Jordan O'BrienLG MusicFlow could be phased out in favour of Google Chromecast and Google Home support, according to What Hi-Fi. Speaking to the consumer AV magazine, the firm signalled its desire to improve support for Google’s AI.
Google Home support has recently rolled out to LG’s current generation of MusicFlow-compatible speakers. It had been a feature that users literally begged for on the company’s support forums, and it appears that LG is listening.
Sonos has dominated the multi-room audio market, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers from offering alternatives. LG’s MusicFlow line currently incorporates 11 products, although consumers have been confused by the functionality offered. Some of these products boast Bluetooth, some boast Google Chromecast support, and some boast Wi-Fi.
LG admits that its MusicFlow line-up can be a little confusing, which is part of the reason behind its pivot towards Google Home support. This could also benefit users in the long run, with people free to purchase speakers from multiple manufacturers – rather than being locked into a single ecosystem. Sony, Philips, Bang & Olufsen and Polk Audio all support Google Chromecast, meaning they can all be part of one multi-room audio system.
Smart Control
Google Home support not only allows LG to be part of a bigger multi-room audio system, it also allows the company’s range of products to be operated using voice control. This is something Sonos is said to be working on in conjunction with Amazon’s Alexa AI, although Sonos has yet to make significant progress in the space.
Google Home users can already send music to multiple speakers using their voice, and having all of their products support Chromecast, would certainly make the user experience better for LG’s customers.
LG isn’t alone in supporting Google Home and the Google Assistant. Sony has already committed to including Google Assistant on all its upcoming TVs, while Nvidia is also pushing the AI with its Spot and Shield TV.
Dolby Atmos Soundbar
LG is keen to show off its support for Google Home on existing products. The company’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar, the SJ9, which was recently demoed at a London event, boasts Google Chromecast support and can be controlled using Google Home.
The SJ9 Dolby Atmos soundbar is, according to LG, the cheapest currently on the market. At a retail price of £1,000, it is slightly more expensive than Samsung’s £900 HW-K850, however.