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
Awesome design! Great quality of sound!
on December 28, 2023
Posted by: Charge123
from Charleston West Virginia
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] You absolutely get room filling sounds! And its perfect for a small apartment, but really anyplace you want to relax and enjoy it I'm very happy with the features I really like the design and finish and feel it really takes me back to what was built with quality. I would recommend any one that loves the good old days and some of the new tech to give it a try i don't think it will disapoint.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
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
3
Almost Perfection!
on October 6, 2023
Posted by: GoodPizzaPie
from Falmouth, Maine
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Whoa my!!! This unit is of professional caliber, to start! Evidently every detail was carefully considered during design and manufacture. A truly lovely piece of audio gear that begs to be taken for a ride right out of the box. The unit is heavy and small, with a strong metal face frame, a textured black cover that is both sturdy and elegant, and sleek LEDs surrounding the bass, treble, and audio knobs. After connecting it to WiFi and my JBL One app, I easily updated the firmware. I connected to AirPlay after updating and started playing! The audio is clear and bold. The device can be turned up to an incredible volume, and the bass—WOW—has a thudding drum on the base of the unit! See photo.
The one drawback that I have experienced is a faint buzzing sound at low volumes, which is why I gave it three stars. I've sent a message to customer service. If the faint buzzing stops, the device deserves TEN stars. I just love this piece of hardware.
The one drawback that I have experienced is a faint buzzing sound at low volumes, which is why I gave it three stars. I've sent a message to customer service. If the faint buzzing stops, the device deserves TEN stars. I just love this piece of hardware.
I would recommend this to a friend!
By Customer Support, October 19, 2023
Thank you for your feedback on our JBL Authentics 200. We're always looking for ways to improve and we'll make sure to submit your feedback to the appropriate team. If you need more help with your unit, please contact JBL Customer Support. We're here to help.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Unreal sound from a speaker this size
on October 5, 2023
Posted by: Jimbo Jones
from Overland Park, KS
The JBL Authentics 200 punches well above its weight, sounding better than any Bluetooth speaker I’ve used. No nuance allowed in the rating but it’s a solid 4.5 stars.
Pros
• Exceptional tonal clarity from top to bottom once you tweak it
• Simple setup and rock-solid WiFi connectivity
• Unique retro aesthetic (it’s grown on me)
• Big, BIG sound!
• Typical JBL reliability
• Exceptional tonal clarity from top to bottom once you tweak it
• Simple setup and rock-solid WiFi connectivity
• Unique retro aesthetic (it’s grown on me)
• Big, BIG sound!
• Typical JBL reliability
Cons
• Not designed for portability
• Styling’s not for everyone
• Bluetooth connection is spotty out of the box
• Quite pricey
• Needs another JBL app
• Not designed for portability
• Styling’s not for everyone
• Bluetooth connection is spotty out of the box
• Quite pricey
• Needs another JBL app
Right off the bat let me say that I don’t use smart speaker functions so I’ll leave that for others to weigh in on.
It’s a dense little thing, packed with bits and bobs that make the magic work. I say magic because the sound this pushes is magical.
There’s nothing in the box other than the speaker and a power cord. (There’s no battery so don’t lose it.) You can link straight to it with Bluetooth, triggering the JBL connection chord, but that limits its functionality. Hook it up to WiFi and link the JBL One app to get the update that fixes the Bluetooth glitches. Having done that, you likely won’t use the Bluetooth again as the WiFi use is solid. I’m deep in the Apple ecosystem so the inclusion of AirPlay is most welcome and allows seamless integration into existing audio setups. I can have this and my Denon theater playing the same music in different parts of the house.
The JBL One app is pretty simple, but it’s the third JBL app on my phone. Having one for ear buds, one for my Charge 5, and this one is just kinda dumb; but I don’t use any of them very much so it’s merely an annoyance.
But being Apple-centric also limits my access to the on-boarded music connections. You can set up a scene function that lets you start a selected playlist with the touch of a button. It sounds neat but Apple Music isn’t supported (though Tidal curiously is).
Yet sound is the key and the Authentics 200 delivers. I am shocked at how much sound this puts out with incredible clarity. My go-to test track is “Midlife Crisis” by Faith No More. The bass guitar rumbles, the layered vocals are clearly separated, the guitar and synth ring true, and the high-hat hits without a hint of hiss. It doesn’t have the immersive quality of an Atmos system, but it sure has the quality of any of my individual speakers.
You can read the specs in the listing, but they don’t really represent how well the whole package works together. A key element I didn’t see mentioned it the springy rubber feet; they isolate the vibrations of the cabinet allowing a bit of movement for the bottom-mounted radiator.
There’s not much to adjust, just bass and treble knobs alongside the volume knob – each is backlit in a way that indicated level briefly before fading out. A switch on the back allows voice prompts for Google and Alexa services. Siri is left out as usual, but I don’t mind. I don’t like that if you switch them off you’re stuck with a red light behind the speaker grille. It’s an eyesore.
The volume knob allows for very fine adjustment while the iPhone buttons have pretty big jumps; you can get fine control with the on-screen slider. The in-app eq only has three adjustments but it’s actually enough. This is designed for people with good ears who love music, not audiophile tweakers. JBL claims it auto-adjusts for the room each time you plug it in which accounts for the slight delay when you plug it in after moving it.
So the price… it’s a lot for a Bluetooth speaker but well worth it for all this packs in. JBL has really hit it out of the park with this line and they continue to lead the way in small powered-speaker technology.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Full sound without distortion
on October 4, 2023
Posted by: taro
from Sacramento CA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Speaker is packaged well but the power cord was not included at the base f the box as it otherwise indicated. This would be a problem since the 200 model relying solely on power cord rather than internal battery that higher Authentic line speakers have. We contacted the customer service and they sent it without issue.
The speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity is very stable, initially my iPhone 13 Pro has some stutter problems in sounds streaming from YouTube app, it looks like more of an iOS YouTube app issue rather than on the JBL end. Once the initial connection issues are resolved, the distance between speaker to device can be through two interior walls without distortion.
The sound level is slightly softer than the speaker size would indicate but midrange is clear without getting muffled by increasing bass boost.
The speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity is very stable, initially my iPhone 13 Pro has some stutter problems in sounds streaming from YouTube app, it looks like more of an iOS YouTube app issue rather than on the JBL end. Once the initial connection issues are resolved, the distance between speaker to device can be through two interior walls without distortion.
The sound level is slightly softer than the speaker size would indicate but midrange is clear without getting muffled by increasing bass boost.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great sound plus the aesthetic retro look
on September 28, 2023
Posted by: Anuj
from San Francisco, CA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL Authentics 200 is a very unique product from JBL. It have a retro looking style with the modern quality sound. It looks beautiful first of all, plus it sounds great and the bass is amazing. I was actually surprised by the quality of sound. The only thing minor issue is that it have to be connected to power all the time so you can't just charge it and take it to a different room or outdoor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
4
Amazing sound, great look, no connect+
on September 26, 2023
Posted by: Achambers1978
from Chicago, IL
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Smart speaker comes right out of the box making an impression. It's packaged simply and elegantly, and unwrapping it you really feel as though you've purchased something high quality, classy. It's a modern device dressed in vintage attire, and some classic(ish) connections: 3.5mm line in, ethernet, and a good old AC plug. Also, a USB-c port.
It sounds amazing. Period. Based on size (and the fact that it's a smart speaker), I thought this would be on par with my JBL Charge 4, but it's right up there with my JBL Extreme 3, which is about twice as big. Originally I was a little miffed that they left out a battery for portability, but it makes sense. First, it's lighter and much smaller, and secondly, with the materials used, you wouldn't want to be taking this out or carrying it around. Anyway the bass delivers and I'd guess this unit could easily fill up a medium sized ballroom, much less my little living room.
The materials used LOOK vintage, but they feel newer and sturdy. For example the grille looks like the soft foam used in older speakers, but its a hard material. The exterior seems to be a polymer just patterned with a leather look. The gold bezel feels like a nice metal.
The buttons and dials look and feel great. The dials light up in a circular way as you increase or decrease volume, bass, or treble. You can play, pause, skip and rewind from the unit. Pairing was simple. From the JBL One app, wifi setup was easy, and I was able to setup both assistants quickly. I setup and used Pandora and Spotify with no issues. I have read there is Apple integration as well, so if true, JBL has covered all the bases for assistants and streaming services.
My only complaint is the lack of Connect+. Most people probably would not care about this, but having a bunch of speakers around my house that can connect to each other, it would be great to add this in. The only other issue might be the price, but you definitely get what you pay for here!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Retro Look, Modern Sound
on September 26, 2023
Posted by: TdotCdot
from Concord, CA
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Authentics 200 is some of the best quality sound on the market! Upon unboxing, I was impressed with the detail of the speaker; the pattern on the face of the speaker gave me vintage vibes with a modern flare. The volume, treble, and bass dials seemed retro but the light that’s emitted when turning them up or down made me feel like I was living in the future. The marriage between the old look with modern technology was done beautifully.
Connecting the speaker to my mobile device was very easy—press the Bluetooth button, find it on your device, connect, and done. I also downloaded the JBL One app for easier management and connection. Once I was paired, I turned on some of my favorite music and cranked up the volume! Before I fiddled with the treble and bass settings, I was thoroughly impressed at how clear the sound was as I began to slowly turn up the volume. The bass could be felt and the clarity of the artists voice made it feel like I was at a concert. As I began to mess with the treble and bass to gauge the abilities, it became abundantly clear that in any setting, I was going to get quality sound.
There are a couple of drawbacks that are minor but still I would’ve loved included. I wish this speaker had wireless capabilities. Having to be tethered to an outlet is ok but having the convenience of picking it up and move it to wherever I am would have been more ideal. Also, I wish there was an on/off switch. Something about turning something on or off just brings me comfort.
Overall, this is a great product. Not only do you get exceptional sound but it can definitely spruce up your decor. It’s stylish and retro and would make an impressive piece on any shelf, dresser, or wherever else you want to put. Highly recommend!
Connecting the speaker to my mobile device was very easy—press the Bluetooth button, find it on your device, connect, and done. I also downloaded the JBL One app for easier management and connection. Once I was paired, I turned on some of my favorite music and cranked up the volume! Before I fiddled with the treble and bass settings, I was thoroughly impressed at how clear the sound was as I began to slowly turn up the volume. The bass could be felt and the clarity of the artists voice made it feel like I was at a concert. As I began to mess with the treble and bass to gauge the abilities, it became abundantly clear that in any setting, I was going to get quality sound.
There are a couple of drawbacks that are minor but still I would’ve loved included. I wish this speaker had wireless capabilities. Having to be tethered to an outlet is ok but having the convenience of picking it up and move it to wherever I am would have been more ideal. Also, I wish there was an on/off switch. Something about turning something on or off just brings me comfort.
Overall, this is a great product. Not only do you get exceptional sound but it can definitely spruce up your decor. It’s stylish and retro and would make an impressive piece on any shelf, dresser, or wherever else you want to put. Highly recommend!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com