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  • Sound + Image

    A smart amp in your wall

    Jun 30, 2019 6 minutes

    Is your house wired for voice control? If it is, you probably have either Google Home or Amazon Alexa devices. Or, maybe, Apple Home. Each has their pros and cons, but one good reason to go for Alexa is the rather strong third-party eco-system that has grown up around it. Which brings us to the Vanguard Dynamics VAIL (‘Voice Artificial Intelligence Link’) Amp. This device simultaneously , physically manages an Amazon Echo Dot and turns it into a much higher-performance music source.

    Equipment

    Amazon Alexa was the first in the voice control field in the US, and while now being challenged by Google globally (see p43), it remains very strong. Most importantly, some Alexa devices have a modest feature which the equivalent Google devices lack: a 3.5mm analogue stereo output. If you want to integrate these kinds of devices into new equipment, an analogue output makes it easy and reliable.

    That's what the Vanguard Dynamics VAIL

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