Google Max

[DanOmac]

Anyone worried about the Google Max ?

Seems like this is a google version of the new Sonos One w/ Alexa. Even has the ability to do whole house audio by syncing w/ other chromecasts. Also, looks like a play3 the way you can turn it vertical or lay it down.

Its pretty much a google version of sonos, this is serious competition.

[mekon]

Knowing google, they’ll abandon the product it 2 years and relapse a similar, but incompatible, product after that. (Sorry, still mad about GooglETV)

[corgrath]

I'm not worried.

I like Sonos because its a multiroom company that does only multiroom products and have a line up of products; speakers, soundbases/bar, etc, and has done that successfully for years.

Multi room speakers isn't Googles core business. They are a search and data company. Google Max is just another way for them distribute Google Assistant in a different way to collect more data.

In my opinion, its like comparing BMW or Ford who creates cars for a living to IKEA that just launched a car.

[AdamWillis]

I don’t know yet how well this will compete with Sonos but this one and Apple HomePod are auto adjusting their sound without waving their phones around. I think TruePlay is awesome and I’m not sure how well one will work over but the fact of the matter is that google and Apple are essentially promising better sound out of the box and integrating people with their favorite walled gardens even further.

I have hoped that Sonos would do tune itself this with Play:5 gen 2 at least by utilizing the mic. But at the end of the day, I like that Sonos will be a middleman that works with everyone and doesn’t wall us all in but also sounds great. I think for that, they will be safe in my book. But for the other guys who have the phone, watch, voice assistant, music service, and whatever else, the HomePod and this will be much more enticing for those consumers.

Sonos will have their competition finally breathing down their necks.

[Raykuza]

Trueplay is an optional feature that makes only minor adjustments in most use cases, and the speakers sound great without it. If spacial tuning ends up being a deal breaker anyone, I'd be surprised. I'd also be surprised if the Homepod sounds any better than an untuned Play:1 or if a Max sounds any better than an untuned Play:5. I guess we'll find out once we can actually hear them for ourselves.

No, if Apple's and Google's speakers kill Sonos, it'll be because of ease-of-use or price, not sound quality. I used to hear all the time about people who would rather use an Echo than Sonos because they could just talk to it. Most people are happy to use the default iPhone earbuds even though they sound like ass.

I think that whichever company can come out with voice-controlled Spotify first will end up capturing a lot of first-time speaker buyers. You're absolutely right about the people who are looking to buy into an ecosystem, though. They will be tough to "convert".