Short answer: the B&O Beosound 2. It ranks #7 of 10 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $4,000 and is still sold new; the Google Home Max ranks #15 (rated 3.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The case for the B&O Beosound 2: A beautifully made luxury Wi-Fi speaker that fills a room in every direction, with Chromecast, AirPlay, optical input and multiroom. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Google Home Max lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Google Home Max. The tradeoff: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces.
The case for the Google Home Max: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. The catch: Discontinued by Google since 2020, so it can no longer be bought new; used and refurbished stock is what remains, and RTINGS calls its soundstage mediocre despite the driver count.
Buy the B&O Beosound 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Google Home Max is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A beautifully made luxury Wi-Fi speaker that fills a room in every direction, with Chromecast, AirPlay, optical input and multiroom.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound 2 | Google Home Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,000.00 each | $399 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #7 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~45Hz | - |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC power cord |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) |
| App | Yes | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| Stereo | 360-degree | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes (Google Assistant) | Google Assistant |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | 6x Class-D amplifiers |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio |
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