Which one should you get if you want the best-sounding audio experience?
That doesn’t mean they sound bad, necessarily, but some sound better than others.
We’ll take a look at both types of smart speakers.
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“Smart speaker” is a pretty general term.
Related:Which Music Streaming Service Has the Best Audio Quality?
If money is no object, which smart speaker sounds the best?
Amazon
There are 5cm speakers on each side and the top, a 25mm tweeter, and 5.25-inch bass driver.
The results are a big, room-filling sound with plenty of detail.
What about Apple and Google?
A big, beefy Echo speaker with five total speakers, room adaption technology, and Dolby Atmos Music support.
Apple used to have a high-end HomePod, but it wasdiscontinued in 2021.
Google’s high-end smart audio unit is the display-equippedNest Hub Max.
The company’s best speaker-only option is the much more affordable Nest Audio.
Apple
Both the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio are included below.
The Apple HomePod Mini is also in this category by size, but it’s more expensive.
However, you may get what you pay for.
A cute little Siri-enabled smart speaker for those invested in the HomeKit ecosystem. The HomePod Mini is available in five different colors, to boot.
Apple HomePod Mini
Audiophiles love theHomePod Minifor its excellent sound quality.
It features a proprietary full-range driver design that sends sound down and out in 360-degrees.
The driver is suspended to reduce distortion, and passive radiators help give depth to the sound.
The Echo 4th Gen features a 76mm woofer, two 20mm front-firing tweeters, and Dolby Stereo support in a small, affordable package.
Just like the full-size HomePod, the Mini model has the same optimizations for the environment.
The results are great sound in a very tiny package.
A cute little Siri-enabled smart speaker for those invested in the HomeKit ecosystem.
Google Nest Audio brings impressive audio and functionality to your home, although its bass leaves something to be desired.
The HomePod Mini is available in five different colors, to boot.
Amazon Echo
Understandably, not everyone is willing to use Siri for better audio quality.
If you’re in the Amazon ecosystem, theEcho 4th Genis your best bet for a mini speaker.
It’s a little bigger than the Echo Dot, but that allows for improved audio.
Google Nest Audio
For Google lovers, theNest Audiois the obvious choice for sound quality.
Your only other non-display option is the Nest Mini.
The Nest Audio costs around the same as the HomePod Mini and is often on sale.
The Nest Audio features a 19mm tweeter and a 75mm woofer.
Google claims the Nest Audio is 75% louder and has 50% more bass than its predecessor.
However, users report it’s not great at providing room-filling, immersive sound.
A handy smart speaker doesn’t have to sound bad.
There are plenty of othergood smart speakersto choose from if sound quality isn’t as important to you.
