Customer Ratings & Reviews

A nice home (wifi) speaker. Good sound ! Isnt a large speaker. Nice size .

Good bass but the voice and background music is a little bit mixed

BOTTOM LINE JBL enters the upscale retro-chic BT speaker market with a really classy and potent-sounding smart speaker that punches a bit above its weight class provided you don’t push it TOO hard. DESIGN/FEATURES The black with gold-accented enclosure is wrapped in a handsome leather-looking/leather-feeling material. That, coupled with JBL’s old-school style speaker grille, makes for a refined yet definitively “rock and roll” statement on your tabletop or shelf. Controls and readouts are minimal which adds to the clean, streamlined, and classy look of the Authentics 200. The top-most inset control panel features three large dials, each encircled by a progressive white LED ring that indicates the volume, treble, or bass level—it’s actually kinda cool when you adjust levels via phone/app and watch the LED circular displays change from across the room. A button with a Bluetooth icon sits next to the volume dial and acts as both BT input select and BT pairing; there is also a heart-labeled “Moments” button just below that which lets you instantly activate a favorite playlist and dial in custom speaker volume/EQ settings that you set up in the JBL One companion app. Just above the BT button is a small multi-color LED that communicates the status of a number of functions and activities for the speaker itself as well as voice assistant notifications; for example: speaker start-up (pulsing white), successful WiFi network connection (solid white), weak network strength (yellow), Alexa timer and alarm ringing (pulsing cyan & blue), Alexa do-not-disturb (purple). There are also several Google Assistant LED indicators as well, but they all utilize various patterns of white LED activity only. Honestly, the status LED is so small, so subtle, and faces directly towards the ceiling, so I don’t know how helpful it really is unless you are physically standing over the speaker at the time the display lights up. Nevertheless, I give kudos to JBL for making a product that focuses on *the music* and doesn’t become a cluttered and intrusive mess in a darkened room thanks to a glut of illuminated buttons, readouts, or unnecessary RGB effects. On the back is a physical mic mute switch with handy green and red indicators to let you know when your voice assistant can actively listen or not. Along with a deeply recessed power port, there is a USB-C port though you cannot use the Authentics 200 as an external DAC and speaker for a PC, the port only provides playback of MP3s (80-320kbps/16-48kHz) or WAV files. There is also a 3.5mm AUX jack and an Ethernet jack (!!!) in case the built-in 2.4G/5G WiFi adapter isn’t enough network connectivity for you. Although construction feels rock-solid, be careful of how you handle the speaker because there is a down-firing passive bass radiator that takes up virtually the entire bottom panel. The speaker also has four rubber bumpers at the corners of the risers that give the speaker an almost springy, floaty feeling when set on a flat surface. The sensation took a bit of getting used to because I am so accustomed to hi-fi components sitting resolutely in place so vibrations can’t intrude on drive motors, delicate laser pickups, etc.; the Authentics 200 practically bounces on its rubbery feet! In addition to offering vanilla BT streaming, the Authentics 200 can also handle network streaming and Internet radio to include connectivity and playback via AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify connect, and Alexa Multiroom Music. And in a gracious nod to those of us who can’t commit to a single digital assistant and smart home ecosystem, JBL gives you both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, so you get all the benefits of a Google Nest or Amazon Echo speaker along with all the smart-home features they bring along for the ride. Speaking of BT streaming, I used the Authentics 200 with several YouTube and Netflix streams; depending on the stream/source quality, I noticed barely any to no distracting A/V delay at all which bodes well for those of you who might want to use this speaker for video as well as audio content. The companion JBL One app (which mercifully does NOT require an account or login credentials) is actually a useful tool that, in addition to establishing network connectivity and basic device settings, gives you the option to further tune and customize the performance of the Authentics 200 with preset EQs that can include midrange boosts and cuts (the on-speaker controls are limited to adjustments of bass and treble only) that are saved to the speaker even after exiting the app. The app also features “In-App Music” capabilities which essentially integrates the sound controls and settings accessible in the JBL One app with the playback and browsing controls and user-interface for Amazon Music, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Qobuz, etc. This is a very handy way to manage your listening options, especially if you subscribe to multiple streaming services, without having to flip between multiple applications; and the responsiveness of the In-App Music user experience in JBL One seemed only a hair slower than using the native apps themselves. PERFORMANCE AND OBSERVATIONS Finally, getting into the guts of the unit, there is a single 5” full-range driver flanked by two 25mm tweeters behind the speaker grille. The effect this 2.0 setup produces is *somewhat* stereo-like with greater-than-mono sound separation at relatively close listening distances. But as this is a single-enclosure after all, and given that the 5” driver is serving double duty for both bass and mid-range, the stereo effect really only shines when a song has been deliberately mastered with exceedingly wide L/R channel separation. That said, vocals and instruments sound clear, detailed, and energetic…there is definitely no veil or loss of dynamics to the music despite the Authentics 200’s diminutive size—JBL clearly knows its stuff! Bass performance is further extended by the passive radiator at the bottom of the enclosure which definitely helps extend the bottom end further than you would imagine possible from a speaker this small. At low and mid-range volumes especially, the additional grunt contributed by the bass radiator adds palpable heft to speaker’s rich and detailed output. Along with auditioning the speaker at home, I brought it to work to share with my officemate who thankfully shares similar musical tastes to my own…he said the speaker was very lively and “fun” to listen to and thought the sound it produced was of a quality that was commensurate with JBL’s asking price. That said, the Authentics 200’s premium build quality, appearance, and feature set feels just a little incomplete without some of the newer HD audio codecs like aptX HD or LDAC. It’s not a critical omission, but it would have been the icing on an otherwise very capable and well-appointed sonic cake. I also found that as the volume increased, the extra oomph provided by the passive radiator started to translate into a) vibrations of the entire enclosure (remember, the whole thing sits on incredibly bouncy rubber feet) that created just a hint of its own vibration noise, and b) attention-grabbing bass bloat that got muddier and more imprecise as the volume continued to rise. In the case of the latter, some bass-heavy passages would simply have deep bass notes suddenly and distractingly “appear out of nowhere” at levels that drowned out the finer details and clarity of the mids and highs below them. When this happened, some quick re-EQ at the low end brought things back under control. I also had to remind myself that I wasn’t trying to fill a giant rave with dance music…yes, the Authentics 200 can go REALLY loud, but it probably shouldn’t if you care about the quality of the music. In all fairness, this tends to be true of pretty much any small enclosure source that leverages a passive radiator…there is only so much precision you can squeeze out of a small rubber surround that is furiously flexing near maximum excursion once bass frequencies start getting longer and longer. Still, it is something to note if you were planning on having a house/apartment/dorm party and DJ’ing it solely from the Authentics 200.

I have owned many speakers made by various manufacturers over the years, and this one ranks among the best when it comes to audio quality and aesthetic appeal. Pros: - First, this speaker has basically everything that you would want in a modern audio product: Great sound, a beautiful design, Smart features, and flexible functionality. - Music and podcasts both sound great. The bass really thumps through a downward firing woofer. - The knobs to adjust volume, treble, and bass feel very elegant and high-end as you rotate them. The face of the speaker has terrific texture and look, giving it the old-school feel that a person in their late 40's like me can appreciate. - This speaker is compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa, giving you the choice of smart assistant that you prefer. Most speakers are only one or the other. - A USB-C port is included in the rear, allowing you to charge phones/tablets. This is a welcome feature that many speakers lack. Additional features include an Ethernet port, an AUX port, and a switch to turn the onboard mic off if you don't plan to use the assistant (or like the privacy). - This speaker is not powered by a lithium-ion battery and needs to be plugged into an outlet. This can be a good thing as it extends the life of the product as batteries can fail over the years. Keep this in mind as it does limit portability. This is designed to be a home speaker. Cons: - The labels on the treble and bass knobs are barely legible (black on black). Over time I'm sure I'll remember which is which, but for now, not being able to read the labels unless the room is well lit is kind of annoying. - The set-up process in the app didn't go very smoothly. Connecting to WiFi took several attempts. After finally getting connected there was a firmware update ready. Toward the end of this update process I got an error indicating that the update failed. It gave me an option to try again but the app locked up. After restarting the app, the settings showed the device was up to date so I guess the firmware update did work after all. This was the only reason I did not give this speaker 5 stars. This speaker is a good value. You'll love the audio quality and features.

Nice classic look, feels super solid and high quality. Alexa integration is great. Sound quality and bass are very good for the size. Little expensive for what you get, wish it had Atmos at this price point.

Nice clean sound elegant classic look easy to pair

The speaker sounds nice and has a clear sound. The main reason I am so pleased is it was easy to set up.

The sound is great! The set up is a little challenging. It was a little bigger than I thought it would be.

Great speaker. Good sound. Reasonable price. Nice style.

You have probably heard old saying that good things sometimes come in small packages and the JBL Authhentics 200 is a perfect example of that. This is the smallest Bluetooth/WiFi speaker in JBL's Authentics lineup -- just 10 inches across and less than 7 inches high -- but still manages to produce some very impressive, room-filling sound at equally impressive volumes. That's all the more remarkable when one considers there are just two 1-inch tweeters and a 5-inch woofer inside. High frequencies are particularly bright and crisp, as you might expect . What you may not expect is the surprisingly strong bass the Authentics 200 can crank out .... and those booming low notes are just as tight and clean as the high ones. Midranges are a bit lacking, which is to be expected given the small speakers being used. But separate ring-lit bass and treble controls allow you to fine-tune the music to get a very satisfying overall sound. The JBL One app, which is required to set up the Authentics 200, gives you even more control over the sound with infinite equalizer options. Speaking of setup, that's pretty painless. The app recognizes the speaker, does the always-required firmware update and then gives you the option to connect to your home wifi network and add both Alexa and Google voice control. (Yes, you can use both at the same time) This means you can also add the Authentics 200 to any other speaker networks you have with the same capabilties. Alexa and Google voice control also gives you access to the streaming music services attached to your account in those ecosystems. Should you already have too many of these voice-activated devices scattered across your home, spreading confusion everytime you utter the magic wakeup words, you can turn off voice control with a switch on the back. A thoughful design feature. If you opt to go that route, the Authentics 200 will operate as a standalone Bluetooth speaker so you can wirelessly stream music stored on phones, tablets, etc, as well from any music streaming service you have access to on those devices. Or you can use an auxiliary cable (you must supply that yourself) to connect music devices directly to the speaker. This is a very sturdy, well designed bluetooth speaker, clad in traditional black faux leather and JBL's famous waffle-pattern "Quadrex" front grill. A brushed gold metal bezel surrounds the front edge, which adds to the understated, elegant design. The big, round volume, bass and treble controls are all on top and each has a light ring to to indicate the level chosen. On the back, there are inputs for AC power, USB C, aux cable and ethernet. And very soft rubber feet on the bottom keeps rattles away, no matter how much loud bass-shaking music you play. JBL says an impressive 90-watt stereo amp powers the Authentics 200. But the speakers inside are so tightly grouped you don't get any noticeable sound separation. The Authentics 200 is a bit pricey for its diminutive size, But if you are short on space or just like the idea of a more compact speaker cab, this thing punches above its weight class and delivers suprisingly good sound quality.

Great product just prefer Sonos. I like the ability to combine speakers

When I opened the box and got a look at this new speaker, I was quite impressed. The grippy texture is very unique and pleasant, the rubber feet on the bottom completely isolate the speaker from the surface it’s on and allow it to resonate with the passive radiator. They’re so flexible that when I get some rocking bassy music going on it, the speaker will dance around a little, which is charming and fun for such a serious looking piece of kit. Documentation is non-existent in the box. After downloading the user manual from the JBL site, I was able to dig a little deeper into some of the functionality that isn’t immediately apparent when firing up the speaker and the app. The best sound is clearly over the Wi-Fi or ethernet connections, the Bluetooth is fine, but if anyone has forgotten the limitations of Bluetooth music streaming, this radio would love to demonstrate. I had no delays whatsoever with streaming via Airplay, and after pairing my phone with the Bluetooth, it connects quickly and also doesn’t have any real latency, but definitely still has the Bluetooth compressed sound. I like the ease of the Airplay connection as well, since it lets me skip pairing. I have listened to every kind of music I have on my phone and this “little” speaker pulls out detail similar to listening on headphones. Spatial positioning is rather weak, but is still there. If I’m listening to Tool or Pink Floyd where the left/right positional audio is important, you just sit in front of the speaker and the stereo imaging is good, not great. Anywhere off center from the speaker and it will still give you an indication of directionality, but it’s not a wide stereo image. This sounds like a detriment, but it’s great. A table radio like this should be a point of sound, it shouldn’t add a bunch of spatial processing to sound like something it isn’t. I love that I can hear the buzz of the amplifiers and hum of synths in this speaker, the sound is so detailed and full, it’s my new favorite speaker. I do wish it came with a radio. An FM tuner at least, but AM/FM should be on this radio, no doubt. I know one can stream most radio stations and that’s fine, but without a network connection via your home or phone internet, this little guy is cut off from the world and could still be useful with a tuner. The “Moment” button strikes me as a gimmick that will likely become a useless mystery function in a few years -it’s happened plenty. I don’t think a “high-end” piece of audio equipment should be dragged down with proprietary functions on the hardware, as when the software support dries up or the company moves on, you have useless hardware functions. The idea behind the Moment button is great, I would love to use it. I will not be using it, though as the selection of music services available for programming the button through the app is very limited. There is no Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube Music integrations in the app, you’re stuck with Tidal, Pandora, Napster (?!?), and a few other limited services that are only able to run through the speaker via Google Assistant or Alexa systems, the music integration requires Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, neither of which have any right to know what I’m listening to on my JBL speaker. The ethereal nature of all of these online services pretty much guarantees any hard button you put on your product is going to be obsolete shortly. 5 years from now, I can’t wait to hear “What does this heart button do?” “-Nothing”. The microphones on the top of the speaker are apparently dual purpose, the primary purpose appears to be to interact with Google and Alexa, but they also claim the speaker listens to the room in the spot you place it and adjusts itself to sound best. There is a hardware switch on the back that turns off the mics, but does it turn off the ability of the speaker to adjust itself? I don’t know. The bright red light that is always on the front of the speaker with the mic turned off is not pleasant or necessary. Some documentation of the actual function of the mic switch would be great. I would have given this guy 5 stars if not for the “feature” creep and super-cheapo choice to skip a tuner in a table radio. It keeps 4 stars because I don’t think you can get better sound quality in anything else this size. Recommended to everyone!

It's good not great. Bass is pretty good. Love the knobs.