JBL Authentics 500 review: Retro design with big, modern sound

Price When Reviewed

$699.99

Best Prices Today: JBL Authentics 500

$699.99

$699.99

JBL is one of the biggest manufacturers when it comes to portable Bluetooth speakers. Recently, however, the company seems to be focusing more on stationary tabletop units, partly because of the upgraded Charge 5 and Boombox models, both of which are now available with Wi-Fi connectivity, but most importantly because of the recently launched speakers in the new Authentics series.

JBL

The Authentics series was introduced at the end of the summer and consists of a total of three models: the smallest Authentics 200, followed by the portable Authentics 300 with its built-in battery, and finally the top-of-the-line Authentics 500, which is reviewed in this article.

Design & inputs

The JBL Authentics 500 is a hefty speaker, measuring 17.6 x 9.4 x 10 inches (WxHxD) and thus requiring a lot of space. The design is certainly cool, with the leather-patterned vinyl enclosure and molded foam-like front cover giving the speaker a distinct 70s vibe.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best Bluetooth speakers.

Andreas Bergsman

On the top are three fat, illuminated, and touch-activated knobs for controlling volume, bass, and treble. Between these are two small buttons, one to activate Bluetooth connectivity and one to play a saved favorite playlist at the touch of a button. The latter function supports a number of streaming services, such as Tidal, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. Unfortunately, the playlist button does not support Spotify.

On the back are connectors for ethernet and the power supply, plus a 3.5mm audio input and a USB-C output for charging external devices.

App and connectivity

You can use the accompanying JBL One app to set up the speaker and connect it to your home network. In the app, you also set which voice assistant you prefer to use, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, or both at the same time. (It’s worth noting that the JBL Authentic 500, along with the new Authentic 300 and 200, are the first smart speakers to allow for simultaneous usage of Alexa and Google Assistant; typically, you can only pick one or the other.)

If you have acquired more Authentics speakers, you can connect two or more speakers for a multiroom configuration via one of these assistants, or via Apple AirPlay 2. There is also an in-app equalizer as an alternative to the speaker’s physical controls.

The JBL Authentics 500 features three 25mm tweeters, three 2.75-inch midrange woofers, and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer. Altogether, we’re talking a 3.1 sound system with virtual Dolby Atmos and a total power output of 270 watts.

Andreas Bergsman

Thanks to built-in AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music, built-in Chromecast, and Spotify Connect, streaming music to the speaker is a breeze.

Performance

Finally, we come to the most important question: How does the JBL Authentics 500 perform sonically?

The answer: really good, bordering on amazingly good. Even when using just a single unit, which physically limits the soundstage, the Authentics 500 delivers a tangible sense of presence. The volume levels are impressive, and the downward-pointing sub delivers a powerful bass response that you can truly felt in your chest.

Specifications

• Reviewed: November 2023
• Model: Authentics 500
• Manufacturer: JBL
• Type: Wi-Fi speaker
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, ethernet, Bluetooth 5.3
• Integrated music services: Tidal, Amazon Music, Napster.
• Casting services: Apple AirPlay 2, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect
• Output power: 270W
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz
• Voice assistant: Yes (Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa)
• Weight: 25.1 pounds
• Size: 17.6 x 9.4 x 10 inches (WxHxD)
• Price: $699.99 on Amazon

This review originally appeared on M3, our sibling publication, and was translated from the original Swedish.