Do you remember the days of pagers, fax machines, and taking messages on giant pink or yellow notepads? Resources were simplistic enough to get the job done with very little intervention; however, technological advances have transformed the way we operate our daily lives both personally and professionally.
From cell phones and iPods to Myspace and Facebook, technology has continued to revolutionize how we access information, communicate, and interact with those around us. With the continued advancement and development of high-tech gadgets, one of the most innovative and broadening technologies available right now is voice-controlled smart speakers.
You don’t need to live in a fully equipped smart home to reap the benefits of smart speaker features. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and other digital voice assistants can lend a helping hand without having to lift a finger—all you have to do is speak their names. Speak up and speak clearly because we’re here to talk about the joys of voice-assistant speakers.
What’s it All About?
Choosing the right speaker should be an informed and, dare we say, “smart” decision (pun intended). You should consider if you want one product that’s better for music or another product that’s better for smart-home control and gathering information online. Luckily, choosing one brand of smart speaker won’t tie you down to using only that brand’s digital services. You can still access other streaming services and programs that aren’t associated with the given brand.
A smart speaker is one of the most multi-functional devices you can have in your home because they can control other smart devices, play music, and come installed with helpful voice assistants that are always ready and available to answer our most mundane or sophomoric questions. There are even smart speaker features with digital displays to convey visual information such as recipes, weather forecasts, news articles, reminders, grocery lists, videos, and much more.
The Right Smart Speaker
While many of us have been content using the voice features in our smartphones, having the right smart speaker is the best way to utilize this clever technology. The well-known, big-name brands like The Amazon Echo and Google Nest have led the charge in this space, but Sonos is another top-of-the-line speaker brand with Alexa and Google Assistant built into their products.
If you need help finding the right voice-controlled speaker to be your virtual assistant, check out a couple of our favorite models from Sonos. Their compact design fits any space in your home from the bedroom to the bookshelf. Now, that already sounds like music to our ears.
Sonos One Voice-Controlled Smart Speaker
Just like The Who in ‘65, we’re “Talkin’ ‘bout my generation.” Well, the first and second generation of the Sonos One speaker, that is. They’re very similar—the biggest difference being increased memory and an updated processor in the second generation.
Whether you’re familiar with the Sonos One speaker or not, you can be certain that this smart speaker is truly brilliant. As we mentioned, the Sonos speaker fits into a very compact design so it can be easily moved around to various rooms in your home. It’s one of the best smart speakers for the kitchen when you want to listen to some Frank Sinatra during spaghetti night, and it fits in your room on the bedside table when you need to wind down with some peaceful, ambient tones. It’s even humidity-resistant if you want to listen to music in the bathroom while you shower.
Sonos One offers rich, room-filling sound no matter where you are. You can stream music wirelessly from your favorite apps and it offers Amazon Alexa. Control the speaker with your voice and even the Sonos app to check the news, set alarms, ask questions, and more—completely hands-free. You can experience high-quality, wireless Bluetooth streaming from your mobile device, with one-touch pairing, and you can pair two Sonos speakers together in the same room or across the hallway to play a range of more detailed sounds.
And for added convenience, the lightweight, ultra-portable enclosure can be effortlessly transported with the convenient carry handle—making this speaker adept for travel and life on the move.
Sonos Play Wi-Fi Speaker
The Sonos Play features a smaller design that can fit any space in any room. Despite its size, it provides rich, hard-hitting sound wherever you like to listen. This booming sound comes from a pair of Class-D amplifiers and custom-built drivers, all meticulously tuned to highlight the speaker’s unique acoustic architecture. It’s great for parties and outdoor gatherings as the acoustics can still travel well outside, and the humidity-resistant outer casing eases the worry of damage.
When your hands are full, you can control the speaker with your voice using an Amazon Echo or Dot to play songs, control playlists, radio stations, podcasts, audiobooks, and anything else you like to listen to. It’s easy to set up and connect over WiFi so you can stream without any interruptions or interference.
The Sonos Play speaker gives you complete control of your music thanks to the Sonos app. You can easily navigate through all your listening services to find new music, adjust volume controls, and access specific speakers in the house wherever you are. Sonos plays everything, so whatever matters most to you, from streaming services to internet radio, can be accessible at the touch of a button.
Voice-controlled smart speakers are a great way to improve your home sound system to bring every room and everyone together. Regular software updates mean your product is always improving and adapting to your needs while you’re listening, so your speaker will always be smarter than ever.
And while you may not be able to hit the high notes like Freddy Mercury, you can still control awesome-sounding smart speakers with just the power of your voice. If you have questions about voice-assistant speakers or any other electronic devices, don’t hesitate to give us a call or visit us today. You can shop our entire collection of smart speakers and our expert staff is always available to help guide you along the way.