Short answer: the B&W Zeppelin Pro for hi-res detail, the JBL Authentics 500 for bass with no battery. The Zeppelin Pro adds titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams, but it costs the same as the standard model for a fairly modest upgrade. The Authentics 500 sounds quite powerful with quite deep bass for its size, yet it has no battery.
On the B&W Zeppelin Pro side: Titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams. The tradeoff: Same price as the standard Zeppelin for a fairly modest tweeter/DAC upgrade.
The case for the JBL Authentics 500: Quite powerful sound, and quite deep bass for the size. The catch: No battery.
Buy the B&W Zeppelin Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $39 you would save on the JBL Authentics 500 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W Zeppelin Pro | JBL Authentics 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $639.00 each | $600 each |
| Ranked | #1 of 6 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #3 of 6 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 8.3" x 7.6" (650 x 210 x 194 mm) | 17.6" x 9.4" x 10.1" (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Titanium Dome tweeters | 6.5" (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75" midranges, 3x 1" (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Dynamic EQ) | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TWS | No | - |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes, 5.3 |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | USB-C (USB playback, US only) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | - | Yes (virtual) |
| Ethernet | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | 3.1 channel |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
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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
B&W Zeppelin Pro: $639.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: Titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams. Dynamic EQ DSP. Customizable downward-firing light. Same wide soundstage and deep bass extension as the standard Zeppelin.
Cons: Same price as the standard Zeppelin for a fairly modest tweeter/DAC upgrade. Nothing besides the lack of battery, lack of waterproofing, high cost and the Earfun Uboom X that’s so close to it in terms of sound quality for 7x less money. Basically an indoor only speaker. At this price point the Top Recommended Bookshelf Speakers are the better buy, with even better soundstage.
Full B&W Zeppelin Pro review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 8.3" x 7.6" (650 x 210 x 194 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Titanium Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Dynamic EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Authentics 500: $600 each Amazon eBay
Pros: JBL Authentics 500 uses 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters. Its 7.8 kg, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size.
Full JBL Authentics 500 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | 3.1 channel |
| Dimensions | 17.6" x 9.4" x 10.1" (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (virtual) |
| Drivers | 6.5" (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75" midranges, 3x 1" (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | USB-C (USB playback, US only) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&W Zeppelin
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- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&O Beosound 2
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- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Authentics 200
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