The JBL brand has earned a very good reputation for its products not only among professionals, but also in the field of home audio. audio systems and headphones thanks to their great sound properties. The S Authentics 300 combines them with a very elegant retro design and a number of integrated technologies, such as voice assistant support in addition to Bluetooth Amazonui Google, both of which can be accessed simultaneously, Wi-Fi tooneactivity and related AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music whether Chromepart, while in konewhich features an Ethernet port and a 3,5mm stereo input for connecting any external signal source. Operation from the mains or via the built-in battery together with the functions of the JBL application One expands the possibilities of use, while the proportion of recycled materials points to the company's efforts for a responsible and environmentally friendly approach.
Package contents
Inside the soy ink printed box, the first thing you will come across is an envelope with documentation. One layer below is the speaker itself and at the bottom a small box where the manufacturer placed the power cable. Unpacking therefore does not take much time, and after removing the protective transport elements, the device is practically immediately ready for pairing.
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Physical properties
In terms of dimensions, the Authentics 300 with a width of 342, a height of 195,6 and a depth of 180,3 mm does not give the impression of massiveness, but it is not inconspicuous either, so it can easily fit on a bedside table or coffee table, in a compartment on a shelf, but it will also look good next to a computer or on the cabinet, where it becomes a companion to your smart TV.
The weight of 4,9 kg does not prevent carrying it or listening to it on the terrace, during a barbecue, etc., but at the same time it makes it clear that it is an honest piece of electronics, which is why it is probably not an ideal solution for longer hikes. Already at the first contact, when the relatively massive handle draws attention to itself, it leads one to the conclusion that the design is precise and seems sufficiently durable.
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Most of the materials used and the color combination of black and gold together create a sense of harmony. The 70s-style grille lined with an aluminum frame underlines the retro heritage of the product, taking up almost the entire front. The mechanism for attaching the aforementioned handle protrudes on the sides, and the back is made mainly of 85% recycled plastic with regular grooves, a switch for activating or deactivating the microphone and all the necessaryonewhich include power supply, USB-C (for service purposes), small stereo jack and the aforementioned Ethernet. The controls are accessed from the top and include 3 distinctive rotary encoders for controlling volume, treble and bass, the first of which also integrates a play button. The next 3 then function as a power switch, a means of connecting via Bluetooth and the last with the JBL heart symbol marked “Moment” calls up the pre-selected content and settings in the application. The rotary controls cleverly indicate the changes made and the ring around them lights up at the corresponding level. They are complemented by an LED strip at the bottom of the panel informing about the battery charge level and a status indicator located above the Bluetooth. If you lift the Authentics 300 and look down, an oval-shaped subwoofer appears in front of you, which significantly enhances the reproduction of lower frequencies.
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Control
Individual elements, which are not many, perform the expected functions, but the power button also serves to restart if the device does not respond for some reason and you hold it for more than 10 seconds. The Play button allows you to skip to the next track with a double press, while a triple press will move you back a track. In case you want to restore the factory settings, 10 seconds of simultaneous use of Play and Moment is enough.
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Most of the Authentics 300 functions can be controlled very conveniently using the JBL app. One available for iPhone and Android phone users, which, in addition to information about the charge status, connection and current content being played, allows you to customize the equalizer, but also, for example, rename the product, connect voice control using the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and we can't forget the offer of streaming services like Spotify or Tidal. The Moment option, which has already been mentioned, allows you to preset a combination of playlists or selected stations with optimal settings, so they are launched in a single step, including volume.
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Key technical data
The JBL Authentics 300 will provide its owner with a generous 100 W of power, which it achieves through two 25 mm tweeters, a pair of 5,25" full-range speakers and a passive 6,5" bass radiator at the bottom. The stated frequency range is 45 Hz to 20 kHz (-6 dB). In case of operation without access to a power outlet, you can rely on a 4mAh battery, which provides up to 800 hours of playback on a single charge. To achieve maxAccording to the manufacturer, the minimum charge level requires 3,5 hours. When it comes to wireless communication, Bluetooth version 5.3 with A2DP 1.3.2 and AVRCP 1.5 profiles is available, along with Wi-Fi support in the 2,4 and 5 GHz bands. Through the built-in microphone, the device can automatically calibrate and adapt to the surrounding environment to achieve optimal performance, regardless of where you place it. If you want stereo, there is nothing stopping you from pairing two pieces and achieving a spatially rich experience.
Personal impressions and evaluations
I have to say that after experience with various JBL products, both in the field of professional sound and home audio, I kind of expected that the JBL Authentics 300's performance would be above average. And it certainly didn't disappoint, but I was pleasantly impressed by the fact that the manufacturer managed to incorporate a really big sound into a design-specific and by no means large package, which does not lack details and is rich in frequency, taking into account the dimensions. Despite its retro legacy, if your household is not strictly modern, it will easily fit into almost any interior.
Using the tone generator, I got an audible response as early as 35 Hz, and in the upper part of the spectrum I got the same impression around 18 Hz. As for the stability of the Bluetooth connection, it held without interruption across the floor of the family house and many obstacles. In an open space, this was even true up to a distance of 400 m, so if you walk somewhere in the garden, there will most likely be no interruption. When testing the charging speed, the battery level rose from 39% to 8% in an hour and maxIt arrived in two hours and thirteen minutes.
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Although this is not exactly the most important feature, I also paid attention to the Moment setting and put Blues Radio from TuneIn under this option in the application at half-time. So whenever I was in the mood for a taste of the genre, I could enjoy it at the touch of a button.
Thanks to the feet, the speaker has a relatively large distance from the surface on which it is placed, but it is still a good idea to be careful if, for example, there is some object inadvertently left on the table where you want to place it, which could theoretically cause damage to the subwoofer. Maybe it was on purpose, but if I could change anything about the speaker, it would be the plastic that makes up the back of the speaker, which for me somewhat spoiled the feeling of a higher end product that the Authentics 300 otherwise evokes, but most of the time it's not visible, so it doesn't matter does not disturb On the contrary, I appreciate the calibration capabilities, thanks to which the resulting sound was similarly consistent even in acoustically completely unsatisfactory conditions.
Price
The current price tag of CZK 10 certainly corresponds to the quality that the JBL Authentics 990 offers. It is a stylish device that will give you an above-average sound experience, regardless of whether it is permanently installed in the living room or bedroom, or you enjoy wonderful moments with it over a cup of coffee in the fresh air under the pergola.
discount code
If you like the JBL Authentics 300 speaker, or any other item from the Authentics series, we have great news for you. Thanks to the discount code LSAAUTHENTICS15 namely, any speaker from this series can get 5 of you 15% discount.
You can buy JBL Authentics speakers here
