Between the Home Speaker 500 and Authentics 500, the Home Speaker 500 comes out ahead in several specs, while the Authentics 500 wins on dolby atmos and output. Overall, the Home Speaker 500 scores 35 and the Authentics 500 scores 83 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Authentics 500 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 48.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
The Home Speaker 500 doesn't pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Authentics 500 if you care most about dolby atmos and output. Its strongest claims are dolby atmos, output.
Both ship with comparable voice assistant, matter / thread, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Authentics 500 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Bose - Home Speaker 500 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why JBL - Authentics 500 wins
- ▲Has Dolby Atmos.
- ▲Output: 270 W vs 0 W.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Bose - Home Speaker 500 | JBL - Authentics 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 0 W | 270 Wlead |
| Stereo pairing | true | true |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | false | truelead |
Assistant & Smart Home
| Spec | Bose - Home Speaker 500 | JBL - Authentics 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Voice assistant | Alexa,Google Assistant | Alexa,Google Assistant |
| Matter / Thread | false | false |
| Zigbee hub | false | false |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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