Discover the JBL Authentics 500 classic style hi-fi speaker

Design

Before buying the Authentics 500, make sure you have enough room in your space to accommodate the speaker, which is nearly 20cm deep and requires additional wall space behind it because of its large bass exhausts. Even at its massive size, the speaker weighs just 7.8kg, a third of the weight of the JBL L82, the classic hi-fi speaker that inspired it.

Authentics 500 costs about 16.9 million VND in Vietnam

Instead of thick MDF veneer, the Authentics 500 has a faux leather plastic case, with gold aluminum trim and a ridged plastic back. It combines modern wireless speaker construction with some traditional aesthetic elements. The speaker has no battery, so users need to plug it into a power source to operate stably.

Features

As a full-featured Wi-Fi home speaker, the Authentics 500 offers an auxiliary input on the back for physical connection to other devices. It can also connect to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with setup done using the JBL One app. The app also lets you choose music directly from built-in features and services like AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, etc., although it would be better to use separate apps.

The back of the Authentics 500 has an Ethernet port and USB-C

As a smart speaker, the top surface of the Authentics 500 has a few small black holes that house the microphone to connect to Alexa or Google Assistant, which works quite smoothly. If you don't like the voice assistant feature and want some privacy, users can turn off the microphone with a small switch on the back.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the Authentics 500 also has an Ethernet jack if wireless is a little spotty. A USB-C port is also included, but it can't be used to output audio from a laptop, it's reserved for software updates.

Sound quality

Pick up the Authentics 500 and you'll find a massive 6.5-inch subwoofer that's capable of pumping bass waves into whatever's underneath. Behind the grille are three 1-inch tweeters and three 2.75-inch mid-range speakers, making it a 3.1 system. The speaker supports Dolby Atmos 3D audio, but the concept of creating 3D sound from a box where the drivers are inches apart is still a bit questionable.

The deciding factor here is the bass as the Authentics 500 is capable of producing bass at impressive volumes. The bass depth is excellent and when the user turns on this device to play some club music, the experience really feels like being in a club.

The controls are located on the top of the Authentics 500.

However, the Authentics 500 also has a problem with low frequencies, even when turned up to high volume. It muffles the sound, sometimes spilling over into the mids and vocals. You can “temporarily” tame it by using the two dials on top. These are the treble and bass controls.

Changing the sound profile is also relatively easy, as these are free-spinning dials that use an LED ring around the perimeter to indicate the settings. Users can reduce the bass using these controls or the JBL app, and when that happens, the mids and tweets become pleasantly smooth.

General comments

Loud, powerful, and with a strong bass are the hallmarks of the Authentics 500. Furthermore, the classic Quadrex grille design adds to the enjoyment of the audio experience. The sheer power of the bass and its comfort level impress many, offering a mix of modernity and tradition. If you are looking for a good speaker for parties and have enough budget, this is a great choice for everyone.

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