Google Home Max vs. Sonos!

BE SURE TO WATCH MY FULL GOOGLE HOME MAX REVIEW! • Google Home Max review...
As promised - here's the brand-new Google Home Max put up against the granddaddy of wireless music. That'd be Sonos. And specifically the Sonos Play:5. These are two serious audio speakers, but in the end there can be only one.
[WHERE TO BUY SONOS]
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🔊 Sonos: moderndad.com/sywg
[WHERE TO GOOGLE HOME MAX]
🔊 Google: moderndad.com/syuQ
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Modern Dad is shot live on location in Pensacola, Florida. Yes, it's the best damned city there is.
Audio credit: Kick Shock by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
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[@jimmartin9711]

Good job on the video. I enjoy your approach to discussing your many topics, easy going, informative, short and to the point. Keep it up!

[@raika2ne1]

So it's not 1 VS 1... It's Google Home Max VS All Sonos Speaker...

[@DebraDukes]

Thanks so much for all the information and really enjoyed.but always enjoy hope you are having great Holiday Deb.✌️👍

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Great comparison. Always look forward to your uploads.

[@Moderndad]

Thanks!

[@ProfessorDIY]

How can have to use a phone beats voice command? Great video

[@baggyhockeypants]

ModernDad great info as always! I've gone down the Alexa path but I've started curving back towards the Google Home mini since it gives much better and more relevant answers but I'm looking for something to bring it all together especially in the audio department. This kind of review is exactly what I need. Now Phil, when are you going to review that Strat copy with the Jackson pickups?

[@Moderndad]

heh ... I bought that thing in, what, 1995?

[@baggyhockeypants]

ModernDad Don’t sell yourself short....Vintage guitars can be worth big bucks....well big enough to buy a Sonos 5 anyway. Sadly my 1993 Peavy is only worth about one O.G. Echo.

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Can you do a review of Denon Heos 7? Thanks!

[@evil_morty4670]

Can you compare sonos 5 with marshall woburn multiroom speaker? As they are both flagship products of their respective brands. Thanks is advance...

[@JD1er-milys]

I want the sony lf-s50g vs the sonos one !!

[@jonathancarbungco6248]

I wonder how long until Google lets the regular Chromecast broadcast audio Google home/CCA

[@1061shrink1061]

A good video. I went down the home max route. For a few primary reasons. 1) I already have a full blown audiophile hfi system in my main room so out and out sound quality wasn’t primary concern. 2) I have an existing google home mini that integrates with other automation in my house. Sadly even with updates, the sonos implementation of google and Alexa is pretty poor, so even a pair of ones wouldn’t have given me an advantage over the Max. I agree that sound quality isn’t as far apart as you would think Last reason why the google works for me, I use Roon as my music control system and it gives me options that Google’s own app doesn’t, so that removes the Sonos software advantage. If I didn’t have the hifi system, or an existing google setup, then sure the Sonos would be the best way. My folks have a house full of Sonos and I like it. A great balanced video with a clear understanding of the plus and minus points.

[@thesahilk]

Love the e-mails shirt

[@tIanne70]

I have Denon Heos in my place. Invested too much to change now. Though I prefer it over Sonos.

[@Moderndad]

I almost talked myself this afternoon into "Ya know, between the $500 Play:5 in the living room and the $250 soundbar (and wireless sub and rears as well), that's the same price as a Playbar." ... And then I remembered - Another $700 for the Sonos subwoofer. ... I love me some great sound, but I can't do $1400 for that.

[@AnthonyGarganojr]

Great Verge shirt!

[@NiceGuyNate]

Friend of the pod!

[@prithvibumia2941]

I want just one speaker under the pricetag of 300$ , i am looking at google home max, bose soundtouch 20 and sonos play 5. I need a comparison between these

[@JoshxDarnxIt]

Great video! I think this was a really fair comparison. I'm intrigued by the Google Home Max but I just recently got a full 5.1 Sonos system and I'm in love with it. I'll just wait for Assistant to be added to my Sonos Ones.

[@Moderndad]

Thanks! Max is a really good speaker. ... Sonos is a really good *system*. There’s a big difference there in usage. Max is gonna be a great choice for a lot of folks. But there’s a limitation to the way you can use Chromecast. (We actually use both in my house all the time.)

[@mrdadecounty3056]

Even when Sonos adds the assistant it's never gonna have the ecosystem paired with Google pixel 2, that's why people buy iPhones not because they are the best phones because they lost that throne , it's because of ecosystem and that means alot ,the ability to broadcast I love it, I use it daily , the ability to control everything in my house , that too , it's the ecosystem Google is building and using the Google assistant, and software in the pixel phones Google's is going to give apple a run for there money , seriously too, the features the the Google stickers and amazing algorithm, and machine learning apple has some serious challenge , if they pull another iOS 11 next year it's going to be bad for Apple, because Google is making bug free updates counting to dominate camera and software in phones Google photos runs circle around iCloud literally too.. remember my words only Google can truly give apple a challenge if not counting to beat them at there own game , sorry siri

[@Jasonbartley]

I agree, one of the great things about sonos is it's usability. I have a few Google home/mini devices and you just cannot beat the way sonos allows you add or remove speakers from what's playing. Good video btw!

[@Moderndad]

Thanks so much! Go tell your friends!

Right now Google Home Max is discontinued but the verified seller "Google" on eBay is selling it for $189. With the price decrease and slight quality difference between Google Home Max and Sonos, I think I prefer Google Home Max.

[@Jasonbartley]

@ thanks but I’m way too integrated in the Sonos ecosystem to change now

[@harenk]

Good comparison video. Still relevant today. I personally feel the Sonos Play 5 has a more well rounded sound profile. Whereas the G Home Max seems to have punchier base, but that could just be my ears. Completely agree that Sonos is more versatile. One other plus for G Home Max is it's easier to move to another environment and get it connected (a friend's house etc). Sonos needs to work on this for their Android app. iOS is a little easier but I still can't do this easily without also carrying around a LAN cable. Despite that as these speakers aren't meant to be mobile Sonos takes the win in my books. 👍🏽

[@RuijieZhou]

What about jbl/Harman kardon vs sonos?

[@PatrickCrumpler]

Great points. I would like to see a rematch over the coming years. Measure the progress of both. Sonos has had almost a monopoly in this area. Great to have another player here. Going with the Max this year myself, have chromecast hooked up to the Bose in the living room and this will give me great sound and Home functions.

[@Moderndad]

I don't think there's a Sonos monopoly in the speaker industry. ... They're just doing it better than the other 3,000 companies. :p

[@PatrickCrumpler]

ModernDad absolutely agree that they are doing it better. I should refer to them as the current class leader. You really don't associate connected speakers without mentioning them, until now I hope.

[@Chemy.]

In an offline environment which one would win? Also in a free to play music environment? I mean, using only worldwide free services, that's a big deal for most countries I think. Great video, liked as always man.

[@Moderndad]

Hmmmmm. Thinking out loud here, so someone correct me if I'm wrong ... Sonos definitely plays locally stored music on a server. (It's definitely got that as an option.) ... But something like Plex can use Chromecast, too. It's a push, I guess? (And then that'd revert me back to my main arguments.)

[@cowboyxboombap]

Not sure on the Sonos but the Google Homes support bluetooth pairing, so if you're in a situation where all you have is your phone's data, the GH will still be able to be paired like a normal bluetooth speaker. Also, the GH now supports the free version of Spotify.

[@farsyte24]

The Google Max doesn’t sound as good when you go above 75% volume. They Play 5 sounds excellent even at full blast. I do play my music that loud at times so I’m sticking with Sonos hooked up to Alexa.

[@hafd1]

What your thought about HomePod can you do review for HomePod and compare it with soreness and Google max

[@Moderndad]

HomePod is coming. Don't buy it.

[@noahpelfan1708]

LOL. Can I just add: For REAL Apple news: iHate Apple Fanboys (no space and you know what to add at the end)

[@soldhereto]

During the Google home max announcement I forget who said but someone working for google hinted at a sound bar

[@Moderndad]

No reason they couldn't, but my point still stands - the Sonos platform and app experience is better in the main. ... Google Home on its own is great. But it's limited.

[@wezzman1]

I have both, but over the last few months Sonos has become buggy, laggy and just frustrating to use. Plus I listen to a lot BBC radio and Sonos does not support the BBC I player and some other music providers, for this I have to use Google Chromecast. For home cinema, in my opinion a decent receiver and a good set of speakers is cheaper and better sounding the Sonos. So when the max is released in the UK I'm seriously considering making the switch fully to Google Chromecast/home

[@peytonmercer2250]

ivason dyer that lag might be your WiFi or phone. You made it sound like it was the speakers fault.

[@tailslapexplore6887]

awesome review dude, cheers.

[@Moderndad]

Thanks!

[@flaviantropy]

also sonos tuning is a 30 second thing, no biggie iphonex support is an issue

[@RuijieZhou]

Next week Google home Max will be 150 off , probably for some days

[@MatchDaysFC]

It started today and just bought it

[@RuijieZhou]

@@MatchDaysFC nice

[@flaviantropy]

Friend Of The Pod

[@RichardServello]

You know Google Home app also curates right?

[@davebailey2296]

I have been using the Sonos play 5 in a large living room with 14' ceilings. I was amazed that 1 small speaker could fill this room with a very full sound. Accurate bass and clean highs. I haven't listened to the Google speakers but don't see how they could be any better than Sonos. (purchased my sonos for full price from Amazon }

[@Moderndad]

Hell, even the Play:1 is crazy good for the size.

[@coffeevie]

EMAILS

[@noeldillabough2153]

IMO you need a home theatre for movies so a dinky little sound bar isn't going to cut it ... BIG floor standing speakers everywhere! However these things have their uses so the Max has a place in my office. Now when Sonos has the google home assistant in it maybe its a no brainer to get the 5

[@j0hannes5]

I have a chromecast on my TV. Can I pair a Home Max with the Chromecast on the TV, so the Max is used as the TV speaker?

[@j0hannes5]

tested it with a Google Home Mini. The answer is no. You would have to connect it via a cable using the 3,5mm jack.

[@falazarte]

So the answer is yes, using a cable from your TV audio to the the 3.5 mm jack on the Google Home Max

[@j0hannes5]

It's already connected to the Chromecast via Wifi. I really hope they introduce the option to have the sound come out of the Max. Otherwise I need a cable going throuhg my living room.

[@Chaosfyre89]

Anyone know which model laptop that is at 6:18?

[@Moderndad]

It's one of these two - I forget exactly which: www.windowscentral.com/dell-latitude-5490-all-business or www.windowscentral.com/dell-latitude-7389-2-in-1-review

[@seanb5888]

Great review. I'm very impressed with the great job Google did in their first attempt at a high end speaker. I suspect that in a year or so they will have the speaker working with TV's. I'm in the Google ecosystem and I think they and Amazon will be driving IT for the next few years. Unfortunately for Apple, hey lost their creative drive with the passing of Steve Jobs.

[@Moderndad]

Google's going places, I tell ya.

[@burnzy3210]

you're sounding a little unwell my dude, take care some good rest over christmas. this weather does terrible things to us, can't imagine what its like having a job that involves a lot of speaking on top of that.

[@Moderndad]

Heh ... All good. Just the usual 40-degree December temperature swing here in Florida.

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

ModernDad Damn 40° would be a dream right about now. In WI its been dipping into the negatives.

[@rh8528]

Still no google home

[@jam471975]

I guess I never even considered using the Google Home Max as part of a home theater, I'm not sure why Google even used that as an example... When I think of home theater I would just get an AV receiver (or soundbar) with built-in chromecast support (like my Onkyo receiver) or just plug a chromecast in one and then if want to voice control it I'd use a Google Home Mini and set the default output to the home theater. It is a little nicer to setup and manage groups with Sonos but the big problem I have with Sonos is its Ridiculously expensive to add any speakers other than Sonos into these groups. I'm not going to replace all my speakers in my house with Sonos (especially my home theater) and $400 to $500 for a Sonos Connect is is way over priced when I can get $35 chromecast to do what I want, or just get something with chromecast built-in. I'd definitely get the Max over the Sonos and if I want better sound quality there options out there even better than Sonos.

[@Moderndad]

As far as I can tell, Google never used it as a home theater example.

[@jigeeshadesai52]

13 reasons why🤟🏻🤘🏻❤️

[@tomaten1499]

Google wins for me, I don’t need all the music services and home theater? I already have one in my living room that I barely use also I’m a google play subscriber; google assistant is a plus for me basically I’m into music sonos is super expensive.

[@Crewchief227]

I have a Playbar, Sub, Play:5 Gen2, Play:1, and now a One w/ Alexa, so needless to say don't think I'll be buying a Google speaker as I know how good my Play 5 sounds in the kitchen, and it is insane how much low end a standalone speaker of this size has.

[@jeffvillacislopez765]

Sonos wins my friend,...excelent review

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

If the GH Max was $200 each, I’d have at least one in every room. But until then, I’m fine with my GH minis and HK BT speakers.

[@tracywonsley7633]

Rob L. Nows your time to shine

[@Go.el_Hadam]

I love my Sonos it's worth the money.

[@ImackStudios]

Google

[@rh8528]

Well sonos does support Google...its 2018

[@moedem]

Hurry up and release the home max in the uk 🇬🇧 google wtf

[@justinbrowns1945]

For me this review should not have even mentioned Home theater use. It starts to compare play 5 to Max but then strays buy a lot. Play 5 can't do home theater either...yes another sono's product can but that's not what this should have been about. If it was then you should have included other sound bars that compete with Sono. Like others said ...I don't need all the streaming services in the world and if i do...perhaps I can cast it from another device to the speaker. One of Sonos features that you did not cover would be how great Sonos alarms are. How easy it is to set and wake up to what ever radio or playlist you desire as oppose to some beeping sound. That is so old school Google. You need to focus more on features of each. It was great that you talked about sound quality...Really the difference is dollars and does it make sense to spend that for what is delivers. I have a Sonos playbar and sub...I have a chromecast and I have google home. I voice control my volume, turn my TV on , Control my netflix. Sonos has missed the boat in it's sound bars...they are so limited to what the TV can output through it's optical connection...PMC or DTS only and DTS is depended on TV. There are a lot more completion in this space and lots is coming with Alexia and google built in. Sonos has missed the boat..their second playbase...what huge disappointment in both design and features. Sonos needs to step up it's game...like Apple they rest on past fan...that just don't really educate themselves to new innovations. There I go straying off topic like teh reviewer.....LOL I give you thumbs sideways for this review.......

[@Moderndad]

I totally agree it shouldn't be in the same sentence as home theater. ... But unfortunately not everyone thinks that say, so I had to address it a little.

[@BeachlifeRealestateNC]

why would you add a chromcast???? makes no sense

[@Moderndad]

You wouldn't ... It's just one of those silly things that can be done, so folks do it.

[@mhillenaar]

So you can voice control the speaker. As mine is in the kitchen and while cooking I can tell google to play music and or a certain song, rise and lower volume etc... and a lot more.

[@ddelcarpio09]

Google max 200 bucks now :)

[@noahpelfan1708]

No brainer. For about the same sound, the Max is cheaper. Max wins. Just a precision. the max, when positioned vertically, plays in mono. When positioned horizontally, it plays in stereo. For a complete set up, Sonos would be better, though.

[@regmatt]

Had google home max but returned it coz google has shitty bugs like google literally can track any data even what we are talking at home .and sonos dont need all that fuzz just bluetooth and listen to music .

[@KeyBored101]

I disagree with a lot of this video. First it's Google's first real speaker and why would anyone pay that much for a home theater setup using Sonos? So many better options for much less

[@glenparker9269]

keybored101wwemonday

[@RH-nk7eo]

The Sonos home theatre market really baffles me too. How often are people changing their TV location? Why do you need wireless speakers for something that's so fixed? Anyway clearly I'm not the target for that market.

[@jackflap]

It's basically because the playbar hooks into Sonos' wireless set-up. I.e. It can be grouped with to play multi-room music synchronously. It also changes it's audio-profile to better suit music listening vs movie audio. If they did one with voice, I would probably go for it and get rid of my Echo in my living room since it would give me the choice between Alexa and Google, depending on what I'm trying to do..

[@fossilsol69]

These speakers are for playing music throughout the house in every room. Why would anybody spend this much money on wireless home theater in the same room when you could run wires and have 1000 times better sound for about a third of the cost. And without Google Home you can not group other speaker brands together so your stuck with buying the same super expensive speakers out of stupidity.

[@RF3seeker]

Doesn't Sonos require a paid app?.... Can I use bluetooth or wifi to play KZbin playlists or FREE Spotify on the Max? Maybe that's something with mentioning, 'oh by the way, it's gonna cost you C$120-$180 a year to run your Sonos mmmmmkay?'

[@RichardServello]

Google makes SUCH great products...but they are SO dumb about doing everything right. Google home gets chromecast control! Forgets to include Google Play as a controllable format.....wtf? Makes awesome speakers that can double up....can control Chromecast....doesn't let you playback chromecast audio....how hard would that be???

[@philipperostin]

Well finally I exchanged the Sonos one for a pair of Yamaha WX010 and this was a breeze to set up. Sonos is well knowned to be difficult to setup with android (The store clerk told me he is the only one who could made them work just because he is on IOS). So although I dont have "Alexa", I think again Sonos is overpriced and overcomplicated. As for google Max, we can put our hands on it yet, so I dont see how we could comment about it :(

[@philipperostin]

Well it works semalessly here. the Sonos customer service took 45 minutes to answer me and after receiving 2 reports from their equipment were unaible to figure it out. Sonos is a company that did not exist 20 years ago, Yamaha is over a century old. So think wht you want, my experience tells me the opposite. Have a good one, no need to answer.

[@philipperostin]

fortune.com/2017/01/11/data-sheet-sonos-ceo-resignation/

[@marthinhermansson2357]

Wrong

[@manuellopez1204]

Sonos win .......if dumb people don't know about technology that their problem ..but Sonos is the easiest home sound to set up and the best. no matter what anybody says.

[@NekoYami13]

Google for the win?

[@felix2375]

Love your Review but you are definetly talking to low.. It really annoys when listening to it .. you talk way lower than you actually do in your videos

[@ehyouman]

Sonos has been dead for years

[@flaviantropy]

but it isnt

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

Their CEO just resigned so theyre definitely gonna move in a new direction soon.

[@johnf8283]

Frustrating video review. Why wouldn't you let us hear the two devices for ourselves instead of listening to you talk about your preference?

[@KJAYG]

EMAILS

[@Moderndad]

Emails.