Focal Aria 906 vs Google Home Max

It's got a nice grill totally fully magnetic and when you get under the grill, you can see it's quite the nice looking speaker as well. There is a lea...

The Home Max is a product that looks like it comes straight from Libratone or Bang & Olufsen’s catalogue. In a few words, it’s massive and nondescript. But between the muted mesh grille and off-white chassis, the almost total absence of style here, oddly enough, makes it super stylish.

Focals are the best in pop, alternative, and rock, and they have a pleasant soundstage. My friend and I did a blind test, and we picked different speakers as our best choice for different songs. I read in the past that Focal Aria 906s have a bright sound, but I didn’t find them to be harsh or bright at all. If anything, they are very buttery! Both KEF and Paradigm are much brighter with less bass

You can also assume, of course, that Google's own speakers will get new features first (that's what has happened with Alexa speakers). Unless the Link is compellingly better, audio-wise, the Max is a safer bet.

Tidal> Rpi4b with allo digione hat> audioquest forest digital coax> SMSL M500 Dac> Mogami balanced xlr> Cambridge cxa81> 12awg ofc speaker cables> LS50 Meta

And then they went on the other side of the spectrum and introduced this guy the Google Home Max. and at the time it launched it for hundred dollars a...

Until now. The Focal Aria have a wow factor that nothing else I've tried have. Crystal clear definition, great midrange,vand bass whilst punchy rather than deep, has a presence in the room I haven't seen from other speakers of similar specs. Imaging and soundstage second to none - including the Elac's ( one of their outstanding features) and the ability to play all Genres of music respectably

Very good bass. Meaning that if you live in an apartment or condo, your neighbors may complain if you play this thing above 70 or 80%.

I have the Aria 906 speakers and absolutely love them. Focal really knew what they were doing when designing these. The mid range and treble detail is out of its class in this price range. Superbly flat and detailed without being at all fatiguing

this is 400 now though i got it when it was 350...im not sure i would pay 400 for one

Mid range is a funny one with the Aria's, it's super smooth and detailed and resolute, allowing so much air, space and separation between instruments. Sometimes this is absolutely their biggest strength for all of those reasons I've just mentioned. However sometimes I almost find this can be a shortfall, whereby lead vocals or instruments can almost sound like they're mixed lower than the secondary or backing parts. It's hard to explain but it's almost like with the increased width and soundstage your trade off with having a decrease in focus and directivity

Other home minis are three years old. The mics didn't clog up at the exact same time. A wave of dust didn't pour in one random day and clog all the mics.

In the United States or wherever you know, those things are going for $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 2,000. This one is a bargain if you compare them to because yo...

The Google Home Max is a beast of a smart speaker. In CNET's review, editor Ty Pendlebury was effusive about the superb sound, excellent microphones (for hearing you even when music is blasting) and ability to fill even a large room with sound. He lamented its price, though, which he characterized as "too expensive for mass appeal." (Read his Google Home Max review to learn more

So Richersounds have kindly loaned me the Audiolab 6000A and Cambridge CXA61 to compare to my existing set up.

That said, in the world of wireless speakers I haven't found anything up to Sonos quality. I have Nest Audio and Google Home Max and they're good enough but not the best sound. I also tried some Harman Kardon Citation and they sounded better but extremely bassy for my taste. So in short, as you can see you it's a difficult world for those of us that prefer Google Assistant and Android and that also want to use Sonos for their sound quality and convenience