Short answer: the Amazon Echo Dot Max. It ranks #5 of 14 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $89.99 and is still sold new; the Google Nest Audio ranks #9 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Google Nest Audio’s replacement, the Google Home Speaker, is rated 3.0/5 at $99.99.
Why pick the Amazon Echo Dot Max: A compact Alexa smart speaker with a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter, an excellent far-field microphone and a balanced midrange for clear voices. Watch for: Engadget’s main complaint was that it is a real step down from the discontinued Amazon Echo (4th Gen) it effectively replaces at the same price: that older speaker paired a 3-inch woofer with dual 0.8-inch tweeters, against the Dot Max’s single 2.5-inch woofer and one tweeter, and frequencies felt smushed together without a clean bass-to-treble separation.
Why pick the Google Nest Audio: Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot Max lacks. The catch: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot Max. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Google Nest Audio is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A compact Alexa smart speaker with a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter, an excellent far-field microphone and a balanced midrange for clear voices.
Amazon $89.99 eBay
Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth.
Amazon $99.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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 Max | Google Nest Audio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 each | $99.99 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #9 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa Home Theater) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute) | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Drivers | 2.5in woofer, 1x tweeter | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 4.4” x 4.9” (99 x 112 x 124 mm) | 6.9” x 4.9” x 3.1” (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| Weight | - | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W (2x Class D) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR’s spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 1.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.06 |
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