Short answer: the JBL Authentics 500. It ranks #3 of 6 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $600; the Denon Home 350 ranks #6 and costs $749, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Denon Home 350: RTINGS measured it getting pretty loud with lossless streaming support from platforms like Roon, Tidal and Spotify, and found its Alexa voice assistant support outstanding, with hands-free far-field mics built directly into the speaker. The tradeoff: RTINGS measured a slightly boomy sound profile out of the box and disappointing directivity, so the sound changes noticeably off to the side of the cabinet, plus compression artifacts as it nears max volume.
The case for the JBL Authentics 500: JBL Authentics 500 uses 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters. The tradeoff: Its 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size.
Buy the JBL Authentics 500. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Denon Home 350 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Denon Home 350 | JBL Authentics 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749 each | $600 each |
| Ranked | #6 of 6 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #3 of 6 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (HEOS multi-room, stereo pair with a second Home 350) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4/5GHz) | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (HEOS) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble sliders) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | No | - |
| Drivers | 2x 0.75-inch tweeters, 2x 2-inch midrange drivers, 2x 6.5-inch woofers | 6.5" (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75" midranges, 3x 1" (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| Discontinued | No | - |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, 3.5mm aux | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.4 | Yes, 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 15" x 9.1" x 7.1" (380 x 230 x 180 mm) | 17.6" x 9.4" x 10.1" (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | HEOS app streaming (Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn), AirPlay 2, Roon | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Dolby Atmos | - | Yes (virtual) |
| Ethernet | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Configuration | - | 3.1 channel |
| Amplifier Power | - | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Authentics 500 compares with other leading options:
- B&W Zeppelin Pro vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&W Zeppelin vs JBL Authentics 500
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- Denon Home 250 vs Denon Home 350
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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
Denon Home 350: $749 each Amazon eBay
Pros: RTINGS measured it getting pretty loud with lossless streaming support from platforms like Roon, Tidal and Spotify, and found its Alexa voice assistant support outstanding, with hands-free far-field mics built directly into the speaker. Two 0.75-inch tweeters, two 2-inch midrange drivers and two 6.5-inch woofers are each driven by their own Class D amp, six in total, and the companion app adds bass and treble sliders for room-to-room tuning.
Cons: RTINGS measured a slightly boomy sound profile out of the box and disappointing directivity, so the sound changes noticeably off to the side of the cabinet, plus compression artifacts as it nears max volume. Bluetooth latency measured extremely high on both iOS and Android, making it a poor match for watching video over Bluetooth, and there’s no battery, so it’s an indoor, mains-powered speaker only.
Full Denon Home 350 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HEOS) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15" x 9.1" x 7.1" (380 x 230 x 180 mm) |
| Discontinued | No |
| Drivers | 2x 0.75-inch tweeters, 2x 2-inch midrange drivers, 2x 6.5-inch woofers |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble sliders) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (HEOS multi-room, stereo pair with a second Home 350) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | HEOS app streaming (Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn), AirPlay 2, Roon |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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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
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Era 300
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&W Zeppelin Pro
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&O Beosound 2
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Boombox 3
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Authentics 300
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