In our constant search for good value, we often face a dilemma: do we spend on a high-quality speaker for our music, or do we invest in a smart home hub to make life easier? It feels like a compromise is always necessary. What if you could have both, elegantly packaged in a device that not only sounds fantastic but also streamlines your daily routines?
Enter the Google Nest Audio.
For years, my living room was a mess of wires. I had a decent, but bulky, pair of bookshelf speakers for music and a separate, tinny-sounding smart assistant for weather updates and timers. It was functional, but cluttered and inefficient. In this review, we'll break down if the Nest Audio truly delivers on its promise of premium sound and intelligent help, and whether it’s the all-in-one solution that offers real value for your home.
Diving In: First Impressions and Design
Right out of the box, the Nest Audio impresses with its minimalist and refined design. It’s a significant departure from the air-freshener look of the original Google Home, opting for a sleek, fabric-covered pillow shape that feels more at home on a modern Singaporean condo’s sideboard.
The enclosure is made from 70% recycled plastic, a thoughtful touch for the environmentally conscious consumer. Available in a range of subtle colours like Chalk and Charcoal, it’s designed to blend in seamlessly with your decor rather than stand out. With a height of 175mm and a width of 124mm, it’s substantial enough to house powerful drivers but compact enough to not dominate your space.
Getting the Nest Audio up and running is as simple as it gets. You plug it in, open the Google Home app on your phone, and it guides you through a few simple steps. Within minutes, you'll be connected to your Wi-Fi and ready to ask for your favourite playlist.
The Main Event: Sound Quality
Let’s be clear: a speaker has to sound good. The Nest Audio packs a 75mm woofer for the lows and a 19mm tweeter for the highs. Google claims it's 75% louder and has 50% stronger bass than its predecessor. But what does that mean when you’re listening to your favourite tracks from JJ Lin or Stephanie Sun?
For its price point, the Nest Audio delivers a remarkably balanced and clear sound profile. As noted in a review by The Guardian, "The Nest Audio can easily fill a small room or kitchen. It was uncomfortably loud at anything from about 50% volume while sitting two metres from it."
Here’s our breakdown:
Vocals and Mids: Vocals are crisp and forward in the mix, making it excellent for podcasts and vocal-centric music. There’s no muddiness here; every word is clear and articulate.
Bass: The bass is present and punchy without being overwhelming. It provides a solid foundation for genres like pop and electronic music without drowning out the other instruments. It’s not a speaker for bass-heads who want room-shaking lows, but it’s more than capable for everyday listening.
Highs: The tweeter ensures that high-frequency sounds, like cymbals and strings, are detailed and don't become harsh or tinny, even at higher volumes.
The speaker also has a couple of clever tricks up its sleeve. Media EQ automatically tunes the sound signature to what you’re listening to, while Ambient IQ adjusts the volume of spoken-word content based on background noise, ensuring you never miss Google Assistant's response.
More Than Just a Speaker: The Smart Home Hub
The "smart" part of this speaker is just as impressive as its sound. The three far-field microphones are incredibly effective at picking up your voice, even from across the room with the music playing.
You can ask Google to:
Play music from Spotify, YouTube Music, and other streaming services.
Set kitchen timers and morning alarms.
Get the latest news headlines and weather updates for your commute.
Control your smart home devices.
This is where the Nest Audio truly shines as a value proposition. It acts as a central hub for a vast ecosystem of compatible smart devices. Using just your voice, you can control your Philips Hue lights, turn on your Daikin smart aircon before you get home, or see who’s at the door with your Google Nest Doorbell.
For an even more immersive experience, you can pair two Nest Audio speakers for a true stereo soundstage, perfect for your living room. Or, you can group multiple Google speakers to play your music in perfect sync throughout your entire home.
The "Real Value SG" Verdict
For its price, the Google Nest Audio presents an exceptional value proposition. It elegantly solves the two-device problem by being both a high-quality speaker and a powerful smart home hub.
While it may not satisfy the most discerning audiophiles who demand pitch-perfect reproduction, it’s not designed for them. For the vast majority of us in Singapore looking for a versatile, attractive, and affordable smart speaker that sounds great and simplifies our lives, the Nest Audio is a fantastic choice and an undeniable value.
FAQ Section
1. Can I use the Nest Audio as a Bluetooth speaker?
Yes, the Nest Audio has Bluetooth 5.0 built-in, so you can stream audio directly from your phone, tablet, or laptop even without a Wi-Fi connection.
2. Does the Nest Audio require a subscription?
The Nest Audio itself does not require a subscription. However, to play music from services like Spotify Premium or YouTube Music, you will need a subscription to those specific services.
3. Can I turn off the microphone for privacy?
Yes, there is a physical switch on the back of the Nest Audio that electrically disconnects the microphone. When muted, the four LED lights on the front of the speaker will glow amber to confirm it’s off.
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