Short answer: the B&O Beosound 2 for better sound quality, the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen for the lower price. The B&O Beosound 2 ranks #7 of 10 powered desktop speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $4,000. The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen ranks #11, rated 3.1/5, at $79.99, $3,920.01 cheaper.
Why pick the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball.
What the B&O Beosound 2 does well: A beautifully made, compact Wi-Fi speaker with omnidirectional playback, Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth with AAC/aptX, optical and aux inputs, app EQ, voice control and Beolink multiroom. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. The catch: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the B&O Beosound 2 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | B&O Beosound 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 each | $4,000.00 each |
| Ranked | #11 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #7 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No | 360-degree |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Yes (Google Assistant) |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~45Hz |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | - | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | - | 200W |
| Maximum SPL | - | 94dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How B&O Beosound 2 compares with other leading options:
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Denon Home 350
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Balance
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: $79.99 each Amazon $79.99 eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. It has a room temperature sensor, works as an eero Wi-Fi extender, and includes a mic mute switch alongside dedicated volume and action buttons.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball. Engadget’s own head-to-head against the step-up Amazon Echo Dot Max found that speaker louder and bassier, from a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter versus this speaker’s single small full-range driver. It is mono in a single unit, has no 3.5mm output, no battery, and needs Wi-Fi and an Amazon account for its smart features.
Full Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver |
| EQ | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Denon Home 150
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- See all 29 comparisons
B&O Beosound 2: $4,000.00 each Amazon $4,000.00 eBay
Same family: the B&O Beosound 1 (smaller model, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: A beautifully made, compact Wi-Fi speaker with omnidirectional playback, Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth with AAC/aptX, optical and aux inputs, app EQ, voice control and Beolink multiroom. Reviews praise its even scaling at low volume, spacious room-filling presentation and convincing bass for a single 4.1kg enclosure. Measured bass extension of ~45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces. There is no battery or water rating, so this is a mains-powered indoor product; its luxury design and streaming feature set matter more than outright value or neutral hi-fi accuracy.
Full B&O Beosound 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~45Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | 360-degree |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes (Google Assistant) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Denon Home 350
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Balance
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Level
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Pop
- See all 29 comparisons