Short answer: the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen. It ranks #2 of 14 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.8/5) at $219.99 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.
The Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen is the better-sounding option. SoundGuys called it the best-sounding Amazon speaker they have tested, scoring it 7.8 of 10. The tradeoff: SoundGuys still marked it down on Value (4.0 of 10) given the $219.99 list price, and it is explicitly not true left-right stereo from one cabinet, so a stereo pair is needed for real width in a larger room.
What the Google Nest Audio does well: 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 supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen 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 Studio 2nd Gen. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Google Nest Audio is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
SoundGuys called it the best-sounding Amazon speaker they have tested, scoring it 7.8 of 10.
Amazon $219.99 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 16, 2026 at 5:46 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 Studio 2nd Gen | Google Nest Audio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 each | $99.99 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #2 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 |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.632 kg) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute button, far-field) | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + Dolby Virtualizer, via Alexa app) | 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 | 3.75in high-excursion woofer, 3x 2.25in full-range drivers (L/R/up) | 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 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 6.1” x 5.6” x 5.8” (155 x 142 x 147 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, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W (2x Class D) |
| 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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