Respv2 is just the lazy version of ReSpeakerv2.
See, i can only refer to Respv2. I don’t really know much about the core version and its intelligence.
Yet, there are several things that let me shy away from core. Most of which is the limited environment (software/RAM). That they use a tailored version OS make me believe its a pretty involved process to brew it yourself to use the cards features if there’s any problem with mycroft. The limited RAM pretty much denies GUI. And the price tag of 99 Bucks… Thats a USB RespV2(Barebone)+Pi4B (roughly).
But it all comes down to your use case. If your OK with these limitations, go for it. Personally i wouldn’t take the chance. The risk to price doesn’t add up.
If you want the extra careful and “guaranteed to be supported” route wait the revisions revision of SJ201 (just to add this option to the table)
Speaker: Every contemporary 3-way-speaker > 20W (RMS) should do, if you’re used to above average volume or want a wider range you have to pre-amp them.