New Hi-Fi Smart Speakers Finally Deliver Premium Sound Quality
A new generation of smart speakers from major tech companies greatly improves audio quality, leaving behind the tinny sound of older models. NPR audio engineers test the latest offerings from Sonos, Apple, Google, and Amazon to see which device sounds the best.
A new generation of smart speakers brings a much-needed upgrade to home audio, replacing the tinny, muffled sound of older hockey-puck models with rich, full-range audio. NPR audio engineers put four of the latest hi-fi smart speakers from Sonos, Apple, Google, and Amazon to the test in a blind listening challenge to evaluate their sound quality.
These modern devices deliver the deep bass and shimmering highs that older smart speakers completely lack, making them perfect for experiencing high-quality audio like Tiny Desk concerts. While they still offer all the convenient voice-assistant features for answering everyday questions, their primary focus is providing a genuinely impressive listening experience right out of the box.
Despite thorough testing, the reviewers find it difficult to pick a single clear winner among the four brands, noting only that they all sound significantly better than what most people currently have in their homes. Listeners can easily start with a single unit and expand to a multi-room or stereo setup later, though the reviewers warn that upgrading to multiple speakers quickly becomes an expensive and habit-forming endeavor.