This page ranks 7 large powered desktop speakers. These are stereo inside a single enclosure with woofers 6.5” or larger. They need significant desk space, have no battery, and no waterproofing. Larger woofers provide deeper bass but result in a bigger, heavier speaker. All include a built-in amp so you can play directly from your phone or laptop.
I generally recommend avoiding this class, they won’t have good imaging due to not having widely separated left and right channels like the Bookshelf class, and they generally aren’t tuned as neutral. These are more for someone who wants a speaker that is form over function and takes up as little space as possible. Also consider portable Bluetooth speakers with a battery and waterproofing.
| Select to compare | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B&W Zeppelin Pro | $899.00 each | 240W | 35Hz - 24kHz | Yes | 14.6 lbs | |
| 2 | B&W Zeppelin | $899 each | 240W | 35Hz - 24kHz | Yes | 14.6 lbs | |
| 3 | Sonos Five | $594.99 each | - | - | No | 14 lbs | |
| 4 | JBL Authentics 500 | $449.95 each | 270W | 40Hz - 20kHz | Yes | 17.2 lbs | |
| 5 | Sonos Era 300 | $399.00 each | - | - | Yes | 9.9 lbs | |
| 6 | B&O Beosound 2 | $4,000.00 each | 200W | 37Hz - 22kHz | Yes | 9 lbs | |
| 7 | Denon Home 350 | $749.00 each | - | - | Yes | 14.8 lbs |
Prices on this page were last checked October 6, 2026 at 10:23 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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#1 B&W Zeppelin Pro: $899.00 each Amazon eBay
Older model: the B&W Zeppelin (ranked lower, rated 4.3/5).
Pros: Titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams. Dynamic EQ DSP. Customizable downward-firing light. Same wide soundstage and deep bass extension as the standard Zeppelin.
Cons: Same price as the standard Zeppelin for a fairly modest tweeter/DAC upgrade. Nothing besides the lack of battery, lack of waterproofing, high cost and the Earfun Uboom X that’s so close to it in terms of sound quality for 7x less money. Basically an indoor only speaker. At this price point the Top Recommended Bookshelf Speakers are the better buy, with even better soundstage.
Full B&W Zeppelin Pro review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 25.6” x 8.3” x 7.6” (650 x 210 x 194 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Titanium Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Dynamic EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
#2 B&W Zeppelin: $899 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the B&W Zeppelin Pro, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5.
Pros: Amazingly neutral, quite a wide soundstage due to the width. Bass extension deeper than all others in category. Measured bass extension of ~32Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Nothing besides the lack of battery, lack of waterproofing, high cost and the Earfun Uboom X that’s so close to it in terms of sound quality for 7x less money. Basically an indoor only speaker. At this price point the Top Recommended Bookshelf Speakers are the better buy, with even better soundstage. Discontinued.
Full B&W Zeppelin review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~32Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 25.6” x 8.3” x 7.6” (650 x 210 x 194 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Decoupled Double-Dome aluminium tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
#3 Sonos Five: $594.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, it has deep bass for a wireless speaker, reaching 38.5Hz at -3dB and about 25.5Hz at -10dB, with a 3.92 preference score and 5.56 with an ideal subwoofer. A 2.22 directivity-index deviation means the sound stays consistent around the room. Three woofers and three tweeters on six amplifiers play in stereo when placed horizontally, and Trueplay tuning, AirPlay 2 and a 3.5mm line-in add flexibility. Measured bass extension of 38.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A 4.8dB reference band means the midrange and treble are less even than the best speakers, so tonal balance benefits from EQ. It has no Bluetooth and no microphone for voice assistants, and at 6.36kg it is a large box for a desk.
Full Sonos Five review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm line-in) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 25.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 14.3”W x 6.1”D (203 x 364 x 154 mm) |
| Drivers | 3x mid-woofers, 3x tweeters (2 angled), 6 Class-D amplifiers |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm line-in |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Built-in AC |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.56 |
| Stereo | Yes (horizontal orientation) |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14 lbs (6.36 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
#4 JBL Authentics 500: $449.95 each Amazon eBay
Smaller models: the JBL Authentics 300 (rated 3.5/5) and the JBL Authentics 200 (rated 3.7/5).
Pros: JBL Authentics 500 uses 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters. Its 7.8 kg, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 40Hz to 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size.
Full JBL Authentics 500 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 270W (Max @ THD 1%) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | 3.1 channel |
| Dimensions | 17.6” x 9.4” x 10.1” (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (virtual) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75” midranges, 3x 1” (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | USB-C (USB playback, US only) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Power Input | 100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Era 300
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Five
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&W Zeppelin
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&O Beosound 2
- JBL Authentics 500 vs B&W Zeppelin Pro
- JBL Authentics 500 vs Denon Home 350
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Boombox 3
- JBL Authentics 500 vs JBL Authentics 300
- See all 34 comparisons
#5 Sonos Era 300: $399.00 each Amazon eBay
Smaller model: the Sonos Era 100 (rated 3.6/5).
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 $399 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 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| 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) |
| 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
#6 B&O Beosound 2: $4,000.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: A beautifully made, compact Wi-Fi speaker with omnidirectional playback, Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth with AAC/aptX, optical and aux inputs, app EQ, voice control and Beolink multiroom. Reviews praise its even scaling at low volume, spacious room-filling presentation and convincing bass for a single 4.1kg enclosure. Measured bass extension of ~45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its bass-forward balance can recess the mids, and its 94dB maximum level is modest for a speaker intended to fill larger spaces. There is no battery or water rating, so this is a mains-powered indoor product; its luxury design and streaming feature set matter more than outright value or neutral hi-fi accuracy.
Full B&O Beosound 2 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~45Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 11.8” (300 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.5” + passive radiator woofer |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, Optical, Chromecast |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | 360-degree |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes (Google Assistant) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Sonos Era 300
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Denon Home 350
- B&O Beosound 2 vs JBL Authentics 500
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&W Zeppelin Pro
- B&O Beosound 2 vs B&O Beosound Level
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- B&O Beosound 2 vs Amazon Echo Pop
- See all 29 comparisons
#7 Denon Home 350: $749.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: RTINGS measured it getting pretty loud with lossless streaming support from platforms like Roon, Tidal and Spotify, and found its Alexa voice assistant support outstanding, with hands-free far-field mics built directly into the speaker. Two 0.75-inch tweeters, two 2-inch midrange drivers and two 6.5-inch woofers are each driven by their own Class D amp, six in total, and the companion app adds bass and treble sliders for room-to-room tuning.
Cons: RTINGS measured a slightly boomy sound profile out of the box and disappointing directivity, so the sound changes noticeably off to the side of the cabinet, plus compression artifacts as it nears max volume. Bluetooth latency measured extremely high on both iOS and Android, making it a poor match for watching video over Bluetooth, and there’s no battery, so it’s an indoor, mains-powered speaker only.
Full Denon Home 350 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HEOS) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15” x 9.1” x 7.1” (380 x 230 x 180 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 0.75-inch tweeters, 2x 2-inch midrange drivers, 2x 6.5-inch woofers |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble sliders) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (HEOS multi-room, stereo pair with a second Home 350) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | HEOS app streaming (Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, SoundCloud, TuneIn), AirPlay 2, Roon |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Denon Home 350 vs B&O Beosound 2
- Denon Home 350 vs Sonos Era 300
- Denon Home 350 vs JBL Authentics 500
- Denon Home 350 vs B&W Zeppelin Pro
- Denon Home 350 vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Denon Home 350 vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Denon Home 350 vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Denon Home 350 vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- See all 29 comparisons






