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He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism.
Certified Refurbished Echo studio makes your music sound incredible whatever the source. The device comes equipped with top-of-the-line Dolby Atmos technology that enables a multidimensional audio experience, adding space, clarity, and depth. Echo Studio automatically analyzes the acoustics of your room, fine-tuning playback for optimal sound, no matter where it’s placed. It is also the only Echo smart speaker that plays new music formats mastered in 3D and Ultra HD. Most speakers can perform basic commands via voice assistant, too, from turning the lights on and off and playing music to answering questions and setting reminders, said Wolny. They are also designed to pair with other smart home technologies such as doorbells, thermostats and security cameras.
Products
Figure out what platform or features you'd like, and you should be able to quickly narrow down your options and find the best smart speaker for you and your family. If Alexa is your voice assistant of choice, you should go with the latest Echo Dot. It's affordable and offers all the Alexa skills and smart home integrations you'll need. The Echo is even useful while you're away, as Alexa can send alerts if your smart speaker's microphones detect the sound of glass breaking or a smoke alarm.
If you’re willing to trade a little sound quality in favor of convenience, a wireless system is a good bet. Most separate subwoofers are also wireless, meaning they pair automatically with the rest of your sound system when you plug it in. The speaker bass comes with a control dial that lets you easily adjust bass levels. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri have become our reliable digital assistants. They live inside our devices and jump at our spoken commands to set timers, play music, and teach kids how to spell those difficult homework words. Smart speakers are one of the easiest ways to use these voice assistants around your home.
Other smart speaker options
The Arena Media Brands, LLC and its partners may receive compensation for links to products and services on this website. TheStreet editorial staff are not involved in the creation of this content. Serious audiophiles will want to save up for this set of bookshelf speakers from British brand KEF, as the LS50 Metas are built to impress in both form and function. But really, the best reason to buy this model is because it sounds so damn good. Bluetooth speakers can be significantly cheaper than traditional ones, but they are not that good at producing quality audio.
If you're trying to power a dance party, it has all the features necessary to help you achieve your dreams. An Auto-DJ element automatically moves smoothly from track to track without you needing to touch a thing. People will think there's someone always at the helm making sure the playlist never stops. Smaller 5.1 speaker systems are still great for smaller rooms but larger 5.1 systems like the Rockville HTS56 Home Theater System are probably best for bigger rooms with plenty of space. Since you can control these AI virtual assistants with your voice, they are excellent assistants to have in a home. That’s why a lot of people have been giving them a try in their homes.
Are there any stereo smart speakers?
Broadly speaking, the best choices for music will include at least 5.1 surround sound and in some cases may also feature a sound bar. The Acoustic AA5170 Home Theater uses only 700 Watts with a power frequency of 20Hz to 20KHz, packing a compact, yet powerful speaker package suitable for any home theater system . The AA5170 works fluidly with your personal computer/laptop, gaming system, digital media player, or any other audio/video device equipped with Bluetooth, RCA, or 3.5mm auxiliary interfaces. The system comes with six speakers, providing great coverage of any room you put it in. You’re not limited to only hooking the system up to your computer, as the package induces a 3.5 mm or RCA audio out allowing for an easy connection to your video game consoles, iPods, or any external source.
The best system for you may not be the best for someone else, and that's okay. Others may have fallen in love with Alexa after purchasing an Echo as soon as the smart speaker was first launched. Google Assistant is largely by general consensus, the most accurate voice assistant. There are no hard and fast rules but here a few tips; If you own a lot of Apple products, Siri is the best for you . This speaker is one of the more affordable models out there, and has a simple design that allows for 360-degree sound. It’s also extremely compact and lightweight, around 1.5 pounds, making it easy to throw in your bag to bring with you wherever you go.
The Link is integrated with Google Assistant and can be controlled by your smartphone via built-in Chromecast, AirPlay or the Link Music app. As the variety and availability of smart home products increases, we take a closer look at smart speakers and ask experts about choosing the best one for different needs. This model offers balanced sound with rich bass, and for the relatively affordable price, you may want to double up for a stereo setup. Performance is impressive considering its size—particularly the bass—though it lacks a bit in the mid-range. If you want to travel and enjoy music anywhere, then this speaker is the perfect choice.
The model is integrated with Google Assistant, and can connect with other Marshall speakers via Chromecast or AirPlay for a multi-room system. The model also equips adjustable bass and treble button controls to fine-tune your music without having to reach for your phone. This speaker’s round design allows for 360-degree sound and minimal vibrations.
Before you purchase any smart appliances and entertainment products from specific companies, try looking into whether they can directly communicate with each other. The audio quality of your smart speaker matters a lot, especially when you are looking to use yours as a media player of sorts. However, in a situation whereby you only need to use your smart speaker to control other devices or listen to spoken word content such as the news then this becomes less of a big deal. In this case, you could get away with one of the smaller, cheaper models. This is for anyone with a home theater who wants big, powerful surround sound in a streamlined package. The voice assistants are simply a nice bonus compared with the audio performance.
Dealing with such advanced technology emphasized to Alex the need for simple tech in our everyday lives, and he recommends computer products that will make anyone's day-to-day operations easier. A large chunk of the market also misses out on this because it requires that connected smart devices be HomeKit enabled. With Five strategically positioned speakers, Echo studio generates a sound that fills the room and sends different parts of the song to your ears from different directions. Sony released this model in 2021 as one of the brand’s first two 360-degree audio speakers alongside the pricier SRS-RA500. Other highlights include an intuitive app, a 3.5mm auxiliary input for those into vinyl, and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (meaning that there’s no need for a hub), it features built-in surge protection, along with the ability to independently control the power of two devices at once. Tenda’s SP9 smart plug is one of the better value options currently available. It might not have the sleekest or most compact design around, but it supports a max output of 13A, and can handle appliances up to 2990W, making it a versatile bit of kit.
Whether you're putting together a home theater or just want to listen to AM/FM radio, the sound quality is where the money's at. You'll want a system that can provide full, rich bass with clear high frequencies and crunchy mids. The more you can tweak the sound to your specific needs, the more satisfied you will be. If you're going to be listening to music but won't be watching any movies, you can look at more stereo equipment that doesn't require surround sound.
Best All-in-One Speaker System
The device connects seamlessly to your Wi-Fi network and sports a voice mute button for when you need your privacy to be absolute. Certified Refurbished Echo studio creates an immersive, 3-dimensional soundscape, wrapping you in studio-quality audio from every direction. This device allows you to perform a number of tasks like check the weather, set alarms, and control compatible smart home devices with just your voice.
This is the smart speaker for Apple users, and specifically for Apple users who turn to Siri instead of Alexa or Google Assistant for everything they need. If you have an iPhone and have been careful to make sure all of your smart home devices are HomeKit-compatible, this is ideal. Of course, if you aren't already on a first-name basis with Siri, you don't need to give it much thought. If theater surround sound for your TV is your biggest smart speaker priority, Sonos offers the best audio quality in our opinion. Before you purchase any of the best smart speakers, decide how you plan to use it.
