Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200. It ranks #10 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $199.95 and is still sold new; the Google Home Max ranks #15 (rated 3.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
What the Google Home Max does well: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Authentics 200 lacks. The catch: Discontinued by Google since 2020, so it can no longer be bought new; used and refurbished stock is what remains, and RTINGS calls its soundstage mediocre despite the driver count.
What the JBL Authentics 200 does well: A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. The tradeoff: Bass not as deep as others.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Google Home Max is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Google Home Max | JBL Authentics 200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 each Discontinued | $199.95 each |
| Ranked | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz)) |
| App | Yes (Google Home) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) | No |
| Drivers | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters | 5” full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 6x Class-D amplifiers | 90W |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) | 10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~50Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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