Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition

Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition – Voice Control for Your Smart Home

The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition is an official open-source voice assistant from Nabu Casa. Conveniently control compatible lights, heaters, and smart home automations using voice commands. The device integrates directly into your existing Home Assistant installation.

Local Voice Control and Privacy

With Home Assistant Assist, voice commands can be processed entirely locally with the appropriate configuration—without the cloud. Alternatively, the optional Home Assistant Cloud is available. A physical mute switch cuts power to the microphones and protects your privacy.

Precise Voice Recognition and Intuitive Operation

Two built-in microphones and an XMOS audio processor with noise and echo cancellation support reliable voice recording. The built-in speaker provides audible feedback. A rotary knob, multi-function button, and LED ring ensure convenient operation.

Easy Integration into Home Assistant

Thanks to pre-installed ESPHome firmware, the voice assistant can be integrated into Home Assistant via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The compact device is powered via USB-C and can be flexibly placed in living areas.

Note: An existing Home Assistant hub is required. USB-C cable and power supply are sold separately.

Package contents

• 1x Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition
• 1x Quick start guide

Note: USB-C cable and power supply are not included.

Technical specifications

• Model number: NC-VK-9727
• Processor: ESP32-S3
• Flash memory: 16 MB
• RAM: 8 MB Octal PSRAM
• Audio processor: XMOS XU316
• Audio processing: Echo cancellation, noise reduction, automatic gain control
• Microphones: 2 built-in microphones
• Speaker: Built-in speaker for voice output
• Audio output: 3.5 mm stereo jack, 48 kHz
• Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy
• Firmware: ESPHome pre-installed, open source
• Controls: Rotary knob, multi-function button, physical microphone mute switch
• Status indicator: Multicolor LED ring
• Expansion connector: Grove port for sensors and accessories
• Power supply: USB-C, 5 V DC, 2 A
• Housing: White and semi-transparent polycarbonate
• Dimensions: 84 x 84 x 21 mm
• Weight: 96 g
• Operating temperature: 0 °C to 30 °C, non-condensing humidity
• Location: Indoor use only, dry and dust-free environment
• Requirement: Existing Home Assistant installation
• Voice processing: Local or via optional Home Assistant Cloud
• Compliance: CE, FCC

Manufacturer

Nabu Casa Inc.
15 Hubble, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618
USA

Email: voice-pe@home-assistant.io
Website: nabucasa.com

EU representative

SIRO Antriebs- und Steuerungstechnik GmbH
Eurode-Park 1-27
52134 Herzogenrath
Germany

Email: service@smart-life24.de
Website: smart-life24.de

Do I need a Home Assistant hub?

Yes. The Voice Preview Edition is a voice control device, not a standalone Home Assistant server. It requires an existing Home Assistant installation, for example on Home Assistant Green or your own server.

Does voice control work without the cloud?

Yes, if the language used is supported and a suitable local speech recognition system is set up. The range of features and speed depend on the configuration and the performance of the server.

Is a Home Assistant Cloud subscription required?

No. Home Assistant Cloud is optional and can be a useful addition, especially with lower-powered hardware or certain languages.

Is the Voice Preview Edition a replacement for Alexa or Google Home?

It offers a standalone open-source alternative for voice control in Home Assistant. However, as a Preview Edition, it does not yet offer the full range of features of established voice assistants.