Go from portable: the street Alice turned out to be worse than the home one in a number of options

Izvestia tested the smart speaker "Yandex Station Street". This is the first domestic-made AI column with the ability to take it anywhere. The device has no domestic analogues, but there are international ones: for example, solutions from JBL (James Bullough Lansing). Despite its pronounced advantages, the Street also has disadvantages — an inflated price and limited Bluetooth capabilities. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What the new "Alice" can do

The new AI speaker from Yandex, designed specifically for portable use, is inferior in several ways to the home version. At the same time, this is the first domestic model with a voice assistant that works not only at home, but also outdoors. The device is protected from dust and water, it is available in two colors: black and green.

Photo: Yandex

The first disadvantage is the cost of the "Street Station" — it is almost 15 thousand rubles. This price brings it closer to the solutions of the "Midi Stations" category, while the functionally new model is close to the basic functionality of the launch Mini series. Moreover, portable Bluetooth speakers from JBL, which are also available to Russians, start at 3,000 rubles, and advanced solutions such as the JBL Flip 6 are still cheaper than the option from a domestic company.

Talks and listens: a new smart TV with QLED screen

"Yandex" updated its TV Station with a built-in AI assistant "Alice"

Part of the pricing policy can be attributed to the popularity of Alice in our country and the uniqueness of Russian technology, which was the first in the Russian Federation to enter the smart speaker market, but for the end user these achievements are irrelevant and should not be included in the price tag.

Photo: Yandex

The function of synchronizing multiple speakers is available in Street. If you connect two devices of the new model to the same account and say, "Alice, play everywhere," then the playlist will sound from both.

At the same time, there are complaints about the sound quality — there is a certain lack of bass during playback, which would make the soundtrack richer, and in many ways it feels "deaf" and bland. The device has no problems with the watt power, but with the variety and depth of the sound architecture, yes. In many ways, Street resembles a starting solution for those who cannot identify themselves as audiophiles and music lovers.

Another disadvantage is the limited capabilities in Bluetooth mode. The speaker cannot be fully used in it — for example, the equalizer does not work, which is extremely important for users of portable music devices.

Why buy a portable speaker

You can take the speaker with you to different places: for a picnic, a walk or a workout. If you connect it to a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, it will be able to play music, find information on the Internet, set timers, or answer questions. Even without the Internet, the device remains functional. Via Bluetooth, you can listen to music from your smartphone by controlling voice playback. For example, the commands "louder", "next" or "stop" work without a network connection. This is especially convenient on the street if there is no access to the phone.

Photo: Yandex

Inside the gadget there are two speakers and two passive radiators with a total power of 30 watts. The sound adapts to the environment: microphones analyze the reflection of sound from surfaces to determine where the device is located and automatically adjust the sound. If desired, the "Street" or "Room" mode can be selected manually through the application. It is also possible to adjust the equalizer.

The battery lasts for about 12 hours of operation. This is enough for long-term sports or a whole day on a picnic. To monitor the charge, you can look at the display on the case, open the data in the application, or simply ask: "Alice, how much charge is left?" The assistant will tell you the percentage of charge and the approximate operating time.

Photo: Yandex

The speaker is designed for active use. It has a sturdy body, and the color scheme is chosen so that the device retains its appearance even with frequent use. The removable strap allows you to carry it in your hand, hang it on a backpack or put it next to you during sports. IP67 protection ensures that dust and water do not damage the device. If moisture gets inside, the voice assistant will remind you to dry the device.

The new product is already available in the official store of the manufacturer. In a week, it will be available for purchase in major retail chains, both in stores and online.