Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The JBL Authentics 300 ranks #46 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.95; the Sonos Era 100 ranks #16 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $217.99.
The JBL Authentics 300 is the battery-powered choice. A retro styled smart speaker with both Alexa and Google Assistant, a leather handle and battery power. Its battery is rated for 8 hours, while the Sonos Era 100 needs an outlet. Watch for: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others.
Why pick the Sonos Era 100: A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom. The catch: 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 300 ($299.95) for a boombox speaker; the Sonos Era 100 ($217.99) suits a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home rankings.
A retro styled smart speaker with both Alexa and Google Assistant, a leather handle and battery power.
A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom.
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
| JBL Authentics 300 | Sonos Era 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 | $217.99 each |
| Ranked | #46 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | External AC adapter |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | - |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | Amazon Alexa |
| Strap | No | - |
| Inputs | - | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
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