Home Speakers / JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Five
JBL Authentics 500 vs Sonos Five
JBL Authentics 500
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
Wins overall by 2.1 points
Quick Verdict
The JBL Authentics 500 takes this by a clear 2.1 points. Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in. The Sonos Five only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The JBL Authentics 500 and Sonos Five are both closely matched home Speaker models, and the Sonos Five is $151 cheaper than the JBL Authentics 500 ($599 vs $749.95). On Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work. On Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.8 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. On Smart Home, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (8.0 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. Overall, the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.6/10 for the Sonos Five. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | JBL Authentics 500 | Sonos Five |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749.95 | $599.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2020 |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously — both wake words are live at once | None — the Five has no microphone |
| Drivers | 3.1 channel — 3x 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters, 3x 2.75-inch midrange woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer | Six drivers — three tweeters (one centre, two angled) plus three midwoofers |
| Power Output (W) | 270 | Sonos publishes six class-D digital amplifiers but no wattage |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4/5GHz), plus Ethernet | 802.11a/b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4), plus Ethernet |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast (SBC and AAC) | None — deliberately omitted |
| Streaming Protocols | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and Amazon HD Music | Sonos app, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect |
| Multiroom System | Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast groups and AirPlay 2 — all three major ecosystems | Sonos |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Yes; two can also serve as home-theatre rears |
| Smart Home Hub | No — it is an Alexa and Google endpoint, not a hub. No Matter, Thread or Zigbee | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| Line In | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The JBL Authentics 500 and Sonos Five are level here, at 9.0/10 each. tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Bass
The JBL Authentics 500 and Sonos Five are level here, at 9.0/10 each. low-end weight and extension is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.0 — a 3.0-point margin on matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Five does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multiroom
The Sonos Five leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the JBL Authentics 500 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.8 against 5.5 — a 4.3-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Five does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Five does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 1.0 — a 8.0-point margin on which assistants are built in and how well they work. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Five does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Five does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the JBL Authentics 500 if…
- • Voice Assistant matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (which assistants are built in and how well they work).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.8/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (materials, finish and how it looks in a room).
- • Value matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 7.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
Choose the Sonos Five if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $151 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is home.
Pros & Cons
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
Sonos Five
Pros
- +The best pure sound and deepest bass of any single-box Sonos
- +The only Sonos here with a native 3.5mm line-in, no adapter required
- +Smart orientation sensing switches between stereo and mono automatically
- +No microphone, which some buyers actively want
Cons
- −Six-year-old hardware at a price that has gone up rather than down
- −Wi-Fi 4 and no Bluetooth at all
- −No voice control and no Atmos
- −Trueplay tuning is still iOS-only on this model
- −Widely expected to be the next Sonos product replaced
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the JBL Authentics 500 or Sonos Five 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 Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Sonos Five?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Voice Assistant (9.0/10 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work.
Which is better for Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Sonos Five?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Connectivity (9.8/10 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Which is better for Smart Home, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Sonos Five?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Smart Home (8.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Which is better for Design & Build, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Sonos Five?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Design & Build (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — materials, finish and how it looks in a room.
Is the JBL Authentics 500 worth the price difference over the Sonos Five?+
The Sonos Five is the cheaper option at $599 versus $749.95. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Voice Assistant.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The JBL Authentics 500 is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home or voice-control. The Sonos Five is the better fit for home.
What's the warranty on the JBL Authentics 500 vs the Sonos Five?+
The JBL Authentics 500 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sonos Five 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 300 — $479.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.