Customer reviews from jbl.com
JBL - Authentics 200 - Retro Style Smart Home Speaker with Built in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Voice Assistants, Alexa and Googl - White
Average customer rating
4.7
(83 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 83 reviews
5 Stars
66
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Star
1
100%of customers recommend this product.
(
69 out of
69)
Customer Reviews for JBL - Authentics 200 - Retro Style Smart Home Speaker with Built in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Voice Assistants, Alexa and Googl - White
Customer Rating
5
Retro Look with modern features
on September 20, 2023
Posted by: ThatGuyYouKnow
from Spokane, WA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Ok, this was a speaker that I was really excited for. When it was announced I immediately loved the look of the speaker as did my wife. Also the aesthics matched my wife's plant room where she likes to sit and listen to her vinyl records. So she was more excited for this speaker than I was. Well after about a week of playing with it and listening to music I have to say that this speaker is fantastic.
Sound - This speaker sounds just like many of the other JBL speakers, which is to say very very good. The bass is very good and carries throughout our house. The Mids and Highs are also very good. Bluetooth sound is good and honestly playing from our bluetooth record player, the speaker sounded fantastic. But using wifi for music is what we normally do and everything just sounds great.
Setup - One thing I have always been impressed with is how easy JBL speakers have been to setup and this speaker is no different. All I had to do was plug it in and open the JBL One app or download it if you don't have it already. The app immediately found the speaker, I setup the wifi connection, enabled Google Assistant and Alexa and I was done. I was then able to add the speaker to my Speaker groups in Google Home and/or Alexa and start playing music.
Google Assistant and Alexa - Google Assistant and Alexa were both easy to setup and work well, but having both in one device is fantastic. I was able to use Google Assitant to play music while also using Alexa to change the volume. You can also choose to use none, one or both like I did.
JBL One app - The JBL One app is great and adds easy ways to adjust the speaker without being at the speaker. While yes there are buttons and knobs on the device to change the bass, treble and sound. You can also do it from the JBL One app. You can even setup an equalizer to adjust the bass, mid, treble.
In conclusion, I seriously love this speaker. The retro look is great to the synthentic leather look and feel, to the gold trim and the knobs on the top. The sound is really great and it makes me want to place one of these speakers in every place I have smaller smart speakers with Alexa and Google Assistant. Sadly I did lose this speaker to my wife, who now enjoys all her records on the couch with this speaker by her side.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Classy!
on September 19, 2023
Posted by: BlondeAzn
from Brooklyn, NY
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was super excited to see a speaker that was different from a regular portable Bluetooth one. Since COVID, I have been working out from home and my music is usually played through a rechargeable speaker. The problem I have been having with those, is I keep having to recharge them every few days. So I definitely liked that this is a stationary speaker, where i can keep it plugged into the outlet. I think the speaker was designed beautifully. It has a very vintage look to it and there’s a leather like trim all around that makes it look so classy and elegant. The material seems very durable and I really like the light detail on the knobs when you change the volume. For the size of the speaker, the sound quality is equivalent to having a mini home theater system in one speaker. I live in a multi family home and I want to make sure I don’t disturb my neighbors, so the option to adjust the bass and treble is an excellent feature. Since I got the speaker, I’ve been using in almost everyday. The only issue I do have is there is no “power” button so sometimes I don’t know how I can get it work without me having to disconnect and reconnect the blue tooth. Overall, I really enjoy this speaker. It is so versatile it can work for anyone, whether it’s listening to music or using it to watch a movie.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Small box, BIG sound…
on September 19, 2023
Posted by: danielmbirnbaum
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Plug in your newest addition to the kitchen counter and leave it there right by your coffee machine. No bigger than a toaster, this box produces rich and warm sound with a surprisingly punchy bass. It’s like JBL is in the business of sorcery because the physics behind this barely make any sense. Its like a
a subwoofer with speakers that leaves nothing else to be desired for your kitchen/bedroom setup. Dial in your EQ w treble and bass knobs. The only thing that might have made this product a family heirloom would be a leather handle to facilitate with the carrying. But I get it, it’s not a boombox and it’s meant to have a permanent spot somewhere as it should.
a subwoofer with speakers that leaves nothing else to be desired for your kitchen/bedroom setup. Dial in your EQ w treble and bass knobs. The only thing that might have made this product a family heirloom would be a leather handle to facilitate with the carrying. But I get it, it’s not a boombox and it’s meant to have a permanent spot somewhere as it should.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
The JBL Authentics 200
on September 16, 2023
Posted by: Andis73
from California
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Authentics 200 is a fantastic bookshelf speaker that delivers exceptional audio quality and style. From the moment you unbox these speakers, you can tell JBL put a lot of thought into the design. The wood cabinet has a classic retro look with modern flair thanks to the mesh grille accents.
But it's the sound quality that really makes these speakers stand out. The two-way design utilizes a 6.5" polymer-coated woofer and a 1" soft-dome tweeter. Together they produce crisp highs, clear mids, and rich lows, filling your room with detailed and dynamic audio. Whether you're listening to music, watching movies, or gaming, the JBL Authentics 200 speakers bring out the best in your audio.
The soundstage is quite expansive for a bookshelf speaker this size too. The instruments and vocals seem to come from distinct points around the room, making for a very immersive listening experience. The bass is tight and punchy, adding a nice sense of warmth to music.
Overall, the JBL Authentics 200 delivers phenomenal sound in a stylish and compact package. Audiophiles will love the accurate audio reproduction, while the average consumer will appreciate the easy setup and appealing aesthetics. If you're looking for speakers that offer exceptional quality and design for the price, the JBL Authentics 200 should be at the top of your list.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Retro Design Blends in Seamlessly 🎶
on September 16, 2023
Posted by: alison_530
from Woodland, CA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL brings back the cool-retro look from the 70’s with this amazing look and quality sound speaker.
The authentics 200 is th least expensive out of the three that are available in this line. There is also a authentics 500 and an authentics 300 as well.
Upon opening the box initially, it is packaged quite well, with the speaker being wrapped in a white felt. Felt super classy.
The authentics 200 needs to be plugged into the mains, so it is not as portable as other Bluetooth speakers. It’s a little on the heavy side, weighing in at 6.9 pounds.
This speaker is paired your typical way through your phones Bluetooth settings. It’s also operational through the JBL one app (not the orange regular jbl app).
As soon as it powers up it makes this amazing sound. It’s quite satisfying.
The set of controls, volume, treble, bass, favorite (heart) and Bluetooth on top of the unit are very straight forward. Simple and unique but quite functional.
You can stream music wirelesslv via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth or use voice control to access Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It has the ability to connect via AirPlay, which I found useful. You can also play music in multiple rooms and enjoy the automatic self-tuning that optimizes the sound for any room.
On the back of the unit there is an aux in, usb-c and Ethernet.
Overall this speaker is amazing! It sounds better than any other speaker I have owned in this price range. I absolutely love the simplistic yet functional look. If you’re not sure about buying this, go for it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
The authentics 200 is th least expensive out of the three that are available in this line. There is also a authentics 500 and an authentics 300 as well.
Upon opening the box initially, it is packaged quite well, with the speaker being wrapped in a white felt. Felt super classy.
The authentics 200 needs to be plugged into the mains, so it is not as portable as other Bluetooth speakers. It’s a little on the heavy side, weighing in at 6.9 pounds.
This speaker is paired your typical way through your phones Bluetooth settings. It’s also operational through the JBL one app (not the orange regular jbl app).
As soon as it powers up it makes this amazing sound. It’s quite satisfying.
The set of controls, volume, treble, bass, favorite (heart) and Bluetooth on top of the unit are very straight forward. Simple and unique but quite functional.
You can stream music wirelesslv via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth or use voice control to access Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It has the ability to connect via AirPlay, which I found useful. You can also play music in multiple rooms and enjoy the automatic self-tuning that optimizes the sound for any room.
On the back of the unit there is an aux in, usb-c and Ethernet.
Overall this speaker is amazing! It sounds better than any other speaker I have owned in this price range. I absolutely love the simplistic yet functional look. If you’re not sure about buying this, go for it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
High end cabinet and sound
on September 16, 2023
Posted by: JD Ford
from North Carolina
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First off this is a higher end piece of audio equipment, the box itself is nicely designed and looks very durable and fancy. The sound quality is amazing to come out of such a small package. The lows are crisp and clear, the midrange is perfect and the bass is incredible and provides a full sound you would expect from a larger speaker. Bluetooth works well with no issues and connects each time after you pair it. I like the separate knobs for bass and treble, they are large and easy to use. It has voice control by switching it on in the back. It has a aux port for a wired connection and a favorite button for your playlist. Also an ethernet and USB connection. Overall I highly recommend this unit it sounds amazing and has a lot of features in a small package. It is a speaker you would want to set somewhere and leave it because it looks good but it also has to be plugged in there is not a battery to charge which I get because you have this incredible sound in a small package. Two thumbs up for sure. Thanks again JBL, this compact speaker is great.
I would recommend this to a friend!
(click to see the video)
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
RETRO LOOK WITH TODAYS TECH
on September 15, 2023
Posted by: 68eight
from Los Angeles
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] One of the most beautiful speakers I've owned.JBL made a great apeaker the highs are crisp the mids perfect and bass is solid.Those things are something that are expected with JBL.The thing that impressed me is build quality and design.It has a old school elegant design.Feels like high end leather wrapped the speaker.The knobs feel retro.The technology is up to date easy Bluetooth connectivity and clear sound from a great distance.Feels very luxurious.Its so nice I'm almost scared to use it.This would be perfect gift for that hard to please person.My pictures will give you a better understanding of what i mean.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
4
Simple to use with a punchy sound!
on September 15, 2023
Posted by: dcardona
from Brooklyn, NY
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to set up the speaker. I didn't even need to dive into the instruction manual; it just felt intuitive and straightforward.
What really stood out to me were the tactile buttons and the speaker's compact size. It's refreshing to have physical controls that are easy to use. Plus, the ability to customize the equalizer was a big win for me. Personally, I'm all about cranking up the bass, and this speaker lets me do just that.
However, I did encounter a bit of trouble when trying to connect it to my Wi-Fi network. Despite multiple attempts, including troubleshooting and restarting, I couldn't get it to work. It left me wondering about potential missed capabilities that require a Wi-Fi connection.
One minor improvement I'd suggest is having the buttons display the treble and bass levels without needing to open the app. It would make adjusting the sound settings even more convenient.
Overall, this speaker has a lot going for it in terms of simplicity and sound customization, but the Wi-Fi hiccup and button functionality could use a little refinement.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com