Short answer: the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen. It ranks #5 of 25 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $297.71 and is still sold new; the Klipsch The Three II ranks #20 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Klipsch The Three II’s replacement, the Klipsch The Three Plus, is rated 3.4/5 at $248.95.
The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen is the better-sounding choice. 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. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Klipsch The Three II cannot. It links with other speakers (AirPlay 2 multi-room), which the Klipsch The Three II cannot. The catch: 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.
What the Klipsch The Three II does well: It keeps a wired aux input, which the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen lacks.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Klipsch The Three II is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.71 each | $400 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 25 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #20 of 25 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) | - |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 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) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | No |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters | 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| 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) | 11” x 7.3” x 7.3” (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | - | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Amplifier Power | - | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Older model: the Apple HomePod (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5). See every Apple HomePod generation.
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 →
| Released | Jan 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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 Edifier D12
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Woburn III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore IV
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore II
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Klipsch The Three II: $400 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch The Three Plus, ranked lower, rated 3.4/5, released Sep 2023. It adds app control, but drops the aux input.
Older model: the Klipsch The Three (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Klipsch The One and The Three generation.
Same family: the Klipsch The One II (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Klipsch The Three II uses 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges. Its 4.7 kg, aux input and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. Discontinued.
Full Klipsch The Three II review and specifications →
| Released | 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11” x 7.3” x 7.3” (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The One II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The Three
- Klipsch The Three II vs Sonos Era 100
- Klipsch The Three II vs Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton III
- Klipsch The Three II vs JBL Authentics 200
- See all 13 comparisons