JBL Authentics 300 Smart Home Speaker

+ Easily set up with Google Home Assistant mesh in the house
+ Sound nearly rivels my $2500 Klipsh home theater set up.
+ Well constructed. Solid feel, looks great
+ Have only tested Reggae/Afro generas however – Strong solid base, good mid range and super tight crisp highs. Perhaps mids are not as full has highs and lows but I’m no expert. My layman’s ears saying “awesome”.
– JBL android app is a bit thin. Cannot find options for presets on equalizer (Trivial concern)
– Found better price after the face directly through JBL with Rakuten 10% cash back

This is my first JBL speaker, and I’m really, really pleased with the purchase. I never really liked the mesh fabric on speakers that’s why I never purchased anything from JBL until now. The authentics 300 is my best aesthetically pleasing speaker, it has more presence than my Fluance fi50 which is finished in bamboo and superior build quality over my other speakers from Tribit,SoundCore, Sony,W-King, Sharp and House of Marley( if design and visual appeal is a priority for you look no further) But how does it sound? This I can say with complete confidence, the authentics 300 has taken the #one spot amongst my Bluetooth speakers. It has the Fidelity and clarity of my Fluance fi50, the dynamic range and texture of my SoundCore motion X-600 plus a superior soundstage and the bass response is more impactful and controlled than My Tribit Storm Box blast!! The speaker is very impressive to say the least. There was one concern I had before my purchase, I saw a review on YouTube stating that the sound quality of the speaker on the battery was a huge roll-off in output, so I tested the authentics 300 at the park up against my Altec Lansing Rockbox XL( I posted the video on YouTube) and I happy to report that the JBL authentics 300 has more than enough power output on the battery to be heard and felt… But the battery is only capable of 8hrs of playtime. So that’s my thoughts on the authentics 300 from JBL, it is an expensive speaker but, there isn’t anything on the market that can offer the sound quality and aesthetic appeal in a portable speaker that it has, this speaker is a testament of JBL’s legacy of sound reproduction at its finest!!

In many circles of audiophiles, you will hear or read time and time again that function matters over form. “Looks be danged, as long as the speaker produces the best sound possible!”

But what if, my dear readers, you could have both? What if it was possible, to have a Bluetooth speaker that, pound for pound, absolutely rocks a room with incredibly balanced and clear audio, while also being so aesthetically pleasing as to be welcomed to adorn the shelves, dressers, mantles, or tables of even the classiest of folks? Enter the JBL Authentics series and¬–more specifically–the JBL Authentics 300 that stands out as the absolute Goldilocks selection in this current triune Authentics lineup!

I am in love with this speaker. Plain and simple. From the moment you open up the JBL packaging, you can tell that they care deeply about the presentation and heritage this Authentics series represents. On first handling the speaker and pulling it out of the box, I was stunned by its substantial heft and high-quality feeling materials and assemblage, all pointing again to the determination that this is not merely another boring black box to sit on the counter of some bachelor’s bathroom while they listen to their favorite podcast. This is a speaker that when placed in the center of my living room, drew our attention and admiration immediately.

The setup was as simple as anyone could hope these days of wireless-connected audio products. I intuitively pressed the power button on top of the device and was greeted by 75% battery from the factory (according to the visual battery indicator) and the sound of a pleasant guitar riff on boot-up in place of the usual annoying beeps or robotic voice directions of other, lesser Bluetooth speakers. I opened my iPhone Bluetooth settings, pressed and held the Bluetooth button on the speaker for a few seconds, and was immediately able to find it in my Bluetooth devices and connect with ease.

Then came that moment of holy ascension into the heaven of audio that washed over me like warm bath water after a chilly winter’s snowball fight. The trebles–crisp. The mids–present and blended. The bass–warm and impressively potent yet not overwhelming or overpowering of the rest of the audio mix. Present on top of the device are manual knobs for treble and bass, but I simply sat back on my couch and enjoyed the audio rolling over me while drinking in the visual, retro appeal of this most excellent speaker.

All of this dramatic write-up aside, I want to convey in plain terms that this speaker is the best choice for anyone who wants a mature, good-looking speaker that has excellent utility as a dual-smart assistant capable speaker, while also having the deep pockets to pony up for this trendy device. I would never lie and pretend that there are no Bluetooth speakers half this price that sound as good if not better. But I will also pair this with the honest opinion that most of them look half or less as good concurrently.

I will not sit here and write out a recitation of all of the stats and facts about this speaker that are already listed in the product descriptions and specifications but will mainly focus on some final points of praise and some points of improvement for the future of this device lineup. A point of praise is that this speaker is the perfect size and capability to be a good, multi-room transportable speaker with its substantial eight-hour battery life, while also being of a size and aesthetic to be perfect as a soundbar replacement for those inclined to use it as such. My wife and I use a portable projector setup as the “TV” in our room, for the rare times we feel like enjoying a movie or show in our bed. This Authentics 300 speaker, plugged into power, served its purpose perfectly over the course of my testing of connecting each time automatically I turned on the projector (and Xgimi Mogo 2 for those interested) and was a source of awe and praise for us as it turned our bedroom into a close facsimile of the full surround sound entertainment system we utilize in our living room.

The only detractor that I can identify in this speaker is one that may be considerable for some and less for others: The speaker does not charge via the USB-C port, but via a power cable that, while not proprietary, certainly doesn’t have the kind of portability and universality that a truly on-the-go Bluetooth device would require. This is the same kind of double-barrel plug cable, though, that many consoles like the Sony PS4 use for their power, so you can find extras for less than 10 dollars online if you are concerned about portability! Alas, I think that for a device that, to my testing, uses less than 35 watts at peak power while charging, many of us would have preferred an external adapter with a USB-C cable, allowing us to trickle charge the device or buy additional adapters as needed (or charge with 35 watts PD cabled power stations), as opposed to having the AC adapter built into the device with this undeniably ugly cable serving as the only means to charge this speaker.

That small but unavoidable irritation aside, I am happy to say that this speaker has earned its place in our home and hearts as a main go-to for all our music and portable external audio purposes. There are many soundbars that can perform admirably as music speakers, but there are not many portable Bluetooth speakers that can look this good and perform so well in that dual purpose! Furthermore, the addition of being able to set up this speaker to serve as an Alexa smart speaker (and/or Google Smart Assistance for those inclined) further increases its modern utility. Thanks for reading and I hope this review has helped to encourage any excitement you already may be stoking for the anticipation of choosing to buy this speaker!

First, the sound: I am very happy with how this speaker sounds – its got great base, clear detail, and plenty of volume for me.

I have had some issue with the bluetooth disconnecting, but I suspect this may actually be my phone and not the speaker. Bluetooth connection works perfectly until randomly disconnecting – no distortion or interference noticed. I have also had the Google assistant announce itself randomly in the middle of the night more than once – I’m not sure what causes this, maybe a software update in the background? It’s not great being woken up with “Hi! I’m your Google Assistant and I’m here to help!” at 2am

The speaker seems to be built quite well, with large portions of solid metal, nice looking leather texture (not real leather), and a all around cool retro vibe. It has a large dial for volume (great to have), but also large dials for bass and treble – I’m really not convinced I want or need dials front and center to adjust the EQ on a portable speaker. I can pretty much set and forget those, but now, it’s easy to accidentally bump them away from the settings I chose, or for others to mess with…

Speaking of questionable interface choices, it has a power button, along with a bluetooth button. then there is a heart button, called Moment – this is a shortcut to a selected playlist you can set up in the app. This sounds great – lets go! Oh, wait, no support for Spotify? What about YouTube Music? OK, maybe Pandora? iTunes? Nope… There is support for Amazon Music, Calm Radio, iHeartRadio, Tidal, Tune In, Napster (Napster still exists?), and Qobuz(?). While I know Tidal is pretty good, I don’t use any of those, so my Moment button is entirely useless… And that actually sounds like a feature I REALLY want!

Finally, the power cord… Hey, look, it has USB C! Awesome, one cable to rule them all! ….. Oh. Wait. No support for charging via USB C???? Yup, that USB port is for software updates and supports playback of MP3 files from a USB drive (So USB A would likely have been more useful to most people…)
The actual power cord appears to be called a C8 plug – the same thing as on the back of many TV’s. This plug is definitely not designed to be plugged and unplugged constantly, yet this device is meant to operate on battery power that can only be recharged via the C8 plug. I can’t find how many cycles the C8 is rated for, but even if it is in fact able to withstand the 1000 times it will be plugged and unplugged, it’s UNPLEASANT to plug and unplug. It kinda has to be wiggled around, at least until it wears out.
To me, on a device like this, making the C8 the only way to charge the device is insane. I think maybe they really intend this to just sit on a shelf in your home and never actually use the batteries (and that covers the primary use for me), but then why did they include the batteries and handle at all? If the goal is a boom box you can take with you, then it should probably have longer battery life, and definitely should have a different plug. The C8 is fine for plug it in and leave it, plus it doesn’t require a wall wart, so for that use case, it actually is a great choice – so ideally, it would keep the C8 but make the USB C able to provide power…

For the money, I’m not sure I can actually recommend this device given these limitations. It really is a good speaker otherwise though!

I can’t say enough good things about this speaker. Out of the box it blew me away. The design is very attractive and the build quality is immediately apparent. This JBL 300 speaker has a built-in, “rechargeable battery (it also works while plugged in to an electrical outlet), so I charged it up, downloaded the JBL One app and followed the set-up instructions. Since I have another JBL wireless speaker, I was familiar with the process, but it is easy to do, even for someone encountering the app for the first time. Within a couple of minutes I was up and running and streaming music from both Amazon and You Tube.

This smart speaker really pulls it all together. Whether one is an “Alexa” home or a “Hey Google” adherent, this speaker can do either by just using the appropriate wake up phrase. I have long used the “Tune In” app to listen to radio stations and this speaker, through Alexa or Hey Google allows me to do that, as well as stream music from my MP3 players or computer as well, In addition it works with Chrome cast.

Given how large this speaker is, I wasn’t sure if I would make much use of the portability afforded by the battery or the handle. It’s a heavy, bulky unit that one wouldn’t be inclined to traipse around the house with. Nevertheless, I have found that the portability is really nice to have when relaxing on the deck or working in the garage. The battery lasts quite awhile on a charge, and the sound really beats that of any other portable speaker that I have experienced.

I have been using JBL speakers since long before WiFi and Bluetooth, etc. I have always enjoyed their sound and quality construction. This speaker reassures me that the tradition of top-quality audio has continued into the present day. I am delighted I found this speaker.

I got this JBL Authentics 300 – Wireless Home Speaker to replace a big & heavy, floor-model speaker that we have used for many, many years.

And I am ecstatic that I got this!!

Right out of the box, I was immediately impressed; this speaker is super attractive and lightweight; weighing only around 10 pounds, it’s easily portable, especially with its convenient carrying handle.

Then came the sound quality test.

“Blown away” is really all I could think once I connected my phone via Bluetooth and played some of my jams.

I have never experienced a home speaker that sounds so clear; the volume gets really loud and the mega bass rocks my entire home, literally shakes the table I have it sitting on – wow, just wow!

This speaker comes equipped with Music Streaming Services via Built-in Wi-Fi, it has a Built-in-Battery, Built-in-Alexa, and Google Assistant – all really cool and modern features in which I have yet to even play around with just yet.

I can say that a full battery lasts me all day; I’ve had this speaker playing good jams for at least 6-7 hours straight, without it needing to be recharged.

It comes nicely boxed and packaged well; a thorough owner’s manual is also included.

I really look forward to learning/using the other cool features that this speaker provides, but so far, just being my incredible new music player has been enough for me.

I LOVE THIS THING!!

I’m telling you what I was impressed with this Bluetooth speaker from JBL. I have always made fun of JBL growing up, but their stuff is actually really good. The workmanship on this speaker is really amazing, you can just tell it from the time that you open the box that there was a little bit of pride when making these speakers. The fit and finish and the way everything is put together is spot on. I know I won’t be taking this speaker out of the house to get torn up.

The feature I LOVE the most is the favorite button right below the power button. Once you download and install the JBL One app to your smart device you can control what that button does. I have Amazon Music Prime so I have it preset that when I press that button it connects to the station 90’s alternative and grunge on Amazon Prime Music. I think that’s really cool, I just had to set it up on the app once and it does it automatically from there on. I can also airplay my music from iPhone without any issues.

This is a nice speaker and has great sound to it, long as you don’t have the speaker on a carpeted floor….yeah found that out the hard way. As far as my home listening environment I have an Onkyo home stereo with Polk RTI 12 and Infinity 12″ sub, so I know good sound and don’t mind to invest in good sound equipment. Yes this is a really nice speaker and you really can’t go wrong with this, I know it’s a bit pricey but you know where that money went when you see and listen to it.

• JBL Authentics 300 has 2 – 1 inch tweeters, a full-range 5.25-inch woofer and a down-firing 6.5-inch passive radiator delivering deep bass when plugged in to AC. There is a noticeable decrease in bass and sound volume / quality when running from battery. It has a lithium polymer battery capacity of 4800mAh – up to 8 hours of playtime. It has Bluetooth 5.3. If you buy 2 then they can be configured as a STERIO pair.
• It has music streaming services via built-in Wi-Fi and/or wired Ethernet. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are available simultaneously. They are enabled/disabled by a switch on the top of the back, as shown in the photo. I disabled mine since I don’t want anyone listening to my home. Stream music through AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM), Chromecast is built-in, and Spotify Connect and leave the room or take a call without the music being interrupted. The streaming services work without connection to a computer BY DESIGN. The Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection allows your speaker to get software and feature updates. You download the full manual from their website jbl.com when you register your speaker. I love the sound from this speaker. Just keep it plugged in for the best quality sound.
• Vine review products are sent to me without paying Amazon for it. Everything I get is reported as income to me, so I will have to pay income taxes on the list price. I pay for them, just not to Amazon. I may actually lose on the item.

This speaker has incredible sound quality. I’m not an expert on audio, but I got this to replace a speaker that I thought was above average. And I now realize how flat and meager my old one was. This has so much nuance and clarity to it. You can hear so many aspects of music that I could never hear on the older speaker.

Aside from that, it’s easy to use. It comes with an app which is really nice for connecting, adjusting sound, etc. It’s easy to connect to. It looks really good and is very portable. Heavy for it’s size, but not unreasonable. You can also plug in an aux cord. Really well-made, durable handle. It’s just a great piece, absolutely worth the cost, which is not cheap. This is not a standard speaker dressed up to look cool. It’s an amazing high-quality speaker that also happens to look great. And it gets LOUD.

This is the very first item, I’ve ever owned by JBL. I have some Bose products, but there is no comparison when it comes to the JBL Box! It’s absolutely perfect and every way. I love my music loud and when I say loud, I mean loud! I can barely turn it up and it’s already loud! It’s totally unbelievable! It was so easy to set up and pair with my Bluetooth. Once the battery is charged, it will last a total of eight hours. (my box is always plugged in.) I have Amazon Music and Spotify. I stream either or.
The craftsmanship is outstanding! The details of the box totally amazing! Even the packaging was amazing! This company loves what they do! You can just tell by looking at the box! You can use Google assist or Alexa. My favorite button is the love button. My husband did make a clip while I was streaming a song, and I barely had the volume up. Totally impressive. I will never go back to another brand again! This product I highly recommend!!!!!