Which sounds better in a living room?

The JBL Authentics 500. Its 270 W amp, Dolby Atmos and 40 Hz to 20 kHz range are built for a room; the Auris Orbit S20 is a 20 W portable.

Which is better outdoors?

The Auris Orbit S20. It runs 14 hours on battery and is small enough to carry; the JBL has no battery and needs an outlet.

Is the JBL worth the extra money?

Only if you want smart assistants, Wi-Fi streaming and Atmos. At $449.95 versus $59.00 as of November 4, you are paying for room-filling sound, not portability.

Does the Auris work with Alexa or Google Assistant?

No. It is Bluetooth only; the JBL has both assistants built in.

Which has more reliable ratings?

The JBL: 4.6 out of 5 from 344 ratings. The Auris shows 4.9 out of 5 but from just 15 ratings.

Can I move the JBL between rooms?

Yes, but it needs power. It is 17.6 in wide and has no battery, so it suits a fixed spot better than the Auris.

JBL Authentics 500 Wireless Home Speaker vs Auris Orbit S20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Auracast

Buy the JBL Authentics 500 if you want one speaker for the living room: it is a 270 W, Dolby Atmos-capable smart speaker with Wi-Fi, Ethernet and both Alexa and Google Assistant. Buy the Auris Orbit S20 if you want something small and cheap to carry outdoors, at $59 at Auris as of November 4. The gap is large: $449.95 at Best Buy as of November 4 versus $59, and the JBL briefly hit $399.00 on October 30.

Today the Auris Orbit S20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Auracast costs $390.95 less at its best price.

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