Google Nest Audio Spinorama and Measurements

[silkpurse]

Yes, I console myself with the thought that if they had accommodated this, either through software or speaker level inputs, i would have never been able to buy a pair for $85--even in pink.

they are used for 38 each on Ebay, shipped. Somewhere there's a digital audio input to hack into.

 

[milus]

they are used for 38 each on Ebay, shipped. Somewhere there's a digital audio input to hack into.

Isn't that hack for the Nest Mini? Or there is a hack for the Nest Audio?
If so, would you share how to find it? I did a quick google search and everything related to a hack was about the Mini.

 

[silkpurse]

Isn't that hack for the Nest Mini? Or there is a hack for the Nest Audio?
If so, would you share how to find it? I did a quick google search and everything related to a hack was about the Mini.

It’s currently undiscovered, but it’s likely the case that there’s a digital input that feeds the DSP and crossover network to be tapped into without requiring programming.

 

[ninetylol]

Holy sh*t, my Nest Audios arrived and measure quite as good as my Kali IN-8v2 (green trace).

 

[BDWoody]

I mean, wow. This is a $99 speaker -- for each unit, but still; we've seen much worse spins from speakers far more expensive.

I just picked up a pair of refurbished units on eBay for the $38 each mentioned above, and I am really impressed. What a deal these are! Thank you for the review, or I likely would have never considered them.

 

[USER]

I just picked up a pair of refurbished units on eBay for the $38 each mentioned above, and I am really impressed. What a deal these are! Thank you for the review, or I likely would have never considered them.

These and Roon (with basic EQ) make a crazy good pairing.

 

[ninetylol]

These and Roon (with basic EQ) make a crazy good pairing.

Can roon eq over chromecast? Bluetooth is not working very good for me with occasional stutters.

 

[USER]

Can roon eq over chromecast?

YES!

 

[ninetylol]

YES!

View attachment 397836

Thats good to know! If you Look at my sweep, I actually dont need any eq at all though. Kudos to the engineers of the Nest Audio!

 

[USER]

Thats good to know! If you Look at my sweep, I actually dont need any eq at all though. Kudos to the engineers of the Nest Audio!

I'll just say that a little boost at 200 will be pleasantly noticeable. It may be related to the desktop if yours are on them as mine are. This sort of thing helped my Revel M106s, which needed a similar boost at 300. It is not essential, but once you hear it you can't unhear it. I'm certainly not saying that it is worth getting Roon just for this (it's not!), but if you have it you may as well try it out.

 

[silkpurse]

Do people think this is a $99 speaker? lol, it's Alphabet pouring money into a part of their ecosystem. A consumer audio brand would charge 3x or more for a biamped active x-over, DSP limited, mini aluminium 2 way. The DSP limiting is really what makes the iLoud, Genelec, Neumann minis usable. Complex transfer function filtering and killing output and not allowing over excursion or over heating is the tech from Meyer HD-1s and it's now (finally) more mainstream.

 

[thewas]

Do people think this is a $99 speaker? lol, it's Alphabet pouring money into a part of their ecosystem. A consumer audio brand would charge 3x or more for a biamped active x-over, DSP limited, mini aluminium 2 way. The DSP limiting is really what makes the iLoud, Genelec, Neumann minis usable. Complex transfer function filtering and killing output and not allowing over excursion or over heating is the tech from Meyer HD-1s and it's now (finally) more mainstream.

Well said, the final production unit enclosures though are not from aluminium as the prototype ones were as far as I know.

 

[silkpurse]

Unless they redid them consumers have been getting aluminium fronts/plastic backs

Also I should have said that Google is amoral and I would never vouch for buying a "smart speaker" from them, since you can't use a line in at this point I really don't want one personally.

 

[ninetylol]

I keep being amazed by these little speakers. I put them closer to the wall now (untreated room, bad acoustic layout) and they measure better than any speaker Ive owned so far (keeping bass extension in mind). But with the speakers to the wall bass is plenty if you are not a basshead imho. Also Ive noticed theres a equal-loudness contour curve built into these depending on volume you set them to. Really awesome job google. Heres my Left and Right measurements 1/12 smoothing.

 

[silkpurse]

I keep being amazed by these little speakers. I put them closer to the wall now (untreated room, bad acoustic layout) and they measure better than any speaker Ive owned so far (keeping bass extension in mind). But with the speakers to the wall bass is plenty if you are not a basshead imho. Also Ive noticed theres a equal-loudness contour curve built into these depending on volume you set them to. Really awesome job google. Heres my Left and Right measurements 1/12 smoothing.

View attachment 398671

From previous measurements it seems clear they are dropping the bass to lower distortion as you get louder. We usually say the response at closer to live volumes is flat and the bass is boosted at lower volumes, which is not what is happening on the nest audio.

 

[ninetylol]

From previous measurements it seems clear they are dropping the bass to lower distortion as you get louder. We usually say the response at closer to live volumes is flat and the bass is boosted at lower volumes, which is not what is happening on the nest audio.

Harman curve is calculated at 75db if im not mistaken. My measurements were done at about 73db (75% volume). When you get lower the Nest add a little more Bass shelf.

Live volumes are more than 85db, so i agree it should get flatter there, which it does. IMHO the small woofer isnt made for more than 80db though. Sounds fantastic at lower volumes though.