Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | JBL - Link Music | Sonos - Move (1st gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 20 W | 60 W |
Between the Link Music and Move (1st gen), the Link Music comes out ahead in several specs, while the Move (1st gen) wins on output. Overall, the Link Music scores 49.8 and the Move (1st gen) scores 51.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (49.8 vs 51.1). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
The Link Music does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Move (1st gen) if you care most about output. Its strongest claims are output. The single most decisive one: Output — 200.00% more. 60 W vs 20 W.
Both ship with comparable dolby atmos, matter / thread, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: JBL - Link Music or Sonos - Move (1st gen)?
Sonos - Move (1st gen) leads the current Mars Score by 1.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare output against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose JBL - Link Music if…
JBL - Link Music does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Sonos - Move (1st gen) if…
Sonos - Move (1st gen) has the measurable edge on output w.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why JBL - Link Music wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Sonos - Move (1st gen) wins
- ▲Output — 200.00% more. 60 W vs 20 W.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | JBL - Link Music | Sonos - Move (1st gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 20 W | 60 Wlead |
| Stereo pairingⓘ | true | true |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | false | false |
| Built-in display | false | false |
Assistant & Smart Home
| Spec | JBL - Link Music | Sonos - Move (1st gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant | Alexa |
| Matter / Thread | false | false |
| Zigbee hub | false | false |