The Google Home has fair overall sound quality. Bass has little impact is subdued and lacks deep bass. Midrange is hazy and constricted. Treble is subdued and smeared and upper treble is lacking. Doesn't do a good job of recovering room ambience and is congested. Provides a decent volume level in a small sized room and is better suited for near field listening. The sound field is monophonic.

Versatility is very good. It's a mono speaker, with multi-room support but lacks stereo pairing support with another Google Home. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and this unit has Bluetooth and can output to another speaker but lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Has support for calling, but lacks support for texting and messaging. Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated switch to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio input and outputs. Audio Tailoring: Has treble and bass controls. OS Support: Android and iOS. Other connections and features: Lacks a USB device port. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of many common streaming services such as Google-Play Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In, iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Supports voice identity - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.

Overall ease of use of the Google Home is very good. Wireless setup: Requires an app downloaded to a mobile device, it's easy and intuitive - needs instructions which are included in app, may or may not involve inputting WiFi network password, and account setup. Bluetooth: This feature is only available after WiFi setup - However, it can be initiated in app device settings but this method is less intuitive; a verbal command works best, for example "Ok Google start Bluetooth pairing" then prompt with verbal instructions. Note: Instructions can be requested of "Ok Google" which provides clear instruction on verbal commands. Console controls: The volume controls are unlabeled multi-function touch surface. Volume may also be controlled via a natural language command which has a non-persistent graphical position marking and has a index "marking" via verbal command and acknowledgement. Audio mute: Play/Pause as mute is an unlabeled multi-function touch surface, well placed, lacks clear indication when it is engaged. Using a verbal command has a non-persistent indicator that muting was engaged and a play command ("OK Google Play") plays content but not at the higher volume set prior to muting - requiring a volume level command or touch control of volume. However, if the command is "Ok Google unmute" the music plays back at the same level it was originally muted at - not playing at the same volume level is unintuitive. Microphone mute: Well marked, not well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Requires app to be installed, app installation is straight forward. Once app is installed switching between inputs requires selecting the "cast" icon in a 3rd party supported app. Fairly intuitive but subject to 3rd Party implementation of cast selection. App remote: Volume control not obvious due to extremely poor placement - only available when content is playing; however, it is repeatable with clear graphic and index of setting. Mute: The marking is not the most obvious, although there is a clear indication when it is engaged. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive except where noted for the mute function.