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Nearly six years after the first announcements, Google has finally released the feature many users of its ecosystem have been waiting for. The new Google Home Speakers can be wirelessly paired with the Google TV Streamer and used as a home audio system. Rather than using Bluetooth, the connection uses Wi‑Fi, which delivers better sound quality and lower latency. The feature lets you create a simple two‑speaker home theatre setup. Google says the solution will be rolled out to more Google TV devices in the future.
Google Home Speaker will replace the TV's speakers
The Google Home Speaker costs US$100 and has been given a new feature to work with the Google TV Streamer. Users can wirelessly connect up to two speakers and use them as the main audio source for the TV. This is a significant departure from previous Bluetooth pairing. Using Wi‑Fi allows higher-quality audio streaming. Google also highlights support for stereo and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. The company notes that Bluetooth often limits quality, can operate only in mono and introduces latency. To use the new feature you need two Google Home Speakers and a Google TV Streamer running the latest firmware UTTK.260317.003. The update also adds support for Thread 1.4. Setup can be done from Google TV settings or the Google Home app. This is the first such extensive integration of Google's audio devices with a TV.
Google announces more compatible devices
Currently the feature works only with the Google TV Streamer, but the maker suggests it won't be the only supported device. Google's documentation mentions compatibility with other future hardware that supports Google TV. The company has not yet revealed specific models or a timetable for their update. The new feature is similar to the setup known from Apple TV 4K and HomePod speakers, although it also limits the user to two paired speakers at once. Google expects wireless audio to become an important part of its expanding smart home ecosystem. It's also possible that a larger, more powerful version of the Google Home Speaker for more demanding use cases could debut in the future.
Google has finally implemented the long-promised wireless speaker pairing feature for Google TV. By using Wi-Fi, users get better sound quality, stereo and Dolby Atmos support, and a more convenient setup than with Bluetooth.
source: flatpanelshd
