One of the most flexible items you can possess is the Best Smart Speaker. It not only allows you to listen to your favorite music from a variety of streaming sources, but it also has a voice assistant that frees up your hands. You can use your voice to control music, set timers, and even get the latest news headlines or sports scores from the top smart speakers.
Top picks
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Best Overall: Bose Smart Soundbar 700
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Best-sounding smart speaker: Sonos One (Gen 2)
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Best smart speaker for Alexa: Echo Dot
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Best smart speaker for home cinema set-ups: Echo Studio
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Best smart speaker for audiophiles: Bose Home Speaker 500
Smart Speaker Buying Guides
1. Voice assistant
Begin by deciding which voice assistant you want your smart speaker to support.
If you already have a voice assistant on your phone or tablet, or if you already have smart speakers or smart displays in your house, it makes sense to have a smart speaker with the same assistant. If you're still undecided about which voice assistant is right for you, Alexa in Echo Dot vs Google Assistant can help.
2. Size
Next, think about where you want to put the smart speaker; smaller, more compact smart speakers like Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are great for bedrooms and kitchens, where they can be used to set timers while cooking, but larger smart speakers can be used in areas with larger footprints, such as a lounge or dining room.
3. Brand
Amazon and Google, two internet companies that haven't been in the consumer electronics sector for long, dominate the smart speaker market. However, major wireless speaker manufacturers such as Bose and Sonos with Sonos One (Gen 2) are increasingly making inroads.
4. Price
Smart speakers can cost as little as $50 and as much as $300 like Echo Studio. A Best Buy or extremely decent model should set you back roughly $90-$200. They aren't necessarily more expensive than other wireless speakers, though they are sometimes more expensive than simple portable Bluetooth speakers because they feature built-in wi-fi for voice control.
5. Smart display
Smart displays like Echo Show 8 are a cross between a smart speaker and a tablet computer. They have larger speakers than a tablet of comparable size, aiming for superior sound quality, and their design is tailored around their voice assistant and smart features.
You may use it with a smart baby monitor to check on your child upstairs, or you can ask it to play a YouTube video instructing you how to make a recipe while you cook.
Smart Speaker FAQs
1. What is the purpose of a smart speaker?
A smart speaker like Sonos One (Gen 2) can do more than just listen to your favorite music streaming service or the albums and tracks on your smartphone, as we've already explained.
The built-in voice assistant can adjust the volume, skip tracks, and even select a specific song, album, or playlist for you, all while keeping your hands free.
2. Which voice assistant is the most effective?
Some folks have always preferred Apple products and are devoted to Siri. Others have fallen in love with Alexa after purchasing an Echo Dot as soon as it was released.
Google Assistant appears to be the most accurate voice assistant, according to the common consensus. If you have a lot of Apple gadgets, Siri is obviously the greatest, but Alexa is the best for overall compatibility. They aren't, however, hard and fast regulations.
3. What smart home devices will my smart speaker work with?
To begin, make sure your smart speaker like Two Room Set has complete support for its built-in voice assistant - most do.
If the smart speaker says you can do more than just control your music with your voice – and it doesn't imply you need a separate device – it's likely to have full support. Almost all smart displays with a screen have complete compatibility. However, while support for calling functions varies, it isn't a requirement for connecting most smart home products.
Conclusion
Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are all available on the best smart speakers. Smart speakers from the company that makes the relevant voice assistant will only have their own virtual assistant installed. Smart speakers from third-party brands like Bose and Sonos, on the other hand, provide you with a choice of voice assistants.
