Latest Smart Assistants Reviews
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Reviews
Judging the Roku surround-sound experience
The Roku surround sound system wins on ease-of-use, but missing features might make home theater buffs chafe.
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First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound review: Alexa in a smoke detector? It’s an inspired, if expensive, idea
Here's a clever way to get a smart speaker into every room without cluttering up every room with a smart speaker.
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Anker Nebula Soundbar—Fire TV Edition review: Great Fire TV and Alexa functionality, but so-so sound
This 2.1-channel soundbar comes with Fire TV and Alexa onboard, but we weren’t impressed by its mediocre audio.
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Amazon Echo Flex review: This tiny plug-in speaker puts Alexa in places where other Echo devices won’t go
Just plug the compact and inexpensive Echo Flex into a wall outlet and start chatting with Alexa.
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Amazon Echo Studio vs. Google Home Max: Battle of the high-end smart speakers
One is more musical, but the other makes a better smart home controller. Which attribute is most important to you?
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Vizio SB2021n-G6 review: This budget 20-inch soundbar is the perfect match for a second TV
While it lacks HDMI inputs and Wi-Fi connectivity, this DTS Virtual:X-equipped soundbar boasts impressive and immersive sound for just $130.
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Roku TV Wireless Speakers review: A terrific sonic value for anyone rocking a Roku TV (or Roku Soundbar)
These stereo speakers will tightly integrate with TVs and sounbars based on Roku OS.
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Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS review: A stylish and effective air purifier with plenty of smarts
With support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, the Wi-Fi-enabled Airmega AP-1512HHS helps to boost your indoor air quality without causing too much of a ruckus.
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PreSonus Eris E4.5 BT speakers review: The convenience of Bluetooth, the accuracy of studio monitors
The PreSonus Eris E4.5 BT are Bluetooth speakers aimed at owners of home music and video studios, but anyone who wants good sound can use them.
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Denon DHT-S716H soundbar review: This pricey 3.0-channel soundbar packs an impressive punch
While it lacks Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, this Denon soundbar boasts rich, detailed, and surprisingly deep sound given its lack of a subwoofer.
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LG SL10RG soundbar review: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Google Assistant can’t make up for dull, listless audio
Feature-packed though it may be, this pricey 7.1.2 soundbar doesn’t sound as sweet as its competitors.
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Amazon Echo Dot with Clock review: The display—limited as it is—justifies the $10 upcharge
Love is never having to say, “Alexa, what time is it?”
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TCL Alto 7+ soundbar review: You’ll get more than you paid for, but less than you might wish for
Buying a super-cheap 4K TV this year? This is the soundbar to go with it.
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TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb review: Models KL50 and KL60 both deliver quality light, but neither is very bright
These smart(ish) vintage-style bulbs offer Wi-Fi connectivity.
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Samsung HW-Q90R soundbar review: Punchy 7.1.4 audio plus Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, if you can afford it
The HW-Q90R delivers exciting, immersive sound, but we expected more features given the sky-high price tag.
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DALI Rubicon 6 speaker review: Staking claim to a sonic empire?
DALI's floor-standing Rubicon 6 speakers deliver the sonic goods. But you'll need to be a well-heeled audiophile willing to pony up $5,499 for a pair of them.
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Amazon Echo Show vs. Google Nest Hub Max: Which 10-inch smart display should you buy?
The two top smart displays from Amazon and Google go head-to-head.
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Braven BRV-XL Bluetooth speaker review: Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy—and with a built-in bottle opener, too!
Zagg says this large weatherproof Bluetooth speaker is "Rocky Mountain Tested."
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McIntosh RS200 wireless speaker review: Congested sound mars the performance of this high-end behemoth
It's humongous, heavy, and very expensive with a good feature set and exceptional build quality, but its audio performance falls short.
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Bose Portable Home Speaker review: This mobile smart speaker is good to go
Doing more with less, Bose challenges the Sonos Move and almost prevails.
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Roku Smart Soundbar review: Easy controls make a big difference
Roku's streaming TV soundbar doesn't win on audio quality or extensibility, but its speech enhancements really come in handy.
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Vizio SB36514-G6 Home Theater Sound System review: Impressive sound, but we had Chromecast issues
We loved its true surround sound and immersive Dolby Atmos effects, but the Vizio SB36514-G6 gave us trouble when it came to iOS 13 and Chromecast.
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Sonos Move review: Glorious audio performances at home and on the road
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, indoors, outdoors, portable, and battery powered: The Sonos Move is the best speaker Sonos has built in years.
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Polk Legend L100 review: Higher performance than you’d expect from any bookshelf speaker
Polk's Legend L100 speakers deliver well-rounded sound with generally precise renderings.
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Yamaha YAS-209 soundbar with Alexa review: DTS Virtual:X 3D surround effects aren’t worth the harsh sound
While we like the standard surround-sound modes on this budget-priced soundbar, we aren’t fans of its harsh-sounding DTS Virtual:X implementation.
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Anker Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth speaker review: Big sound in a rugged, compact package
This $100 Bluetooth speaker could do with a little more high-end detail, but its attention to mid-range audio pays dividends when it comes to delivering rich, robust sound.
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Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation review: Naim didn’t need to make this wireless speaker better, but I’m glad it did
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast, AirPlay 2: The Naim Audio Mu-so 2nd Generation supports them all, along with every music codec and streaming service you can think of.
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Urbanears Rålis Bluetooth speaker review: Rich, smooth sound emanates from this big, heavy speaker
This portable Bluetooth speaker consistently sounds good from any direction.
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Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition review: This chatty, Alexa-powered playmate keeps tykes entertained and engaged
If you’re looking for an alternative to unleashing your kids on an iPad when you need a break, the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition makes for an attentive and engaging companion.
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JBL Link Bar review: A soundbar, Google Assistant, and Android TV rolled into one big compromise
The JBL Link Bar combines a soundbar with Google Assistant and Android TV, but not without major drawbacks.
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Amazon Echo Auto review: Alexa just doesn’t deliver as a co-pilot
The Amazon Echo Auto brings Alexa into your car, but it relies too much on your existing technology to be of much use.
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Samsung HW-Q70R soundbar review: This easy-to-install soundbar delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Yes, it’s pricey, but the Samsung HW-Q70R lets you add rich, detailed, and immersive sound, complete with Dolby Atmos and DTS;X support, to your TV in a matter of minutes.
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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review: Bose has a brand-new flagship
The noise-nixing headphone pioneers are up to new tricks, adding return-path noise cancelling, digital assistant support, and audio AR to its latest cans.
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Klipsch Groove Bluetooth speaker review: Long battery life doesn’t compensate for poor sound quality
Small though it is, this portable, battery-powered Bluetooth speaker packs in surprisingly big sound. Unfortunately, that sound was quite closed in and congested on virtually every track we listened to.
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IKEA Symfonisk speakers review: Sonos made sure they sound great, but that Scandi-chic lamp design is polarizing
Both the lamp and the bookshelf speaker can operate independently, as a stereo pair, or as surround speakers with a Sonos soundbar in your home theater.
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Amazon Echo Show 5 review: Small and solid wins the race
Amazon's newest Echo speaker is its best yet, with a great design, excellent features, and a killer price tag.
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Yamaha YAS-207 soundbar review: A taste of immersive audio in a spouse-friendly footprint
The first soundbar with DTS Virtual:X technology is impressive, but it's not perfect.
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Fluance AB40 Soundbase review: This speaker delivers a bona fide theater experience in any room
This $250 soundbase has a big footprint that delivers equally big sound.
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LG SL8YG soundbar review: Generally excellent sound quality, though only in certain circumstances
This soundbar has some significant limitations, especially for such a high price.
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FitzyTV review: A neat but shaky workaround for streaming TV annoyances
FitzyTV addresses some streaming TV annoyances, but adds some of its own along the way.
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Ecovacs Deebot 500 review: This budget-priced household helper is a solid choice
With app control plus Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, this robot vacuum packs a punch for the price.
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Bose Home Speaker 300 review: A versatile smart speaker begging to be compared to the Sonos One
The newest (and smallest) addition to Bose’s smart speaker line sounds sweet, speaks both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and encourages the building out of a Bose-based multi-room audio system.
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Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i review: This well-built wireless speaker delivers an underwhelming audio performance
Don't be fooled by the distinguished parentage. This pricey Bluetooth speaker from Bluesound has great features, but its sound is a disappointment.
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Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control review: Ecobee’s fifth-gen device is its best yet
Nest Who? Ecobee builds our top pick in smart thermostats.
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Lenovo Smart Clock review: Great form compensates for a lack of function
The Lenovo Smart Clock is the smallest Google Assistant-powered smart display, both in size and stature, but it nails its core mission.
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Sony SRS-XB32 Bluetooth speaker review: Flashy lights, fun, amazing sound—and it’s waterproof!
The Sony SRS-XB32 is a fun Bluetooth portable speaker with a nice amount of thump and great overall sound. And its IP67 rating means it's submersible up to three feet.
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Vizio SB2020 Sound Bar review: This ultra-compact, budget soundbar delivers budget sound
Vizio's entry-level, ultra-compact soundbar breaks the mold with its small form factor, but the very narrow parameters of its audio performance detracts from its value.
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Ring Smart Lighting Pathlight starter kit review: Security lighting on the cheap—except for all those batteries
The all-plastic construction has us wondering about longevity, but the price (and the hooks into the broader Ring ecosystem) can’t be beat.
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KEF LSX review: These small but mighty wireless speakers deliver sound quality way above their size class
They're expensive, but you get what you pay for; in this case, exquisite sound in a compact package. And now they support AirPlay 2 as well.
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