Rated 5 out of
5
by
Not you from
Great sound
Got it to pair with one I had, stereo is mij d blowing
Date published: 2024-08-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Len114 from
Wow! No way this sounds this good
Extraordinarily musical with great balance and dynamics. I havent listened toy audiophile system since the 500 arrived
Date published: 2024-06-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
James west from
Incredible Value
Beautifully made outstanding sound quality and very easy to use
Date published: 2024-06-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Terence88 from
Love it!
This Auth 500 sounds Amazing! I felt like i was listening to them in person. Would recommend and would buy again! Keep up the amazing work JBL.
Date published: 2024-03-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Whistist from
Very good , but slight flaws
Very good , one issue I had is that it wouldn't connect to wifi untill I plugged in an ethernet cord after which I'm assuming it updated for who knows how long
Date published: 2024-03-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
storm144 from
Best sound ever. Beautiful classy sleek
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Authentics 500 impresses with a perfect blend of retro design and cutting-edge technology. Inspired by JBL's iconic 1970s designs, the speaker boasts a Quadrex grille, custom leather-like enclosure, and a premium aluminum frame, capturing the essence of classic JBL heritage.
Sound enthusiasts will appreciate the 270 watts of 3.1 channel sound, complemented by virtual Dolby Atmos for a truly immersive musical experience. The speaker features three 2.5mm tweeters, three 2.75" midrange woofers, and a 6.5" down firing subwoofer with a patented SlipStream bass port, ensuring clarity and depth in every note. Dolby Atmos Music content enhances the audio further, available from compatible streaming services accessible through the JBL One app.
Connectivity options are extensive, with Wi-Fi enabling seamless access to podcasts, internet radio, and various streaming services such as AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast built-in, and Spotify Connect. The ability to take calls without interrupting the music adds to its user-friendly design.
Simultaneous availability of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa on one device provides flexibility in controlling smart home devices and accessing music streaming services. Bluetooth streaming is also seamless, allowing easy playlist sharing with any Bluetooth-enabled device.
Intuitive controls on the speaker, along with the JBL One app, allow users to personalize their audio experience by adjusting volume, bass, and treble levels. Multi-room playback, facilitated by the Google Home or Amazon Alexa app, makes it easy to set the mood throughout the house.
A notable feature is the automatic self-tuning, calibrating audio performance for every location each time the speaker powers up. Additionally, the Authentics 500 is crafted with sustainability in mind, incorporating 100% recycled fabric, 85% recycled plastics, and 50% aluminum. The FSC-certified carton box further aligns with eco-friendly practices.
Technical specifications reveal the speaker's versatile capabilities, from a broad frequency response of 40Hz - 20kHz to various audio inputs including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB. The speaker's dimensions and weight provide a balance between substantial presence and practicality.
In conclusion, the JBL Authentics 500 is not just a speaker; it's an audio masterpiece that seamlessly blends retro aesthetics with modern technology, delivering a rich and sustainable audio experience.I highly recommend JBL’s Authentics 500.
Date published: 2024-02-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Van Goghs Ear from
Attractive and Formidable
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Authentics 500 is a masterwork of engineering sure to please even the most demanding "ear"! Solidly built to be a welcome fixture in your home, owing to it's impeccable good looks and retro styling. It has all the functionality of a modern system regarding interfacing with other devices. The Bluetooth engineering works particularly well and delivers beautiful, well balanced sound, from highs to lows. A worthy purchase for any audiophile who values his music and the overall listening experience.
Date published: 2024-02-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bamaboy81 from
Great speaker
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is one of the best sounding speakers from jbl i have used yet. I love jbl products. One of the best companies. All there products are great. Haven’t had an anything bad from them and I’ve probably tried every product they have almost.
Date published: 2024-01-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Heath23 from
Phenomenal Speaker with great looks & sound.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is a beautiful speaker! Its sharp look & modern design is not only classy but nostalgic. The vintage style knobs illuminate as they are dialed up. The trebile and bass knobs also glow when being adjusted. The sound quality is rich and has an unimaginable volume capacity. Full of crisp sound, the bass if desired can be added at full force & not be overwhelming. It is very easy to customize sound to the user's enjoyment. Even at a lower volume setting, one's listening experience is exceptional. While using this speaker your music is elevated similar to that of a music studio.
Date published: 2024-01-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jca5 from
This is sooo impressive!!!!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This speaker came exceptionally packaged as usual. This piece complements any room and almost looks like a guitar amp sitting on your furniture. Beautiful retro look. The sound is amazing! I turned this up full blast and nothing was distorted, no popping or crackling. Crystal clear sound!
My only complaint was a sticker advertisement they had stuck to it. It was ridiculously hard to get off and left the sticky residue behind. Complete overkill with the glue in my opinion. But otherwise, exceptional product. Very happy.
Date published: 2024-01-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jduun2 from
Here comes the boom!!!!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is definitely a quality speaker with retro looks that has AMAZING sound!! The retro look has let my wife allow me to place it in our family room (thank you mid century house). And i thought this would provide whole room sound. This thing puts our whole house sound!! WOW!!
The bass is incredible, the highs are perfect, and the ATMOS makes sure everyone in earshot gets those quality tones. I love this speaker and it provided excellent background music during a recent holiday party.
The controls are simple on the unit itself, but you can really get the best sound when you use the JBL One app to calibrate the speaker for its location, wherever you decide to put it.
I highly recommend this speaker!!
Date published: 2024-01-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Whiskerswoman from
Authentic 500 Rocks
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I feel in love with the JBL Authentic at first sight. This speaker takes me back. With the waffle look front. Leather trim, it is amazing. So 70's style. I placed in my front room , where I recive guest. Everyone has ask what is that !! I immediately demonstrated the features of this retro speaker. Really cool to have treble and bass controls. Of course the features of wi-fi and bluetooth makes this sweet. Then add in ethernet input, aux input is a huge plus. My plan is to get a turntable and play albums that I haven't heard on turntable in years. The fact it must be plugged in is fine , as I plan to leave in my sitting room. The speaker isn't intended to be portable. Just as our HI -FI Speakers from back in the day. I have only turned it up half way with guest present , and they couldn't believe the clearness of the sound. The wi-fi will ensure updates are done as they become available. I have it on my JBL ONE app. I must say this is such a wonderful speaker for music lovers, podcast enthusiasts and more. I have recommended and showed to lots of friends. Thank you JBL for another outstanding product. I love love the nostalgia of the Authentic 500.
Date published: 2024-01-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
fayhope from
Superior sound! Great look!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I’m so excited about the JBL Authentics 500. I set it up in the kitchen on top of my coffee bar. It’s a little heavy for a regular wall shelf so a counter, entertainment center shelf or something sturdy is recommended. The sound is crisp and clear with very firm Bass notes. The sub is down firing underneath while the highs are behind the mesh cubed grill. It’s very nice. Two large bass port exit the back and the enclosure is covered with a textured leather material that compliments it well. The battery life is excellent!
Date published: 2024-01-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ACJ253 from
Beautifully classic
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This speaker has some majorly solid style. The gold toned metal, the leathery textured main body, and the soft grid pattern on the front blend beautifully. It’s about at the max of what I would consider a mid sized speaker and the sound quality is impressive for its size - well rounded. Considering I listen to a wide range of music, the fine adjust of the bass and treble are great. The dials on the top turn super smooth and have a nice tactile feel.
Date published: 2024-01-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JonathonF from
Live concert in your own home!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL never fails to put a smile on my face when listening to music with their products! This JBL Authentics 500 retro looking smart home speaker is amazing. Punchy lows, powerful mids, and crisp highs! Everything down to the clean brass / gold accents on the speaker, beautiful grille, to the packaging screams classy. This absolutely can be a center piece and doesnt need to be hidden away like other speakers you may have in your home. As classy and sophisticated the JBL Authentics 500 looks, it does not play around when you need to transform your home into your very own live concert or night club. At it's top volume, you have no distortion and even your neighbors across the street will be enjoying the quality of sound this speaker gives. At this point you don't need to read anymore and just buy this speaker but... it gets even better!! This is a wi-fi speaker meaning you can pair the JBL Authentics 500 with all of your other wi-fi enabled smart speakers in home! An absolute joy to shake your home and feel like you are front stage at your favorite band's concert! If you are contemplating getting this to add speakers to your home or even have this as a stand-alone, you will not be dissappinted in the slightest bit!
Date published: 2024-01-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Peijae from
The JBL Authentics 500 – A Stellar Reimagining!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Congratulations JBL! The Authentics 500 is one of those rare speakers you get excited to listen to, time and time again. With a retro heritage style, adorned with leatherette, thick foam and futuristic knobs, the JBL is an ode to speakers past with high end modern components. The 500 is by far my favorite compact audio solution for high quality music listening, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi streaming and 3.1 home audio. It is simply fantastic!
The Authentics 500 is a beast of a speaker, with mind blowing sound quality and a powerful presence. The JBL has subtle crystalline highs, forward clean mids and deep liquid bass, so it should please the listener with it’s warm vintage sound. With the high and low knobs, plus the in-app EQ, users can dial in the neutral frequency to ones listening taste. Though I do wish with the volume steps would be tighter and the EQ had presets and a larger band of adjustment. Other than that, I am absolutely floored by the sound quality of the 500, which sounds twice as good as the price point of the speaker. The JBL is perfect for easy listening under 50% and is a literal powerhouse above that threshold.
The other incredible feature of the JBL Authentics is its ease of use. Compared to other Wi-Fi sound systems, this one adapts to audio input on the fly, allowing for multiple sources to toggle the sound back and forth seamlessly. Whether it is a voice assistant, Bluetooth or direct aux audio, the playback remains flawless without any detectible artifacts, beeps or blips. The automatic sound adjustment for different locations seems to work well, so long as the listener is mindful about the positioning of the unit. The Authentics is a truly simple sound system that allows for total mechanical control vs in app constraints, allowing for a wonderful user experience.
All in all, the JBL Authentics 500 is the compact audio system that I have been waiting for, with amazing sound, sleek looks and intuitive features. There is really nothing I would change, other than the above mentioned, as the speaker does nearly everything right. If you are either looking for a single room speaker for your home or want this as your primary sound system, it will work great either way. With enough power and volume for parties or a beautiful low volume for easy listening, the JBL knocks it out of the park. I believe this may be the best audiophile speaker out there for the price and would love to try the JBL Authentics 300 to complement its larger counterpart. This is easily a 9/10 speaker and with some tweaks on the app, JBL may have created the perfect speaker system for anyone wanting the vintage look, compact size and true Hi-Fi sound!
Date published: 2024-01-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kellyizthebest from
JBL Authentics 500 is incredible
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Our family is in love with the JBL Authentics 500. This smart speaker does it all with incredible sound. The retro design is very esthetically pleasing and looks nice in our living room. I love the way this speaker looks! This speaker comes with built in Alexa and Google Assist. Set up for these features are easy and fast! Once you download the app it walks you through the simple setup in minutes. I love that you have both ok google and alexa simultaneously working on this speaker, it is such an amazing feature to have both. JBL always has the best sound and Authentics 500 did not disappoint! My kids love how loud this speaker is and I love how clear the sound is. Even older songs have amazing sound, I was blown away with the clarity and loudness, usually older songs have horrible sound qualify but not on this speaker. The base is rich and deep and also adjustable with the knob on the top of the speaker. The underneath subwoofer sets this apart and makes such a difference for the base in this speaker. Highs and mids are crystal clear. The sound is so clean its like a live concert is in the room with you. This speaker is superior to any speaker I have ever heard. This speaker is truly made for everyone, with the smart features and also the on speaker controls it can accommodate all. Not only can you control this speaker through voice commands you can control it from your phone anywhere in your home along with hear it through your whole home. My kids love the speaker to have a dance party, jam out and I love that while doing chores I can hear it no matter what room I am in. Also we like to listen to podcast and the sound of the voices are literally better than if the person was actually in the room talking. If I had to use one word to describe this speaker it is incredible! My kids got this for Christmas and they have been in love with it ever since. There is not a day that goes by that they are not using their JBL Authentics 500, the biggest downfall is when my kids fight over who gets to choose the next song! I beyond highly recommend this product, words can not describe how impressive it is you have to hear it to believe it!!
Date published: 2024-01-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JUVIE805 from
Another great JBL authentics product.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I like this new authentics 500 it has every option that i like in a speaker, the sound quality is great and loud,i like the option of use my google and alexa, also the app works great with the 500, it's a great product good job JBL i love my new authentics 500.
Date published: 2024-01-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
b4d27 from
What a Beast!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This speaker sounds absolutely amazing! Deep, effortless bass, and beautiful, open mids and sparkly highs, regardless of volume level. And let me just say, that the volume level will get really, REALLY loud. I tested it in a large warehouse, with 18 foot ceilings, and at full volume, it could be heard outside of the (closed) warehouse, across the parking lot that's basically 2 lanes wide, and inside the next building! But, even at that volume, it's still absolutely free of distortion. If you have a fairly large space to fill with sound, and don't want to bring a heavy amp and speakers, this guy weighs less than 20 pounds and will fill the bill. Lots of connectivity options from BT to Wifi, USB, ethernet, and even an aux input. Streaming and voice commands work fine, just requires a bit of patience at setup. The only knock that I have, and it's because I've gotten used to using the headphones app, is that there isn't a proper eq in the JBL One app, so you just have overall bass/treble controls, but as good as this thing sounds, that's only a very slight ding. According to my daughter-in-law's first statement when she saw it, it is "very aesthetically pleasing" and I couldn't agree more (but then I turned it up, and couldn't hear any more of her words). The retro grill design and gold trim brings back fond memories of the 'L' line that were all beautiful and pleasing to the ears, and the "leather" cover adds a really nice touch. Absolutely amazing speaker.
Date published: 2024-01-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jcarmodern from
Amazing
Excellent sound for a home Stereo. Very clear and the base is amazing.
Date published: 2024-01-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
trfields76 from
Awesome sound and a beautiful design!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We absolutely love the JBL Authentics 500! Sound quality is so amazing and robust. We decided to use it in our 1700 sq foot basement. It fills the entire space with sound. Part of the area is for working out and the other part Is a workshop/crafts area. With the volume at half, the sound is amazing and the bass really hits. With its retro style and amazing audio it’s a complete package.
Date published: 2024-01-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Baynes from
Dynamic Audio!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I really LOVE this speaker. The sound quality is unmatched with the ability to Autotune to the room it is in. The elegant design looks great in my office with a timeless style. The mix of tweeters, woofers and sub-woofer works with all genres of music. Just really I had another Authentics speaker for Multi-Room playback.
Date published: 2024-01-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jim C from
JBL hits a home run with Authentics 500 Speaker!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL Authentic’s 500
First thing I’d like to say is, the JBL packaging this speaker comes in, is extremely impressive, and exhibits complete quality within from the moment you unpack it. It is a beautiful retro design, looking as if it were wrapped in black leather. The speaker is banded with a gold metal trim, along with what looks like a black foam front which is actually a durable black material wrapped around a plastic speaker grill and a gold JBL label on the left bottom corner which gives this speaker a fabulous appearance. On the top are two knobs one for bass and one for treble which light up when turning them. A third knob for volume. Through this control, you can pause your music, press twice skip forward press three times and go back a song. Again lighted control knob. 5.3 Bluetooth pairing and a moment button to play your favorite song list. I play a lot of internet radio and found I can move from one exclusive channel to another by pressing the control knob twice which is really nice. On the back is a, on/off switch for voice control, a aux plug for playback through an audio cable from another device. Ethernet connection to connect to home network, and a usb connection for mp3 playback. This all controlled as well through the JBL one app. You can personalize your audio settings with a equalizer in the app, set up voice control with google play Alexa etc., connect streaming services, listen to Dolby atmos through your streaming service, connect the speaker to your WI-FI network as well. One of the best features is the auto tune feature. The speaker automatically adjusts itself to the room when you plug it in, so you get the best sound for that room your in. Right behind the front speaker grill is three aluminum tweeters, three 2.75” midrange speakers and one 6 1/2” down facing subwoofer delivering crystal clear sound and a nice pounding bass. On the back, there is two bass ports helping I think the bass delivering a snapping pounding sound that is great for today’s music. The louder the volume the punchier the bass gets. You of course can get just the sound you like through the app’s equalizer. The Authentics 500 boasts 270 watts of power and a wide frequency range of 40htz-20khtz. The louder you go the crisper the sound and the bass really gets pounding. I spent some time going back and forth between the JBL boombox 3 and the Authentics 500. Both deliver incredible sound. However, the Authentics 500 does have the edge for power and clarity. And the appearance fits well in any decor. Especially if you have a retro style room as this has become popular again. The only suggestion I can make for JBL on this speaker is, that they put a flat plastic or maybe black metal grill on the bottom of the speaker cabinet to protect the facedown subwoofer from possible punctures. If you’re not careful with placement and something is sticking up, you could punch a hole in the speaker.
In conclusion, the JBL Authentics 500 is a fantastic sounding speaker with a really cool retro look. And very affordable price point. As usual JBL quality is very present and unsurpassed with this speaker.
Date published: 2024-01-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
B Dallah from
Just an amazing retro/classic speaker
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Well, I have to first start out with how great it looks !! It’s just so old school but with a feel and look to it but yet modern still ! It’s high quality as soon as you touch it and feel the weight of it. When it comes to sound it’s very impressive with how it’s able to produce such energy and feeling that you forget that it’s not even a large speaker and does not take up to much space at all. Very clean highs and good low bass as well. I love the adjustable treble and bass settings which allows you to fine tune the feel to your music taste. The bass is quite strong so as a warning if you live in an apartment they will hear you bumping this thing !! 😎😎
Date published: 2024-01-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Top_Gear_Fanboy from
Great sound quality and easy to use
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] To start off with I know this is a premium product but it defiantly feels it. The leather wrap feels very premium to the touch and all of the controls have a nice tactile feel. It also just looks very nice. The aesthetic is something that defiantly could be a solid fixture of a room and it lis a slightly retro look but I really like it. As for the sound I think that it sounds amazing and you can tune the sound with the knobs on the top or the app. Overall it just has a very solid experience and quality feel.
Date published: 2024-01-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
littlebethie25 from
Beautiful and classic with Unbeatable sound
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have had the privilege to welcome the authentic 500 into our home. Let me start by saying if I want the neighbors to hear my music… They’re going to hear my music Even though we live in the suburbs. The sheer volume capabilities from the speaker are amazing. Like a classic stereo system, you can change the treble and base with knobs on the unit. You can also change the volume manually, if you are using Bluetooth to your phone, you can also adjust it there. The design is sleek and classic, and easily fits into any decor. I personally love that since it connects to Alexa, or Google Home, the device stays on, and you can just speak what you want. This allows me to put it up high and not have to worry about reaching the controls. If you so, choose, you can connect it to other devices within the same family so you can have music throughout your home with one system. The built-in Wi-Fi is key and really just makes this the best of the best.
Date published: 2024-01-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
RockyKarthik from
One Word - SPECTACULAR
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It’s been a week I used this speaker and I still can’t stay away from it. This is undoubtedly the best speaker I’ve ever owned.
The Bass is terrific, WiFi connectivity is easy, Bluetooth is seamless and Alexa Smart Control is icing on the cake.
My favorite part of the speaker, more than its spectacular sound, is its Retro design.
I’ve never owned a retro speaker before and this one truly blew my mind. I’ve decided to redesign my entire room so this speaker can fit in it properly.
Fact that you can control the speaker through an App makes your life so easy.
This is a rare combination of top class performance and top notch style (design) and it excels in both the departments.
Date published: 2024-01-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Riverninja21 from
Very Impressive, I would purchase again.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Retro 70s look with current day sound. One impressive system for its size. Much bigger than the portable series for sure, but about the size of a medium box from Amazon. Corded, no battery. Ready to jam your house and about 3 in either direction into a block party. The 270 watts of power is more than enough. The clarity and just presense of sound makes you feel the music not just hear it. Very impressive, anyone who tells you otherwise is Bias. We donated our old 4 15" pioneer system to family, dont need it anymore with this and tales up about a 1/5 of the space. This thing sounds like the concert/ pro series JBL loud speakers, your Church or recent concert uses. Very Impressive. And Thank You JBL for not letting me ruin it by putting in a rechargable battery, so I want to take it everywhere.
Date published: 2024-01-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
mandivegas from
Another Great Quality JBL product Rich sound
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL Authentic 500 got it today .. Very excited you can tell by the weight of the box that's it's made well ... turned it on and wow the bass and the richness of the voice and rhythm of the music blew me away... JBL hit it out of the park on this one
Date published: 2024-01-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tedschaumburg from
Quality and eye catching smart speaker
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Authentics 500 is a quality eye catching smart speaker (has both Alexa and Google assistant built in) and the fine tuning controls on a downloadable app for your phone. Its look reminds me of classic JBL speakers I’ve seen as a kid, with its black with gold accents and a waffle-like Quadrex grille in the front of the speaker that resembles the 1970’s high end JBL speakers. Even though there is no dedicated RCA inputs for a turntable there is an audio in jack in which you can connect a 3.5mm Stereo Male to 2RCA Male cable, and it works well. I have used the smart feature to create alarms, as a sleep timer, get weather updates, music streaming and to get general information, the extent of its capabilities goes far beyond that all while enjoying the premium JBL sound. The speaker provides plenty of deep bass, and just has a premium sound. Altogether, the system delivers a frequency range of 40Hz to 20 kHz and 270W of power (I got this info from the spec sheet). All of these features make it much more than just a Bluetooth speaker, I believe it will stand the test of time and I will be enjoying it for years to come.
Date published: 2024-01-03
