LG ThinQ WK7 - Review 2022

Third-party smart speakers continue to pick upward steam, with LG joining companies like JBL and Sonos in offering models with voice administration. The LG ThinQ WK7 is a Google Assistant speaker with a adequately powerful thirty-watt driver that makes it capable of very solid and counterbalanced audio functioning. At $199.99 it's fairly pricey, but it stands capably aslope our Alexa favorite, the Sonos I.

Unassuming Design

The WK7 looks like a stout version of the original Amazon Echo, but a black plastic cylinder measuring viii.ii by 5.4 inches (HW). It's a rather stark and bromidic design, compared with the contempo Echo speakers and JBL's more rounded and rugged-looking Link speakers. There'south no battery, and then the speaker isn't portable; it needs to be plugged in at all times.

The top panel holds play/intermission, Google Banana, and book command buttons surrounding a circular Role button that toggles Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modes. Two microphone pinholes as well sit on the top panel. A row of 4 dimmable indicator lights face forward on the curved front end of the speaker, just beneath the top edge.

Google Assistant and Google Cast

Every bit a Google Assistant device, the WK7 can be prepare only like a Google Home. Plug it in, open the Google Domicile app, and information technology will show up equally a new device. Tap information technology and the app will walk y'all through connecting the WK7 to your Wi-Fi network, registering it to your Google account, and optionally configuring other streaming media services and training Google Assistant to recognize your voice (if you've already trained Google Assistant, the data volition automatically exist synced with the WK7).

Yous tin can use the WK7 like any other Google Assistant device, such as the same Google Home or the JBL Link 10. Simply say, "Hey Google," and ask a question or requite a command and the speaker will reply. You can ask Google Assistant for general information like weather reports, sports scores, unit conversions, and trivia; tell information technology to play music through Google Play, YouTube Music, Deezer, Pandora, or Spotify; and control smart home devices like lights, locks, and thermostats (including other LG devices like appliances and TVs under the visitor'due south ThinQ make). Google Assistant doesn't have quite the selection of third-party skills or support as many dwelling automation devices as Amazon's Alexa, only information technology'south catching upwardly, and we notice it easier to speak to naturally and less strict with syntax than Amazon'south vox banana.

The WK7 also acts like a speaker with a Google Chromecast Audio continued, so yous can stream any compatible app's sound directly to it as a Google Cast device. The speaker can integrate into a Google-powered multi-room organization with other Google Bandage speakers, supporting a much wider selection of streaming media than the handful of services accessible through voice commands. It's a convenient style to play music without switching the WK7 to Bluetooth way.

Operation

The WK7 handles deep bass well enough, only not with any particular force or ultra low-frequency response. Our bass examination, The Knife'southward "Silent Shout," sounds reasonably full and doesn't misconstrue even at maximum volume. However, the synth bass notes and kick drum hits don't sound very powerful at that level, and seem to top out earlier you reach total volume. This indicates some digital signal processing to protect the drivers and forbid distortion when dealing with sub-bass-heavy music.

Yep' "Roundabout" sounds very good on the WK7, thanks to solid high-frequency clarity and bass response. The acoustic guitar plucks in the opening of the track go a good amount of string texture, and the electric bass comes through with a pleasant punchiness. The drums, guitar, and vocals all audio clear and counterbalanced, making sure every part of the mix gets some attention.

The heartbeat-like pulsate hits in Massive Attack's "Teardrop" get enough low and low-mid presence to sound full, merely the speaker doesn't reach quite low enough to really make the bass palpable. The vinyl texture in the background of the track comes through conspicuously, but doesn't overwhelm the mix or go far the way of the vocals, which sound warm and clean.

A Solid Smart Speaker

The LG WK7 is a capable and fairly powerful Google Assistant-equipped speaker that offers balanced and full sound. Information technology isn't the loudest speaker of its size or cost and it isn't portable, but its solid audio performance and the benefits of Google Cast and Bluetooth brand it a very flexible option to keep on a shelf or desk. It'due south most on par with the excellent Alexa-equipped Sonos One in audio quality, making it a worthy option if you're looking for a speaker you tin control with your voice merely aren't committed to Amazon'due south ecosystem. If you're looking to pay less for a more portable option, the JBL Link ten features Google Banana and a congenital-in battery for half the price.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/lg-thinq-wk7/29657/lg-thinq-wk7

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