Klipsch enters smart speaker race with ‘The Three | Google Assistant’

Klipsch has smartened up its The Three Heritage Wireless speaker by giving a new version of it Google Assistant voice control.

'The Three | Google Assistant' (its official title, awkwardly) combines music playback via Bluetooth and wi-fi, with Google’s voice assistant giving users the ability to, for example, ask questions and get information, stream music, hear the news, weather and traffic and control smart home devices - all by simply using their voice.

Klipsch’s first smart speaker borrows aesthetics, features and, allegedly, sound performance from the standard (‘dumb’) edition of the speaker. It features a stereo driver configuration (two 5.75cm full range drivers) and 13cm integrated subwoofer, and sports a familiarly retro-luxury look thanks to its real wood veneer and aluminium controls.

That and its £450 price tag certainly set Klipsch’s offering apart from the more compact and affordable Amazon Echos and Sonos Ones of the smart speaker world, so if you're looking for an obedient speaker that has a bit more muscle than the most popular players, this could be worth consideration.

The Three | Google Assistant will be available in the UK imminently. 

MORE: Smart speakers - everything you need to know

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.