Sony LF-S50G
PRICE £200 ON SALE November 2017
When you price a smart speaker at £200, you must be confident yours is something special. And Sony surely is. Its obvious differentiator is a LED screen lurking beneath the mesh exterior, which you can use to display the time, view alarms or check the volume counter (the screen can be switched off too).
But what actually sets Sony’s speaker apart from the crowd is gesture controls. For instance, by tracing a circle in the air over the top of the speaker with your finger you’ll adjust the volume. Swiping your palm over the top changes the track you’re listening to. It also has automated volume control, adjusting to your environment. In terms of features, Sony matches Google Home except for the odd decision not to include Spotify Connect. On the plus side, it does add NFC to the mix. A Bluetooth 4.2 pairing button is located on the speaker’s rear, along with a mic mute button to stop Google Assistant listening in via the device’s two microphones. It’s IPX3 rated, meaning it can survive a few splashes with little worry. Sony also makes proud boasts about its speaker technology. The LF-S50G uses a two-stage diffuser to spread sound evenly throughout a room, even with only one speaker unit. The company claims this is enhanced by a “two-way facing” speaker designed to improve sound coverage. I remain sceptical until I’ve put this to the test, but on first listen it certainly sounds far better than rivals such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The Sony LF-S50G is an intriguing addition to the growing line-up of smart speakers, but note that it doesn’t include a battery despite its 750g weight. Look out for a full review on our sister site alphr.com later this year. VAUGHN HIGHFIELD KEY SPECS 48mm satellite speaker 53mm ● subwoofer 802.11n Wi-Fi NFC Bluetooth ● ● ● 4.2 linking via Chromecast Google ● ● Assistant 110 x 110 x 162mm (WDH) 750g ● ●
“The Fit2 Pro is a baby step forwards – unless you’re a swimming fan, when it’s a whopping great front crawl”