Nest Audio on the Google Home app.

This is not possible if you also want stereo. A "pair" cannot be part of a group.

 

[Walter]

Thanks. I know about the latency issue. In theory, I think Dirac Live can compensate, but does anyone know if the latency is consistent enough for that to work well?

It was not when I tried it. Just pausing and restarting could add several seconds to the latency, but that is on Linux.

 

[Kagemusha]

A friend have 3 or 4 of these at his house and I was impressed by the sound of those. While I have Sonos Play 1,old very old ones, I thought of replacing the Sonos for these Nests ones.

 

[Jimbob54]

Got my pair . Going to order a couple of plant stands to get them off the TV stand . These are never going to make the windows shake but better for 2ch than the soundbar I've got tucked away behind the TV.

I can't play loud in my circumstances anyway so I'm happy.

 

[DanielT]

Got my pair . Going to order a couple of plant stands to get them off the TV stand . These are never going to make the windows shake but better for 2ch than the soundbar I've got tucked away behind the TV.

I can't play loud in my circumstances anyway so I'm happy.

Congratulations, have fun with your new speakers.

Speaking of playing at high volume. Did Amir test max SPL? I see that Amir wrote:
Note that I have read there is a bass limiter that reduces bass peak as you crank it up. I meant to test the speaker at my standard 86 dBSPL but somehow it switched down to 80.
So around 86 maybe? Which in that case matches this:

When RTINGS tested the Google Nest Audio Speaker's Dynamic Range Compression then this was the result: SPL @ Max Volume 84.0 dB SPL

Google Nest Audio Review

The Google Nest Audio is a premium smart speaker that's larger than the Google Nest Mini. It has a sleek and stylish design that's available in a multitude of di...

www.rtings.com

So no SPL monsters but I find it hard to believe there is anyone who thinks they would be that.
However, for normal listening volume, they seem good, or even really good considering the price.

 

[burninggecko]

I love these speakers (paired as L+R). I bought them as a temporary solution for my bedroom when moving into my new place and they never left. They are also romantic partner approved! My GF just asks Google to play Romantic 70's Soft Rock and they sound even better

 

[Robbo99999]

In my opinion it's fugly anyway but more fugly without the grill.

Well, they're just little mothers with the grill on.

 

[tjf]

Got my pair . Going to order a couple of plant stands to get them off the TV stand . These are never going to make the windows shake but better for 2ch than the soundbar I've got tucked away behind the TV.

I can't play loud in my circumstances anyway so I'm happy.

Hi - stupid question time...

How do you pair these with a TV so the Nest speakers can produce TV audio to replace a soundbar?

Is it the Bluetooth path, or must the TV have a "GoogleTV/Android TV" TV streamer as it's "smart TV" functionality?

So it can get TV audio via the Home App -- only when you're using the Android/Google TV streamer function I assume?

 

[Jimbob54]

Hi - stupid question time...

How do you pair these with a TV so the Nest speakers can produce TV audio to replace a soundbar?

Is it the Bluetooth path, or must the TV have a "GoogleTV/Android TV" TV streamer as it's "smart TV" functionality?

So it can get TV audio via the Home App -- only when you're using the Android/Google TV streamer function I assume?

I dont pair them with the TV . They are currently sat on the TV stand though. I just cast to them from my phone.

I had a quick look at pairing them with my Google TV thing but apparently only possible with Bluetooth which I'm not interested in .

 

[tjf]

I dont pair them with the TV . They are currently sat on the TV stand though. I just cast to them from my phone.

I had a quick look at pairing them with my Google TV thing but apparently only possible with Bluetooth which I'm not interested in .

"but better for 2ch than the soundbar"

Oops - see, told ya my question was stupid...

Would be interesting to find a path to network-connect these for TV sound - maybe that'll happen with an updated version sometime in the future , or they'll just concede that market to Sonos and the other consumer (soundbar vendor) electronics brands - kind of amazed to see Google keeping these in existence for as long as they have though - considering their consumer devices longevity history...

 

[ninetylol]

You can just use bluetooth guys... There is some latency if you use a stereo pair though.

 

[Robbo99999]

"but better for 2ch than the soundbar"

Oops - see, told ya my question was stupid...

Would be interesting to find a path to network-connect these for TV sound - maybe that'll happen with an updated version sometime in the future , or they'll just concede that market to Sonos and the other consumer (soundbar vendor) electronics brands - kind of amazed to see Google keeping these in existence for as long as they have though - considering their consumer devices longevity history...

I'm with you though, I can see the appeal to use them as TV speakers

 

[Bob101]

It would be great if it had a subwoofer or enabled one.

It would be great if this were not produced by a global corporation with a shady data-privacy record.

 

[Jimbob54]

"but better for 2ch than the soundbar"

Oops - see, told ya my question was stupid...

Would be interesting to find a path to network-connect these for TV sound - maybe that'll happen with an updated version sometime in the future , or they'll just concede that market to Sonos and the other consumer (soundbar vendor) electronics brands - kind of amazed to see Google keeping these in existence for as long as they have though - considering their consumer devices longevity history...

Sorry , I could have been clearer .

 

[ninetylol]

I'm with you though, I can see the appeal to use them as TV speakers

True. If there Was some physical input we all wouldnt need to spend thousand of Dollars. I totally love mine though. Listening to the right now. Bit drunk too. They sound so good hah

 

[Krusty09]

Just thought someone might like this. buy one get one free time.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/offerbuilder/721309?nrtv_cid=rvm9hkb0akvtf&u1=04TH9mngPgrw1z5yNhMCJTH&irclickid=VklXjpRL-xyKUc-zI3U-eUocUkCW9AxOiQdZ2k0&irgwc=1&ref=198&loc=Narrativ%20Campaign&acampID=0&mpid=3139288&affgroup=%22Content%22

 

[amirm]

Thanks. I know about the latency issue. In theory, I think Dirac Live can compensate, but does anyone know if the latency is consistent enough for that to work well?

I don't have the answer to your question. But all Dirac can do is synchronize all the speakers by delaying the rest of the system. This however, creates a problem in that most systems do NOT have the ability to delay video to match audio. They can do the reverse but that won't be doing you any good.

 

[tjf]

I'm with you though, I can see the appeal to use them as TV speakers

Oh well, maybe they'll add HDMI ARC functionality to the new "Google TV" streamer"s HDMI 2.1 port -- to then send TV audio to the 2 (or more?) Nest speakers, as the new "Google TV" Streamer has "matter and threads" IOT capability - but will probably never happen...

https://store.google.com/product/google_tv_streamer_specs?hl=en-US

but, Google really doesn't care enough about the consumer AV market to go down this path unless it offered lots of data harvesting and advertising potential...