What are the best soundbars with Google Assistant?
Sonos BeamSonos PlaybaseBose Soundbar 700Bose Soundbar 500VIZIO SmartCast 5.1ch Soundbar with 5-1/4″ SubVIZIO 5.1.2ch Soundbar with 6″ Sub (Dolby Atmos)LG – AI ThinQ 3.1.2Ch 440W Soundbar with Sub (Dolby Atmos)Polk 2.1Ch Soundbar with 6-1/2″ Sub
Leave it to the entertainment industry’s top brands like Sonos, Bose, VIZIO, LG and Polk Audio to bring you the very best soundbars with Google Assistant. The hardest part will be deciding which one is perfect for you.
Sonos Beam
Based in Santa Barbara, CA, Sonos is a leading electronics company with smart speakers as its top products. Sonos is a trusted brand for providing top-notch speakers, home theater systems, audio components, speakers sets, accessories, and more.
PROS
The Sonos Beam is a mid-range compact soundbar that is known for its ability to connect with any of your devices and play any media that you want. With the Sonos Beam soundbar, you can listen to a podcast, music, or TV, and you can connect with your video games for an immersive gaming experience. The Sonos Beam is compatible with HDMI-ARC through the HDMI port. There is also an Ethernet port and a power input. Upgrade the Beam’s sound with the addition of a wireless Sonos sub or speakers for a 5.1 surround sound system and the ability to play media in any room.
CONS
Even though the Sonos Beam comes with internal speakers, you are limited to the Sonos brand if you want to add external speakers. This can be a downfall if you already have a nice set of speakers that you want to connect to your new soundbar. The Sonos Beam, on its own, is a great fit for small- to medium-sized rooms. If you are looking to get an over-the-top, room-filling sound for a larger room that is comparable to traditional surround sound systems, the Sonos Beam may not be the right soundbar with Google Assistant for you.
Sonos Playbase
It is a sleek, compact, and minimalist soundbar that boasts of multi-dimensional sound through 10 amplified drivers. It is designed to meet all of your media needs and produce impressive sound.
PROS
The Sonos Playbase comes equipped with 10 amplified drivers to provide a full-range, widescreen sound to fill any sized room. The 10 internal drivers include six mid-range, three tweeters, and a woofer. It is a great base for a home entertainment system or can be your complete system. Like the Beam, you can easily add a wireless Sonos sub and speakers to upgrade your sound and/or play sound in any room in your home. The Sonos Playbase is simple to set up with the Sonos app as your guide and has a minimalist design with only two cords: one for power and one optical cord for your TV.
CONS
Although it is designed to look sleek and minimalist underneath your TV, the Sonos Playbase is not meant to be mounted, so it is limited to sitting on your TV stand or furniture. And like other Sonos products, the Playbase is limited to the integration of only Sonos brand speakers and subs, so you aren’t able to connect with other speakers. Additionally, the Sonos Playbase is without any HDMI input, so you are limited to only an optical connection.
Bose – Soundbar 700
Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, Bose Corporation is a leading audio equipment manufacturer known for its headphones, speakers, and home theater systems. It is a trusted, premium brand that was founded by Amar Bose in 1964.
PROS
The Bose Soundbar 700 is a top-of-the-line soundbar product that is built to impress inside and out. The sound is powerful, multi-dimensional, and spacious. You can play what you want, where you want with any device by using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Apple AirPlay 2. Connect any Bose surround speakers or the Bose Bass Module 700 subwoofer for an even more immersive surround sound experience. Enjoy controlling the Bose Soundbar 700 through hands-free smart home assistants, the Bose Music app, a universal remote, or through your device. The Bose Soundbar 700 has a premium glass top. It comes with HDMI-ARC connectivity and has an optical audio input. It is available in both black and white and can either sit on your stand or be mounted to the wall. Plus, it supports Dolby Digital and DTS.
CONS
Similar to the Sonos soundbars, the Bose Soundbar 700 is only compatible with other Bose smart speakers, if and when you are wanting to add on speakers. It won’t be able to connect to any other speaker brands or types. Additionally, some users noted that the Bose Soundbar 700 can be tricky to set up. And while the Soundbar 700 is a premium product that is equipped with just about everything you need in a soundbar, it comes at a higher price than many other soundbars with Google Assistant.
Bose – Soundbar 500
PROS
The Bose Soundbar 500 is very similar to the Soundbar 700, but it is slightly smaller, has a slightly less powerful sound (on its own) and is designed with a matte-finish top instead of the premium glass top. It includes all of the bells and whistles that are highly sought after, including integrations with HDMI-ARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay. Enjoy built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, an optical audio input, the custom eight-mic array microphone system, and multi-room speaker capabilities with the addition of other Bose smart speakers. Plus, it too supports Dolby Digital and DTS. Control your Bose Soundbar 500 however you want: hands-free, through the Bose Music app, with the Bose Soundbar universal remote, or through one of your favorite devices. Easily add Bose smart speakers like the Bose Bass Module 500 or the Bose Surround Speakers to create an even more powerful sound.
CONS
Like the Soundbar 700, the Bose Soundbar 500 is limited to only specific additional external speakers: the Bass Module 500 or the Bose Surround Speakers. You won’t be able to integrate any speakers outside of these products. Also, like the Soundbar 700, the Soundbar 500 is known to be challenging to set up.
VIZIO – SmartCast 5.1 Channel Sound Bar System
VIZIO Inc. is a leading manufacturer of TVs, soundbars, speakers, and its award-winning SmartCast™ product. It was founded in 2002 as V Inc. but changed its name to VIZIO Inc. in 2007. It is privately held and headquartered in Irvine, CA. The sleek VIZIO SmartCast 5.1 Channel Soundbar System (on BestBuy) comes with a wireless subwoofer, surround sound, and a wide array of integrations for the ultimate entertainment experience.
PROS
The VIZIO SmartCast 5.1 Channel Soundbar System is a low-cost soundbar that is impressive in design, capabilities, and sound. It comes with 101 dB of surround sound, including a wireless 5-1/4″ subwoofer, two rear satellite speakers, and three internal speakers that allow you to enjoy wireless multi-room audio. Enjoy streaming music through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or a Chromecast-enabled app, plus utilize the VIZIO SmartCast app and Google Assistant for controls through your device. It includes 1 HDMI input and output with HDMI-ARC compatibility, 1 mini-jack, 2 RCA inputs, 1 coaxial digital audio RCA input, 1 optical digital audio input, and 1 USB type A input. It is equipped with a Dolby 5.1 decoder for the ultimate cinematic audio experience, and it supports DTS Studio Sound, DTS TruSurround, and DTS TruVolume. It is able to be mounted on the wall or placed on your stand.
CONS
The VIZIO SmartCast 5.1 Channel Soundbar System is a truly great buy, but it is going to sound best in small rooms and/or apartments. If you are looking for room-flooding sound for a large room, you may want to look at other soundbar systems with Google Assistant, which may be at a higher price point.
VIZIO – 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar System with Dolby Atmos
It is a compact, mid-range soundbar system that is equipped with Dolby Atmos technology, smart device compatibility, and both internal and external speakers to provide an impressive sound (the Samsung HW-Q950T is another good one we’ve reviewed as well).
PROS
The VIZIO 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar System takes the VIZIO 5.1 Channel Soundbar System up a notch with not only more speakers, but also more powerful and higher quality sound. This unit includes two rear surround speakers, a 6″ wireless subwoofer, two upward-firing speakers, and three internal speakers. Plus, it includes DTS Virtual:X technology for multi-dimensional height and depth of sound. The VIZIO 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar System has all of the same great integrations as the 5.1 Channel Soundbar System, including Dolby Atmos, DTS, built-in Chromecast, controls through the VIZIO SmartCast app, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI-ARC compatibility, multi-room streaming, voice controls through Google Assistant and more. It has a USB input, an optical audio input, and an HDMI input and output. It can be wall-mounted or placed on furniture.
CONS
While the VIZIO 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar System is a great bang-for-your-buck soundbar with a celebrated Dolby Atmos surround sound experience, some users have run into issues with software bugs and have trouble with the setup.
LG – AI ThinQ 3.1.2-Channel 440W Soundbar with Dolby Atmos
South Korean LG Electronics Inc. is a prominent electronics company that is based in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 1958 and achieves global sales of over $55 billion. Its parent company, LG, includes four branches: home entertainment, mobile communications, home appliances/air solutions, and vehicle components.
PROS
The LG AI ThinQ 3.1.2-Channel 440W Soundbar System brings 440W of total output power to fill your large room, equipped with two 50W front speakers and one 40W center driver. This package includes a 220W wireless subwoofer to immerse you in bass-heavy sounds during all of your media enjoyment. This unit supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for a high-quality sound that goes above and beyond the traditional soundbar range. Plus, it includes High-Resolution Audio technology by Meridian Technology for a sound field that achieves better height, width, and depth. The AI ThinQ 3.1.2-Channel 440W Soundbar System comes with Google Assistant built-in for hands-free control of your soundbar, entertainment, and smart home. It is also 4K pass-through enabled and includes 1 optical digital, 1 HDMI (in/out), 1 Ethernet, and 1 mini-jack connection. It is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, and it integrates with Chromecast. It can either be mounted or atop of your furniture.
CONS
Compared to many other soundbars with Google Assistant on our list, the LG AI ThinQ 3.1.2-Channel 440W Soundbar System sits at a bit of a higher price. This soundbar is definitely a step above many others on the market today, but the price does show that. It may be a better buy during a sale like Black Friday. Additionally, unlike the Bose, Sonos, and VIZIO options on this list, you cannot enjoy wireless multi-room audio.
Polk Audio – 2.1-Channel Soundbar System with 6-1/2″ Subwoofer
Polk Audio manufactures audio equipment and is a leader in home and mobile speakers, including soundbars, wireless audio equipment, outdoor speakers, car speakers, marine speakers, all-terrain vehicle speakers, and more. It is based in San Diego, CA and was founded in 1972 in Baltimore, MD.
PROS
The Polk Audio 2.1-Channel Soundbar System is a bang-for-your-buck soundbar with Google Assistant by one of the most popular names in audio equipment manufacturing. It is at the low-end of the price spectrum with quality that doesn’t let up. This unit is a super compact yet powerful soundbar that comes with 150W of total system power. It includes six drivers that utilize Polk’s patented surround technology: two 1/2″ tweeters and four 2-1/4″ mid-range speakers. This package comes with a wireless 6.5″ subwoofer for deep bass sound, and you can also enjoy Dolby Digital decoding for top-quality, dynamic sound. The Polk Audio 2.1-Channel Soundbar System is Bluetooth and Chromecast for Audio enabled for streaming entertainment from your devices. There are three modes: movie, music, and sports to optimize the sound, based on your media type. Plus, enjoy Polk Voice Adjust for extra crisp dialogue. There is 1 HDMI input with HDMI-ARC compatibility, 1 optical digital audio input, and 1 mini-jack input, as well as a universal remote for controlling your soundbar, TV, and cable box.
CONS
Unlike many other soundbars on this list, the Polk Audio 2.1-Channel Soundbar System isn’t able to be wall-mounted, and you aren’t able to enjoy wireless multi-room audio. And while the sound is impressive for the very small size of the soundbar, some do think that there are higher quality sound options at the same price range.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding a soundbar with Google Assistant for your home entertainment, the options on this list are all really great, and there is a fit for every need or situation. The best one for you depends on your budget, your current home media equipment (for compatibility purposes), your style, and the type of media you listen to. No matter your needs, these soundbars all deliver high-quality sound with bells and whistles that impress. Happy hunting!
