Short answer: the Denon Home 250. It ranks #13 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $549 and is still sold new; the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen ranks #14 (rated 2.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen’s replacement, the Google Home Speaker, is rated 3.0/5 at $99.99.
What the Denon Home 250 does well: A Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo sound from one cabinet, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2 and HEOS multiroom. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen. The tradeoff: Trusted Reviews’ own complaints are a slightly disjointed hand-over between the bass and midrange, and a safety-first treble response that avoids sounding harsh at the cost of outright detail.
What the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen does well: A tiny Google Assistant speaker that responds quickly, raises its volume over background noise and has a mic mute switch. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Denon Home 250 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Denon Home 250 lacks. Watch for: Digital Trends’ main complaint was that maximum volume could be louder, and RTINGS’ independent review agrees, naming it their one real weakness.
Buy the Denon Home 250. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
A Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo sound from one cabinet, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2 and HEOS multiroom.
A tiny Google Assistant speaker that responds quickly, raises its volume over background noise and has a mic mute switch.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Denon Home 250 | Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 each | $119.00 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #14 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (HEOS multi-room, stereo pair with a second Home 250) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External AC adapter (15W, DC jack) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Weight | 8.2 lbs (3.7 kg) | 0.4 lbs (181 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (HEOS) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Class D, combined) | - |
| Drivers | 2x 19mm tweeters, 2x 102mm mid-bass drivers, 133mm passive radiator | 40mm driver |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, 3.5mm aux | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 8.7” x 4.7” (300 x 220 x 120 mm) | 1.7” x 3.9” x 3.9” (42 x 98 x 98 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant / Gemini for Home |
| Streaming Services | HEOS app streaming (Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn), AirPlay 2 | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
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