Private vs. Cloud Voice Assistants (Home Assistant Voice, Satellite 1, Amazon Echo)

Summary

In this video, the speaker compares the Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition (Voice PE), Satellite 1 Developer Kit, and the Amazon Echo Dot, focusing on their features, performance, and local vs. cloud voice control. The Voice PE and Satellite 1 aim for privacy with local control, while the Echo Dot relies on cloud-based services. The comparison covers design, hardware, software, response times, and reliability, revealing that although the Echo Dot is faster and more reliable, the private devices show promise for future improvements. The speaker discusses the pros and cons of each, offering insights into the current state of private voice hardware.

Takeaways

• 😀 Home Assistant's Voice Preview Edition (PE) and Satellite 1 Developer Kit offer locally controlled voice assistants, differentiating them from mainstream cloud-based devices like the Amazon Echo Dot.
• 😀 The Voice PE is square, while the Echo Dot is round, and both occupy similar tabletop space. The Satellite 1 Dev Kit, however, arrives as a DIY kit with separate components and no built-in enclosure.
• 😀 Both the Voice PE and Echo Dot have four microphones for voice capture, but the Satellite 1 requires a firmware upgrade to fully utilize its four microphones.
• 😀 Voice PE and Echo Dot come with built-in speakers, while the Satellite 1 lacks a speaker and requires an external one, supporting up to a 25-watt speaker.
• 😀 All three devices feature physical buttons for controlling volume, mute, and actions. The Satellite 1 has programmable buttons, while the Voice PE has a rotary dial for volume control.
• 😀 Voice PE, Satellite 1, and Echo Dot all use LED indicators for visual feedback, with the Echo Dot offering preconfigured lighting patterns, and the other two providing more customizable LED patterns.
• 😀 The Satellite 1 includes environmental sensors for temperature, humidity, and luminosity, with the option for additional radar sensors for presence detection, whereas the other two devices lack these sensors.
• 😀 The Voice PE and Satellite 1 support local, open-source firmware with ESP Home, while the Echo Dot uses Alexa and requires an internet connection for full functionality.
• 😀 The price of the devices varies: the Echo Dot is the least expensive at $49.99, followed by the Voice PE at $59, and the Satellite 1 Developer Kit at $69.99 (excluding accessories).
• 😀 In testing, the Echo Dot outperformed both the Voice PE and Satellite 1 in terms of speed and reliability, completing all 10 commands in about 2 seconds, compared to the Voice PE (5 seconds) and Satellite 1 (6 seconds).

Q & A

What is the difference between Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition (Voice PE) and the Satellite 1 Developer Kit?

Voice PE is a fully assembled smart home voice assistant device, while the Satellite 1 Developer Kit is a DIY kit requiring assembly. The Satellite 1 includes separate boards for microphones, speakers, and environmental sensors, whereas Voice PE is ready to use out of the box with built-in microphones and speakers.

How do the microphones and audio capabilities differ between the devices?

The Voice PE and Echo Dot both have four microphones, while the Satellite 1 only has two microphones initially, requiring a firmware upgrade to enable all four. The Voice PE and Satellite 1 use an xmos chip for audio processing, while the Echo Dot uses a MediaTek MT516 chip.

What are the speaker capabilities of the devices?

Voice PE and Echo Dot both have built-in speakers (3W and 1.2W, respectively), while the Satellite 1 has no built-in speaker. Users must connect their own speaker or headphones to the Satellite 1, which supports speakers up to 25W.

What additional hardware or sensors do the Satellite 1 and Voice PE support?

The Satellite 1 includes environmental sensors for temperature, humidity, and luminosity, with optional millimeter wave radar for presence detection. The Voice PE has a growth port for future accessories, like sensors, though these need to be purchased separately.

How do the three devices compare in terms of physical controls?

Voice PE has two physical buttons (action and mute) and a rotary volume dial, while the Satellite 1 and Echo Dot each have four physical buttons for volume control, mute, and actions. The Satellite 1's buttons are programmable.

What software platform do these devices use?

The Voice PE and Satellite 1 use ESP Home firmware and are designed for integration with Home Assistant for controlling smart home devices. The Echo Dot uses Alexa software and supports Alexa's vast ecosystem of smart home devices.

What is the price difference between the devices?

The Echo Dot is the most affordable at $49.99, with sales often reducing the price further. The Voice PE costs $59, while the Satellite 1 Developer Kit is the priciest at $69.99. Additional costs for power cables, power bricks, and accessories may apply.

What issues did the testing reveal regarding device performance?

The Echo Dot consistently performed faster and more reliably than the Voice PE and Satellite 1, completing all 10 test requests in about 2 seconds on average. In comparison, Voice PE and Satellite 1 had slower response times of 5 to 6 seconds and struggled with certain commands like setting timers or providing the temperature.

Why did the Satellite 1 respond slower than the Voice PE in initial tests?

The Satellite 1 initially responded slower than the Voice PE due to the use of a different voice model. After switching to a different voice in the Home Assistant setup, the response times between the Voice PE and Satellite 1 became similar.

What are the main limitations of using private voice hardware like Voice PE and Satellite 1?

Private voice hardware such as Voice PE and Satellite 1 currently lacks the reliability and speed of mainstream cloud-based smart speakers. They also struggle with certain tasks, such as music playback or providing accurate responses to common queries like temperature readings. These devices are still in development and require further refinement for mainstream use.