Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200. It ranks #10 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95; the Sonos Era 100 ranks #16, rated 3.6/5, and costs $217.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the JBL Authentics 200: 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 Sonos Era 100 lacks. Watch for: Bass not as deep as others.
The case for the Sonos Era 100: A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom. Watch for: RTINGS’ own two listed cons are not loud enough for larger rooms and very little low-bass thump, so genres like EDM and hip-hop lack rumble even with the tone adjustments.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Era 100 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time.
A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 200 | Sonos Era 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 each | $217.99 each |
| Ranked | #10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #16 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Drivers | 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 | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz)) | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (100-240V) | External AC adapter |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | Amazon Alexa |
| Amplifier Power | 90W | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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