Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 of 16 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $297.71; the B&O Beosound Level ranks #61 of 78 large speakers by sound quality at $2250.
The case for the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone.
The case for the B&O Beosound Level: Premium Scandinavian design with elegant domestic sculpture aesthetic. The tradeoff: Not very deep bass, peaks in midrange.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ($297.71) for a powered desktop speaker; the B&O Beosound Level ($2250) suits a large speaker instead.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the B&O Beosound Level. It ranks near the bottom of the 78 large speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the B&O Beosound Level at IP54 (splashing) holds up far better than the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | B&O Beosound Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.71 each | $2,250.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 16 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #61 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP54 |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Apple Home) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters | 2x 102mm woofers, 1x 51mm fullrange, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Discontinued | No | - |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm) | 13.7" x 9.1" x 2.2" (348 x 230 x 56 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~60Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | - | 39Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 105W |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
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- B&O Beosound Level vs Sonos Play
- B&O Beosound Level vs Sonos Move
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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
Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: $297.71 each Amazon eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. A 4-inch high-excursion woofer moves 20mm of travel, paired with five angled horn-loaded tweeters, and the S7 chip continuously measures the room and re-tunes the output in real time, even as you move the speaker. “Hey Siri” is reliably heard from across a room even at full volume, and two units can be stereo-paired for a genuinely bigger sound.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone. There is no way to stream to it over Bluetooth at all, no 3.5mm or other wired input, no battery, and no IP rating, so it’s an AC-only speaker for an already-committed Apple household.
Full Apple HomePod 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm) |
| Discontinued | No |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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B&O Beosound Level: $2,250.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Premium Scandinavian design with elegant domestic sculpture aesthetic. Battery, WiFi, and Bluetooth enable AC/portable use, upright/flat/wall-mount positioning. Modular design with upgradeable wireless module, sound processing, and battery. 16-hour battery with quick-connect Mag-Safe rear charging puck. 105W output. Measured bass extension of ~60Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not very deep bass, peaks in midrange. Hugely expensive.
Full B&O Beosound Level review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 105W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.7" x 9.1" x 2.2" (348 x 230 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 102mm woofers, 1x 51mm fullrange, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
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