{"id":5000,"date":"2026-04-12T09:42:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T09:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/?p=5000"},"modified":"2026-04-12T09:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T09:42:58","slug":"home-assistant-diy-voice-assistant-with-seeed-studio-respeaker-xvf3800","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/12\/home-assistant-diy-voice-assistant-with-seeed-studio-respeaker-xvf3800\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Assistant: DIY Voice Assistant with Seeed Studio reSpeaker XVF3800"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Welcome back, smart home tinkerers! If you&#8217;re on a mission to ditch cloud-dependent voice assistants and bring your smart home control strictly local, you are in the right place. Today, we are taking a close look at a piece of hardware that is perfect for the job: the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seeedstudio.com\/ReSpeaker-XVF3800-4-Mic-Array-With-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-6489.html?sensecap_affiliate=XfIKHZY&amp;referring_service=link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seeed Studio reSpeaker XVF3800<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right out of the box, it\u2019s important to know that this isn&#8217;t a plug-and-play consumer gadget\u2014it&#8217;s a bare main frame. It doesn&#8217;t include a case or a speaker, meaning it requires a bit of DIY love to make it complete. But if you&#8217;re willing to put in a little elbow grease, the advanced audio processing on this board makes it an absolutely excellent, privacy-focused voice satellite for Home Assistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is my fully detailed breakdown and experience building a custom voice assistant with the XVF3800.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Disclaimer: I\u2019ve receive the tested device for free on reviewing purposes, but as always, the opinions are 100% my own and this does not affect the product review<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Hardware: Under the Hood of the XVF3800<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The reSpeaker XVF3800 is a dedicated microphone array expansion board packed with enterprise-grade audio features, specifically engineered for far-field voice recognition. It pairs the powerful XMOS XVF3800 audio processor with a&nbsp;<strong>XIAO ESP32-S3<\/strong>&nbsp;microcontroller (packing 8MB of Flash and 8MB of PSRAM), creating a formidable local voice processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the standout features that make it so effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Quad PDM MEMS Microphone Array:<\/strong>&nbsp;Four highly sensitive microphones arranged in a circular pattern. This allows for genuine 360\u00b0 far-field voice capture, reliably picking up commands from up to 5 meters away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC):<\/strong>&nbsp;This is the magic sauce. The integrated DSP (Digital Signal Processor) filters out the audio that the device is currently playing, so it doesn&#8217;t accidentally trigger itself or fail to hear you over the music.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automatic Gain Control (AGC):<\/strong>&nbsp;Normalizes the volume of human voices. Whether you are whispering nearby or shouting from down the hall, the system adjusts the input level so Home Assistant hears a consistent, decipherable volume.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Noise Suppression (NS):<\/strong>&nbsp;Actively filters out background hums, fan noises, and general room ambiance to isolate your voice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visual Feedback:<\/strong>&nbsp;It features a ring of 12 WS2812 individually-addressable RGB LEDs. These provide fantastic visual feedback (like a breathing effect or a rainbow animation) when the device is listening, processing, or running a timer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_095405162.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_095405162.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_095405162-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_095405162-768x578.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Build: Gathering the Materials<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seeedstudio.com\/ReSpeaker-XVF3800-4-Mic-Array-With-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-6489.html?sensecap_affiliate=XfIKHZY&amp;referring_service=link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">XVF3800<\/a> is just a raw board, you get to play hardware designer. The board features a JST speaker interface that supports small 5W amplified speakers natively. You can combine this board with almost any speaker, but&nbsp;<strong>keep in mind:<\/strong>&nbsp;if you want to drive a larger, more powerful speaker, you will definitely need to add an external amplifier to your circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep my build compact, completely local, and fully self-contained, I opted for a smaller, unamplified setup. Here are the exact materials I used to bring it to life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Speaker:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/s.click.aliexpress.com\/e\/_c3X9MTD7\">AIYIMA 40MM Mini Audio Portable Speaker<\/a> (16 Core, 4 Ohm, 5W Full Range Rubber Side NdFeB Magnetic Speaker). This tiny full-range speaker fits the board&#8217;s power constraints perfectly while delivering surprisingly punchy audio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Wiring:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/s.click.aliexpress.com\/e\/_c3F2Ng7b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A standard JST PH 2.0 connector<\/a> with pigtails to wire the AIYIMA speaker directly to the board&#8217;s output interface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Enclosure:<\/strong>\u00a0Leaving exposed PCBs around the house isn&#8217;t ideal, but thankfully the 3D printing community has us covered. I printed this brilliant, ready-made enclosure:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/1467255-seeedstudio-respeaker-xvf3800-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seeed Studio reSpeaker XVF3800 Case on Printables<\/a>. It houses the board and the 40mm speaker perfectly, turning it into a sleek little puck. <sub>(*some 2mm screws are required for perfect assembly)<\/sub> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><sub>* reSpeaker XVF3800 is also sold with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seeedstudio.com\/ReSpeaker-XVF3800-With-Case-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-6628.html?sensecap_affiliate=XfIKHZY&amp;referring_service=link\">enclosure included<\/a><\/sub> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_100159437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_100159437.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_100159437-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_100159437-768x578.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Software: Flashing ESPHome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting the software up and running is surprisingly straightforward if you are already familiar with ESPHome. The open-source community and Seeed Studio have done the heavy lifting for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Template:<\/strong>&nbsp;Seeed Studio provides a ready-made <a href=\"https:\/\/wiki.seeedstudio.com\/respeaker_xvf3800_xiao_home_assistant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ESPHome YAML example directly on their wiki page<\/a>. This configuration sets up the I2S audio channels, the wake word engine, and the LED animations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Native Integration:<\/strong>&nbsp;Once flashed, this configuration makes the custom hardware function almost identically to the official Home Assistant Voice Preview device. It exposes the microphone, speaker, and LED ring directly to Home Assistant for immediate use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Flashing Process:<\/strong>&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1. Copy the ESPHome example code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2. Modify your specific substitutions (like your Wi-Fi SSID and password).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3. Flash it using the ESPHome Device Builder in Home Assistant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Crucial Tip:<\/strong>&nbsp;When connecting the board to your computer to flash the firmware for the first time,&nbsp;<strong>you must connect your USB cable directly to the ESP32-S3&#8217;s USB-C port<\/strong>,&nbsp;<em>not<\/em>&nbsp;the external power USB-C port on the main expansion board. The data line must go through the XIAO board!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260405_130407419.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260405_130407419.jpg 723w, https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260405_130407419-226x300.jpg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Real-World Experience: The Sauna Test<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bench testing on a desk is one thing, but how does the XVF3800 perform in a real-world environment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I decided the ultimate test would be replacing the cloud-dependent Google Home in my sauna. I wanted something completely out of sight, so I installed the fully assembled, 3D-printed XVF3800 directly above the sauna ceiling panels &#8211; the same place my Google Nest speaker is currently.&nbsp;<em>(Note: If you attempt a similar build, always be mindful of ambient humidity and heat ratings for your specific placement!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is how it held up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Incredible Sensitivity:<\/strong>&nbsp;The 4-mic array and advanced XMOS DSP are no joke. Even hidden above the wooden ceiling panels, it catches my&nbsp;<em>&#8220;Okay Nabu&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;wake word effortlessly from a distance. I don&#8217;t have to face the device or yell; I just speak naturally into the room.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impressive Audio:<\/strong>&nbsp;You might think a tiny 40mm mini speaker without an amplifier would struggle, especially firing down through a ceiling. Surprisingly, the 5W output is loud, clear, and perfectly adequate for Home Assistant&#8217;s voice responses. For music streaming, I&#8217;m using separate device for that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Total Local Control:<\/strong>&nbsp;This is the ultimate victory. I can now control my Home Assistant devices, dim the lights, and play music in my sauna without routing a single packet through Google\u2019s cloud services. Everything\u2014wake word detection, voice processing, and action execution\u2014is handled locally, privately, and securely right here in my home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div style=\"gap: 20px;\" class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\" id=\"ub-button-4a490f36-98ee-46ff-a46b-4925cdc1b247\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seeedstudio.com\/ReSpeaker-XVF3800-4-Mic-Array-With-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-6489.html?sensecap_affiliate=XfIKHZY&amp;referring_service=link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"ub-button-block-main  \" role=\"button\" style=\"--ub-button-background-color: #00d084; --ub-button-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-border: none; --ub-button-hover-background-color: #07ac70; --ub-button-hover-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-hover-border: none; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px;; border-top-right-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px;; \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\" style=\"flex-direction: row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Get from Seeed Studio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t mind printing a case and splicing a couple of speaker wires, the Seeed Studio reSpeaker XVF3800 is a phenomenal foundation for a DIY Home Assistant voice satellite. The onboard XMOS audio processing handles noise and echo beautifully, taking the heavy lifting off the ESP32-S3, which makes ESPHome integration completely seamless. It truly feels like a polished, fully local smart home device once it is up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is worth noting that once you factor in the extra components, the completed device is a bit more expensive than the official Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition. However, in my opinion, the 4-mic array works way better at reliably picking up commands. As a bonus, putting it all together will provide you with some rewarding DIY fun and serves as a great learning experience for how these devices actually work under the hood!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Seeed Studio reSpeaker XVF3800\" width=\"563\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0d3GFGm_ENM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back, smart home tinkerers! If you&#8217;re on a mission to ditch cloud-dependent voice assistants and bring your smart home control strictly local, you are&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,4],"tags":[7,419,26,8,57,24],"class_list":["post-5000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-assistant","category-reviews","tag-home-assistant","tag-home-assistant-voice","tag-review","tag-smart-home","tag-speaker","tag-voice-assistant","has-post-thumbnail-archive"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PXL_20260329_100159437.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Toni","author_link":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/author\/topsy\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5000"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5000\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5046,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5000\/revisions\/5046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creatingsmarthome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}