These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Denon Home 250 ranks #13 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $549; the JBL Authentics 300 ranks #46 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.95.
The case for the Denon Home 250: 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 JBL Authentics 300 lacks. 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.
The JBL Authentics 300 is the battery-powered pick. 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 250 needs an outlet. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Denon Home 250 lacks. The tradeoff: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others.
Buy the Denon Home 250 ($549) for a powered desktop speaker; the JBL Authentics 300 ($299.95) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo sound from one cabinet, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2 and HEOS multiroom.
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 250 | JBL Authentics 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 each | $299.95 |
| Ranked | #13 of 29 in Medium 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 250) | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 8.2 lbs (3.7 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 |
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Class D, combined) | 100W |
| Drivers | 2x 19mm tweeters, 2x 102mm mid-bass drivers, 133mm passive radiator | 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 | 11.8” x 8.7” x 4.7” (300 x 220 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, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn), AirPlay 2 | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 45Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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