Vizio's $250 soundbar hosts Google Assistant and Chromecast
And there's a new portable Crave Go available too.
Vizio may have been knocked by LeEco after its $2 billion buyout deal was cancelled, but the company's not going to fall into a grief-stricken funk. The home theater business has announced a new raft of soundbars that work with Google Assistant and come with Chromecast built in. Leading the pack is the SmartCast 36", which packs 5.1 wireless sound, the promise of crystal-clear dialog and a wireless subwoofer. Vizio had trouble with its soundbars working with Spotify via Chromecast in the past, so hopefully its remedied that issue. This new model is on sale right now, setting you back $250, while smaller options in the same range will cost less, obviously.
The company has also wheeled out an addition to its Sonos-troubling Crave speakers in the form of the Crave Go. The WiFi-streaming device can either be used as part of your whole-home audio setup, or on the road as a portable speaker. Again, it's packing Chromecast, so you can use it to play a variety of music services, including Google Play Music, Spotify Premium and Pandora. There's a built-in battery, promising up to six hours of life while on the go, and the unit is available for $199 at Vizio's website.
