Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Denon Home 150 ranks #6 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $249; the JBL Authentics 300 ranks #46 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.95.
Why pick the Denon Home 150: A compact smart speaker with built in Alexa, easy HEOS setup and stereo pairing with a second unit. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Authentics 300 lacks. The tradeoff: Tom’s Guide’s own complaints are that it costs more than the Sonos One and has no automatic room tuning to correct for placement.
The JBL Authentics 300 is the battery-powered choice. A retro styled smart speaker with both Alexa and Google Assistant, a leather handle and battery power. Its battery is rated for 8 hours, while the Denon Home 150 needs an outlet. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Denon Home 150 lacks. The tradeoff: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others.
One note: the Denon Home 150 is discontinued, but it still ranks #6 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used. The Denon Home 150’s replacement, the Denon Home 200, is rated 3.6/5 at $399.
Buy the Denon Home 150 at $249 if you want a powered desktop speaker. Buy the JBL Authentics 300 at $299.95 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A compact smart speaker with built in Alexa, easy HEOS setup and stereo pairing with a second unit.
A retro styled smart speaker with both Alexa and Google Assistant, a leather handle and battery power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Denon Home 150 | JBL Authentics 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 each Discontinued | $299.95 |
| Ranked | #6 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #46 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (HEOS multi-room, stereo pair with a second Home 150) | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (HEOS) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 1-inch tweeter, 1x 3.5-inch mid/bass driver | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, 3.5mm aux | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | Yes | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 4.7” x 7.4” x 4.7” (120 x 187 x 120 mm) | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | HEOS app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, SiriusXM, TuneIn), AirPlay 2 | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 45Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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