Audio Quality

[titaniumSS]

I've been very impressed with the audio quality thus far. Also, it gets loud so be ready! Lol even at max volume it is very clear and doesn't seem to peak the speakers.

 

[French]

I'm really happy with the sound quality. I had an OLD (using MINI charger...THAT's how old) Monster Clarity speaker in the kitchen so this has replaced that with a whole ton more functionality so I'm VERY happy. I live in about a 1,100 square foot condo and to my surprise Hey Google works from anywhere in here. I had to shut myself in the back bathroom and talk VERY quietly to give an OK Google command to my phone. Which leads to a comment from me...they REALLY need to figure out a better "when" to hand off or come up with a distinct phrase that will not trigger the Google Home. I like using Hey Google for Home, but saying OK Google also activates it. I wish it just didn't then I can decide which to use. Or it better learn real quick when it makes sense NOT to let Google Home handle my request, like when I tried to create a calendar event earlier on my phone, which was intercepted by Google Home and then Google Home promptly told me it couldn't handle that yet. DUH...that's why I was asking my PHONE to do it. Or if I "OK Google show me ...." and Google Home says it can't do that yet. Uh Home will NEVER be able to "show me" anything without a screen so yeah, either make two distinct phrases or make Home a whole lot better at knowing when it should default to letting my phone handle it.

Anyway, thanks to this thread I had no idea I could "cast" to Google Home which means I can now listen to my podcasts (mine are in Podcast Addict so I don't think Home can do that via voice), and I can also stream my own music from my memory card...and while I'm very happy to tell Google Home to play music and have Pandora fire up, I kind of like being able to open the app to see what is playing (name, singer, etc.). So I could see myself even streaming to Google Home via the Pandora app on my phone. I guess that might be a testament to the fact that the speaker really does sound great to me and I agree it gets plenty loud. I love being able to turn it up and down by voice, etc.

I'm VERY excited about Google Home. I happen to have bought into SmartThings YEARS ago when it was a kickstarter and now many years later I have about 70% of my home wired or using plugins and I just LOVE being able to turn lights on and off or dim them, etc. My speaker is so sensitive I can command it from anywhere in my condo, though I do need to speak a little louder when I'm in the bedroom.

 

[zigg8272]

you don't have to cast podcast to your GH from another device. All you have to do is say Ok Google play such and such podcast. I have a few podcast app so I'm not sure which one it takes it from.

 

[French]

you don't have to cast podcast to your GH from another device. All you have to do is say Ok Google play such and such podcast. I have a few podcast app so I'm not sure which one it takes it from.

That was what I thought the issue would be. I don't use Google play at all. I guess I'll have to experiment with that.

 

[ChuckG73]

How does the sound quality compare to the Sonos 1? I started building my Sonos system and before I get too deep I am at a point where I could move from Sonos to Google Home and audio Chromecasts.

 

[segag1]

Sono's is way superior in sound quality. Google home is ok for audio. Its good for its size but no where close to Sonos

 

[thatguy97]

Sounds like it's not the best audio ever

But i would look at it as a reference device for Google home.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

For $130 it's definitely passable. I have no complaints about the audio since the convenience of just telling it what I want to hear is awesome. That helps make up for the minor detriments in sound quality compared to, say, the UE Boom 2 (have not done direct side-by-side, going by memory).

Sonos does not play in this space. They are $70 more for the cheapest offering. That's a significant price jump, and honestly Sonos is worthless if you just have one speaker IMO. Unless you only have one room....

 

[DocMekon]

Sounds muffled at low volumes, too much bass. Opens up a little at higher volumes, and sounds better.