“It does exactly what's promised. If you have a home assistant cloud subscription it's very fast but you can also run entirely locally using add on.
A great way to decouple yourself from Amazon, apple and Google.”
“I now have two of these and have said goodbye to my other smart speakers. Easy to set up and simple to use. I like that it is local and my data is not being shared with large corporations. The lack of allegedly helpful suggestions.
Down sides - It's a bit deaf and doesn't do well with other sounds in the room although the response it gives with the telly on in the background is highly amusing at times. Not really geared up for Audio playback due to speaker quality if that's what you're looking for.
However it's still relatively new and active developments in Home Assistant make it a good choice if you want to be free of intrusive online devices.”
“I picked up the Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition from The Pi Hut and I’m really impressed. The delivery was fast as always, and the device itself feels premium with that satisfying rotary dial. Setup was a breeze with ESPHome, and it’s great to finally have a voice assistant that doesn't rely on the cloud. A must have for any HA enthusiast!”
“Even though its a preview product its already proving very useful not just for speach but also as a media player that doesnt have the limitation of other devices”
“After a long debate i finally purchased voice preview. I had already tried various combinations on my phone so was already familiar with the possibilities. It works best with Nabu Casa cloud and the free gemini conversation agents.”
“Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition Review: A Smart Speaker for the Post Big Tech Era
Home Assistant's Voice Preview Edition feels like a quiet rebellion, and that's a compliment. This little puck-sized device is clearly aimed at folks who want voice control without handing their home (and data) over to Amazon or Google.
First impressions are strong. The form factor is just right: compact, weighty enough to feel solid, and unobtrusive on a desk or countertop. Setup is refreshingly painless. Plug it in, add it to Home Assistant, and you're basically off to the races. If you're already living in the Home Assistant ecosystem, it'll feel familiar in the best way.
The physical controls deserve a shout-out. The buttons are well-spaced, tactile, and actually pleasant to use. No poking at mystery zones and hoping something happens. The dedicated privacy (mic mute) button is especially welcome and sends a clear message about who this device is for. Privacy-conscious users or anyone tired of always-listening smart speakers will appreciate it immediately.
Now, let's talk trade-offs. The built-in speaker is fine, but very much entry-level. It works for confirmations, short responses, and basic feedback, but don't expect rich audio or room-filling sound. This isn't something you'll want to use for music or media, and that's probably intentional. It's a voice interface first and a speaker second. You can always connect it to an Aux or Bluetooth speaker for boosted sound.
Some parts of the configuration could also be smoother. Specific setup steps and options assume you already "speak Home Assistant," so newcomers may run into a moment or two of head-scratching. That said, if you're already comfortable with Home Assistant or willing to tinker a bit, you won't hit any real roadblocks, and AI can help you iron out any issues.
Where the Voice Preview Edition really shines is in its flexibility. Thanks to Home Assistant's open architecture, it can be easily integrated with services like OpenAI or other local or cloud-based LLMs. The result is a voice assistant that can actually sound reactive, conversational, and context-aware, rather than the rigid, heavily sandboxed experience you get with Alexa or Google Assistant. You get to decide how intelligent, how chatty, and how opinionated your assistant should be. I, for one, am enjoying my hybrid Norse-Cyberpunk assistant character.
The bottom line: The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition isn't trying to out-Alexa Alexa. Instead, it offers a compelling alternative for users who value control, transparency, and local-first smart home tech. As an entry point into voice control without Big Tech baggage, it's an excellent place to start experimenting and a promising glimpse at a more private, user-owned future for intelligent assistants.”
