February 2023 ertonline.co.uk


Mr Forrest suggests that underlying voice


technology needs to advance to a stage where it becomes truly conversational and anticipates the user’s needs as opposed to the current command and control model.


A spatial audio boost


It seems ChatGPT is already changing consumer expectations when it comes to Artificial Intelligence. But could spatial audio provide a different boost for the category? Apple certainly hopes so, following the launch of its second gen HomePod smart speaker. While smart speakers may be commonplace, relatively few offer Dolby Atmos spatial audio playback. Immersive audio from streaming services such as Apple Music and Amazon Music remains primarily the preserve of headphone enthusiasts. Only the Echo Studio speaker has tried to upsell Alexa buyers with the promise of better audio quality. Unlike its monophonic stablemates, the Echo Studio employs a trio of 51mm mid-range drivers (one of which is up-firing, to create a sense of height), a downward-firing 5.25-inch bass woofer and 25mm tweeter.


is an immersive audio expert. He tells ERT: “I think Apple has done a great job delivering what is essentially a Dolby Atmos


immersive audio


experience from a single box, while integrating with the wider Apple ecosystem. “Very few smart speakers which are capable of spatial or immersive audio are cheap. While the binaural headphone experience is easy to deliver to the mass market with a low barrier to entry, smart speakers have to do the heavy lifting in a very different, competitive and variable consumer space.” Guy Hammett, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource, believes that Apple will find it tough to claim market share from Amazon and Google. “Amazon already has a huge advantage and given the price point of the second gen HomePod, Apple won’t be able to sell volumes anywhere near approaching Amazon’s 30 million+ per year. However, the HomePod has all the features necessary to do well in the premium end of the speaker market, and those already embedded in the Apple ecosystem are likely to snap the product up. “It’s important to remember that smart speakers are just one aspect of the vast voice ecosystem landscape, and that control of the landscape is the real prize for these large technology companies. Apple is the dominant vendor when all products with voice control are considered, due primarily to its strength in smartphones, tablets and headphones. With Apple’s voice strategy appearing to be increasingly focused on the smart home, it does not need to outsell Amazon in smart speakers for the HomePod to be a success.”


Of all the smart assistants, Google has the widest product portfolio, and offers electrical retailers the greatest opportunities. Speaking of which…


Intended to appeal to a design-conscious buyer, they remain very much part of the Google family, and respond to all the usual chat requests, with weather updates, jokes, advice and news. The LE03 is the most conventional model, with its neatly rounded corners, white cabinet and black fabric grille. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, there’s a physical 3.5mm jack for local sources. Hi-Fi credentials are good too, with a 4cm Balanced Mode Radiator driver for highs and mid- range, and a 9cm bass driver and passive radiator for lows. Using the Braun Audio app, users can tailor


its sound profile based on placement, and adjust volume. All the LE series support Chromecasting and Google speaker grouping. Voice remains central to Amazon’s Fire TV platform, as evidenced by the recent launch of the Alexa Voice Remote Pro. This enhanced £35 zapper features backlit buttons, and introduces a Remote Finder feature to help consumers locate misplaced remotes. Just say, “Alexa, find my remote” or press the dedicated Remote Finder button in the Fire TV app, and Remote Pro will ring for attention.


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TCL’s CF630K Series QLED TVs


By way of comparison, the Apple HomePod Mk2 (above) features a custom-engineered high-excursion 20mm woofer, with a fistful of beamforming tweeters arranged around the base. The speaker is able to determine if it’s up against a wall or freestanding, recognising sonic reflections from nearby surfaces; it then adapts its output accordingly. But retailing at £299, this sophistication doesn’t cheap. John Johnson, Chief Technology Officer at professional audio equipment supplier HHB,


The new model also adds two customisable buttons to create bespoke shortcuts to favourite apps or channels.


The design-conscious buyer Braun Audio relaunched in 2022 with a range of premium designer smart speakers (above) based around Google Assistant. There are three models in the range, the high-end floorstanding LE01, living room styled LS02 and compact entry-level LE03.


TCL is the latest flatscreen maker to launch a range based on the Fire TV platform. Offering full Alexa voice control, its CF630K Series of 4K QLED HDR screens has Fire TV built-in and is available in 50- and 55-inch screen sizes. Both models include a Voice Remote with Alexa, which can be used both for channel and content curation, as well as access to apps and Alexa skills. >>


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