Customer reviews from jbl.com
JBL - Link 500 Wireless Speaker with Google Assistant
Average customer rating
4.4
(38 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 38 reviews
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
2
1 Star
1
88%of customers recommend this product.
(
30 out of
34)
Customer Reviews for JBL - Link 500 Wireless Speaker with Google Assistant
Customer Rating
5
Link 500 - Superior sound, sufficient Google Home
on May 1, 2018
Posted by: Jart
from Ogden, UT, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Link 500 combines JBL's exceptional sound engineering with Google's home management tools. At first glance, this thing is huge! See the pictures. It is 14 1/2" x 7 5/8" x 6 1/8" and weighs almost 8 pounds. The Link 500 produces full bodied sound with the high fidelity that is expected of JBL. The only fault of the Link is Google Home.
Google Home functions well, but it takes some getting used to. There are plenty of commands to use, but there is not a book included listing them. So, you have to do your own homework to figure out how to make the most of your Link 500 with Google Home. The voice recognition is good, but you have to speak loudly and clearly to get its attention.
Google Home functions well, but it takes some getting used to. There are plenty of commands to use, but there is not a book included listing them. So, you have to do your own homework to figure out how to make the most of your Link 500 with Google Home. The voice recognition is good, but you have to speak loudly and clearly to get its attention.
Overall, since Google Home could be updated to have better commands and interaction, and the sound quality is excellent, I highly recommend the JBL Link 500.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great sounding with amazing functionality!
on April 21, 2018
Posted by: Tomsters
from NYC
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I just finished putting the JBL Link 500 through its paces and I have to say right away that I think it is an awesome device. To begin, it comes with minimal instructions and an A/C cord. The Link 500 plugs into the wall (there is no battery). You need to install the Google Home app on your smartphone and with this you can set up the JBL link 500 to get it ready to take commands and play music using the Google Assistant.
If you have an android phone, you will already be familiar with the Google Assistant. Once you have completed the setup with Google Home, you can then start asking the JBL Link 500 questions or tell it to play music. You do this by saying "hey google" or "ok google" and then give a pause and then ask the question or give the command. There is a little light in the top front of the speaker that indicates if Google assistant is listening to you (after you say ok google). You can also turn the assistant on/off and lower volume etc with dedicated buttons on top of the Link 500.
Right away I started asking it to play specific songs and it did very well even when I was in another room with a wall between us (but with open doors). It also came in handy in real time when a friend and I were trying to remember James Franco's name and we asked it a few questions from another room and it got the info for us which was very cool and an example of real time usefulness. It does not appear to be able to make phone calls though.
Now as for the sound... I think it sounds great... very full, clear and rich sounding with deep resonant bass especially if you put it near a wall. The bass is very strong on this one (it has a radiator on the back). I found myself saying "ok google" ... please lower the volume - more than once or twice... because I have neighbors! It's pretty powerful. I think it would be perfect for a small party when you want some volume and bass happening. The Google assistant functionality is also very consistent and it even heard me when the volume was quite high (thank god!). I think it is an amazing product and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Wow! Great sound and ease of use.
on April 29, 2018
Posted by: AndeS
from Indianapolis
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I really enjoy the sound quality and convenience of the JBL 500. Although slightly larger than anticipated, it is worth the extra space. Already have recommended to several friends and relatives.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Sounds great for a single speaker.
on November 14, 2019
Posted by: earldom
from Los Angeles, CA
I was worried the 500 wouldn't sound as good as the Google Max, but I think it's very similar. Definitely one of the top 3 of all smart speakers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazing sound
on April 24, 2018
Posted by: 68eight
from Los Angeles, CA, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Wow the sound is amazing, tight bass clear highs JBL definitely knows how to make speakers.I put this in my master bedroom originally but since it has such powerful sound decided to put it in my family room.This speaker is for big spaces.While this speaker is big it's still rather easy to move around if need too.This speaker doesn't have a battery so not portable needs to be plugged in.Now to Google features I downloaded app on my phone and connected wifi to speaker.Once connected my Google features turned on.I love walking in my house and saying hey Google put some music on.I don't got to touch my phone to check traffic,weather,time,etc....I just ask and it tells me. While I'm still in the learning stages of all the things it can do.I really know I'm love this thing.I'm a get the smaller version for my room so I can have access at all times and can play simultaneously on both speakers too.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
My homes new primary music player and assistant!
on April 27, 2018
Posted by: Steven S
from Atlanta, GA, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] OK Google, how do you wrap beautiful sounding audio in an easy mode ribbon?
I will say I was no stranger to smart speakers but after hearing my music through the JBL Link 500, I felt I had a new primary music player in the most active room of our home, the kitchen. The 500 paired with ease to my iPhone and the free Google home app in just a couple of minutes and guided me through linking my audio (Spotify, Pandora etc..) and video (Netflix, Chromecast etc..) for it to connect. Once up and running, the Link 500’s google assistant (and twin mics) was put to the test! I’d ask it to play Drake and about 1-2 seconds, a random Drake playlist from Spotify was booming. “Ok Google, play YouTube” and a few seconds, my Chromecast tv would start a YouTube video. Having help with a smart speaker is nice but having a smart speaker become part of an everyday experience that I look (or dare I say listen) forward to, I was not expecting.
I will say I was no stranger to smart speakers but after hearing my music through the JBL Link 500, I felt I had a new primary music player in the most active room of our home, the kitchen. The 500 paired with ease to my iPhone and the free Google home app in just a couple of minutes and guided me through linking my audio (Spotify, Pandora etc..) and video (Netflix, Chromecast etc..) for it to connect. Once up and running, the Link 500’s google assistant (and twin mics) was put to the test! I’d ask it to play Drake and about 1-2 seconds, a random Drake playlist from Spotify was booming. “Ok Google, play YouTube” and a few seconds, my Chromecast tv would start a YouTube video. Having help with a smart speaker is nice but having a smart speaker become part of an everyday experience that I look (or dare I say listen) forward to, I was not expecting.
As some of you may know, hands free help with twin toddlers is a HUGE win. Asking google to play lullaby music once naptime rolls near for the toddlers while trying to feed them is immeasurable. Sleepy time incoming!! Cook timers have always been an afterthought once oven is preheated or water is boiling. Verbalizing a cook timer to set itself without having to get my messy hands on something or not having to wash them immediately because I set a timer on my germy phone is quick, hygienic and convenient. Just speak: “ok Google, set a timer for ten minutes” and all is well. Now, when I want to listen to..let’s say jazz while washing the dishes or cleaning up…well…the audio experience is just gorgeous! I will not forget the first time I spoke from across the room: “ok Google, play Medeski, Martin and Wood”…once that deep, rich bassline walked into my kitchen lol I had an absolute moment of where have you been all my life?! I was no stranger to smart speakers but always went back to hands on methods due to audio sounding like it came from a tin can. This is where the JBL Link 500 simply outclasses the competition.
Its build is beautiful and I feel will work in anyone’s space as a part of their home both audibly and aesthetically. The JBL Link 500 can get very loud and drop bass very low. That being said, it is not to be mistaken for a charge and go Bluetooth speaker. It needs to be plugged into a power outlet at all times. There are twin mics on top that never had any trouble hearing me from the next room over and/or on top of a toddler screaming. I am still learning new google assistant commands but I was really digging the speed at which my commands are executed. JBL is known for its attention to great sounding gear and I can’t think of another smart speaker anywhere near this great sounding. If you are on the fence just go for it because it will fill your room/home with no regrets.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Sound
on April 30, 2018
Posted by: Kevin1015
from Cranford, New Jersey, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This speaker has amazing sound quality. It sounds great and even when you turn the speaker full blast, the sound quality is still great. It gets pretty loud and works for parties or just chilling by yourself. The Google assistant is a great feature as well. It is very convenient and a nice additional feature. One of my friends has a Bose SoundTouch 30 wireless speaker and this speaker sounds just as good, plus it has a Google assistant.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
on December 19, 2018
Posted by: Jean63
I bought this 3 weeks ago and I enjoy it so much. It is as good as google max
or better.
or better.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com