Sound QualityThe Facebook Portal Go has Good overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. Bass has good impact but is a bit boomy, a touch subdued, and deep bass is lacking. Midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat grainy, slightly hazy, and a touch plasticky and etched. Lower and mid treble is subdued and smeared while the upper treble is slightly subdued, sizzly, and dry. Does a so-so job of recovering room ambience and is somewhat congested. There was no significant difference between WiFi and Bluetooth sound quality. Provides a decent volume level in a small to medium sized room, but better suited to small sized rooms since at its highest volume levels it can sound compressed.
Versatility
Versatility is Good. It's a stereo speaker, with multi-room support with other Facebook speakers. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and it has Bluetooth. Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated control to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and outputs. OS Support: iOS, Android. Other connections and features: Lacks a USB device port. Display: Has a touchscreen information display. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of common streaming services such as Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In, iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Lacks support to setup voice identity using this speaker, although it can use a voice print stored in a user's Amazon account trained from an Amazon speaker. This feature allows the account holder to access personal information with their voice print.
Ease of Use
Overall ease of use of the Facebook Portal Go is very good. Console controls: The volume controls on the console only have low contrast (+/-) labels; when the controls are actuated the display shows a non-persistent graphical indicator with no index markings. Volume may also be controlled via a natural language command and level is easily repeatable via verbal commands. Audio mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged and mutes the line input. Microphone mute: Dedicated control but the marking is not the most obvious, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Doesn't require app to be installed, Native switching between streaming sources requires selecting the -cast- icon in the native or 3rd party supported app. Fairly intuitive but subject to 3rd Party implementation of cast selection. App remote: Volume control symbol, then volume slider, lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown for currently playing streamed WiFi music. Mute: (Remote) Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged and mutes the line input. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.
