Short answer: the JBL Authentics 500 on measured sound quality, the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen on price. The JBL Authentics 500 ranks #5 of 10 powered desktop speakers, rated 4.1/5, at $749.95. The Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen ranks #2, rated 3.8/5, at $219.99, $529.96 cheaper.
What the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen does well: 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.
The case for the JBL Authentics 500: It keeps a wired aux input, which the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen.
Buy the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the JBL Authentics 500 if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen | JBL Authentics 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 each | $749.95 each |
| Ranked | #2 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #5 of 10 in Large 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 Home Theater) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.632 kg) | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute button, far-field) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + Dolby Virtualizer, via Alexa app) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | - |
| Drivers | 3.75in high-excursion woofer, 3x 2.25in full-range drivers (L/R/up) | 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (USB playback, 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 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.1” x 5.6” x 5.8” (155 x 142 x 147 mm) | 17.6” x 9.4” x 10.1” (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Dolby Atmos | - | Yes (virtual) |
| Ethernet | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Configuration | - | 3.1 channel |
| Amplifier Power | - | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen:
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton IV
- Amazon Echo Dot Max vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Denon Home 150
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 Studio 2nd Gen: $219.99 each Amazon $219.99 eBay
Same family: the Amazon Echo Dot Max (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: SoundGuys called it the best-sounding Amazon speaker they have tested, scoring it 7.8 of 10. A 3.75-inch high-excursion woofer and three 2.25-inch full-range drivers fire left, right and upward, giving a real sense of width and instrument separation from a single enclosure, with vocals sitting forward and clean cymbals even at moderate volume. It supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio on compatible content, stays distortion-free up to about 70% volume, and includes a built-in Zigbee, Matter and Thread smart home hub plus a 3-band EQ with a Dolby Virtualizer toggle.
Cons: 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. There are no wired audio inputs of any kind and no battery, so it must stay plugged in, and Bluetooth is limited to the SBC codec. Voice recognition wasn’t perfectly reliable in testing, occasionally playing the wrong track for a specific artist-title request.
Full Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute button, far-field) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.1” x 5.6” x 5.8” (155 x 142 x 147 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.75in high-excursion woofer, 3x 2.25in full-range drivers (L/R/up) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + Dolby Virtualizer, via Alexa app) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa Home Theater) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.632 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton IV
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Denon Home 150
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Home Speaker
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- See all 29 comparisons
JBL Authentics 500: $749.95 each Amazon $749.95 eBay
Same family: the JBL Authentics 200 (smaller model, rated 3.7/5) and the JBL Authentics 300 (smaller model, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: JBL Authentics 500 uses 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters. Its 7.8 kg, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 40Hz to 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size.
Full JBL Authentics 500 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | 3.1 channel |
| Dimensions | 17.6” x 9.4” x 10.1” (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (virtual) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | USB-C (USB playback, US only) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Era 300
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Five
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&O Beosound 2
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Denon Home 350
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Boombox 3
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Authentics 300
- See all 34 comparisons