Debate between Intelligence and Sound Quality: Who is the Standard of Next Generation Speakers

Like numerous Wulin genres in swordsman fiction, there are also two major technical genres in the speaker industry: one is the intelligent speaker represented by Amazon's Echo and Millet's Xiaoai speaker, and the other is the speaker brand of JBL, Sony and Hamankaton, as well as the small speaker derived from traditional TV hardware manufacturers such as Chuangwei. Representatives, pay attention to the sound quality of this "external work" of the traditional sound quality type speakers. Of course, there are Apple Homepod, a kind of "scattered people" who are free of sound quality and intelligence.


Because of the difference of performance and structure, they have different emphases. Intelligent speakers are developed from artificial intelligence. They pay attention to experience, so the quality of sound is secondary. If the built-in AI is removed, such products can at best be called megaphones. With the support of artificial intelligence, such products can recognize human instructions, thus completing the operation of playing, suspending music, or controlling other intelligent appliances. It is an interactive platform integrating music, smart home, online network and one of the products selected as the entrance of smart home.


Traditional sound quality speakers are based on sound quality, pay attention to the sense of hearing, so the function is more pure. Taking Soundbar as an example, as a supplement, enhancement or substitution of TV sound quality, the selling point of this kind of products is mainly to provide users with more perfect auditory experience. Soundbar is actually a miniaturized family audio and video. It is the background that the thinner TV sets can not carry too good speakers, which leads to the deterioration of the sound quality of TV sets. As a supplement, enhancement or replacement product of the sound quality of TV sets, Soundbar can achieve the effect of dual-channel or even multi-channel in a limited volume.


As an alternative to TV speakers, the shape of external speakers has been changing, from a speaker that initially enhanced the sound quality of TV to a combination of TV box and speaker, which represents Skyworth's mini-speaker. This kind of product can be used as a pure speaker when it is not connected to the TV set. After connecting the TV through cable, it also has the function of the TV box and speaker. Philips Television's approach is even more extreme. Its recently released 973 TV integrates the speaker and other TV components, and integrates them into a base, taking into account the thin screen, but also retains the sound quality. In addition, these speakers also have the function of playing music through wireless network, Bluetooth, cable or interface to connect mobile phones or non-destructive players.


Intelligent speakers are contrary to traditional sound quality speakers in function, but they directly constitute a competitive relationship. Intelligent speakers rely on ecology and make fast money, while traditional sound quality speakers are "flexible". Behind the competition is an attempt to monopolize the standards of the speaker industry. For example, South Korea's two giants LG and Samsung announced on August 20 that they would expand the production line of "X Boom" products from existing home audio to wireless and artificial intelligence speakers, while Samsung Electronics acquired American audio and automotive electronics company Hamankaton as early as 2016 and launched the world's top Soundbar. Industry insiders believe that with the connection of TV and smart phones, games and so on, synergies between TV and audio appear, which leads to the gradual expansion of the speaker market. Enterprises that take the lead in setting standards will be able to seize the market earlier.


The two companies actually represent two different speaker preferences, namely, the choice between "intelligence" and "sound quality". Compared with the high price of traditional sound quality speakers, the price of smart speakers is about 1000 yuan, which is more likely to be favored by consumers, while the low price of smart speakers comes from the low cost. The low cost and the occupied space of controlled modules lead to the shortage of intelligent speaker units. Even most speakers have only one unit, so the quality of sound can not be talked about on the intelligent speaker. Therefore, the selling point of intelligent speaker is not "speaker" but "intelligence".


But for many consumers, the sound quality and appearance of the speaker is the most essential thing to judge the value of the speaker, and intelligence may only add points. When faced with smart speakers with similar prices and traditional sound quality speakers, the latter is obviously more worth buying. Because smart speakers are only one of the options for smart home ecology, "smart speakers" is not the only option for smart home. It is obvious that the quality of sound is more important to acquire a better auditory experience.


At this stage, "intelligence" and "sound quality" may not be both. Those who have always pursued sound quality have been hovering in more advanced products. In the mass market, taking into account intelligence means that they need to spend more energy to build ecology, while paying attention to sound quality requires cost in raw materials and adjustments. The combination of "intelligence" and "sound quality" means higher costs and a little further away from the mass market.