Stuff - UK (2020-12)

TESTED GOOGLE NEST AUDIO

The old Google Home smart speaker

has finally had a makeover, with

a fresh focus on audio quality

QGoogle’s Nest Audio is a squat,

rounded-off rectangle, similar in

height to a Sonos One but half the

depth. It’s weighty and well built,

its plastic fabric punctuated only

by four LEDs and top touch controls

that remain hidden until activated,

plus a mic button on the back.

QSetup is straightforward via the

Google Home app. Opt for Google

Voice Match and the Nest Audio

will recognise your voice, and offer

personalised results from Gmail or

Google Calendar. Three far-field

mics do a great job of making out

commands at regular volume, even

from the other side of the room.

QIn control of the sound are

a 75mm woofer and a 19mm

tweeter, replacing the single 50mm

driver in the original Home. These

are sited at the front for a traditional

directional speaker rather than

a 360° one. The result is a fuller,

clearer and more direct sound that

Google says goes 75% louder than

its predecessor.

QSure enough, for a little speaker

it goes pretty loud – although you

may start to notice distortion, as

well as some loss of control in the

higher frequencies, when pushed

past 80% volume. The low end

is definitely more refined and less

muddy than on the Google Home.

QFor the price, it does a fine job

for pottering around to non-critical

listening. This is where the Nest

Audio finds itself at home, and it

just about pips the Amazon Echo

for clarity and richness.

The Nest Audio is a superb little smart speaker with better-than-average sound

quality. It probably isn’t going to be a speaker you’ll leave in charge of your parties,

nor one that you sit down to listen to your favourite album from start to finish on;

but in terms of offering up an enjoyable sound for ambient everyday listening with

Google Assistant smarts, it works better than many third-party rivals.

How the Nest

was won: with

good audio and

smart listening

Verity Burns

Wild wild Nest

STUFF SAYS As a smart speaker with improved audio, Google’s latest delivers ++++,

Audio 75mm woofer, 19mm

tweeter Compatibility Android,

iOS Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

5, Chromecast Dimensions

175x124x78mm, 1.2kg

Q Nest side story

Unmarked touch controls mean

you’d never know they were

there unless you read the manual.

The mic button mutes the

microphones for privacy, with

all four LEDs glowing orange for

at-a-glance reassurance.

Q Fastest gun in the Nest

The Nest Mini’s machine-learning

engine has made its way into

the Nest Audio, promising

local processing for popular

commands to make responses

quicker. The Amazon Echo still

edges it for speed, though.

£90 / stuff.tv/NestAudio

Tech specs

Nest way
to the world
You can stereo-pair
two Nest Audios or
daisychain one with
other Nest speakers
for affordable
multiroom.