Short answer: the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen. It ranks #5 of 17 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $297.71. The Edifier D12 ranks #7, rated 3.8/5, at $179.99, $117.72 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
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 Edifier D12: At 4.6 kg, Edifier D12 combines 2x 4” woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters with Bluetooth, Aux, RCA. The catch: Bass is limited by its 57Hz specification.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $117.72 with the Edifier D12 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | Edifier D12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.71 each | $179.99 each |
| Ranked | #5 of 17 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #7 of 17 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| App | Yes (Apple Home) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) | Yes (Bass/Treble controls) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | No |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters | 2x 4" woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters |
| Discontinued | No | - |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm) | 14.1" x 6.3" x 8" (359 x 159 x 203.5 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 57Hz |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer line out |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | - | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 70W (R/L treble: 15W+15W, R/L mid-bass: 20W+20W) |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
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
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Woburn III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Denon Home 250
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Google Home Max
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Sonos Era 100
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Edifier D12: $179.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: At 4.6 kg, Edifier D12 combines 2x 4” woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters with Bluetooth, Aux, RCA. Ac-powered operation and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of 57Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 57Hz specification. There is no companion app.
Full Edifier D12 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 70W (R/L treble: 15W+15W, R/L mid-bass: 20W+20W) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 6.3" x 8" (359 x 159 x 203.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 4" woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble controls) |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Subwoofer line out |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
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