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 Nest Audio ranks #9 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Google Nest Audio’s replacement, the Google Home Speaker, is rated 3.0/5 at $99.99.
The Google Nest Audio is the deeper-bass option. An affordable Google Assistant speaker with Chromecast casting and respectable bass from one small box. Its bass reaches about 44.3Hz before falling 10dB, against 50Hz for the JBL Authentics 200. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Authentics 200 lacks. The tradeoff: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi.
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. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Google Nest Audio lacks. The catch: Bass not as deep as others.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Google Nest Audio is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable Google Assistant speaker with Chromecast casting and respectable bass from one small box.
A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Google Nest Audio | JBL Authentics 200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 each Discontinued | $199.95 each |
| Ranked | #9 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | 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 | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 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 (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) | No |
| Drivers | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter | 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, Chromecast | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 30W (2x Class D) | 90W |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 4.9” x 3.1” (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) | 10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR’s spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) | ~50Hz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.71 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.06 | - |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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