Nest Audio vs. Nest Mini - How Much Better Does It REALLY Sound?

[@wasgeht7102]

I really liked, that you gave us the chance to decide by ourselves, which one has the better sound, by not telling which device is actually playing.

[@frudolf5999]

Nice test and the difference in clarity is still quiet obvious, but I'd say they aren't playing at the same volume. If you set both e.g. on 50% volume, they are not as loud. Exaggerated example: compare the nest mini to a festival setup an play both 50% then seat yourself in front of it. Same number, definitely different volume 😃

[@frudolf5999]

P.S.: when you actually use them, you'd set the volume by listening, not by a number

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, there's absolutely no suggestion that same percentage equals same volume / amplitude of sound waves. Just the "max this device will do as allowed by manufacturer".

[@Dave--FkTheDeepstate]

The volume difference makes it very difficult to hear/judge the quality of the softer speaker. 😞

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

That's part of the test really - I toyed with the idea of matching them in post but I thought that would take away from the comparison and I wanted to make it as true to life as possible, taking all elements (volume difference/power included) into consideration.

[@hometechUK]

Yes matching the volume would have been a much better comparison.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

No it wouldn't, because volume difference is part of the difference between owning the two speakers

[@Dave--FkTheDeepstate]

​@@SwitchedOnNetwork Efficiency... could have been another segment of the video.

[@kristifarrell557]

I've been debating whether or not to get a best audio because I get crazy distortion on my best mini when listening to audiobooks and want to use it for music too. This was so helpful! Thanks!

[@ctm10235]

Thanks so much for making this video--I was undecided between the two, but the video made it clear that the Audio is absolutely worth the extra $$$ in my case.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

It sure is, sounds waaaaay better!

[@kevdadev.]

I reckon that the volume difference in the video is because the google nest mini was facing up, and the nest audio has front facing speakers directly at the microphone. I think that when you would listen from the side of the audio, you would gain a similar effect. Correct me if I'm wrong

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

I think you definitely have a point, but it doesn't make 100% of the difference - I think even if it had been facing forward (as if wall mounted) you'd still hear some difference. I tried to make it more representative of how people actually use them in real life, too - ie. mostly pointing up on the Mini although of course you can wall mount it so there's that option too, but the bigger speaker's physical design lends itself better to being able to face forward all the time without needing a wall. As you can see, very hard to directly compare Apples with Apples here - a 3rd mini facing forward thrown into the mix would have been a good idea, why didn't I think of that?! :)

[@kevdadev.]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork yeah there's definitely a difference and the video really helped me, but the video may have exaggerated the difference just a little.

[@jurgel]

Thank you for the comparison! I end up bought the Nest Audio a couple of weeks ago. From your video it's clearly the Nest Audio is better on every aspect, but I have a different experience. I compared it with Google Home Mini (older version). Yes, the Nest Audio have a better bass and louder, but for the treble it's not improving that much. Even I prefer the Mini for vocal range (in you frequency response test, there's a range with the Nest Mini is better than Nest Audio, maybe that's why), the Nest Audio sounds mumble (lack of separation), and the Mini sounds brighter. I need to tweak the settings for Nest Audio, decrease the bass, and increase the treble to make it better. In the end, I group it all together, it's perfect for my taste now.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes I agree, with a subtle treble boost it sounds even better to my ears :)

[@lifeonmonday]

Exactly my impression! I've also bought Audio and now I'm actually regretting it - don't care about all that extra bass, while vocals sound just muffled :(

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Boost the treble and it'll sound fine 👍

[@christee2908]

Hmm, wondering how an Audio stereo pair would sound, maybe creating a more open soundstage?

[@TheRoeschen25]

Definitely A!!! It sounds richer and fuller.

[@oleksandran.1959]

Great professional content, thank you!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Glad you found it useful, thanks!

[@juliettepierre8289]

Thanks! Helped a lot.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

You're welcome!

[@obersutopia2209]

can I connect these speakers to my pc as an external speaker? Thanks for the video and keep up the good work!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

You can via Bluetooth, yes 👍

[@obersutopia2209]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork thanks :)

[@iceco666]

@@obersutopia2209 also can connect via Chromecast wifi

[@DrJajeczny]

why both speaker aren't tested on similar loudness? this way it is useless comparision

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Well the volume they're producing is *part of* the comparison...

[@DrJajeczny]

​@@SwitchedOnNetwork thanks for video, but you should separately compare sound quality and loudness, because people tweak amplification level to get desired decibel level and not max power percentage. On the othr hand, if you dont add any reference value or commonly used unit, we get only info that bigger is louder, -not knowig how much. you could compare them to a smartphone speaker, hifi stereo setup or play both at 70db in distance 3m from source, and then test max value.

[@supriyodutta2815]

Suggest better between nest audio and apple homepod

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

I don't have any Apple devices to test against unfortunately...

[@supriyodutta2815]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork can you suggest better between nest audio and bose revolve plus.

[@bog1dan]

Nice test

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks!

[@OlahFemi]

A - Nest Audio B - Nest Mini

[@sumitghoshal1792]

Can i play Yfoutube from my PC directly by giving voice command to these speakers?

[@acid3719]

You need to connect them via Bluetooth

[@sonicjackalopeproductions3342]

The test is inherently flawed since the microphone being used is a Rode Video Mic. The test would be more accurate using a proper microphone, such as a reference condenser microphone with a far flatter frequency response.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

It's not a RODE video mic... It's a RODE NTG-1 which is completely different (as I said in the video). I also referenced how using a reference mic would be even better, but any shortcomings are of course consistent between tests so it's not really that flawed after all when comparing them to each other, in isolation, which is what the test is all about. Hope that clears up any confusion 😃

[@seb7654]

A is better

[@jas9.]

A Because it's louder

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

It's not just volume though! :)

[@vandusej1]

A sounds better

[@vandusej1]

Still A

[@cmacvane]

You are testing the microphone more than the speakers. Methodology fail.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

How so?

[@pumaweek169]

Is this is a joke? Speaker B is broken...

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Ha, no 🤣

[@pumaweek169]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork sounds like it is :-)

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

The difference is that stark!

[@dannyelregio]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Could it be the front facing position of the A, compared to the upward fire position of B?, beacuse it really sounds broken