Google Nest Audio Speaker Review

[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...

 

[Zensō]

It’s amazing what a hundred bucks will buy you in audio these days.

 

[JDS]

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.

Kinda surprised no one has tackled this problem. There must be other people out there who want to mix permanent hardwired passive speakers with part-time wireless surround speakers in a HT context.

 

[JDS]

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

Well, that's disappointing.

 

[elak]

Measurements of those seems quite impressive. I'm wondering, have how are they in stereo mode (music listening) comparing to some other monitors as e.g. Kali, Jbl 305, infinity primus 150 or smaller Genelecs? Is it possible, that they are competetive in sound quality in low/ medium volume?

 

[GXAlan]

Kinda surprised no one has tackled this problem. There must be other people out there who want to mix permanent hardwired passive speakers with part-time wireless surround speakers in a HT context.

Agree. Sonos Amp, Yamaha AVRs, Sony AVRs are the ones I can think of, off the top of my head. Premium front speakers with lifestyle rears is a good choice for many rooms.

 

[ninetylol]

Measurements of those seems quite impressive. I'm wondering, have how are they in stereo mode (music listening) comparing to some other monitors as e.g. Kali, Jbl 305, infinity primus 150 or smaller Genelecs? Is it possible, that they are competetive in sound quality in low/ medium volume?

they dont go as loud as my Kali IN-8v2 (by far) but till 75-80db they sound just as good probably even a bit cleaner. Also lacking lowest octave of bass, so you wont play dubstep with these but its enough for 95% of music, even some techno as amir said too. I have some in room measurements few posts earlier, i think they are pretty close to all those very good monitors.

 

[elak]

they dont go as loud as my Kali IN-8v2 (by far) but till 75-80db they sound just as good probably even a bit cleaner. Also lacking lowest octave of bass, so you wont play dubstep with these but its enough for 95% of music, even some techno as amir said too. I have some in room measurements few posts earlier, i think they are pretty close to all those very good monitors.

Thank You! Just ordered them Excited to compare them with monitors primus 150 and tower speakers elac 209 I own - maybe soon I'll come to the point, that these google little things are enough for my needs (+ no amp and streamer needed)

 

[iulianm]

It's $49.99 on Google's website as apparently they run a deal between November 7 - 13th.

I just ordered one to replace the Alexa.

 

[RoA]

Not in the UK they don't.

 

[Jimbob54]

Not in the UK they don't.

Maybe from the 12th. But the dark and white ones arent in stock on UK store anyway.

 

[fcserei]

Just for fun I made a couple of near-field measurements with the google DSP active and also with driving the speakers directly from an external amp, bypassing the DSP and internal crossover. It looks like not much is going on DSP-wise in the speakers.
It has Linkwitz transformation for the woofer below ~190 Hz. It makes the dynamic compression at low frequencies necessary, because it is pushing up the small woofers distortion considerably.
The crossover seems like a standard 12dB/octave around 2kHz for the woofer, and I guess it is the same for the tweeter.
I don't see much FR shaping otherwise.
BTW in the speaker the crossover, the Linkwitz transform and the 2 power amps are in a TAS5825M class D amp/DSP chip on the small board where the power connector is. It has i2s input, but I am not sure how much the google SW messing with the configuration of the chip after initialization.
Maybe it is easier just to connect it to two external amp and do your own digital crossover and not so aggressive Linkwitz transform.

 

[Jimbob54]

Is it pretty fair to say that these might be the deal of the century if you can get a pair on a Black Friday offer for say £150 a pair ?

I work on a dining table. Have to clear aside nightly . What would be a sensible solution to raise them off the table to a better height without spending more on stands than speakers ?

 

[kencreten]

Re-Tales #28: A hi-fi market health check

How healthy is the hi-fi market? One widely reported silver lining of the pandemic was increased sales of anything to do with home entertainment, including hi-fi. Recently, though, inflation has broken out and the stock market tanked. Higher prices all aroundfrom shipping and logistics to...

www.stereophile.com

The Pending Audiophile Demographic Disaster Is Still Brewing

Nobody wants to talk about their demise but the recent death of retailer, Andy Singer, reminds us of the pending demo problem for the hobby

futureaudiophile.com

It helps to come to a definition on the audiophile hobby as opposed to the music industry. If you include Bluetooth speakers and soundbars, the home audio market is growing in size and revenue. Products like this and Sonos provide very good value.*

*Like Facebook, your data may be used to help Google with other activities. Remember that Gmail read all your emails to develop their spam filter. Individuals may find this to be too costly while others welcome the monetization of their info being passed down in the form of hardware cost savings.

Thanks, unfortunately interesting.... :\.

 

[Robbo99999]

Is it pretty fair to say that these might be the deal of the century if you can get a pair on a Black Friday offer for say £150 a pair ?

I work on a dining table. Have to clear aside nightly . What would be a sensible solution to raise them off the table to a better height without spending more on stands than speakers ?

Ha, hardback books!? But no, or but yes,....I haven't looked into cheap small speaker stands so don't know what's available.

 

[Jimbob54]

Ha, hardback books!? But no, or but yes,....I haven't looked into cheap small speaker stands so don't know what's available.

Not a bad shout

 

[olieb]

Just for fun I made a couple of near-field measurements with the google DSP active and also with driving the speakers directly from an external amp, bypassing the DSP and internal crossover. It looks like not much is going on DSP-wise in the speakers.

Did you measure with the grill off? Backplate?
I am asking because the jaggedness is gone. (I can't imagine this is from leaving out the DSP.)
It would be interesting to know more about where the peaks and dips (resonances?) in Amirs measurement come from.

 

[fcserei]

Yes, front and rear grill off, but the case is not split.
They are surprisingly smooth and low distortion drivers at moderate level. I bet with the external crossover, bass boost to only 80 Hz and a proper sub they can be poor man’s Genelec for small rooms.
I will try to throw something together in the next couple of days.

 

[fcserei]

Here are some near-field results for the woofer with an external DSP 2nd order crossover at 1450 Hz, a milder Linkwitz transform, and a down shelf filter. No notch filters or other narrow band trickery. Looks quite smooth and likely easy integration with a sub too. Distortion is also down.
Listening to vocal music on it without tweeter now. Not bad at all, but I've added a notch in the 6-8kHz range, because I've heard a little sibilance.