I'll look for these (Fabriq) on sale, thanks. Also open to any future suggestions.
Mike
The response of the mini seems very quick. Is there any cloud component in the Hubitat implementation?
I use a refurbished Samsung R1 I got from Monoprice for $40 on sale. It works fine.
Here it is for $50 right now:
https://www.techrabbit.com/samsung-radiant360-r1-wi-fi-bluetooth-speaker-black-26128.html
Or wait until another sale.
Edit:. Strange, but now that $50 price is gone.
Oh Cool there's a DLNA driver now on Hubitat! Now just a matter of finding the best player. FABRIQ devices seem like the front runner. Responsive and local control with a $50 starting price point for new and ~40 for used, plus they can do whole house music.
What else can beat that price or capabilities?
Mike
What model?
Really depends on what you want from the voice notification. For example, are you just looking for notifications that will be mostly static like "Front door is open", "Back door is open"? If so, then you can buy Echo dots for less, especially right now at just $30 each. Mute their microphones if you're concerned about being monitored.
Use this method for triggering them. No need to own or have ever owned a SmartThings hub. Ignore the part about Google Assistant Relay, and instead trigger the SmartThings switches with IFTTT. When those virtual switches are triggered on SmartThings, it will trigger your Alexa routine to speak your custom phrase. You'll have to create one IFTTT Applet, one virtual switch on SmartThings, and one Alexa routine for each custom phrase, but once you do it a few times, it becomes simple and you'll be able to setup additional custom announcements in a few minutes.
The one drawback to using Echo at this time (if you consider it a drawback), is you have to create a routine for each of your echo dots. You can use the same IFTTT trigger and the same SmartThings virtual switch for a custom phrase you want spoken amongst all of your echo dots at once, but the Alexa app doesn't allow you to execute a single routine on multiple Echos at once. However, you can send the same message via multiple routines, to multiple Echos at once. For example, when my front door triggers, it simultaneously triggers two Alexa routines, to my two Echos at the same time and announces "Front Door". Some people consider this an asset, since you can send some announcements to all your Echos and some announcements to only certain Echos.
He can do the same with Google Home!
Ok, I know, I need a life...
He can, but if you read earlier in the tread he doesn't trust Alphabet at all and doesn't want any google product in his home. So that's a non-starter for him.
I thought that was because the audio, probably is the data stuff too. Maybe a Facebook portal? I'm joking, time to sleep..
No, it's total distrust. I'm not a google salesman. No skin of my nose.
I did not see that post, in some point I was like that, but at the end I said, whatever, I'm a poor guy, what will do Google tracking me when I'm in the toilet? Showing adds of Charmin? I don't have anything to hide, if they don't share my ss number, phone number, card numbers, we are ok.
I understand both points of view. I'm not going to fault anyone for feeling that way. He's probably more right than I am on the subject, and I've just accepted the surveillance for the gadgetry and convenience I like.
I hear "I have nothing to hide" quite often from people in many circumstances, not just voice assistance. Freedom is really about the right to dissent, something that all of us should be guarding with our lives really. My favorite quote is from Martin Niemöller.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
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Google says it’s spelled “Charmin” not “Charming”. 
Sure, I totally respect his preferences. Actually I want to know what models he is looking.
Lol, stupid google, it autocorrect!
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This looks like a contender. I was hoping for something for half that price though.
Mike
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If you do not yet have any voice assistants, I'd suggest the google Mini
OK, I'll bite. If I'm going with the Mini, please point me to what do I need to do just for an entry-level TTS. In digging around, I see Rpi, IFTTT, etc. but some I'm seeing may not apply to G Mini.
Chromecast is now integrated in HE, use the chromecast app in HE and find your mini, then create the rules for speak/ or assign the speaker to your rules
I think the drawback of the Echos is the limitation of how many you can notify before Amazon throws a tantrum.
I use a mixture, again the Fabriqs are ok, but have a flaw if you're linking up a few of them so they don't popcorn.
I created a speaker group in the Home app and it was found by HE as "Chromecast Audio". I was then able to send the speak command to the group and it was perfectly in sync. I have Sonos speakers, the Alexa TTS setup as well, but I'm beginning to feel like the GH devices are going to be my TTS devices of choice. Loving the experience so far...and I believe it's even local.
P.S. I dont use them as my primary music source so the lack of resume is not as issue for me as it is for some.
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