Gadgetory

when the VUCA home max was released JBL quietly released their JBL link 500 smart speaker and basically the lead 500 does the same thing as the bow behold max it's a smart speaker that's all about sound so if you're considering a smart speaker for your home or you're better off with the googles offering or something from a third party let's find out JBL is link series line up now consists of four different speakers there's the link 10 in the link 20 which are kind of like voice assistant enables JBL flip fours which also have built-in batteries and then there's the link 300 in the link 500 which don't have built-in batteries and just like the Google home max the link 500 currently cost $400 but I want to be surprised if it goes on sale here and there design-wise de JBL link 500 is slightly larger than the Google home max it also has the same fabric outer shell that's pretty synonymous with other JBL speakers and it comes in two colors black or white unlike the Google home max which has a touch sensitive touch bar on the top which only allows you to adjust your volume and player positive music the length 500 has a few more buttons on the top that allow you to do a little more than the max more importantly it has a dedicated button so you can activate Google assistant something that I don't understand why the max does in half and if you double press the play pause button you can skip a track directly from the speaker something that again the max can do even though it's pretty simple the length 500 also has a dedicated bluetooth pairing button which does come in handy if the link 500 isn't connected to Wi-Fi and if you just want to use a Bluetooth connection instead and finally there's a mic mute button mic is muted on the front of the speaker you'll also find a white LED notification lights that light up when Google is listening to you just like the max and on the bottom you'll also find our Wi-Fi indicator light and like I mentioned in my link 10 in like 20 video I feel this light is completely unnecessary unless there's a problem with the Wi-Fi connection there's no need to constantly keep this light on even though Google home max doesn't have this useless and annoying like another thing I don't like about the link 500 is the lack of ports there's no aux jack and there's no USB type-c port like the Mac's for me it would have been a no-brainer to include these ports on the link hundred and something I really want to point out is the weight difference the length 500 weighs in at 7.7 pounds while the Google home max weighs in at a hefty 12 pounds but aside that Google assistant performance on the link 500 is just as accurate and just as fast as any another Google home speaker the link 500 pixel in various distances just as well and in queries or process just as fast hey what's the current temperature in New York City in New York City right now it's 21 hey what's the current price of Bitcoin 1 BTC is approximately fourteen thousand seven hundred twenty United States dollars and fifteen cents okay now let's talk about what really matters sound you may know by now that the Google home acts is rocking dual 4.5 inch woofers and dual point seven inch tweeters whereas the jbo Ling 500 has dual 3.5 inch woofers dual point eight inch tweeters and it has an exposed passive radiator on the back that really moves when the basement really gets going Oh okay first off the Google home max gets slightly louder than the JBL in five hundred and max volume but only by a few decibels and max volume both of these speakers live in the low eighties decibel range and they both suffer a relatively the same amount of sound distortion so if loudness is your main priority that both of these speakers perform relatively the same like I've said in past videos the Google home max has a v-shaped sound signature there's a lot of emphasis on the bass and on the highs but the vocals in major are a little push back whereas the JBL in 500 has a more even sound signature but with an emphasis on the vocals it also has a good amount of bass but the bass is not as punchy as to Google home max and the lows don't resonate as much as the max either although both of these speakers do sound really good the sound of the max is much fuller you can literally feel the music with the max and as a result it's more fun to listen to but the Google home max is definitely geared towards people who listen to pop hip-hop dance R&B or rap with the strong emphasis on the bass if you're somebody who loves bass then the Google home max is great but if you prefer of flatter sound signature and you'll be better off with the J billing 500 but if you're building out a smart home with Google assistant in mind it is a great thing to have options when it comes to hardware but keep in mind third party hardware might mean delays when it comes to the newest features first off with the JBL smart speakers you can't make phone calls like you would with either of the Google home smart speakers hey go Paul GameStop sorry I can't make calls yet hey Paul gangsta calling game stuff thank you for calling Game Stop well we have the best selection and deals and video game console and collectors will hang up you also can't use the broadcast feature and the JB Lang 500 doesn't allow you to adjust an eq like you can on the max hopefully Jay Bilas more speakers and all other third-party Google assistants of our speakers will add new Google home features shortly after Google releases them because I would hate to see the same type of fragmentation Andrew suffered when it was first released although I do like to JBL link 10 and the link 20 because they sound much better than the Google home if you're trying to decide between the Google home max and the Jay building 500 I think you're much better off with the Google home max unless you're not a fan of the v-shaped sound signature it has to offer I personally think it looks better than the j building 500 and using google's own hardware means you'll have access to the newest features as soon as they drop but like i said i'm an initial review i would like to see google add some extra tap functionality to the max so you can control your music playback and tab to activate Google assistant is that too much to ask for hey if you enjoyed the video please like and subscribe it helps out more than you realize for more product reviews and deal alerts check out Jim Carrey that net if you want us to port to channel pick up a shirt and I'll catch you next time