Do you have a Google TV Streamer? The new Home Speaker offers a carefree experience, but it's not without its flaws

We have already written about the Google Home Speaker arriving at Alza and not yet speaking Czech. But the question is different: what is this small round speaker most suitable for? After the first international tests, a clear answer is emerging — as a surprisingly handy and, most importantly, simple sound solution for your TV, if you have a Google TV Streamer.

Why specifically for Google TV Streamer

The main trick lies in pairing. The Streamer recently gained support for these speakers, and you just need to connect two units to unlock spatial audio. The Google TV Streamer can convert standard HD audio into its own spatial format and also supports Dolby Atmos, thus conjuring a kind of mini home theater from two small spheres. Additionally, from a single speaker, you get 360° sound thanks to its 58mm driver.

What reviewers appreciate most is its simplicity. Setup takes just minutes — after turning it on, a pairing prompt immediately appears, you select the left and right units, and specify how far apart they are from each other and from you. No cables run behind the TV; there’s nothing there except for power. This is especially useful for the Streamer itself, which is all about simplicity.

However, one thing needs to be clarified. It is sometimes said (for example, in foreign hands-on reviews) that it’s a cheap soundbar replacement — but that’s not true. A pair of speakers costs approximately six thousand Czech crowns, and for that price today, you can get a full-fledged soundbar system, 2.1 or 3.1 with a wireless subwoofer, with many models including Dolby Atmos support and HDMI eARC connectivity. A real subwoofer will do with bass what two small spheres without it can never achieve. So, the Home Speaker doesn’t win on price or sound — its only real advantage is simplicity and the fact that, in addition to the TV, it also serves as a smart speaker with Gemini.

Catches you’ll encounter

It’s certainly not an idyll. Let’s start with the sound. On its own, according to initial impressions, the Home Speaker performs well, but not great — at higher volumes, it’s noticeable that it lacks detail across the entire frequency range. More critical reviews point out that the new model has only one 58mm driver, whereas the discontinued Nest Audio had a full-fledged woofer and tweeter. In other words, as a pure speaker, it’s more of a step sideways than forward.

Connectivity also has its issues. After each power-on, it takes a few seconds for the speakers to connect to the TV. And if you decline the initial pairing prompt and want to connect them manually, the system will only let you add one unit at a time — only a restart reliably resolves the situation, which is not exactly elegant.

However, the biggest criticism is directed at the limitations of the concept itself. You can build a home theater with a maximum of two speakers; no expansion to five channels, as with competitor Amazon, awaits you. And the spatial mode works exclusively in conjunction with the Google TV Streamer and only with this new model. Google itself admitted that this is not a hardware limitation but a purely software decision — the older Nest Audio could technically handle it too. A spicy final note is the subscription: you will only maintain seamless conversation with Gemini Live after a six-month trial for a monthly fee.

Who it makes sense for

If you have or are planning to get a Google TV Streamer at home and are looking for a carefree sound solution that also serves as a smart speaker, the Home Speaker is one of the most convenient options. However, those primarily concerned with sound quality for movies will get more bang for their buck from a classic soundbar with a subwoofer. This pair is simply a choice for comfort and simplicity, not for the best possible home theater experience.

Before you order, however, keep in mind two things we discussed separately — the price on Alza and the fact that Gemini in the speaker doesn’t speak Czech yet.

Would such a wireless home theater appeal to you, or would you prefer a classic soundbar?