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Google Nest Audio Speaker Review

Rate this smart speaker:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 1.4%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 17 7.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther

    Votes: 110 50.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 87 40.1%

  • Total voters
    217
@EJ3 yeh SPL is a factor, I for one cant play any louder than 80db with neighbors around.
I cannot visualize living under those conditions: my condo's (overseas from the USA have concrete walls, my single homes have brick walls and a 1/2 to 3/4 acre piece of land.
I'll get a phone call from the neighbors when the room with the stereo in it gets to 112 DB (No, I'm not in the room: at that point I am roaming around outside or on the condo's patio or balcony). Oops, sorry, I was testing a new piece of gear is the answer on the rare occasion that occurs.
I'll turn it down right away.
 
How do you folks place these speakers? Right against a wall? On a table? Or freestanding on a stand or dangling from the ceiling (though they are missing a nook for that).?
 
How do you folks place these speakers? Right against a wall? On a table? Or freestanding on a stand or dangling from the ceiling (though they are missing a nook for that).?
mine measured best right against wall but elevated a bit (so tv board reflections are not so bad)
 
This thing is finicky as hell. If your wifi connection is weak forget about it. Also if you are an iOS user, smart features are ehh useless since you have Siri. Finally its largest weakness is that it does not support Amazon Music, which limits its use to bluetooth only. I got mine for $50 and it's ok for a BT speaker at that price and sound quality, I guess.
 
Not surprising that it doesn't play well with Amazon or Apple since they are Google's main competitors for content and devices. Our Nest is used with voice commands for YouTube music, Spotify and Sirius. My audio apps like Podcasts and Radio Paradise have the cast to Google icon. My main use for Nest is casting to it from piCorePlayer (i.e. my own locally stored content). Until now I didn't know it had Bluetooth capability. Still wish it had a 3.5mm input jack.
 
I have 3 of these along with a Google home max (now discontinued for some reason but great). Very good for the price especially if purchased refurbished or on deals like black Friday.
 
Not surprising that it doesn't play well with Amazon or Apple since they are Google's main competitors for content and devices. Our Nest is used with voice commands for YouTube music, Spotify and Sirius. My audio apps like Podcasts and Radio Paradise have the cast to Google icon. My main use for Nest is casting to it from piCorePlayer (i.e. my own locally stored content). Until now I didn't know it had Bluetooth capability. Still wish it had a 3.5mm input jack.
Does sound good and since I only have one, I corner loaded it and diffuses the sound a bit and improves what bass there is.
 
How do you folks place these speakers? Right against a wall? On a table? Or freestanding on a stand or dangling from the ceiling (though they are missing a nook for that).?
Couple of plant stands from amazon that get the speakers to about ear height when seated- either side of TV stand. Probably 2ft from back wall.
 
Couple of plant stands from amazon that get the speakers to about ear height when seated- either side of TV stand. Probably 2ft from back wall.
Thanks. How do you manage the lag between the TV picture and the sound then?
 
How do you folks place these speakers? Right against a wall? On a table? Or freestanding on a stand or dangling from the ceiling (though they are missing a nook for that).?
I only have one so I corner loaded, partially reflecting from a wall. I diffuses nicely, but all rooms are different.
 
Thanks. How do you manage the lag between the TV picture and the sound then?
Only use for music chromecasted ;-) . Given the latency issues and that I am not overly bothered about AV sound I havent even explored trying to BT them with my TV setup. Soundbar for that. These are so I can have some 2ch half decent speakers after the cat killed my old proper speakers. If you could integrate a sub with them I suspect I would be quite content given I cant play loud here.
 
Only use for music chromecasted ;-) . Given the latency issues and that I am not overly bothered about AV sound I havent even explored trying to BT them with my TV setup. Soundbar for that. These are so I can have some 2ch half decent speakers after the cat killed my old proper speakers. If you could integrate a sub with them I suspect I would be quite content given I cant play loud here.
Oh, I thought there was a nifty way to synchronize a Chromecast video device and the CC audio stream.

I thought about the subwoofer, but either you have to do it as a separate CC audio stream within Google home or you somehow have to get the analog signal from the DAC within the Nest and ideally add a passive high pass in series to the midwoofer.
 
These are frankly kind of amazing because it's so unexpected. I'm real curious where the bass limiting starts. Thanks for spending the time on these.
 
Some additional context:
Google Nest Audio.pngGenelec 8010A.pngGoogle Nest Audio vs Genelec 8010A.png

All measurements are from Amir's reviews:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ec-8010a-powered-studio-monitor-review.16866/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/google-nest-audio-speaker-review.58134/

So the Nest Audio is:
  • ~15% of the Genelec's price
  • 33% smaller than the Genelec (Link)
  • Sealed->no port chuffing
  • with deeper bass extension
  • and less distortion?!
...so I may or may not be in the process of turning a Nest Audio into an 8010A killer with SPDIF input :D
 
@staticV3
Would be so cool to have a digital input into the Nest Audio. I would buy an additonal pair instantly. I love them really much but its a pity i cant use them as TV speakers because of BT/Stereo latency problems.

Do you have any info if they can be modded?
 
I guess I'm in a tiny minority here but I didn't get on with these at all. I bought two for the kitchen, positioned on the kitchen work surface, sort of corner loaded, not great acoustically.

On a quick listen they're impressive, especially for the size. But I found the bass vs loudness contour super annoying.

I could get them to sound quite nice at one SPL but increase the volume from your reference listening level and the bass disappears, reduce the volume and there's too much bass. Voice sounded particularly unnatural too, maybe the jagged HF is a contributing factor here.

I wanted to like them and i tried a single in a bedroom which has slightly better acoustics but that wasn't any better, in fact the nest mini 2 sounded more neutral here.

I get that a tiny driver in a tiny enclosure needs bass limiting at higher SPLs but it sounds like Google chose a very aggressive loudness contour rather than bass limiting. I ended up returning them.
 
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For me Bass starts disappearing after 75% volume. Sweet spot seems to be 50-65% (65-70db) where mine go as low a 50hz and are super neutral whole frequency response.

Also positioning is important if you want good sound. I have to find a speaker which measures better than the Nest Audio yet..
 
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