What kind of column with a voice assistant to buy?

the Correct form for such a column will fit in any interior.

Have You noticed that the word ”smart” is now credited with absolutely everything? Smart alarm clock, smart light, smart socket, in the end. In this respect, speakers have not yet become so massively ”smart”, although they are much smarter than the rest of the gadgets, as they have assistants that allow not just listening to music and get information, but even control other smart gadgets. I've been using .Station, and a couple of months ago got the equivalent from LG. In the beginning gadget surprised me a little, but now everything fell into place. I have something to say about these two columns.

Experience of using columns with voice assistants

The Station I use from the first day of its sales. I went to the Museum of Yandex, defended the relatively small queue and bought a new one for me at that time, the gadget. I used different columns — from Amazon Echo to Google Home and HomePod. I didn't like literally everything from looks to sound and possibilities. Even HomePod, which is objectively sound very cool, its disappointing Siri, which was not localized and could not even include Russian music. Now she is hard, but it turns out. But even a little smarter she would not interfere.

Against this background, Alice seemed ideal. In a daring, savvy, knows how to play and build a dialogue. It would seem, what else do you need? I wanted to build on this system some infrastructure. That's why I grabbed the opportunity to buy a ready-made column with Alice inside.

Buying a blade, I was among those who were not trashing her. To say that I liked her sound is not — she just sounded. The sound was about on the level column for 5000-6000 rubles. If you subtract the cost of the station is equivalent to the cost of the gifts that she was given about the sum and succeed.

In the end, everything was fine, but osadochek remained. Music with speakers I listened to rarely, choosing to do something more serious, and the Stations took the voice assistant and a music source in case of horrible laziness that prevented to take the phone and turn on Bluetooth.

Column is sold in a box like this.

The Second phase of our relationship began when Yandex started to produce gadgets for home automation (not like the word ”smart”). I bought a few pieces and enjoyed use, even prescribed scenarios — it is really very easy. But recently LG has introduced their version of the column to Alice, that was predictable and unexpected at the same time.

Experience using LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y

The First half hour of ownership column in my head spun only one question... Why is it so called? It looks like the warning on the website — ”LG Xboom AI ThinQ” is already taken, try another name.

a Short brand name and a long name of model.

Then I began to relate to him easier and even wrote just search ”LG Alice.” Looking ahead, I will say that this column I advised and I advise anyone who asks what to buy with assistant, but precious HomePod.

the package.

Pick speakers the most ascetic and, except for the gadget, it only includes the power adapter and a couple of pieces of paper with instructions and warranty. But as soon as I opened the box, inside is the user manual to connect and configure.

With this statement it is impossible to make a mistake when setting up.

When you look on the column there is a feeling that its Creator was inspired by Yandex.Station, but wanted to stand out. It's not bad, just the appearance suggests such associations. All due to the fact that the design is made in the form of regular geometric shapes. Then it was a box, and now the cylinder. Therefore, it seems that the main idea is preserved, but . By the way, because of the cylindrical shape may seem that the speakers are arranged in a circle, but it is not.

The Body covered with a mesh, but it is not removed. It is difficult to damage and severe contamination in a couple of months of use I have not found. But separately noted that the power connector is on the rear, and underneath. To output cable has a special neckline. Everything looks very neat and holistically.

Cable gently out from under the hull.

HDMI connection to the TV disappeared. That is, LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y cannot be used as a media player. This has its cons, but for me the big drawback is that has not appeared external output. It is not enough.

The Front on the column, there are indicators that reflect the work when you don't see top bar. It is your multi-color indicator which shows the status of the network connection and mode of operation assistant.

the lights to show what mode column.

The touch controls and buttons to start/stop music, change the volume, call the assist and switch the Bluetooth mode. There is another button to disable the microphone, but it is very modest in the back. It even almost not visible.

Buttonmute is not easy to find.

Call assistant can be a button or a voice that is more logical. For the perception of the body has two microphones and they work not worse, than at Yandex.Station. Commands are read well from anywhere in the room. E-girl, you can even go in a half whisper. However, the response she will give normal voice. Whisper, like Alexa, she doesn't know how.

In General, claims to the Alice no. It's nice that it evolves and gets better with time. It is immediately evident that it is not abandoned and really try to work with her. not always obvious, but they are there and sometimes come in handy. For example, not so long ago she learned to turn on the radio. I sometimes get tired of music and want some variety. It is now possible.

In regards to mistakes I have and with the Station there were a couple of cases where the column standing under your TV, has been involved with some of the sound and started on the dialogue to argue with the commentator of a football match. It was funny.

In the case of the LG problem was once, but is very unusual. At some point I was listening to the radio and heard the words ”team Alice”. The column fell silent and moved into a listening mode. When I was asked to resume playing, she got out of this mode. To be honest, I thought the column analyzes the sounds coming from her, and doesn't respond to itself. It turned out, not parse.

I definitely liked that the speaker can play music on low volume. Here are all of the same division from one to ten as before, but the first division is more quiet. In the case of Yandex.Station I sometimes like to make the volume even lower, but not worked. There is also sometimes this happens, but the overall picture was better.

you can Control the volume you can use your voice or the touch buttons on the top panel.

The most important question about the sound quality I'll just say that it got better. On the head, but better. Appeared low frequencies, and the painting itself became more balanced. To HomePod is still far away, but you can live. Although, you still should not treat the gadget like loud noises. I have it sitting on the table, and I have enough of its volume in order to while you work to ask to turn on the music and not to cause a desire to connect your smartphone to other speakers. At low volume the sound is very decent, although I would like more volume.

Meridian participated in the creation of the column. Sounds impressive.

For a sufficiently high sound quality is to thank the partnership of LG and Meridian. Together they were able to adjust the sound so that it sounded decent for its price range. They got it.

If we talk about the combination of factors, not one, column LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y is a good example of what should be similar to accessory. It is relatively inexpensive, it is home and it is decent for its price the sound. It all came together.

Three month subscription as a gift.

For Example, a sound column from LG better solution from Yandex. But the ”search” generous gifts poured in the form of subscriptions to different services and can connect to the TV (I used this only once). Personally, I would rather choose the sound, but you decide. Moreover, appearance is also different. Here, ironically, the more impressive it seems to me the solution from Yandex. At least as long as the column in a protective casing.

smart Which column to choose?

To Paraphrase Vladimir Mayakovsky, I want to say: ”a Review of unturned, F. Y. I. — all the speakers are good, choose on taste.” The way it is — everything has its pros. Even mentioned Amazon Echo and Google Home have their own competitive advantages, they just sharpened not under our market. Out of the speakers with the assistant us most suitable decision with Alice. Full speakers with it so far, only two and both I mentioned in this experience.

My opinion you read above. It can be taken as advice, but I can advise you before purchase listen to other opinions and weigh all the factors. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.