5 Best Smart Speakers In The Market

Ever since the advent of virtual voice assistant products by Apple, Google, and Amazon, the wireless speaker space has become smarter and smarter. Whether you want to find out what’s happening around the world or want to check your local weather, Alexa or Siri can help you achieve the same by with the help of a simple voice command. While each brand has its own benefits, it is important to find out the product’s compatibility before making a purchase. For instance, if you use Google for accessing the calendar, checking emails, or maps, then investing in a compatible device like Google Home makes more sense. So, if you are thinking about purchasing this category, then read on to find out the pros and cons of the top five Smart Speakers that are available on the market today.

1 Echo (2nd Generation) Smart speaker

The Echo 2nd generation smart speakers come with Alexa and Doby processing and is ideal for living spaces like family rooms. With a variety of functionality available in it, you can play music, set up alarms, and, most importantly, control your other smart home devices. Dolby processing offers a dynamic bass quality to the sound and allows you to stream songs from a large platform. You can control lights, lock and unlock doors, control the thermostat, and connect with others without using your phone. The good part about this product is the on-going innovation which ensures that newer features are added regularly.

Pros	Cons
Sleek and sturdy product	Audio can sound scratchy beyond number 7 on the volume control
It can be integrated with other smart home devices like WeMo, Philips Hue, Nest, etc.	The voice recognition can be improved further

2 Echo Plus (2nd Generation) Smart Speaker

The 2nd Gen Echo Plus comes with inbuilt Zigbee Hub that allows users to set it up quickly and start controlling other smart home products. In the compatibility front, it covers all features of Echo 2nd Gen and then some more. This intelligent product is designed to ensure the security and protection of your privacy. New skills like playing games and tracking fitness levels are getting incorporated as a result of regular improvements and innovations.

Pros	Cons
Well designed looks	Echo Plus 2nd Generation smart speaker supports lesser devices when compared to others in the category and at this price point
Good Audio output

3 Bose Home Speaker 500

The first experience of Bose Home Speaker 500 leaves the listener speechless as it produces excellent wall-to-wall stereo quality sound from a single compact speaker. The built-in Alexa voice control allows you to select songs from a wide range. The smart speaker can be connected via Bluetooth to any smart device to play the content from there. It includes a custom designed eight microphone array that can hear you over the loud music or from a slight distance, say across the room. The product is easy to install and is an ideal option for music lovers.

Pros	Cons
Easy to control via tap, voice, or the Bose Music app	The product is more expensive than many others in this category
Excellent audio quality	The wi-fi set up may not function properly all the time

4 Sonos One (Gen 2)

This smart speaker comes with built-in voice control and offers great booming sound quality. The product comes with handsfree features like setting alarms, playing music, getting answers, checking the news, etc. Sonos One Gen 2 is sleek and compact, allowing the user with a variety of options for its placement

Pros	Cons
Flexible stereo and surround configurations	The product is not Bluetooth enabled
Powerful sound output for its size	Sound can become scratchy and distorted at high volume levels

5 RIVA Concert with Alexa Built-in

RIVA Concert has been touted as the ‘Smartest Speaker’ available today. It offers all the features of the other best smart speakers available on the market and also comes with an inbuilt far-field microphone array allowing the user to issue commands from a greater distance. The Trillium Audio technology is patented by RIVA, giving the user the ultimate sound quality experience without any distortions. The device is designed for both indoor, as well as outdoor usage making it an ultimately portable smart speaker

Pros	Cons
Phenomenal sound quality	The app can be improved
The operational battery allows it to be placed anywhere	Unresponsive physical buttons when the speaker enters sleep mode

Spending more will not necessarily get you the best product as the sound quality can vary a lot between brands. However, first and foremost, be sure about the device’s compatibility with your domestic setup and your other personal use gadgets. Use products that are best integrated with the services you require and are easy to set up and use.