JBL Authentics 500 Hi-Fidelity Smart Home Speaker
Fill any room with cutting-edge sound and retro style with the JBL Authentics 500. From its Quadrex grille to its custom leather-like enclosure, the speaker was inspired by JBLâs iconic â70s designs. Immerse yourself in high-definition lifelike sound with Dolby Atmos Music thanks to the Authentics 500âs aluminum tweeters and patented SlipStreamTM bass port. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa available simultaneously, you can play your favorite music, control your smart home devices, and more, hands-free.
Fill any room with cutting-edge sound and retro style with the JBL Authentics 500. From its Quadrex grille to its custom leather-like enclosure, the speaker was inspired by JBLâs iconic â70s designs. Immerse yourself in high-definition lifelike sound with Dolby Atmos Music thanks to the Authentics 500âs aluminum tweeters and patented SlipStreamTM bass port. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa available simultaneously, you can play your favorite music, control your smart home devices, and more, hands-free.
Fill any room with cutting-edge sound and retro style with the JBL Authentics 500. From its Quadrex grille to its custom leather-like enclosure, the speaker was inspired by JBLâs iconic â70s designs. Immerse yourself in high-definition lifelike sound with Dolby Atmos Music thanks to the Authentics 500âs aluminum tweeters and patented SlipStreamTM bass port. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa available simultaneously, you can play your favorite music, control your smart home devices, and more, hands-free.
Fill any room with cutting-edge sound and retro style with the JBL Authentics 500. From its Quadrex grille to its custom leather-like enclosure, the speaker was inspired by JBLâs iconic â70s designs. Immerse yourself in high-definition lifelike sound with Dolby Atmos Music thanks to the Authentics 500âs aluminum tweeters and patented SlipStreamTM bass port. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa available simultaneously, you can play your favorite music, control your smart home devices, and more, hands-free.
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The lowest price for JBL Authentics 500 Hi-Fidelity Smart Home Speaker right now is $544.23 at ubuy.com.ph, compared across 18 retailers.
The all-time low was $544.23 on 11 June 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked â a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 11 June 2026.
Last updated at 11/06/2026 01:03:49
JBL Authentics 500, Superb Sound and Performance with Dolby Atmos Music, Inspired by Retro Design, Music Streaming Services via Built-in Wi-Fi, Voice
Free delivery
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JBL Authentics 500 - Wireless Home Speaker with Bluetooth, Voice Control, and Dolby Atmos, Multi Room Playback, Built in Alexa and Google Assistant
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
JBL Authentics 500 - Retro Style Home Speaker with Bluetooth, Voice Control, and Dolby
Delivery between 15â19 June $13.32
JBL Authentics 500 Wireless Home Speaker, 2.1-Channel Speaker Configuration, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, Virtual Dolby Atmos, Up to 270W of Power, Bluetooth,
Delivery between 16â22 June $266.18
JBL Authentics 500 Wifi Speaker
Next-day delivery $11
JBL Authentics 500 Smart Home Speaker
Delivery $15.99
JBL Authentics 500 Portable Smart Home Speaker with Wi-Fi Retro Design | JBL Dubai
JBL Authentics 500 Wireless Smart Home WIFI Speaker
Free delivery
JBL Authentics 500 - Retro Style Home Speaker with Bluetooth, Voice Control, and Dolby
Delivery between 18â20 June $14.47
Mastercard $100 OFF | JBL Authentics 500 Wireless Smart Home Speaker (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Connection)
Delivery $178.82
originally posted on JBL
I love the retro design! It is a very attractive high end unit that is well designed. It has the easy to use features we have become so accustom to with that retro look that is making such a come back. It has the latest technology and built in wifi that can pair with google home or alexa (my personal favorite, hey girl!) or whatever streaming you prefer to use.The unit is sleek, simple, and easy to use. I really like the how the controls light up when adjusting the levels. It has volume control, tremble, bass, bluetooth, and heart button to access your play list. To customize the experience more you can download the JBL one app which allows you to adjust the equalizer, check wifi settings, access your favorite music services, and connect to your tv.The sound ... MoreI love the retro design! It is a very attractive high end unit that is well designed. It has the easy to use features we have become so accustom to with that retro look that is making such a come back. It has the latest technology and built in wifi that can pair with google home or alexa (my personal favorite, hey girl!) or whatever streaming you prefer to use.The unit is sleek, simple, and easy to use. I really like the how the controls light up when adjusting the levels. It has volume control, tremble, bass, bluetooth, and heart button to access your play list. To customize the experience more you can download the JBL one app which allows you to adjust the equalizer, check wifi settings, access your favorite music services, and connect to your tv.The sound quality does not go down when the volume is turned all the way up, it pumps it out crystal clear. You can feel the bass. I turned it all the way up and had to tell my neighbors I would promise to turn it down after we enjoyed a few songs mind you the houses are far apart! It was like we were having our own concert.Overall, I was very impressed with the JBL Authentics 500 such a fun 1970âs design.
originally posted on JBL
The JBL Authentics 500 is absolutely beautiful and the sound quality is excellent. The retro vibe of speaker compliments any room. It has black with subtle gold trim that frames the speaker & shape of the grille is pleasing visually. It truly makes the speaker one-of-a-kind. I temporarily placed this in my college age sons room at home. He appreciates the Dolby Atmos 3D spatial sound, itâs like his own mini concert of music. He uses bluetooth - AirPlay 2, and Spotify to stream with ease. Using the JBL One app on his phone to control the speaker (or if needed the controls on top of speaker). When I use it, I appreciate the automatic self tuning and being able to use Alexa that is built in. The sound quality is rich and balanced with so much clarity - you can feel the ... MoreThe JBL Authentics 500 is absolutely beautiful and the sound quality is excellent. The retro vibe of speaker compliments any room. It has black with subtle gold trim that frames the speaker & shape of the grille is pleasing visually. It truly makes the speaker one-of-a-kind. I temporarily placed this in my college age sons room at home. He appreciates the Dolby Atmos 3D spatial sound, itâs like his own mini concert of music. He uses bluetooth - AirPlay 2, and Spotify to stream with ease. Using the JBL One app on his phone to control the speaker (or if needed the controls on top of speaker). When I use it, I appreciate the automatic self tuning and being able to use Alexa that is built in. The sound quality is rich and balanced with so much clarity - you can feel the beat of bass and the quality remains with volume increased. The whole family loves this beautiful, quality sounding, retro feeling speaker!
originally posted on JBL
The Authentics 500 has amazing depth of sound and even more so with the the JBL One app. With in the app you can set up custom EQ control settings. The 500 is super easy to use and quick to set up! The device paired up seamlessly with my phone and immediately after I was playing songs from my Library and Streaming services. There is an integration with my home assistant of choice but I have not attempted to use that yet. The bass and treble dials on the do provide some adjustment my experience was better served using the JBL One app. The clarity and volume of sound was impressive and definitely room filling. The Authentics 500 is a very capable device, able to play a wide range of music ranging from acoustic to R&B/Dance. The amount of bass that comes from this ... MoreThe Authentics 500 has amazing depth of sound and even more so with the the JBL One app. With in the app you can set up custom EQ control settings. The 500 is super easy to use and quick to set up! The device paired up seamlessly with my phone and immediately after I was playing songs from my Library and Streaming services. There is an integration with my home assistant of choice but I have not attempted to use that yet. The bass and treble dials on the do provide some adjustment my experience was better served using the JBL One app. The clarity and volume of sound was impressive and definitely room filling. The Authentics 500 is a very capable device, able to play a wide range of music ranging from acoustic to R&B/Dance. The amount of bass that comes from this beautiful cabinet will amaze you. This device has AUX, USB-C and Ethernet connections in the back. The 500 has built in WiFi allowing you to play internet sourced audio.
| Product Types | Smart Speakers |
| AC Power Adapter | AC 100-240V |
| Wireless Networking | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, USB Type-C |
| Audio Connector Type | Auxiliary Input |
JBL Authentics 500, Superb Sound and Performance with Dolby Atmos Music, Inspired by Retro Design, Music Streaming Services via Built-in Wi-Fi, Voice
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
JBL Authentics 500 - Wireless Home Speaker with Bluetooth, Voice Control, and Dolby Atmos, Multi Room Playback, Built in Alexa and Google Assistant
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
JBL Authentics 500 - Retro Style Home Speaker with Bluetooth, Voice Control, and Dolby
Delivery between 15â19 June $13.32
JBL Authentics 500 Wireless Home Speaker, 2.1-Channel Speaker Configuration, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, Virtual Dolby Atmos, Up to 270W of Power, Bluetooth,
Delivery between 16â22 June $266.18
JBL Authentics 500 Wifi Speaker
Next-day delivery $11
I love the retro design! It is a very attractive high end unit that is well designed. It has the easy to use features we have become so accustom to with that retro look that is making such a come back. It has the latest technology and built in wifi that can pair with google home or alexa (my personal favorite, hey girl!) or whatever streaming you prefer to use.The unit is sleek, simple, and easy to use. I really like the how the controls light up when adjusting the levels. It has volume control, tremble, bass, bluetooth, and heart button to access your play list. To customize the experience more you can download the JBL one app which allows you to adjust the equalizer, check wifi settings, access your favorite music services, and connect to your tv.The sound ... MoreI love the retro design! It is a very attractive high end unit that is well designed. It has the easy to use features we have become so accustom to with that retro look that is making such a come back. It has the latest technology and built in wifi that can pair with google home or alexa (my personal favorite, hey girl!) or whatever streaming you prefer to use.The unit is sleek, simple, and easy to use. I really like the how the controls light up when adjusting the levels. It has volume control, tremble, bass, bluetooth, and heart button to access your play list. To customize the experience more you can download the JBL one app which allows you to adjust the equalizer, check wifi settings, access your favorite music services, and connect to your tv.The sound quality does not go down when the volume is turned all the way up, it pumps it out crystal clear. You can feel the bass. I turned it all the way up and had to tell my neighbors I would promise to turn it down after we enjoyed a few songs mind you the houses are far apart! It was like we were having our own concert.Overall, I was very impressed with the JBL Authentics 500 such a fun 1970âs design.
The JBL Authentics 500 is absolutely beautiful and the sound quality is excellent. The retro vibe of speaker compliments any room. It has black with subtle gold trim that frames the speaker & shape of the grille is pleasing visually. It truly makes the speaker one-of-a-kind. I temporarily placed this in my college age sons room at home. He appreciates the Dolby Atmos 3D spatial sound, itâs like his own mini concert of music. He uses bluetooth - AirPlay 2, and Spotify to stream with ease. Using the JBL One app on his phone to control the speaker (or if needed the controls on top of speaker). When I use it, I appreciate the automatic self tuning and being able to use Alexa that is built in. The sound quality is rich and balanced with so much clarity - you can feel the ... MoreThe JBL Authentics 500 is absolutely beautiful and the sound quality is excellent. The retro vibe of speaker compliments any room. It has black with subtle gold trim that frames the speaker & shape of the grille is pleasing visually. It truly makes the speaker one-of-a-kind. I temporarily placed this in my college age sons room at home. He appreciates the Dolby Atmos 3D spatial sound, itâs like his own mini concert of music. He uses bluetooth - AirPlay 2, and Spotify to stream with ease. Using the JBL One app on his phone to control the speaker (or if needed the controls on top of speaker). When I use it, I appreciate the automatic self tuning and being able to use Alexa that is built in. The sound quality is rich and balanced with so much clarity - you can feel the beat of bass and the quality remains with volume increased. The whole family loves this beautiful, quality sounding, retro feeling speaker!
The Authentics 500 has amazing depth of sound and even more so with the the JBL One app. With in the app you can set up custom EQ control settings. The 500 is super easy to use and quick to set up! The device paired up seamlessly with my phone and immediately after I was playing songs from my Library and Streaming services. There is an integration with my home assistant of choice but I have not attempted to use that yet. The bass and treble dials on the do provide some adjustment my experience was better served using the JBL One app. The clarity and volume of sound was impressive and definitely room filling. The Authentics 500 is a very capable device, able to play a wide range of music ranging from acoustic to R&B/Dance. The amount of bass that comes from this ... MoreThe Authentics 500 has amazing depth of sound and even more so with the the JBL One app. With in the app you can set up custom EQ control settings. The 500 is super easy to use and quick to set up! The device paired up seamlessly with my phone and immediately after I was playing songs from my Library and Streaming services. There is an integration with my home assistant of choice but I have not attempted to use that yet. The bass and treble dials on the do provide some adjustment my experience was better served using the JBL One app. The clarity and volume of sound was impressive and definitely room filling. The Authentics 500 is a very capable device, able to play a wide range of music ranging from acoustic to R&B/Dance. The amount of bass that comes from this beautiful cabinet will amaze you. This device has AUX, USB-C and Ethernet connections in the back. The 500 has built in WiFi allowing you to play internet sourced audio.
I received this new JBL product and wow. The setup was easy, extremely easy. After I plugged in the Authentics 500, I installed the JBL One app. The sound quality was amazing. The Authentics 500 seemed to have connected to my phone Bluetooth almost immediately. The user has control of the sound through the Treble and the Bass controls located on top, as well as the main volume. The system as whole produced a beautiful full crystal-clear sound. With a nice touch of the adjustable JBL low end sound produced by the 6 in. downward firing speaker. There are two ports in the back that help the 6-inch sub, that help move the air and sound as the speakers flex. There are 3 tweeters and 3 mid-woofers front loaded to produce an amazing sound. The beautifully crafted cabinet ... MoreI received this new JBL product and wow. The setup was easy, extremely easy. After I plugged in the Authentics 500, I installed the JBL One app. The sound quality was amazing. The Authentics 500 seemed to have connected to my phone Bluetooth almost immediately. The user has control of the sound through the Treble and the Bass controls located on top, as well as the main volume. The system as whole produced a beautiful full crystal-clear sound. With a nice touch of the adjustable JBL low end sound produced by the 6 in. downward firing speaker. There are two ports in the back that help the 6-inch sub, that help move the air and sound as the speakers flex. There are 3 tweeters and 3 mid-woofers front loaded to produce an amazing sound. The beautifully crafted cabinet of black leather feel and trimmed out in bronze-like aluminum framing around the face of the speaker grill. The back plane has a power connector, and USB C and cat45 jack for easy connecting to your home automation, computer etc. This speaker will be replacing my current audio system in the living room.
Wow! This home speaker blew my mind the moment I unboxed the JBL Authentics 500. It definitely has some weight and the size make it feel like a premium product. The metallic bronze finish and pattern on the speaker grill look very retro and fit in really well with the living room. Setting up the speaker was simple, connect the power cord to the speaker and connect it to the wall outlet. The quick start guide had me download the JBL One app to complete the setup. After pairing the device it prompted for a software update that took about 2 minutes to complete. A nice addition in the app is the option to set the EQ. It is nice that the speaker comes with an Ethernet port, in my case it's far from my router so I have to use WiFi. Google Assistant works well and it plays ... MoreWow! This home speaker blew my mind the moment I unboxed the JBL Authentics 500. It definitely has some weight and the size make it feel like a premium product. The metallic bronze finish and pattern on the speaker grill look very retro and fit in really well with the living room. Setting up the speaker was simple, connect the power cord to the speaker and connect it to the wall outlet. The quick start guide had me download the JBL One app to complete the setup. After pairing the device it prompted for a software update that took about 2 minutes to complete. A nice addition in the app is the option to set the EQ. It is nice that the speaker comes with an Ethernet port, in my case it's far from my router so I have to use WiFi. Google Assistant works well and it plays the music I want through my music subscriptions. I have another JBL speaker and I was able to easily use airplay to play the same music in multiple rooms. As far as volume, this speaker has plenty. I only went to about 50% and that more than enough to make the walls shake and sub could be felt in the walls a few rooms down the hall. Overall I'm really really really happy with this speaker. The only thing I don't like is the red LED light that comes on when I turn off the voice assistant microphone. I understand that this is to let the user know that the microphone is off but it would be nice if there was an update to turn off the LED status for when the mic is off. This way I don't see a red LED in the front speaker grill all day long. If you are thinking about purchasing it, do it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Keep up the good work JBL!
First thing I noticed about this speaker is it feels heavy and solid. No plastic box and metal speaker grill, this thing feels like furniture. Unboxing and set up is super easy. Just download the JBL One app and let it discover the speaker. Mine immediately downloaded an update which was seamless. This thing has the ability to stream from all kinds of music services, Youtube Music, iTunes, Spotify etc. It's also voice controlled so you can just use the assistant to stream and play. I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of having an "always on" voice recognition active in my house. There is a switch on the back panel which will turn off the voice control functions of this speaker, so my preference is to have it turned off. I don't like the feeling of being listened ... MoreFirst thing I noticed about this speaker is it feels heavy and solid. No plastic box and metal speaker grill, this thing feels like furniture. Unboxing and set up is super easy. Just download the JBL One app and let it discover the speaker. Mine immediately downloaded an update which was seamless. This thing has the ability to stream from all kinds of music services, Youtube Music, iTunes, Spotify etc. It's also voice controlled so you can just use the assistant to stream and play. I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of having an "always on" voice recognition active in my house. There is a switch on the back panel which will turn off the voice control functions of this speaker, so my preference is to have it turned off. I don't like the feeling of being listened to 24/7, and with past units, I've had it activate at very strange times when I didn't intend it to. Anyways, I'm using it in bluetooth mode. Pairing with my phone was super easy and fast. The sound is LOUD. You need to have this speaker sitting on a sturdy table or shelf as the down firing subwoofer will use that surface to enhance the sound. The top panel has volume, treble and bass controls in an old school knob format, but the perimeter of the knobs are illuminated to show what level you've turned them to. The volume knob is also a push button control for play/pause and skip forward functions. I found that the JBL One app gave more sound/EQ control than the top panel, but the top panel is good for quickly turning things up or down. I found the sound a little thinner than my Partybox 310 which stands to reason since the Partybox has a larger chamber to resonate. Overall this Authentics 500 has great sound and will definitely fill a good sized living room, and can hold it's own for parties or gatherings of people. It's roughly 17.5 inches wide and 9.5 inches deep so it'll fit most places and given the look of the unit, it blends well visually with lots of decor. Definitely does have a retro/hi-fi stereo look to it. The biggest negative that I can find is that this unit has no power button.control. Once you plug it in, it's on. Only way to truly turn it off is to unplug it from the wall. This is an odd choice to be honest, the way I have to use it is to open my bluetooth controls on my phone and disconnect it. I have other speakers in the house and garage and it's the only one that I have to do this to to use other units. Can't say I'm a fan of this but it's not a deal breaker in the end. Other aspect is the bass is either REALLY prominent, or the speaker tend to run kind of punchy in the mids and trebles. Some stuff I've worked hard to dial in a sound that sounds good to my ears. All that being said, I recommend this for amyone looking for a stylish speaker to be the primary hi-fi in their living room.
Where can I begin? The JBL Authentics 500 is simply ASTONISHING! It is hands down the best sounding speaker I have ever heard.Let's start with the design. This thing has some weight to it (around 20+ lbs.), but it's sturdy and feels well crafted. The finish along the top, sides and bottom has a smooth durable rubber feel that allows for a nice grip while holding. The front plate of the speaker has a nice ice-tray design that's surprisingly strong considering that sound is traveling through it from behind the front plate. I'm not sure of what the front plate material is, but it's stronger than it looks. In the lower left corner of the front plate is a nice bronze-colored JBL emblem which gives it a classic branded look to compliment the bronze-colored metal-feeling ... MoreWhere can I begin? The JBL Authentics 500 is simply ASTONISHING! It is hands down the best sounding speaker I have ever heard.Let's start with the design. This thing has some weight to it (around 20+ lbs.), but it's sturdy and feels well crafted. The finish along the top, sides and bottom has a smooth durable rubber feel that allows for a nice grip while holding. The front plate of the speaker has a nice ice-tray design that's surprisingly strong considering that sound is traveling through it from behind the front plate. I'm not sure of what the front plate material is, but it's stronger than it looks. In the lower left corner of the front plate is a nice bronze-colored JBL emblem which gives it a classic branded look to compliment the bronze-colored metal-feeling edge along the frame.On the top, there are three knobs (Volume, Treble and Bass), and two independent buttons (Bluetooth and "Moment" - a button with a heart symbol that allows for ease of access to music Playlists and other personalized features that you can control through the app). The Volume knob also serves as a button when you push it from the top that allows you to pause, skip and restart a song. I love the easily accessible knob for Bass and Treble control and that JBL placed it on the top rather than on the back side - it just makes it all the more convenient in my opinion so that you're not having to move the speaker to make adjustments.On the back, there are three inputs (Ethernet, Aux and USB-C), an input for the power cord, and toward the top, an On/Off switch for use of the Voice Assistant features. I love the On/Off switch because it's convenient for people who don't care for Assistants and would rather such a function be turned off. On the bottom is where the subwoofer rests. Note that I did not mention a Power button. I learned upon plugging the power cord in that it comes on automatically when connected to a power source.On to the sound: This, (and I'm not exaggerating), is by far the best sounding speaker I believe I've ever heard. I wasn't sure what to expect initially, but I was beyond impressed. I first connected Bluetooth from my iOS device and shortly after tested with an Android device, as well. Please note that this speaker gets LOUD - so I advise that you do NOT have your volume on 100 when you press play. Honestly, I have yet to turn the volume beyond around 60-65 because it is just that loud. Instead, I'd have my volume very low and increase it to my liking. This speaker could easily be used in a large venue for a party, so just keep that in mind if your neighbors are close or if you're in an Apartment. Being able to adjust the Bass and Treble by their knobs was so convenient as the sub is so powerful. You will feel your floor vibrating and your walls rumbling the louder you go. The sound is clear, pristine and has great mid-range which is often a concern for me when shopping for speakers. It has great clarity naturally, but adjusting the Treble to your liking is oh-so satisfying. And the Bass - phenomenal.I never tried the Ethernet cable function just due to the layout of my home and how much stuff I would have had to move to do so comfortably, but I did test the Aux input which provided equal quality in the sound as the Bluetooth. The only drawback with the Aux for me was when I connected the input into the speaker (but before putting the other end into my output device), the sound that often happens when you plug in an Aux cable occurred because the volume wasn't at zero, which led to it giving a low distortion sound. I turned the volume to zero while connecting the other end to my phone and started playing a song and turned it up gradually from there. I saw no difference in sound between Aux and Bluetooth.Next, I downloaded the JBL One app on both my iPhone and Android phone. The app is free, easy to install and very user-friendly. While the app currently offers 7 different streaming platform services, the one I subscribe to unfortunately wasn't one of the choices, and I saw no way to manually add it. This, however, wasn't so bad as I could jump to my app and begin playing music and the JBL One app would recognize what I was playing and still offered functionality to pause and skip songs; so if you're streaming app isn't there, don't worry because you can hop back & forth between apps. The app will also recognize if you have an Aux cable inserted which is really cool. The app also included the "Moment" feature which allows for automation along with streaming services, but I didn't test this since I don't have accounts with the services currently provided. The app does, however, also allow you to adjust the Bass and Treble in the app just as the knobs on top of the speaker do - but it also provided an added feature by letting you adjust the Mid-Range EQ which can only be done in the app. You can even save the EQ to your personal liking. You can also use AirPlay from iOS devices which I tested and it worked very well.The app also includes Product Settings where you can add your Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa Assistant. I added both and tested it out and my Google Assistant responds quicker than a different device I already own. There's a Product Information section in the app which I like because it gives you web access to the product guide. The physical guide booklet that comes packaged with the speaker also provides support in several different languages, so that's a bonus.All-in-all, I have no complaints about the sound or the app - this is literally the speaker I never knew that I needed. As an Audio Mixing Engineer for 15+ years, this speaker is also a huge addition to my Studio as listening to records I've mixed on it was refreshing in the way it highlighted certain mixing techniques I've used on different parts of different songs. This will be an enhancing game-changer for me going forward. There's only one concern that I have and it's that there's no designated Power button. I've once blown a perfectly fine speaker the moment I plugged it in because of the electrical current that occurred when it received power, so that's always been a concern of mine with speakers in particular. I don't know if maybe JBL placed some type of delay or protection built-in that defends against such a scenario, but luckily there was no 'pop' sound or sound/feel of vibration or distortion when I plugged this in, so hopefully this speaker never meets the same fate as one from my past.Having used several JBL products in the past, this is by far their greatest work if you ask me. 10 out of 10 perfection. Bravo, JBL... Bravo!
First thing I have to bring up is how beautiful the design is. I saw that it won an iF Design Award 2023. I had to look that up and apparently it's a very prestigious award for design and quality, if you got a minute look it up. The Authenticator 500 has a retro style with awesome quality sound. A couple of things about the style I like to call out is the waffle front speaker is firm to the touch, not spongy. The subtle gold trim and covered in a faux leather showing the grain.Nice touch! The back hookups are very straight forward, ethernet, AUX and USB C. Right on top it has easy control of volume, treble, bass and bluetooth sync. The setup was super easy with the JBL One App. Easy to sync and it had more options in the app that are pretty cool, equalizer, sync to ... MoreFirst thing I have to bring up is how beautiful the design is. I saw that it won an iF Design Award 2023. I had to look that up and apparently it's a very prestigious award for design and quality, if you got a minute look it up. The Authenticator 500 has a retro style with awesome quality sound. A couple of things about the style I like to call out is the waffle front speaker is firm to the touch, not spongy. The subtle gold trim and covered in a faux leather showing the grain.Nice touch! The back hookups are very straight forward, ethernet, AUX and USB C. Right on top it has easy control of volume, treble, bass and bluetooth sync. The setup was super easy with the JBL One App. Easy to sync and it had more options in the app that are pretty cool, equalizer, sync to your favorite music streaming service and control it from the app and a new one on me called âMomentsâ. This is where you select your favorite playlist from your streaming service and when you hit the heart button on the top of Authenticator it will automatically play the collection.Let's talk about integrations. It supports Chromecast, Apple Airplay, Spotify and has Alexa and Hey Google built in. Ill talk about Alexa,thatâs what I have. It's super responsive to my voice and it's just like having my Echo. A bonus is on the Amazon app it will sync your speakers and there is no delay in music playing from different rooms in your house.Speaking of sound, it is big and rich! I am a skeptic of having Double Atoms from one speaker. Well it looks like one speaker however it has about roughly 7 speakers from what I can see from the picture on the box. You can easily control the volume, bass and treble from the dials on top and of course from the app as well. I love loud music but when I get to 1â2 volume it BOOMS! Well worth it! Hoping this helps if you had any questions
Iâll break this review into look, sound, and tech because if youâre considering this product, I assume you care a lot about all three.Look: This is a statement piece of equipment. Itâs a stunning, beautiful, statement piece. Itâs cased in a leather like material with âgoldâ trim. The whole thing looks and feels very elegant and high end. There are physical knobs to adjust volume, bass and treble on top, which I actually think are a nice touch and adds to the overall really cool, retro look of it.Sound: The sound is amazing, the typical JBL deep bass. Whatâs really impressive is the Dolby Atmos. Granted, not all streaming services and songs support the technology, yet. But for the songs that do, the sound is amazing. It basically sounds like surround sound coming ... MoreIâll break this review into look, sound, and tech because if youâre considering this product, I assume you care a lot about all three.Look: This is a statement piece of equipment. Itâs a stunning, beautiful, statement piece. Itâs cased in a leather like material with âgoldâ trim. The whole thing looks and feels very elegant and high end. There are physical knobs to adjust volume, bass and treble on top, which I actually think are a nice touch and adds to the overall really cool, retro look of it.Sound: The sound is amazing, the typical JBL deep bass. Whatâs really impressive is the Dolby Atmos. Granted, not all streaming services and songs support the technology, yet. But for the songs that do, the sound is amazing. It basically sounds like surround sound coming from the one speaker.Tech: Very quick and easy set up. Thereâs no on or off button, no remote. You just plug it in and itâs on. There is only a power, aux audio cable and ethernet connection in the back. You do have to download the JBL One app to get the full benefit from the speakers. But set up is very quick and intuitive. I happen to use Spotify and Amazon Music. While Amazon music supports Dolby Atmos, you can only play it via airplay. That works well, but you do have to tap on a couple buttons to connect. Spotify Connect works even better, much more seamless and once it starts playing you can voice control with Alexa or Google, but Spotify doesnât support Dolby Atmos yet. Granted, these are total first world opinions, but those are my observations. We use Alexa and itâs awesome, even with loud music blaring, it can pick up audio commands easily.Cons: So the speakers donât have an on or off button. When itâs just streaming music, once the music stops, the speakers automatically turn off within a few seconds, youâll hear the soft âbuzzâ stop. However, weâve noticed that with the line in option, the speakers will not shut off. Let me explain: We attached an auxiliary audio line attached to a monitor, which we play movies on. The audio plays great, we can even control the volume using the JBL One app. However, even after we turn off the monitor (there is zero sound playing), the speaker stays on, there is still a very faint, soft âbuzzâ sound. Since there is no off switch on the speaker, the only way we have found to stop the buzz is either 1) unplug the auxiliary audio line 2) unplug the speaker or 3) stream music wirelessly then stop the music (if the last sounds are coming from a wireless connection, the speaker will turn off automatically). Itâs a small annoyance, but there you have it.
The JBL Authentics 500 is an exceptional speaker. Its retro styling looks great with any style decor. I have the speaker in my living room, on my entertainment center. Itâs a speaker I like to show off with its old school looking quadrex grill, and leather like enclosure. You have ease of use with the top mounted controls. Bass, treble, and volume knobs are all easily assessable and have lighting around the knob to show its current output and setting of each. Pressing the volume button pauses the music. I particularly like this because I donât have to always have to use my phone or the JBL app to adjust the sound. Utilizing the app does give more fine sound tuning to the speaker. Bluetooth control button and a favorites button is also conveniently mounted on the ... MoreThe JBL Authentics 500 is an exceptional speaker. Its retro styling looks great with any style decor. I have the speaker in my living room, on my entertainment center. Itâs a speaker I like to show off with its old school looking quadrex grill, and leather like enclosure. You have ease of use with the top mounted controls. Bass, treble, and volume knobs are all easily assessable and have lighting around the knob to show its current output and setting of each. Pressing the volume button pauses the music. I particularly like this because I donât have to always have to use my phone or the JBL app to adjust the sound. Utilizing the app does give more fine sound tuning to the speaker. Bluetooth control button and a favorites button is also conveniently mounted on the top. The back of the unit has usb c port and an auxiliary in. Cat-5 cable for internet, power port and also some decent size ports to reinforce bass. These are slip stream style ports so they really add to the low frequency notes. I didnât hear any annoying turbulent noises from these ports as they are tuned so well.The front of the unit has a series of speakers. 3 tweeters across the front which two are mounted outward and one is forward firing. 3, 2.75â drivers are mounted forward as well giving the speaker exceptional sound staging. Under the speaker is a 6.5â down firing subwoofer. Each speaker looks and feels very premium.My living room where the speaker is placed is of decent size. I sit about 18 feet from the speaker and have to say the sound is breath taking. There is a tremendous amount of sound coming from the speaker. All very well balanced with nothing missing and no overbearing frequencies. The sound emerges from every where which is due to the 3.1 Dolby atmos sound. The speaker has huge presence, sounding like a much bigger speaker. The low range extension is powerful. You can feel the bass shaking the floor and reverberating all around the room. I have a full 5.2.1 setup in my living room with a high powered receiver and would much rather listen to music on the JBL Authentics 500 speaker. I played old school Reggae, Hip-hop, and Salsa tracks on this speaker and am taken away by the sound. I invited my neighbor to hear the speaker as he also has a very expensive setup in his home. We were both wowed by the JBL. At no point did I bring the overall volume over 70 percent. I am a person who has very high output sound systems in both my car and in my home. I have party speakers and series of subs in my car and throughout my home. All in which I like to play full tilt to enjoy the sound. The JBL Authentics 500 puts out enough power and sound that at 70 percent volume Iâm more than happy. The sound of the speaker travels far. I could easily hear it 75 feet outside of my house.The JBL Authentics 500 has the ability for you to use both Google and Alexa assistants which is great for me since I have both in my home. A light on the front of the unit lights different colors when you address the separate assistants. It was very easy to set them both up. I was listening to the speaker a few minutes after the software updated and after the assistants were setup. I love how easy it was to setup and use. Even utilizing the JBL One app was easy and offered a slew of extras within the app. You can enable and use different streaming apps within the JBL One app so you can still use your phone. Streaming music allows uninterrupted playback and higher sound quality. You can also pair this speaker with others via chrome cast and airplay. I had this speaker going with 3 others in my house which was so cool to hear.In summary, this is a truly amazing speaker. It has retro styling and great build quality. A ton of features for sound adjustment, and the ability to use other music applications within the JBL One app. Hardwired or Wi-Fi capable with auxiliary sound inputs. You will be moved by the sound quality and the power of this unit. Listening to it the JBL Authentics 500 is ear candy!!!
| Product Types | Smart Speakers |
| AC Power Adapter | AC 100-240V |
| Wireless Networking | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, USB Type-C |
| Audio Connector Type | Auxiliary Input |
