Right now, you can get home speaker systems with Chromecast functionality built in from a ton of manufacturers ranging from Sony to Vizio, and now Harman sub-brand JBL, is joining in the fun with a new wireless home speaker called the JBL Playlist. While Bluetooth speakers are still the mainstream norm, Wi-Fi based speaker solutions are starting to catch on in the consumer market, especially when it comes to home setups. A growing number of these happen to have Chromecast functionality baked right in to allow Android users to stream audio to them without having to pair them up or hassle with setting up dedicated Wi-Fi direct connections. The new JBL Playlist is a smart speaker that can be controlled from just about any device, and also happens to be the latest wireless home speaker to get built-in Chromecast functionality.
The JBL Playlist has a couple of kicker points that separate it firmly from the rest of the market. For starters, it can network with other Chromecast-enabled devices in your home, which means that a few JBL Playlist units and a Google Home could create a full-home audio experience controlled by a voice-powered digital assistant that you can use anywhere in your home. An open surface and metal passive radiator are on board to bring the acoustics, and the drivers themselves are capable of 24-bit, 96 kHz sound. It can also output music to other devices through Bluetooth or a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, acting as a Chromecast for other audio devices a user might own. As a bonus, the speaker features full Spotify integration, allowing just about any Wi-Fi capable device with Spotify capability to play it through the speaker.
Like many other products seen at CES this year, the JBL Playlist will drop at some point in spring of this year, and will be priced at $149.95. The color options at launch will include black, blue, and white. The JBL Playlist is poised to be one of the best values in high-end speakers with Chromecast functionality, and the bonus ability to speak to other Chromecast-capable devices makes it quite the appealing option for a full-home audio system.