Google Home Max Charcoal Review
The Home Max is Google’s take on a higher-end smart speaker. It features the same far-field voice recognition and home automation functionality as the Mini, but with better audio quality.
This model is built around two 4.5-inch woofers and two 0.7-inch tweeters, which helps to deliver a much more impressive level of sound. It also uses Smart Sound to tune its sound output based on where it’s placed.
Far-Field Voice Recognition Technology
Google Home Max Charcoal uses far-field voice recognition technology to play music, answer questions, and control compatible smart devices. It also uses a “Smart Sound” feature that optimizes the speaker’s sound to match the room it’s in.
The Home Max can be placed horizontally or vertically, and it comes with a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio input. It also supports Google Cast, a protocol that lets you stream your music to other speakers.
In addition, the Home Max has a 4.5-inch woofer and two custom tweeters that produce rich, clear sound. It also works with the Google Assistant, so you can ask it to check traffic, get your schedule, hear the weather forecast, set reminders, or make phone calls, all hands-free.
Audio In
The Home Max Charcoal isn’t just a great-sounding speaker. It’s also a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker, which means it can answer questions, play music, and control compatible smart home devices — just by talking to it.
The Google Home Max is a big speaker, measuring 33.5 x 18.7 x 15 cm and weighing 5.3 kg. That said, it doesn’t feel imposing or cumbersome, and its design is sleek and discreet.
It comes in one color, white, and a lighter-colored fabric version (called “Charcoal”). The speaker can stand on either end of the cable, making it easy to fit into any room.
Bluetooth & Dual-Band Wi-Fi Connectivity
Bluetooth enables two or more devices to exchange data wirelessly. When two Bluetooth devices come within range of each other, they start an electronic conversation to decide if they can trust one another and what data they have to share.
Dual-band WI-Fi connectivity means the speaker can connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. The former provides a faster, stronger connection. The latter allows for greater range and can also work through walls.
Dual 4.5? High-Excursion Woofers
Google’s new premium smart speaker, the Home Max, is 20 times louder than the original Home. The Max wraps dual 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers and custom 0.7-inch tweeters in a polycarbonate housing with acoustically transparent fabric for optimum sound output.
Like its smaller sibling, the Max can be placed horizontally or vertically on a magnetic base plate. It’s available in chalk and charcoal acoustically transparent fabric to match the style of your home.
2x 0.7? Tweeters
The Google Home Max may have a huge footprint, but it packs a punch when it comes to sound quality. Inside the rigid shell are dual 4.5? High-excursion woofers, with a pair of 0.7? Custom tweeters above them.
The woofers are powered by a chip based Smart Sound technology that intelligently adjusts to your room’s acoustics and optimizes the audio experience. It’s also got a couple of other cool features that make it stand out from the crowd. These include a 3.5mm aux and USB-C port, along with a microphone switch for privacy (shows orange when mic is disabled).
Works with the Google Assistant
Google Assistant is a voice-activated AI technology that can work with your smartphone, tablet or speaker. You can use it to speak commands to your devices, such as playing music, setting reminders and planning trips.
It also lets you control your smart home devices. This includes lights, plugs and thermostats.
You can also create a set of actions, called routines that trigger specific things when you say a certain phrase. These can be anything from adjusting your living room lights to turning on the TV.
Can Stand on Either End
The Google Home Max Charcoal is a larger smart speaker that works with the Google Assistant and offers voice control and Bluetooth & Wi-Fi connectivity. It can play music, check your daily schedule, the weather, traffic, set reminders, and make calls – all hands-free.
The Wasserstein Adjustable Stand in Charcoal is an easy way to elevate your Google Home Max Charcoal above dirty and wet surfaces, rotate it, and tilt it. It features 360 degradation and 25 dig tilt capabilities, and is made for Google certified so you can be sure it will work with your device.
