Discover the Innovative Yandex.Station: Russia's First Smart Multimedia System with Voice Assistant

We had the opportunity to test the Yandex.Station multimedia system a day before its official launch, and we're ready to share whether this smart device deserves a spot in your home.

What's Included?

The matte-finished box contains a straightforward package: the speaker itself, a power adapter, an HDMI cable, and user manuals—no surprises here.

Design and Appearance

The initial impression upon unboxing is that the Yandex.Station stands apart from Apple's HomePod. While the HomePod has its charm, it's refreshing to see a domestic manufacturer create an original design. The Yandex.Station features a more angular, nearly rectangular shape with a clearly defined front panel.

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The device’s body is not seamless; it includes a 5 cm wide rear panel. The remaining sides are wrapped in a removable fabric cover, adding both style and practicality.

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Control elements are located on top, featuring just two buttons, a volume knob, and an LED indicator. The power port and HDMI input are conveniently positioned on the back.

Dimensions and Portability

The Yandex.Station is larger and heavier than typical Bluetooth speakers but more compact than traditional home audio systems. It’s ideal for placing near your bed or moving between rooms. However, it’s designed primarily as a stationary home device, requiring a power connection since it lacks a built-in battery. The dimensions are 5.6 × 5.6 × 9.1 inches (141 × 141 × 231 mm), and it weighs 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) without the fabric cover and 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) fully assembled.

Setup Process

Activating the device is simple: download the Yandex app on your smartphone, select "Yandex.Station," and follow the on-screen instructions. The entire process takes under three minutes, syncing the speaker via an identification sound and connecting it to your Wi-Fi network. Our unit required a firmware update, which completed quickly despite the device not yet being on sale.

Yandex calls this a multimedia system for good reason—once connected to Wi-Fi, it operates independently, with voice commands managing all functions without needing a smartphone.

Control Interface

The top panel lacks traditional track control buttons; instead, the voice assistant 'Alice' handles these tasks. There are two physical buttons: one with a guitar pick symbol to summon Alice, dismiss alarms, or pair via Bluetooth, and another to mute the microphones—ideal for privacy or when you want to avoid unintended voice activations.

The volume control is a large matte slider, a thoughtfully designed feature that feels intuitive and satisfying to use.

Meet Alice, the Voice Assistant

Alice is still evolving but already supports a variety of commands, such as:

• Setting timers;
• Playing curated chanson hits;
• Scheduling reminders;
• Providing travel time estimates considering traffic;
• Currency conversions;
• Translating phrases into English;
• Playing YouTube videos of cats;
• Engaging in word games;
• Performing basic math calculations;
• Delivering the latest news updates.

While Alice occasionally struggles with simple commands or repeats responses, it remains the only Russian-language assistant of its kind and is expected to improve with ongoing updates.

Music control can be challenging at first, as Alice doesn’t support editable playlists, requiring some trust in her selections.

Alice is not tied to a specific user; anyone within several meters can interact with her. Seven microphones ensure she hears commands clearly, even amidst music playback—an impressive feature that works well most of the time.

Connectivity Options

The Yandex.Station functions as both a multimedia hub and a standard Bluetooth speaker, disabling Alice when used in Bluetooth mode and handing over control to the connected device except for volume adjustments.

An HDMI input on the back allows connection to TVs or monitors. Alice can find videos on YouTube or Yandex.Video and suggest movies from Kinopoisk, Amediateka, or ivi streaming services. Voice navigation is surprisingly user-friendly, with prompts guiding you to phrase requests effectively. The speaker’s sound quality surpasses most TV speakers.

Note that Google Chromecast is not supported, and there is no AUX input.

Sound Quality

The device includes two 10-watt tweeters, one active subwoofer, and two passive radiators delivering a total output of 50 watts. Frequency response ranges from 50 Hz to 20 kHz.

Removing the fabric cover reveals the speaker layout: passive radiators on the sides, small front-facing tweeters, and a downward-firing subwoofer.

The sound delivers clear, rich bass and balanced highs without any wow factor but definitely above average for mobile home audio devices.

Bonus Features

Purchasing the Yandex.Station includes a complimentary one-year subscription to Yandex.Plus, offering benefits such as:

• 10% discount on Yandex.Taxi rides;
• 5% discount on Yandex.Drive car-sharing;
• Access to Yandex.Music;
• Free delivery on marketplace orders over $7;
• Ad-free movie streaming on Kinopoisk;
• An additional 10 GB of cloud storage on Yandex.Disk.

Additionally, promo codes provide three months of Amediateka and two months of ivi.ru streaming services.

Final Thoughts

The Yandex.Station is a unique product with few direct competitors, making it somewhat challenging to evaluate. While Alice is not flawless and occasional bugs appear, software updates are expected to resolve these issues. The hardware is solid, sounds great, and boasts an attractive design.

This device is ideal for fans of Yandex services, radio, and music playlists. However, audiophiles who prefer curated playlists may find its approach limiting. More than just a speaker, the Yandex.Station acts like an interactive entertainment box, ready to suggest songs, movies, or shows tailored to your mood.

The Yandex.Station will be available for purchase soon at Yandex’s Moscow store and online platforms, with delivery within 90 days. The price is approximately $135 USD.

Explore more about the Yandex.Station and get ready to transform your smart home experience.

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