Short answer: the JBL Authentics 500. It ranks #5 of 10 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $449.95; the Sonos Era 300 ranks #6, rated 4.0/5, and costs $499, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Authentics 500 does well: A large smart speaker with a built in subwoofer, virtual Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi streaming and both Alexa and Google Assistant. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sonos Era 300 lacks. Watch for: Bass is specified only to 40Hz at -6dB, so deep-bass reach is limited for a cabinet this size.
Why pick the Sonos Era 300: A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning. Watch for: RTINGS’ one listed con is some compression at max volume.
Buy the JBL Authentics 500. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Era 300 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A large smart speaker with a built in subwoofer, virtual Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi streaming and both Alexa and Google Assistant.
A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning.
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 500 | Sonos Era 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 each | $499.00 each |
| Ranked | #5 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #6 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 17.6” x 9.4” x 10.1” (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) | 7.3” x 10.2” x 6.3” (185 x 260 x 160 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (virtual) | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| Ethernet | Yes | - |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Drivers | 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Input | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz | External AC adapter |
| Configuration | 3.1 channel | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos Music |
| Inputs | USB-C (USB playback, US only) | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | Amazon Alexa |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 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) |
| Amplifier Power | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) | - |
| 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 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
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