These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Authentics 300 ranks #32 of 75 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.95; the Sonos Era 300 ranks #4 of 5 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $499.
The case for the JBL Authentics 300: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). The tradeoff: Narrow sounding, 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 300 ($299.95) for a boombox speaker; the Sonos Era 300 ($499) suits a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 300 | Sonos Era 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 | $499.00 each |
| Ranked | #32 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 5 in Large 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) | 9.9 lbs (4.47 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| 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) | 7.3" x 10.2" x 6.3" (185 x 260 x 160 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer + passive radiators | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | Amazon Alexa |
| Discontinued | - | 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 |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes, 5.0 |
| Streaming Services | - | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos Music |
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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 300: $299.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). Retro seventies design with leather and Quadrex grille. 100-watt amp, carries well with leather-trimmed handle. Rechargeable battery rated ~8 hours. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others. Peaky upper mids. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 300 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5" x 7.7" x 7.1" (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Authentics 300 - sound quality test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - update
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - listening session
- Alan Ross Reviews: Not quite! JBL Authentics 300 review and sound test vs Boombox 3, Encore and Stormbox Blast More from alanrossreviews →
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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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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