Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200. It ranks #10 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen ranks #12, rated 3.1/5, at $79.99, $119.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen does well: A small, affordable Alexa speaker with a temperature sensor, eero Wi-Fi extender support and a mic mute switch. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Authentics 200 lacks. Watch for: 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.
The case for the JBL Authentics 200: A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. 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 tradeoff: Bass not as deep as others.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $119.96 saving on the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A small, affordable Alexa speaker with a temperature sensor, eero Wi-Fi extender support and a mic mute switch.
A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | JBL Authentics 200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 each | $199.95 each |
| Ranked | #12 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz)) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) | - |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | No |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver | 5” full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| 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) | 10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 90W |
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