Install Raid for Free ✅ IOS/ANDROID/PC: clcr.me/7dgiHH and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days Happy Saturday everyone! Usual disclaimer: I don't hate Google, I think they make some really nice stuff, I just think it was a big miss-step not to put a Zigbee hub in this thing (ooh the Zigbee!), and the sound quality is not as good in my opinion. I know that sound is a subjective thing and I'm sure there will be people telling me they prefer the sound of the google nest audio in my sound test. To my ear it is too flat, but let me know what you guys think. I won't judge :)
I personally was impressed with the quality of sound of Nest Audio speakers vs the price it cost. However for me the biggest flaw was bluetooth functionality. When two speakers are paired there is an audio delay when watching videos on MacBook to the extent that this product is unusable. Duno where the problem lies under the hood but maybe it is due to aptX codec not being supported.
What eq values are you using on the echo ? I think I seen you setting bass +3, mid 0, treble +3. Other reviews seem to think the echo is bass heavy and doesn't need any more.
like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, th-cam.com/users/postUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....
*I like the old style Echo Dot because it's small also **Newest.Technology**, gives out decent sound and doesn't take up a lot of shelf space if you want to put it on beam in the workshop or shed.*
Me: 'Alexa, please order new boxer shorts' Alexa: 'Do you want the ones that are yellow at the front & brown at the back like you've already got?' Me: *closes camera shutter on Echo Show*
If I recall, the Google Mini (first gen) and Google Home and Google Home Max all came out before they started to use the Nest branding. They have Nest camera's, Nest thermostat, Nest Protect smoke detectors so they brought the audio into the same place, but then killed the Nest Account and brought them into the Google Home app....... Okay, they are confused. The reason the Home Max is not rebranded is because there is no second gen version of that product yet, so it is still the original version. I guess when they finally get around to updating it they will Nest it.
Here's some things I've noted with my personal experience with both Alexa and Google Assistant : 1. The Assistant is way smarter than Alexa, does more stuff at faster rates and it's in a league of it's own when it comes to web searches. 2. Alexa speakers have slightly better bass but the overall audio quality is better on the Nest. You'll enjoy all sorts of music on Nest more because of google's top-notch software tuning. 3. Alexa's app is extremely complicated and slower to load stuff. Understanding Alexa application is a total nightmare for a first time user. 4. Google is more consistent with updates and brings major improvements. 5. Google is faster to respond. For example : I'd have to pause for a fraction after saying Alexa and then say my command or the speaker just dismisses. Google also understands continued commands way better than Alexa. 6. Google knows what I like. For example : If I say "Alexa, play some music." It will just play it's stupid songs despite my playlists being added. On the other hand if I say "Okay Google play me some music." It will start playing my most listened songs from my playlists.
Things i've noticed with both (however comparing the mini versions, nest mini and echo dot) The echo dot definitely has way better audio, nest mini sounds almost.. tinny. Nest mini was slow to respond compared to alexa Nest mini has a worse microphone, has a hard time picking up your voice compared to alexa, especially when music is playing. google seems slower to respond only thing I agree with here is the 6th one overall echo dot is better
I know it comes down to personal taste and/or genre of music being listened to but what changes did you make in the EQ settings of the echo 4th gen to improve the sound ?
The Nest vs Google branding is pretty straightforward. Google's new home automation products are branded Nest. The ones that aren't yet branded Nest are being discontinued (e.g. Home Max is discontinued). As for the speakers, I'm busy buying Google Home Maxs because they provide better sound quality than the new Nest Speakers.
As a Nest Audio owner, I'd like to add that I sometimes notice bluetooth lag. It's so large (again, sometimes?) that using the speaker as a regular speaker for your PC causes visible lipsync problems. Other than that, I really like the looks of that speaker and the sound ain't bad also :)
One thing that I feel rarely gets covered in these sorts of comparisons is just how useful googles voice match is you live with... well anyone. I have both google and amazon devices in my household and almost exclusively use the google devices in common areas because of the ability to have multiple accounts on one device. Don't get me wrong I still use my echo dot in my room for some specific tasks, but I'm the only one who uses it so it works okay. But having the google speaker in the kitchen is immensely useful the ability for me to summon my specific Spotify account then at any point having the option for my sister to call up hers without any fiddling around is excellent! The echo device that sits right next to it (don't ask why there are two different smart speakers in the kitchen) hardly gets used by anyone other than my mom who is the account holder on the device.
The graph gained you a subscription! Good job! I have previous generation google home speakers and i like them so if the new one is even remotely simmilar i would be satisfied, one question i have is about bluetooth, does this new google speaker still have this 400ms bluetooth lag?
Was really pissed off at missing my alarm this morning on my phone, and trying to buy a separate alarm clock for the bedroom. So much choice and pissed off again. You've made me smile and cheered me up - thanks mate!
I don't know if you have more than one of the Google Nest Home speaker that isn't mini or max...BUT, do you think they would perform differently or any better if you had them paired as stereo so that one speaker could solely be dedicated to the left channel? Or am I really unintelligent and that's not how audio works?
I have a question, Im quite new on these things, If I buy the Aqara switches D1 and I already have Amazon Echo 4 (with hub) do I need the Aqara Hub (M1s or M2) ?
Watched quite a few of your videos now and I must say, you could literally slate anything i liked and I'd still love the video. Hell. Even the raid advert was great! Top marks on entertainment value fella!
Zigbee controls zigbee bulbs and other devices and listens to zigbee sensors and buttons. The advantage of zigbee over WiFi devices is better battery life for the sensors. It also works across platforms so you could add your zigbee devices to a Philips Hue hub and use their software and routines, or you could add it to Samsung smartthings, or to a Hubitat. It gives you a little piece of mind that if the company that sold the device to you went bust it won't be bricked because you can take it to another platform. By putting a zigbee hub in the echo Amazon have given you more choice when buying smart home gear because you can buy zigbee or WiFi devices without the need of a separate hub from someone like Philips Hue. 😊
@@paulhibbert Thanks Paul for replying. I bought a Phillips hue bulb, then realised I needed a hub, then realised, my light was a basic white one, and got a better white one, I feel so deeply entrenched into the Phillips system, and get annoyed when I see cheaper bulbs that so the same thing on AliExpress or wherever. So can I confirm with you Paul, that I could buy any ZigBee light bulb or strip and add it onto my Phillips hue bridge or system or whatever? If I use Google home, does it matter if I had 10 different systems in the house as long as they are Google compatible?
Hi Paul, really like your videos. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the Sonos speakers? I’ve had Sonos for several years but now contemplating whether to stick with it or swap to something else!
Paul, please am from Ghana in West Africa. I need your advice on which smart equipment is good in the market for my smart home. I want to setup my smart home as soon as possible but am confused about which smart equipment works best especially in Africa. Kindly advise from Hub to Bulb and any necessary stuffs which can make smart home operations easier and not complicated. Thanks in advance
i'd love to know how good (or bad) the mic pickup is on these things? are they as good as the 7 mics on the plus g2 or echo g3 or am i going to end up waking the neighbours to turn the lights on like on the echo show g1 or the show 5? or screaming like a banshee to wake up a dot g3 or nest mini if i have a (fairly quiet) desktop fan running within 5 feet?
I almost included a section on this but there wasn't much between them, and it was hard to quantify. The only thing that is certain is that the Google speaker seems to hear its name when it shouldn't. If I say to Neesha "I saw it on google babe" the speaker starts listening. It happens all the time and it's really annoying. That obviously isn't the wake phrase but the speaker doesn't seem to care. I must say at least twice a day "shut up you nob head" because she's babbling away with some answer to something she THINKS she heard.
@@paulhibbert well to be fair i only have 2 nest units (for questions and as an alarm clock) whereas i have 30 alexa units (28 working), the wake word "computer" seems to think "thank you" is its wake word and "echo" which i use on devices with displays i find often needs me to shout loud enough to wake every echo on the same floor when trying to get it to wake up correctly, in fact "amazon" seems to be the least likely to awaken in error.
Amazon Alexa is the best for home automation, it has the most skills. Echo dot 4th generation has zigbee builtin (to control my blinds, doorlock, etc.). Also, Google can't add a device to more than 1 room or group; example: kitchen and family room are adjacent to each other and I want the lights in both room to turn off if I say all, as well as independently turning off either room. Alexa is inexpensive so I bought 8 to equip every room with Amazon Alexa for voice control so that I can just ask 'turn off the lights' and the echo in that room knows to turn off those lights and not other lights in the house. Google app's fonts are really really really tiny for my old eyes. All 8 of my Amazon Echo devices have a clock... very convenient to tell the time or see a timer's countdown. or better sound, I have a few of my Amazon Echo dot 3 with clock output the sound via its 3.5mm headphone jack to my Denon HEOS speakers. New home automation users who want zigbee to communicate with blinds, door locks, lightbuilbs, etc. can just buy the Amazon Echo 4th generation with builtin zigbee.
Any plans to do a homepod mini review? I just got one and was blown away with the sound. Yes Siri sucks but it's very quick and works well with home assistant for home automation.
Paul, You should check out the echo link. The firmware has been updated to allow local playback of cd/mp3/vinyl on your home stereo/theater and cast to any or all echos in your home all at the same time. Worth twice its price to me since I no longer need to pay for a music streaming service.
Hey Paul, I recently exchanged my echo plus 2nd generation for the Echo 4, and am really enjoying the new echo 4. I really think the sound quality is more on par with the Echo studio in a smaller form factor.
@@paulhibbert Hey Paul one other question I thought you might have an answer to. Is it possible to set conditional routines with Alexa ? For example, I want to have my Lava lamps turn on at a specific time, but only if the temperature is say between 68 and 78. They don't work so well when it's tool cool. The schedule I've got down, but how would I add the temperature sensor into the mix? If you have any ideas let me know. Thanks
Thanks Paul, another great review and I loved the track you wrote too! Just bought an Amazon Echo for £29.99 from Amazon's pre Xmas offers...what a great deal!
Want better sound? Buy an Echo Flex and permanently connect it to a good Bluetooth speaker. (Permanently connect = set it as the preferred speaker instead of the one that’s built in.) In the US, the Echo Gen 4 is currently $70 USD, while an Echo Flex and an Oontz Angle 3 Ultra combined are currently $45 USD. You save 35% and get much better sound!
Aye, if you watch my other videos I say this almost every episode. I chose not to this time as this was a very specific review or two very specific devices.
So glad you pointed this confusion out. Not only that, they don't seem to know if it's "The Google Assistant" or "Google Home". Further, some boxes have "compatible with Ok Google", whilst others say "Compatible with Hey Google".
They really have made a hash of it. It's time they pick one and stick to it. Then match the app name! It's silly that my Nest app can't access my Nest speaker!
Don't know if you'll see this over Prime day (2023), but the 4th generation echo is on sale (I don't think I've seen it reduced as part of prime day before) for £50, with or with a smart bulb that "just works", I've been looking at replacing my PC speakers, would you say a couple of these paired into a stereo pair would be a good buy? They can be paired together and have a 3.5mm input, so i assume that would work, but don't really know. Love the content, and appreciate the time and effort that goes into all of your videos, even if they end up being expensive.
As someone who owns a google nest do you think you could do a follow up on how the hubitat has changed (if it has) since your last video on it. I like the smarter assistant on google but I like how Alexa can trigger routines with sensors unlike google. Hoping the hubitat can solve that. Also could you touch on how it can be used remotely?
I don't think much has changed. I seem to remember someone saying they'd added Broadlink support but I could be wrong. It's still the best option out there for zigbee and zwave in my opinion 😊
@@paulhibbert I see! I really hope googles routines evolve to the level of Alexa. It surely can’t be that hard to develop seeing as how Amazon has done so well
Appreciated the more technical explanation and evidence given during this video, it really elevates your opinions when you can provide stuff like that to back it up.
An excellent review. However, you have weighted each item that you reviewed equally. I know many clients want a really INTELLIGENT speaker, and in that category (as you yourself said), Google reins supreme. So, if the user is buying this speaker for answering questions, Google wins hand on. For everything else, get the Amazon.
Paul - a quick (and possibly stupid) question for you - If you switch off the echo 4, do you need to reset the clock everytime you turn it back on? Or does it have some sort of memory that retains the time. Cheers!
Yet again a entertaining and educational video keep it up Paul, you are doing a great job.....Now I mean everything above I just wish I could say it without sounding like a quarterly review...... Just keep being you, you make me smile every video 😁
Finally listened to this on headphones, can barely hear the cymbals when the Nest Audio is playing. Bit gutted as was going to invest in 2 Nest Audios but probably wont now. Not a fan of the Echo design or Amazons smart ecosystem (not saying I'm a huge fan of Googles either). It makes sense for Amazon to include a ZigBee hub as it is one of the biggest sellers of ZigBee products (probably the biggest). Google on the other hand only sells wifi products and is invested in CHOIP (ooh the CHOIP). Before anyone says it I know Amazon is invested in CHOIP too but see my earlier point.
Technical question from a fellow audio engineer.... I was considering staying in the Google ecosystem and settling for the inferior Google speaker vs the Echo for one reason only - sync with Chromecast. I wanna stream netflix/youtube/hulu, etc. from my macbook pro to my 4K monitor which doesn't have speakers. I'm assuming there will be some video latency so the only way I figured I can sync audio and video would be to use a Google nest speaker to stream the audio and hope that sound and video are synced somehow somewhere along the way. After that lengthy explanation, do you perhaps have some knowledge to shed on wireless video streaming/screen sharing and audio/video sync issues? I'd rather buy the Echo if I can figure out how wireless video/audio streaming will work.
🤣 It's mentioned now and then. I've been in a band with my mates since I was 17, and Sprocket is my side project that I use to write songs. I play all the instruments on that album 😊
Wow your Soundtest approach is crazy good. This way, using your own production + comparing EQ curves (Fabfilter Q, nice one😁) you can say, how it supposed to sound. Amazing. 👍👍👍 Would you mind to test the sound of Sonos One Vs. Echo 4 that way ? Cheers 😃✌️
Hey Paul, for my sanity can you please sort the handing of the speaker tests with Derrick. It’s really odd with the audio not matching the image. I get that it’s Derrick’s left ear so it’s my left ear, but I can’t help but think it would be better if you mirrored that section so the image and audio are matched.
Which eco system is better google nest audio or Alexa echo? Which gives better general knowledge answers by voice command esp. in medical science, symptoms and treatment of various diseases, finding a suitable doctor for a particular disease and making online appointment, ordering medicines and household groceries, asking for a bed in city hospitals in critical situation?
I just ordered Amazon Echo 4th Gen, so listening to this, just after the purchase, was good therapy! I was thinking of buying some studio monitors, maybe now I don't have to! (Might have to buy another Echo, though.) Two great videos, for me, would be (i) comparing the Echo, in detail, to your monitors & even more expensive stuff (KEF LSX?) (ii) Using the echo in stereo, and how does that compare with google. Note, also, Amazon speakers have aux in, google doesn't. That seems a plus to me, having had mediocre experiences with wireless chinese stuff. But do these latest smart speakers make aux redundant? (They can't fully - how do I attach my old CD player?)
Great video Paulie! Quick question, I see a few complaints on Amazon reviews about the max volume on the Gen 4 Dot. Any truth to that? Also, sound quality reviews are either really good, or people hate it and say gen 3 is way better. So confused. I was close to pulling the trigger on getting a few this morning being they are on sale, but hesitated once I saw that.
i found you searching for google home product information but i dont care any more..... im just so entertained by your videos im happy to watch you talking about paint drying ! i KNOW you would make it fun hahaha
I've sold my soul to Google for sure, but I 100% agree with you about all the Google fluff. It can get a little annoying, but once you get it all set up, it just works.
During their last sale, I picked up an Echo Show 5&8. I’ve got to say I’m simply stunned at the sound quality of them. Will it replace my 1K watt 8 speaker home theatre? Of course not. Do I now use it as much as I did my little boom box on my desk at work? Yes! And A can answer questions where my stereo just looked at me mutely.
@@paulhibbert So basically, I don't *need* Zigbee, but I do get more choice. Well there's always the other hubs so it's not completely lost although it would be nice of Google if they lowered the profit margins just a little and added a Zigbee hub I mean they're rich 😅
Nice job measuring and tearing down the speakers! And very funny stuff as always. I can overlook having to watch you thrust your hips. But I wonder if you and everyone else can do something about the little circles in your eyeballs. Maybe use the light diffusing umbrellas people have used since limelight?
Thanks man. Sadly I have limited space, the light ring is the best possible use of the area I'm tied to. It's a reasonable sized studio, but it's jam packed with desks and drum kits and stuff. I will have to experiment but I think I'm stuck with it for now.
I have both and I like them both. Amazon is a lot easier to set up. The time to buy them is when they have a sale. Sign up for them and you’ll receive notices when they are having a sale or a new product. Excellent review, I like your humor.
As an ex audio engineer I don't think your frequency response test was accurate. Although there is clearly more bass and treble in the Echo, but its missing the mid. Seems like they just pushed the Eq up but too much . However Google is too muddy both need a bit of work I'd call it a tie
You watched me conduct it, so feel free to let me know how I could have done it better. I suppose I could hire a studio for the day 😅 I gotta be honest dude, when I heard the speakers I could see the graph in my mind. It matches exactly what I'm hearing when I listen to those speakers, not enough low end or top end in the Google speaker.
@@paulhibbert yeah same here, you can hear the problems with Google which are more severe than Amazon. I wonder if changing the EQ in the Google speaker would improve it? As for doing it again it's more boring for viewers, but maybe speakers side by side dual mic, use a sine wave one each speaker to match levels then use your plugin to take average of the same track. Being geeky the problem is the shape of speakers also makes it difficult as I bet they both have a different sweet spot 😂
Aye, the reason I use the dummy is I want to give people a feel for what the speakers sound like in an average furnished room. And I prefer to conduct my tests based on the sound of an average furnished room so the results reflect closer to what people hear in a normal environment rather than what they hear if they press their face up against their echo. I move the speakers around the dummy to get an average EQ as if a person was walking around a room. I can understand your point though. To get closer to 100% accuracy of the speakers ability to reproduce music involves getting physically closer to the speakers and a different tool set because the acoustics of my room will differ from each and every household that purchases one. It may be more scientific to isolate from my rooms natural reverb. I suppose the most scientific test would be to capture the sound at various distances in a studio and mix them together before capturing the EQ data, but this is as close as I'll probably ever get with my limited budget and space 😊
Hey Paul! Perhaps you could do a video on what you can do with 'Oh the Zigbee' enabled Alexa devices? I've had a Studio since Prime day and have no clue what the point is! :D
If you have any Light Bulbs, Motion Sensors etc.. that require a Hub. Having a Zigbee Hub built in will eliminate the need for you to have to purchase a separate Hub. I have 2 Echo Show 2nd Gens. When I purchased them from Amazon it came with a Philips Hue Bulb 💡. I bought two Echo Shows so I got 2 bulbs. Then later on I purchased two Sylvania Motion Sensors. The bulbs and the sensors both required a Hub. I would have had to buy a Phillips Hue Bridge and Sylvania Bridge, but because of the built in hub in my Echo Show. I was able to pair all of these things and they work. Setup was easy too. I just put them in pairing mode asked Alexa to discover. In less than a minute it discovered the bulbs and the sensors (one at a time), then I renamed them on the screen of my Echo Show and that was that. Zigbee is a wireless protocol. Where the device and the hub can communicate with each other.
@@paulhibbert it may be accurate but do they also brick it so its completely useless at the same time like amazon did with the echo wand and echo look?
Google are renowned for cancelling useful services. There is a website devoted to it called killedbygoogle. So the answer to this is yes. 🤣 Not that it exonerated amazon. I abhor this behaviour no matter which company is doing it!
@@paulhibbert oh, dont get me wrong i know of many of the services google withdrew but did they actively brick £100 pieces of hardware they sold to customers, i have 2 alexa devices that work perfectly other than amazon intentionally made them non functional after a couple of years, think if they decided to do the same with echo buds or frames not just removing alexa support but rendering them completely non functional.
Followed up by the corporate greed bit. Anyhow love what you are doing. Love the sense of humor you introduce into tech reviews. Appreciate all the work you do.
Hello!! Not a scumbag troll here dropping by just to say hi and your content rocks! Had no idea you made ska!? When does the album drop!? I'll totally pick up a copy and support a fellow musician!
If it wasn't for the fact that I have so many google minis and nest products that I already have to do the "ooh the Google/Nest" thrust, I'd be interested in getting the new echo. As it is, my only she that shall not be named is relegated to the garage. She is however connected to an old 5.1 surrounded sound set up, so she seriously wins on that front.
Install Raid for Free ✅ IOS/ANDROID/PC: clcr.me/7dgiHH and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days
Happy Saturday everyone! Usual disclaimer: I don't hate Google, I think they make some really nice stuff, I just think it was a big miss-step not to put a Zigbee hub in this thing (ooh the Zigbee!), and the sound quality is not as good in my opinion. I know that sound is a subjective thing and I'm sure there will be people telling me they prefer the sound of the google nest audio in my sound test. To my ear it is too flat, but let me know what you guys think. I won't judge :)
I love a new shiny gaming app. Lets get on it!
I personally was impressed with the quality of sound of Nest Audio speakers vs the price it cost. However for me the biggest flaw was bluetooth functionality. When two speakers are paired there is an audio delay when watching videos on MacBook to the extent that this product is unusable. Duno where the problem lies under the hood but maybe it is due to aptX codec not being supported.
How about a new check on the ikea smart lighting solution?
Which one got the better voice assistant and why? I only think you touched the subject at the beginning but did not go any further.
What eq values are you using on the echo ? I think I seen you setting bass +3, mid 0, treble +3. Other reviews seem to think the echo is bass heavy and doesn't need any more.
like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, th-cam.com/users/postUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....
*I like the old style Echo Dot because it's small also **Newest.Technology**, gives out decent sound and doesn't take up a lot of shelf space if you want to put it on beam in the workshop or shed.*
Me: 'Alexa, please order new boxer shorts'
Alexa: 'Do you want the ones that are yellow at the front & brown at the back like you've already got?'
Me: *closes camera shutter on Echo Show*
Paul, your videos are the only ones I’ve seen that make ads entertaining..!
Thanks man. ❤️ I hate the idea of boring people with ads, so I make a bit of an effort with them 😊
I too am impressed with your advert effort! Next step is Ryan Reynolds who seems to only create adverts with no other content at the moment!
Watch Ryan George channel . He makes ads fun as well ...
Google's branding is so all over the place, it's rediculous and infuriating! I don't even think they know what they are doing 😂
They really don't! If you search for Google home hub you'll find it listed as a nest hub on one side of the page and a home hub on the other! 😂
If I recall, the Google Mini (first gen) and Google Home and Google Home Max all came out before they started to use the Nest branding. They have Nest camera's, Nest thermostat, Nest Protect smoke detectors so they brought the audio into the same place, but then killed the Nest Account and brought them into the Google Home app....... Okay, they are confused.
The reason the Home Max is not rebranded is because there is no second gen version of that product yet, so it is still the original version. I guess when they finally get around to updating it they will Nest it.
@@EsotericArctos Until then, it will be confusing.
@@EsotericArctos the just killed nest secure
Here's some things I've noted with my personal experience with both Alexa and Google Assistant :
1. The Assistant is way smarter than Alexa, does more stuff at faster rates and it's in a league of it's own when it comes to web searches.
2. Alexa speakers have slightly better bass but the overall audio quality is better on the Nest. You'll enjoy all sorts of music on Nest more because of google's top-notch software tuning.
3. Alexa's app is extremely complicated and slower to load stuff. Understanding Alexa application is a total nightmare for a first time user.
4. Google is more consistent with updates and brings major improvements.
5. Google is faster to respond. For example : I'd have to pause for a fraction after saying Alexa and then say my command or the speaker just dismisses. Google also understands continued commands way better than Alexa.
6. Google knows what I like. For example : If I say "Alexa, play some music." It will just play it's stupid songs despite my playlists being added. On the other hand if I say "Okay Google play me some music." It will start playing my most listened songs from my playlists.
Things i've noticed with both (however comparing the mini versions, nest mini and echo dot)
The echo dot definitely has way better audio, nest mini sounds almost.. tinny.
Nest mini was slow to respond compared to alexa
Nest mini has a worse microphone, has a hard time picking up your voice compared to alexa, especially when music is playing.
google seems slower to respond
only thing I agree with here is the 6th one
overall echo dot is better
The only raid shadow legends advert I haven’t skipped yet
😂 Thanks dude!
Me too. Love your humour Paul. Also, don't ever stop the zigbee air hump!
Can I equalize the Google to match the Echo speaker sound?
I know it comes down to personal taste and/or genre of music being listened to but what changes did you make in the EQ settings of the echo 4th gen to improve the sound ?
The Nest vs Google branding is pretty straightforward. Google's new home automation products are branded Nest. The ones that aren't yet branded Nest are being discontinued (e.g. Home Max is discontinued).
As for the speakers, I'm busy buying Google Home Maxs because they provide better sound quality than the new Nest Speakers.
As a Nest Audio owner, I'd like to add that I sometimes notice bluetooth lag. It's so large (again, sometimes?) that using the speaker as a regular speaker for your PC causes visible lipsync problems. Other than that, I really like the looks of that speaker and the sound ain't bad also :)
Thanks for this awesome video. Right now both devices are 50usd. Would u still pick the echo?
Currently yes, but Googles Gemini will be coming to the Google speakers soon and that might change things again!
which of the both has a more rumbly bass? or tight fast sound?
So what’s your recommended EQ setting for the Echo?
Did you tweak the bass and treble settings at all for the Nest speaker?
Yeah, both speakers were tweaked to get as close to what I felt sounded closest to my original intention. The bass on the google speaker was cranked.
What are you using for video editing ?
@Paul Hibbert so in your opinion what settings should we change to get the best audio out of it
One thing that I feel rarely gets covered in these sorts of comparisons is just how useful googles voice match is you live with... well anyone. I have both google and amazon devices in my household and almost exclusively use the google devices in common areas because of the ability to have multiple accounts on one device. Don't get me wrong I still use my echo dot in my room for some specific tasks, but I'm the only one who uses it so it works okay. But having the google speaker in the kitchen is immensely useful the ability for me to summon my specific Spotify account then at any point having the option for my sister to call up hers without any fiddling around is excellent! The echo device that sits right next to it (don't ask why there are two different smart speakers in the kitchen) hardly gets used by anyone other than my mom who is the account holder on the device.
Hi can Echo/Audio Nest play the music if the 3,5 connected to the stereo system? (both Echo/AudioNest and stereo speaker on).
Good review. Which one would you prefer to take notes, set reminders or even read to me?
Definitely Alexa for reading. It's a tie for reminders, never actually tried to take notes on either!
The graph gained you a subscription! Good job! I have previous generation google home speakers and i like them so if the new one is even remotely simmilar i would be satisfied, one question i have is about bluetooth, does this new google speaker still have this 400ms bluetooth lag?
Was really pissed off at missing my alarm this morning on my phone, and trying to buy a separate alarm clock for the bedroom. So much choice and pissed off again. You've made me smile and cheered me up - thanks mate!
I don't know if you have more than one of the Google Nest Home speaker that isn't mini or max...BUT, do you think they would perform differently or any better if you had them paired as stereo so that one speaker could solely be dedicated to the left channel? Or am I really unintelligent and that's not how audio works?
Does the Amazon have a line in ?
I have a question, Im quite new on these things, If I buy the Aqara switches D1 and I already have Amazon Echo 4 (with hub) do I need the Aqara Hub (M1s or M2) ?
Watched quite a few of your videos now and I must say, you could literally slate anything i liked and I'd still love the video.
Hell. Even the raid advert was great!
Top marks on entertainment value fella!
The best comparison speaker test I’ve seen. Only shame is that it would have been great to have put the HomePod mini in the test as well.
Perhaps I shall buy one for a future video!
What does it mean it doesn't have ZigBee? What does that mean in terms of function/abilities and so on? Thanks 👍
Zigbee controls zigbee bulbs and other devices and listens to zigbee sensors and buttons. The advantage of zigbee over WiFi devices is better battery life for the sensors. It also works across platforms so you could add your zigbee devices to a Philips Hue hub and use their software and routines, or you could add it to Samsung smartthings, or to a Hubitat. It gives you a little piece of mind that if the company that sold the device to you went bust it won't be bricked because you can take it to another platform.
By putting a zigbee hub in the echo Amazon have given you more choice when buying smart home gear because you can buy zigbee or WiFi devices without the need of a separate hub from someone like Philips Hue. 😊
@@paulhibbert Thanks Paul for replying. I bought a Phillips hue bulb, then realised I needed a hub, then realised, my light was a basic white one, and got a better white one, I feel so deeply entrenched into the Phillips system, and get annoyed when I see cheaper bulbs that so the same thing on AliExpress or wherever. So can I confirm with you Paul, that I could buy any ZigBee light bulb or strip and add it onto my Phillips hue bridge or system or whatever? If I use Google home, does it matter if I had 10 different systems in the house as long as they are Google compatible?
Bro it's the amazon echo better than the pulse 4 in bass aswell?
Can you pair two of the Echo's the same way you can with the Google speaker?
Yes. As testament to how good this speaker is I bought a second echo which arrived yesterday. They're paired now and I'm loving it!
Can you pair for stereo like the google speakers on the echo?
Hi Paul, really like your videos. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the Sonos speakers? I’ve had Sonos for several years but now contemplating whether to stick with it or swap to something else!
Paul, please am from Ghana in West Africa. I need your advice on which smart equipment is good in the market for my smart home. I want to setup my smart home as soon as possible but am confused about which smart equipment works best especially in Africa. Kindly advise from Hub to Bulb and any necessary stuffs which can make smart home operations easier and not complicated. Thanks in advance
i'd love to know how good (or bad) the mic pickup is on these things? are they as good as the 7 mics on the plus g2 or echo g3 or am i going to end up waking the neighbours to turn the lights on like on the echo show g1 or the show 5? or screaming like a banshee to wake up a dot g3 or nest mini if i have a (fairly quiet) desktop fan running within 5 feet?
I almost included a section on this but there wasn't much between them, and it was hard to quantify. The only thing that is certain is that the Google speaker seems to hear its name when it shouldn't. If I say to Neesha "I saw it on google babe" the speaker starts listening. It happens all the time and it's really annoying. That obviously isn't the wake phrase but the speaker doesn't seem to care. I must say at least twice a day "shut up you nob head" because she's babbling away with some answer to something she THINKS she heard.
@@paulhibbert well to be fair i only have 2 nest units (for questions and as an alarm clock) whereas i have 30 alexa units (28 working), the wake word "computer" seems to think "thank you" is its wake word and "echo" which i use on devices with displays i find often needs me to shout loud enough to wake every echo on the same floor when trying to get it to wake up correctly, in fact "amazon" seems to be the least likely to awaken in error.
@Paul what would you recommend for mesh wifi network , I want compatibility with echo
Could you not up the bass and treble on the Nest in the app?
Hate to correct you but Patrick Stewart is an intergalactic treasure.🤔
Ha! Valid!! ❤️
Amazon Alexa is the best for home automation, it has the most skills.
Echo dot 4th generation has zigbee builtin (to control my blinds, doorlock, etc.).
Also, Google can't add a device to more than 1 room or group; example: kitchen and family room are adjacent to each other and I want the lights in both room to turn
off if I say all, as well as independently turning off either room.
Alexa is inexpensive so I bought 8 to equip every room with Amazon Alexa for voice control so that I can just ask 'turn off the lights' and the echo in that room
knows to turn off those lights and not other lights in the house.
Google app's fonts are really really really tiny for my old eyes.
All 8 of my Amazon Echo devices have a clock... very convenient to tell the time or see a timer's countdown.
or better sound, I have a few of my Amazon Echo dot 3 with clock output the sound via its 3.5mm headphone jack to my Denon HEOS speakers.
New home automation users who want zigbee to communicate with blinds, door locks, lightbuilbs, etc. can just buy the Amazon Echo 4th generation with builtin zigbee.
Any plans to do a homepod mini review? I just got one and was blown away with the sound. Yes Siri sucks but it's very quick and works well with home assistant for home automation.
Paul, You should check out the echo link. The firmware has been updated to allow local playback of cd/mp3/vinyl on your home stereo/theater and cast to any or all echos in your home all at the same time. Worth twice its price to me since I no longer need to pay for a music streaming service.
Paul any idea when the winners of the flic competition will be announced and how we will find out if we have won
I've picked 8 out of the 10, but there are over a thousand comments. I really made a rod for my own back 🤣
@@paulhibbert lol good luck with that then. Guess we will find out when you finish
Hey Paul, I recently exchanged my echo plus 2nd generation for the Echo 4, and am really enjoying the new echo 4. I really think the sound quality is more on par with the Echo studio in a smaller form factor.
For me it's even more balanced than the echo studio. I'm totally blown away by it ❤️
@@paulhibbert Hey Paul one other question I thought you might have an answer to. Is it possible to set conditional routines with Alexa ? For example, I want to have my Lava lamps turn on at a specific time, but only if the temperature is say between 68 and 78. They don't work so well when it's tool cool. The schedule I've got down, but how would I add the temperature sensor into the mix? If you have any ideas let me know. Thanks
Just checked, when you set a routine with the echo 4th gen for temperature you get the choice to add a particular time. 😊
50 fps video? Why? Where's the Zigbee?
Wait, the lights on the Nest aren't centered? SMH I plug headphones into an Echo Dot though, so none of this matters to me.
Thanks Paul, another great review and I loved the track you wrote too! Just bought an Amazon Echo for £29.99 from Amazon's pre Xmas offers...what a great deal!
Want better sound? Buy an Echo Flex and permanently connect it to a good Bluetooth speaker. (Permanently connect = set it as the preferred speaker instead of the one that’s built in.) In the US, the Echo Gen 4 is currently $70 USD, while an Echo Flex and an Oontz Angle 3 Ultra combined are currently $45 USD. You save 35% and get much better sound!
Aye, if you watch my other videos I say this almost every episode. I chose not to this time as this was a very specific review or two very specific devices.
So glad you pointed this confusion out. Not only that, they don't seem to know if it's "The Google Assistant" or "Google Home". Further, some boxes have "compatible with Ok Google", whilst others say "Compatible with Hey Google".
They really have made a hash of it. It's time they pick one and stick to it. Then match the app name! It's silly that my Nest app can't access my Nest speaker!
Don't know if you'll see this over Prime day (2023), but the 4th generation echo is on sale (I don't think I've seen it reduced as part of prime day before) for £50, with or with a smart bulb that "just works", I've been looking at replacing my PC speakers, would you say a couple of these paired into a stereo pair would be a good buy? They can be paired together and have a 3.5mm input, so i assume that would work, but don't really know.
Love the content, and appreciate the time and effort that goes into all of your videos, even if they end up being expensive.
That Google setup is soo accurate!! I changed my wifi password and had to do this again for all speakers...
Alexa has built in zigbee support :D as a hub?
Works with smart things?
As someone who owns a google nest do you think you could do a follow up on how the hubitat has changed (if it has) since your last video on it. I like the smarter assistant on google but I like how Alexa can trigger routines with sensors unlike google. Hoping the hubitat can solve that. Also could you touch on how it can be used remotely?
I don't think much has changed. I seem to remember someone saying they'd added Broadlink support but I could be wrong. It's still the best option out there for zigbee and zwave in my opinion 😊
@@paulhibbert I see! I really hope googles routines evolve to the level of Alexa. It surely can’t be that hard to develop seeing as how Amazon has done so well
Me too. I don't want a market with no competition in it, but I'm seriously worried about Google.
@@paulhibbert yes for sure. Thanks for your time!
Appreciated the more technical explanation and evidence given during this video, it really elevates your opinions when you can provide stuff like that to back it up.
Thanks! :) I was worried it might be too boring for people, but I'm glad I included it now.
An excellent review. However, you have weighted each item that you reviewed equally. I know many clients want a really INTELLIGENT speaker, and in that category (as you yourself said), Google reins supreme. So, if the user is buying this speaker for answering questions, Google wins hand on. For everything else, get the Amazon.
This was such a great review. I was scared of replacing my 1st gen Echo but that sound review made me pull the trigger. Thanks!
What about the Apple HomePod mini? It has Thread ... Maybe you could be so kind and compare it with Amazon Echo? Thank you.
Lidl are doing Zigbee but they only say it works on Google?
Looking into this soon 😊
Would you consider trying the cheap Teckin WIFI Cam - it s a 20 pound camera that works withTuya, I d love your opinion about this
Paul, you testing on speaker quality is great! Really professional👍
So how can I get a copy of that song you played. It sounds great and would like to hear more.
I'm watching this 9 months after it was made and it's so relevant even today and even more entertaining than when I first saw it! Thanks Paul!
Paul - a quick (and possibly stupid) question for you - If you switch off the echo 4, do you need to reset the clock everytime you turn it back on? Or does it have some sort of memory that retains the time. Cheers!
Yet again a entertaining and educational video keep it up Paul, you are doing a great job.....Now I mean everything above I just wish I could say it without sounding like a quarterly review...... Just keep being you, you make me smile every video 😁
Thanks so much dude. That's a really nice thing to say. Makes it all worth while.
Finally listened to this on headphones, can barely hear the cymbals when the Nest Audio is playing. Bit gutted as was going to invest in 2 Nest Audios but probably wont now. Not a fan of the Echo design or Amazons smart ecosystem (not saying I'm a huge fan of Googles either). It makes sense for Amazon to include a ZigBee hub as it is one of the biggest sellers of ZigBee products (probably the biggest). Google on the other hand only sells wifi products and is invested in CHOIP (ooh the CHOIP). Before anyone says it I know Amazon is invested in CHOIP too but see my earlier point.
Technical question from a fellow audio engineer.... I was considering staying in the Google ecosystem and settling for the inferior Google speaker vs the Echo for one reason only - sync with Chromecast. I wanna stream netflix/youtube/hulu, etc. from my macbook pro to my 4K monitor which doesn't have speakers. I'm assuming there will be some video latency so the only way I figured I can sync audio and video would be to use a Google nest speaker to stream the audio and hope that sound and video are synced somehow somewhere along the way. After that lengthy explanation, do you perhaps have some knowledge to shed on wireless video streaming/screen sharing and audio/video sync issues? I'd rather buy the Echo if I can figure out how wireless video/audio streaming will work.
1:51 brought back some memories of old videos 😂
You should do the review of the new Xiaomi mi smart speaker
Paul, where can we get your album!?
It's on Spotify and Amazon music 😊 just search for an album called Gaffer tapes by "Sprocket". 😁
Does anyone know the name of the song Paul used for the sound test
It's "back among the living". It's from my album which you can find on Spotify if you search for Gaffer tapes by Sprocket 😊
@@paulhibbert are we just going to skip over the fact that you made an album ..... how has this never been mentioned before/ history needed here
🤣 It's mentioned now and then. I've been in a band with my mates since I was 17, and Sprocket is my side project that I use to write songs. I play all the instruments on that album 😊
@@paulhibbert maybe some links somewhere. seems quite a few enjoyed the song. Will check it out . 👍
Have to disagree. Love my Google's and I just plug smartthings in to it anyway so why do I need a zigbee hub it it?
Wow your Soundtest approach is crazy good. This way, using your own production + comparing EQ curves (Fabfilter Q, nice one😁) you can say, how it supposed to sound. Amazing. 👍👍👍 Would you mind to test the sound of Sonos One Vs. Echo 4 that way ? Cheers 😃✌️
Hey Paul, for my sanity can you please sort the handing of the speaker tests with Derrick. It’s really odd with the audio not matching the image. I get that it’s Derrick’s left ear so it’s my left ear, but I can’t help but think it would be better if you mirrored that section so the image and audio are matched.
🤣 Unfortunately last time I did that I got more complaints for the opposite reason!
Meh, guess you can’t please all the people...
I’ll just let them stay wrong 🥸
9/10 for Great audio comparison and Zigbee thrust. Had to deduct one point for missing corporate greed thrust.
😂 That's fair!
I got the echo dot 4th generation and it would no hear me I had to say alexa over and over again. Did eny one ad the same problem whit the this one.
Which eco system is better google nest audio or Alexa echo? Which gives better general knowledge answers by voice command esp. in medical science, symptoms and treatment of various diseases, finding a suitable doctor for a particular disease and making online appointment, ordering medicines and household groceries, asking for a bed in city hospitals in critical situation?
As a sound engineer you should know how you mixed/mastered it. Why do you want your midrange speaker picking up super low frequencies?
Any chance of seeing a Xiaomi Smart Speaker review? For half the price of a nest audio, it seems like a interesting proposition.
I just ordered Amazon Echo 4th Gen, so listening to this, just after the purchase, was good therapy! I was thinking of buying some studio monitors, maybe now I don't have to! (Might have to buy another Echo, though.) Two great videos, for me, would be (i) comparing the Echo, in detail, to your monitors & even more expensive stuff (KEF LSX?) (ii) Using the echo in stereo, and how does that compare with google. Note, also, Amazon speakers have aux in, google doesn't. That seems a plus to me, having had mediocre experiences with wireless chinese stuff. But do these latest smart speakers make aux redundant? (They can't fully - how do I attach my old CD player?)
Great video Paulie! Quick question, I see a few complaints on Amazon reviews about the max volume on the Gen 4 Dot. Any truth to that? Also, sound quality reviews are either really good, or people hate it and say gen 3 is way better. So confused. I was close to pulling the trigger on getting a few this morning being they are on sale, but hesitated once I saw that.
i found you searching for google home product information but i dont care any more..... im just so entertained by your videos im happy to watch you talking about paint drying ! i KNOW you would make it fun hahaha
Another great video!
Would like to see reviews on Wyze products and POE camera systems!
Tried a really good POE camera system a week or two back if you look back through the last 2 or 3 weeks you'll find it 😊
I've sold my soul to Google for sure, but I 100% agree with you about all the Google fluff. It can get a little annoying, but once you get it all set up, it just works.
That graphic comparison was soooooo amazing
During their last sale, I picked up an Echo Show 5&8. I’ve got to say I’m simply stunned at the sound quality of them. Will it replace my 1K watt 8 speaker home theatre? Of course not. Do I now use it as much as I did my little boom box on my desk at work? Yes! And A can answer questions where my stereo just looked at me mutely.
Why do I need Zigbee?
The additional zigbee functionality gives you more choice as to which smart home devices you can buy and control without the need of an extra hub.
@@paulhibbert So basically, I don't *need* Zigbee, but I do get more choice.
Well there's always the other hubs so it's not completely lost although it would be nice of Google if they lowered the profit margins just a little and added a Zigbee hub
I mean they're rich 😅
Can you do a comparison between Apple home pod and echo studio
Totally enjoyed watching this!
Nice job measuring and tearing down the speakers! And very funny stuff as always. I can overlook having to watch you thrust your hips. But I wonder if you and everyone else can do something about the little circles in your eyeballs. Maybe use the light diffusing umbrellas people have used since limelight?
Thanks man. Sadly I have limited space, the light ring is the best possible use of the area I'm tied to. It's a reasonable sized studio, but it's jam packed with desks and drum kits and stuff. I will have to experiment but I think I'm stuck with it for now.
I have both and I like them both. Amazon is a lot easier to set up. The time to buy them is when they have a sale. Sign up for them and you’ll receive notices when they are having a sale or a new product. Excellent review, I like your humor.
The perfect device would be the result of breeding Google and Alexa = Gooxa 😂
As an ex audio engineer I don't think your frequency response test was accurate. Although there is clearly more bass and treble in the Echo, but its missing the mid. Seems like they just pushed the Eq up but too much . However Google is too muddy both need a bit of work I'd call it a tie
You watched me conduct it, so feel free to let me know how I could have done it better. I suppose I could hire a studio for the day 😅
I gotta be honest dude, when I heard the speakers I could see the graph in my mind. It matches exactly what I'm hearing when I listen to those speakers, not enough low end or top end in the Google speaker.
@@paulhibbert yeah same here, you can hear the problems with Google which are more severe than Amazon. I wonder if changing the EQ in the Google speaker would improve it?
As for doing it again it's more boring for viewers, but maybe speakers side by side dual mic, use a sine wave one each speaker to match levels then use your plugin to take average of the same track. Being geeky the problem is the shape of speakers also makes it difficult as I bet they both have a different sweet spot 😂
Aye, the reason I use the dummy is I want to give people a feel for what the speakers sound like in an average furnished room. And I prefer to conduct my tests based on the sound of an average furnished room so the results reflect closer to what people hear in a normal environment rather than what they hear if they press their face up against their echo. I move the speakers around the dummy to get an average EQ as if a person was walking around a room.
I can understand your point though. To get closer to 100% accuracy of the speakers ability to reproduce music involves getting physically closer to the speakers and a different tool set because the acoustics of my room will differ from each and every household that purchases one. It may be more scientific to isolate from my rooms natural reverb.
I suppose the most scientific test would be to capture the sound at various distances in a studio and mix them together before capturing the EQ data, but this is as close as I'll probably ever get with my limited budget and space 😊
@@paulhibbert but think of us viewers, hire abbey road for the day and get a few Neuman U87 mics
Haha, next time man, next time. But I will use special effects to make it look like I'm still using the dummy for consistency 😉
Hey Paul! Perhaps you could do a video on what you can do with 'Oh the Zigbee' enabled Alexa devices? I've had a Studio since Prime day and have no clue what the point is! :D
If you have any Light Bulbs, Motion Sensors etc.. that require a Hub. Having a Zigbee Hub built in will eliminate the need for you to have to purchase a separate Hub. I have 2 Echo Show 2nd Gens. When I purchased them from Amazon it came with a Philips Hue Bulb 💡. I bought two Echo Shows so I got 2 bulbs. Then later on I purchased two Sylvania Motion Sensors. The bulbs and the sensors both required a Hub. I would have had to buy a Phillips Hue Bridge and Sylvania Bridge, but because of the built in hub in my Echo Show. I was able to pair all of these things and they work. Setup was easy too. I just put them in pairing mode asked Alexa to discover. In less than a minute it discovered the bulbs and the sensors (one at a time), then I renamed them on the screen of my Echo Show and that was that. Zigbee is a wireless protocol. Where the device and the hub can communicate with each other.
The great thing about Google is you never know when they'll drop a product or service like a hot potato. Oh wait, the opposite of great.
🤣 accurate!
@@paulhibbert it may be accurate but do they also brick it so its completely useless at the same time like amazon did with the echo wand and echo look?
Google are renowned for cancelling useful services. There is a website devoted to it called killedbygoogle. So the answer to this is yes. 🤣 Not that it exonerated amazon. I abhor this behaviour no matter which company is doing it!
@@paulhibbert oh, dont get me wrong i know of many of the services google withdrew but did they actively brick £100 pieces of hardware they sold to customers, i have 2 alexa devices that work perfectly other than amazon intentionally made them non functional after a couple of years, think if they decided to do the same with echo buds or frames not just removing alexa support but rendering them completely non functional.
Not sure on that one. They must have done at some point, I mean... Look at this list! killedbygoogle.com/
Love the zig bee bit. Please don’t ever stop.
I don't think I'm allowed to stop! 🤣
Followed up by the corporate greed bit. Anyhow love what you are doing. Love the sense of humor you introduce into tech reviews. Appreciate all the work you do.
I have Amazon smart speakers but im changing to Google Nest because I can't play my TH-cam Music on the Alexa
Where's the zigbeeeeee???!!! Haha, great video, thanks Paul!
The Google setup at 3:01 is perfect 👍👍👍
Hello!! Not a scumbag troll here dropping by just to say hi and your content rocks! Had no idea you made ska!? When does the album drop!? I'll totally pick up a copy and support a fellow musician!
Thanks so much man! The album has been out for a while now. Its on Spotify the album is called Gaffer tapes, and the artist is Sprocket.
@@paulhibbert Gaffer tapes.... I see what you did there. Cheeky!
Why aren't Homepod and Homepod Mini exist in Paul's channel?
They sound way better than these two
I shall buy one. Be careful what you wish for 🤣
@@paulhibbert Looking forward for the show.
Somehow I bought two Homepod Mini, the trashy sound Google Nest MIni 2nd Gen becomes paperweight.
@@straelboraaaa That must have been expensive
We shall see what happens
If it wasn't for the fact that I have so many google minis and nest products that I already have to do the "ooh the Google/Nest" thrust, I'd be interested in getting the new echo. As it is, my only she that shall not be named is relegated to the garage. She is however connected to an old 5.1 surrounded sound set up, so she seriously wins on that front.
first review with an actual conclusion - well done - thank you!!