Short answer: the B&O Beosound 2 for better sound quality, the Google Home Speaker for the lower price. The B&O Beosound 2 ranks #7 of 10 powered desktop speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $4,000. The Google Home Speaker ranks #12, rated 3.0/5, at $99.99, $3,900.01 cheaper.
The case for the B&O Beosound 2: A beautifully made, compact Wi-Fi speaker with omnidirectional playback, Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth with AAC/aptX, optical and aux inputs, app EQ, voice control and Beolink multiroom. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Google Home Speaker lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Google Home Speaker lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Google Home Speaker. The catch: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces.
What the Google Home Speaker does well: Built-in Gemini support makes it a capable smart home hub, with a Thread border router and Matter support, and the compact 107mm sphere fits almost anywhere. The tradeoff: This is Google’s current speaker, and reviewers agree it is a downgrade in sound from the discontinued Google Nest Audio it replaces: SoundGuys measured its acoustic hardware directly against the Google Nest Audio and found a single 58mm full-range driver against the Google Nest Audio’s 75mm woofer plus dedicated 19mm tweeter, calling it ‘half the audio hardware for the same sticker price.’
Buy the B&O Beosound 2 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Google Home Speaker if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound 2 | Google Home Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,000.00 each | $99.99 each |
| Ranked | #7 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #12 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| 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 | USB-C (30W adapter, power only, no USB Audio) |
| TWS | Yes | No (two units pair only through a Google TV Streamer, not with each other directly) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) | 0.9 lbs (396 g) |
| App | Yes | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) | 3.4” x 4.2” x 4.2” (86.6 x 107 x 107 mm) (H x diameter) |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| Stereo | 360-degree | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes (Google Assistant) | Google Assistant / Gemini for Home |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6, dual-band) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer | 58mm full-range driver |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for B&O Beosound 2:
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Denon Home 350
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Balance
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
B&O Beosound 2: $4,000.00 each Amazon $4,000.00 eBay
Same family: the B&O Beosound 1 (smaller model, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: A beautifully made, compact Wi-Fi speaker with omnidirectional playback, Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth with AAC/aptX, optical and aux inputs, app EQ, voice control and Beolink multiroom. Reviews praise its even scaling at low volume, spacious room-filling presentation and convincing bass for a single 4.1kg enclosure. Measured bass extension of ~45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces. There is no battery or water rating, so this is a mains-powered indoor product; its luxury design and streaming feature set matter more than outright value or neutral hi-fi accuracy.
Full B&O Beosound 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~45Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | 360-degree |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes (Google Assistant) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Denon Home 350
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Balance
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Level
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- See all 29 comparisons
Google Home Speaker: $99.99 each Amazon $99.99 eBay
Older models: the Google Nest Audio (ranked higher, rated 3.3/5) and the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5). See every Google Nest and Home Speakers generation.
Pros: Built-in Gemini support makes it a capable smart home hub, with a Thread border router and Matter support, and the compact 107mm sphere fits almost anywhere. Vocals come through clearly on most tracks, which SoundGuys’ side-by-side listening called the one thing this speaker does well.
Cons: This is Google’s current speaker, and reviewers agree it is a downgrade in sound from the discontinued Google Nest Audio it replaces: SoundGuys measured its acoustic hardware directly against the Google Nest Audio and found a single 58mm full-range driver against the Google Nest Audio’s 75mm woofer plus dedicated 19mm tweeter, calling it ‘half the audio hardware for the same sticker price.’ In their listening test there was barely any bass, the sound turned thin and tinny outside the midrange, and pushing the volume up made high notes shrill. There is no aux input or any wired audio connection at all, the single USB-C port is power only, and Bluetooth is limited to the SBC codec with no AAC support. SoundGuys scored it 6.0 of 10 overall, with a Value score of 4.0.
Full Google Home Speaker review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2026 (4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| App | Yes (Google Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 4.2” x 4.2” (86.6 x 107 x 107 mm) (H x diameter) |
| Drivers | 58mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (30W adapter, power only, no USB Audio) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No (two units pair only through a Google TV Streamer, not with each other directly) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant / Gemini for Home |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (396 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6, dual-band) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Google Home Speaker vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Google Home Speaker vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Google Home Speaker vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Google Home Speaker vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Google Home Speaker vs Google Nest Audio
- Google Home Speaker vs Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
- Google Home Speaker vs Denon Home 150
- Google Home Speaker vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- See all 30 comparisons