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
(79 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 79 reviews
5 Stars
62
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
Nostalgic Retro Gem.. Solid Futuristic Sound..
on October 9, 2023
Posted by: Roadie81051
from Canton, GA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL has once again hit the audiophile ball out of the park with its new Authentics line of speakers. The lineup includes the models 200, 300, and the 500. This review covers the model 200 but features are very similar throughout the lineup.
The 200 comes well packaged in the synonymous JBL ecofriendly packaging and has all the needed cables and guides to get up and running in no time. The package includes the unit itself (weighing it around 6 pounds) and a 6 ft power cord. Any other cords such as networking (LAN) cables or audio in headphone type cables would need to be provided by the purchaser.
The luxurious 90W Authentics 200 is stunning right out of the box with its nostalgic retro gold frame and the L100 patterned reminiscent black foam on the front. The foam is concealing 2 25mm tweeter drivers while the massive and thunderous 5" woofer is firing through the bottom of the unit for an unforgettable Stereo 2.0 superior acoustic design and performance.
The 200 is a pioneer in this field of similar competitors from companies such as Marshall and Sonos because the 200 offers Wi-Fi capabilities through the JBL ONE App and Bluetooth. This Wi-Fi feature allows broader access to truly HiFi and higher resolution audio for an sound experience that is second to none. There are some other services supported by the 200 such as AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa with Multi-Room Sound capability, Spotify Connect and ChromeCast Built In. Two voice assistants are supports as well including Amazon Alexa and Hey Google for total access to any and all music available with hi res flexibility.
The unit offers an Auto Tune feature that adapts to any room or sound situation upon power up. No guessing with settings etc for the ultimate party right out of the box. The app and speaker offer easy setup and full, clear documentation for even the most novice user of today's advanced electronic offerings. Controls on top of unit include Power button, Bass/Treble/Playback knobs, network connection button and a Heart icon button to access playlists and personalized speaker settings within the JBL ONE App. Rear of unit offers a Network port, Audio cable port, USC C connector and Power cord port. The unit has a switch at top of rear panel that allows the 'listening' speaker of the unit (Voice Control) to be turned off or on for access to Alexa or Google.
Sound is phenomenal as in all JBL products. I was able to compare the 200 unit to the 300 in the areas of size and sound and can say that for the money the 200 offered nearly identical sound hertz and loudness decibel numbers as the 300 for less money and smaller size. The 300 offers a carrying handle to accommodate the higher weight but for me the 200 did just as good a job at sound reproduction.
The 200 offers a surprisingly solid balance of bass and treble yet sounds just elegant even at higher volumes.. no matter whether you listen to classical, country, rap, or rock. No corners were cut in the design and execution of such a pivotal addition to the JBL family. A true compliment to our home and sound experience!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Small But Mighty!
on December 28, 2023
Posted by: prjio307
from Atlanta, GA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is a powerful little speaker! It really packs a punch that surprised me at first. It gets plenty loud enough to fill a room - and in fact, can fill a small ranch house rather comfortably, with some volume head room.
The build quality is top notch. I LOVE the gold accents and the foam front feels premium. The whole speaker just oozes premium retro vibes and I’m here for it.
The connectivity is also top notch. The speaker supports pretty much every modern streaming service as well as Bluetooth. Music airplayed to the speaker sounds excellent.
The sound quality is excellent, with built in EQ knobs to adjust to your liking. I added a very slight “V” curve to the EQ and it sounds awesome. The bass is surprisingly robust for a speaker so small. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not tiny, but it also not as big as it SOUNDS, which is impressive!
Overall, this is an awesome speaker that I have no qualms recommending to someone looking for a smallish, but powerful speaker for home!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Awesome retro look Amazing features
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: Bane13
from Huntington, West Virginia
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Jbl Authentic 200 did not disappoint!!! Amazing retro look. Down to the turn knobs to control the volume, treble and bass. The app is easy to use connecting to Wi-Fi was very simple. Setting up the voice controls for both service options was a breeze.
This speaker packs a big punch in sound quality and functions flawlessly. Deep bass and clear hives combined in my opinion the best speaker I’ve ever owned. The Authentic 200 has became my favorite speaker. I highly recommend it.
This speaker packs a big punch in sound quality and functions flawlessly. Deep bass and clear hives combined in my opinion the best speaker I’ve ever owned. The Authentic 200 has became my favorite speaker. I highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Classic look, updated sound
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: avid music lover
from Atlanta Georgia
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This little box looks so nice sitting in my living room. It love the feel of the knobs on top. There is an app that lets you control the presets but I don't tinker much with it so I was satisfied with the knobs. The bass is just enough coming from the size of this box. Great sound. So happy with this one. Also it can connect to my Google home network and that's a plus.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Sound and appearance spot on!
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: Heather79
from Jamestown, Ohio
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Another successful product from JBL. Im using this in my kitchen. Very classy looking! The sound is unbelievable. Terrific bass which can be adjusted which is new and nice!!! The voice assist is a great feature when your hands are full! Was also easy to use through the JBL one app. Only negative is I wish it would have came with an owners manual. I was so excited when it arrived and I had to wait a day to print it off at work so I knew how to work all the features. Saying it once again though. There is no other like JBL sound quality. Amazes me each time! Excellent product! Sound and appearance.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
4
Awesome sound with minor usability quirks
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: BobH1272
from Stroudsburg, PA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] As far as the sound - all I can say is WOW! This product really embodies the sound and quality I have come to expect from JBL. Setup was simple using the APP downloaded via a QR code in the quick-start guide... Using my home network I was quickly able to configure Amazon and Google voice control, though I don't REALLY use them much. The Bluetooth configuration was also quick and easy. I have not used the ethernet connection or direct audio connection, but hard-wired it never a problem. I do NOT like that the USB has changed from the standard USB to the tiny (USB-C?) connection, since everything I use to store music is normal thumb drives. That's probably my biggest complaint about the connections. as for the controls, I don't like that the "Play" button has multiple functions for multiple presses. Is it really that hard to have skip forward and back buttons? Simple controls are better than one button that does many things. Maybe I am just too simple a person. Besides that, the control labels for Play, Volume, Bass and Treble are labeled in black on black buttons, making it impossible to read in low light. I'm sure it's fine once you know what they are, but the first time I used it I tried to adjust things and I needed to use the flashlight on my phone to read them. For a vintage look, why not highlight the control labels in gold or silver? I'll probably paint mine.
So, in summary, if you can overlook the really minor inconveniences, the sound is AWESOME. Actually sounds better than my Partybox, with more features. If they fix the labels and return to the normal USB port, this would be perfect.
So, in summary, if you can overlook the really minor inconveniences, the sound is AWESOME. Actually sounds better than my Partybox, with more features. If they fix the labels and return to the normal USB port, this would be perfect.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
JBL Authentics 200
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: Harley boy
from Fort Worth Texas
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is a great speaker for the home. The Alexa feature is easy to setup and works to give amazing sound. The Bluetooth was just select and go! This has a good quality sound with nice bass notes that can fill the room or house. I would highly recommend this speaker. You won’t be disappointed!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
4
All the bells and whistles it claims to be...
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: Mr No English
from Westchester County, New York
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] WELL, to be quite honest, JBL never fails to provide an excellent product. Rich luxurious bass, crisp clear midrange and vocal clarity even at full volume is unmatched in my opinion. With that being said on a scale of 1 to 5, my 4 is because every single portable or table sized unit consistently fails to come with woofer protection. The Authentic 200 looks super sturdy and sleek but at the same time let me mistakenly set the unit on a surface and the already be say bottle opener or a set of keys, there goes the neighborhood ( the bass woofer is on the bottom. Even a small puncture will ruin a very (not cheap) sound system. Somthing as simple as a mesh covering would be such an improvement, IJS! All things equal, this unit is another superb, quality, beautifully built, space saving, not letting anyone borrow it purchase. Again my hat is off to JBL developers for bringing yet another gem to the crown. Bravo my friends, bravo.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com