Home Speakers / Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) vs JBL Authentics 500
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) vs JBL Authentics 500
JBL Authentics 500
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
Wins overall by 0.8 points
Quick Verdict
The JBL Authentics 500 takes this by a clear 0.8 points. Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in. The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) and JBL Authentics 500 are both closely matched home Speaker models, and the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) is $530 cheaper than the JBL Authentics 500 ($219.99 vs $749.95). On Bass, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — low-end weight and extension. On Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.8 vs 8.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. On Sound Quality, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. Overall, the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) | JBL Authentics 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 | $749.95 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Alexa+ | Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously — both wake words are live at once |
| Drivers | 1x 3.75-inch high-excursion woofer plus three full-range drivers firing left, right and up; reputable outlets disagree on the full-range driver size and Amazon does not publish it | 3.1 channel — 3x 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters, 3x 2.75-inch midrange woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer |
| Power Output (W) | Not published by the manufacturer | 270 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4/5GHz), plus Ethernet |
| Bluetooth | LE 5.3 | 5.3 with Auracast (SBC and AAC) |
| Streaming Protocols | Alexa Cast, Spotify Connect and Amazon Music Ultra HD; no AirPlay 2 and no Chromecast | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and Amazon HD Music |
| Multiroom System | Alexa Multi-Room Music, plus Alexa Home Theater with up to 5 devices | Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast groups and AirPlay 2 — all three major ecosystems |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Home Hub | Yes, full — Zigbee, Matter and Thread 1.3 border router, plus an eero extender | No — it is an Alexa and Google endpoint, not a hub. No Matter, Thread or Zigbee |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| Line In | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Graphite, Glacier White | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. If that is what you are buying for, the JBL Authentics 500 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multiroom
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.8 against 8.0 — a 1.8-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on which assistants are built in and how well they work. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) and JBL Authentics 500 are level here, at 7.0/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) scores 9.5/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • You want to spend less — it's $530 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is home-theater.
Choose the JBL Authentics 500 if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.8/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size).
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Your main use case is multiroom.
Pros & Cons
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio at $219
- +Complete smart-home hub — Zigbee, Matter and Thread together
- +40% smaller than the original while keeping serious drivers
- +Can anchor an Alexa Home Theater with a Fire TV
Cons
- −Bass is weaker than the 2019 Echo Studio it replaces, which reviewers consistently flag
- −The optical and aux input of the first generation was removed, a real loss for TV use
- −Downmixes stereo to mono and compresses harder at high volume
- −No AirPlay or Chromecast, so it is Alexa-only for network audio
JBL Authentics 500
Pros
- +The least locked-in speaker here — AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Alexa, Google and Roon all at once
- +The only speaker here running two voice assistants simultaneously
- +270W with a real 6.5-inch subwoofer, and it goes properly loud
- +Dolby Atmos Music plus a 3.5mm aux and USB-C input
Cons
- −Expensive at its $749.95 list, though street prices are often far lower
- −No Matter, Thread or Zigbee — it is an endpoint, not a hub
- −Google Assistant's long-term future is uncertain now that Google has moved its own hardware to Gemini
- −Large and heavy
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) or JBL Authentics 500 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the JBL Authentics 500 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Bass, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) or the JBL Authentics 500?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Bass (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — low-end weight and extension.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) or the JBL Authentics 500?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Connectivity (9.8/10 vs 8.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) or the JBL Authentics 500?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Sound Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) or the JBL Authentics 500?+
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) scores higher on Smart Home (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Is the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the JBL Authentics 500?+
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $219.99 versus $749.95. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Bass.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater. The JBL Authentics 500 is the better fit for multiroom.
What's the warranty on the Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) vs the JBL Authentics 500?+
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the JBL Authentics 500 ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Sonos Era 100 — $219.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.