Short answer: the Sonos Era 300 for better sound quality, the JBL Authentics 200 for the lower price. The Sonos Era 300 ranks #4 of 5 powered desktop speakers at $499. The JBL Authentics 200 ranks #8 at $380, $119 cheaper.
The case for the JBL Authentics 200: Wi-Fi streaming with simultaneous Alexa and Google Assistant support, rare at this size. The tradeoff: Bass not as deep as others.
The case for the Sonos Era 300: RTINGS calls it an excellent choice for voice assistants: built-in Alexa has no trouble hearing commands from a distance or in a noisy room, with a mic mute button on the back. The tradeoff: RTINGS’ one listed con is some compression at max volume.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Sonos Era 300 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 200 | Sonos Era 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380 each | $499.00 each |
| Ranked | #8 of 16 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #4 of 5 in Large 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 | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) | 9.9 lbs (4.47 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 | - |
| Dimensions | 10.5" x 6.8" x 6.6" (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) | 7.3" x 10.2" x 6.3" (185 x 260 x 160 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, Dolby Atmos Music |
| 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, 5.3 | Yes, 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Discontinued | - | No |
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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
JBL Authentics 200: $380 each Amazon eBay
Pros: Wi-Fi streaming with simultaneous Alexa and Google Assistant support, rare at this size. Well balanced sound that reviewers rate close to the pricier Authentics 300. Measured about 113dB at 1kHz on max volume, matching the bigger 300 despite the smaller cabinet. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass not as deep as others. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 200 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 90W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.5" x 6.8" x 6.6" (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| 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 |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz)) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
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Sonos Era 300: $499.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: RTINGS calls it an excellent choice for voice assistants: built-in Alexa has no trouble hearing commands from a distance or in a noisy room, with a mic mute button on the back. Six drivers, one forward-firing tweeter, two side-firing tweeters, one upward-firing tweeter, and two angled woofers, each with its own Class D amp, give real stereo separation plus Dolby Atmos spatial audio on supported content. Trueplay room correction (now including a quicker Android tuning option) is a genuine strength, and it pairs with Sonos soundbars like the Arc Ultra for a home theater setup.
Cons: RTINGS’ one listed con is some compression at max volume. Out of the box the tuning leans bass-heavy enough that vocals can get shrouded in the mix on some tracks, though Trueplay largely corrects this. There’s no Google Assistant, no battery, and at $499 it’s the most expensive speaker in this ecosystem comparison.
Full Sonos Era 300 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.3" x 10.2" x 6.3" (185 x 260 x 160 mm) |
| Discontinued | No |
| Drivers | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos Music |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| USB Input | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs (4.47 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| XLR Input | No |
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