JBL Authentics Wi-Fi Speaker Range - Retro Design Meets Voice Smarts

Using the opportunity of IFA week, JBL introduced a series of entry level consumer products, welcome technology updates, and new product designs. The new JBL Authentics speaker series is one of the highlights, expanding on the retro design of the classic JBL L100 speaker and foam grills. Following previous "retro" models introduced by Harman's luxury division, the JBL Authentics bring the concept to the affordable level of home audio with three compact active speakers, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, and simultaneous support for Alexa and Google voice assistants. At the center of the new speaker series is the portable JBL Authentics 300, which JBL shamelessly describes as "a decorative piece of the home," - an all-encompassing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart speaker with room-filling omnidirectional sound and portability to carry the music anywhere in the home. For that purpose, the JBL Authentics 300 features a built-in 8-hour battery and benefits from the company's experience in designing speakers that deliver on the lower frequencies in a compact chassis.

The JBL Authentics 200 and JBL Authentics 500 home speakers complete the all-new JBL Authentics series, all expected to be available from September 17, 2023. The JBL Authentics 500 is one of those home speakers that is supposedly able to deliver Dolby Atmos from a single source. To create that illusion, the design uses three 1" tweeters and three 2.75" midrange woofers positioned at different angles of the cabinet, with a 6.5" downfiring subwoofer delivering the extra bass. In total, the system is sold to consumers as "270 Watts of 3.1 channel sound with virtual Dolby Atmos for immersive high-definition 3D sound." Not unusual in the bazar of consumer electronics, but significant for a company such as JBL, which is reusing the painful lessons of the "smart speaker" debacles.
 
As Harman (a Samsung company) explains in a separate release, the JBL Authentics 500 speaker features a Harman-patented technology named Constant Sound Field that combines DSP and a unique acoustic structural design "to achieve a wider sound stage and a bigger sweet spot for constant, immersive sound throughout the listening area."

For less ambitious magic properties and those who are perfectly happy with stereo sound from a bedside box, the JBL Authentics 200 completes the series with a similar design in a smaller size. A pair of 1" tweeters bring sound to life, while the full-range 5" woofer and downfiring 6" passive radiator deliver the required impact and provide the extended balance for music reproduction, no matter the genre.
 
All three models take inspiration from the legendary JBL L100 speaker from the 70s, although these are build with a premium aluminum frame enclosure, wrapped on custom synthetic leather and a reimagined Quadrex grille, akin to the JBL L75ms Music System introduced in 2021.

One of the innovations that JBL is particularly proud with the Authentics series is as integration built in collaboration with Amazon and Google that provides users simultaneous access to their respective voice assistants (in English). A concept that has been promised long ago, when voice assistants were required in all new speaker models, but was never realized.

As an integrated streaming system, these three JBL Authentics speakers combine the advantages of a Wi-Fi connection and Bluetooth. All models stream music through AirPlay 2, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM), Spotify Connect, and Chromecast, allowing users to take a call on their smartphones without the music being interrupted. This also means that multiple JBL Authentics speakers can be place throughout the home for multiroom playback, wirelessly. And again benefiting from the lessons of smart speakers, these JBL Authentics feature automatic self-tuning calibration to adjust the audio performance whenever the speaker is positioned and switched on. It's not Dirac Live, but at leasts users will not have to worry about it, and the speaker will try to sound the best in any given place.

"The heritage of our brand has always been important to us and the JBL Authentics encompasses everything that we thrive to achieve at JBL," explains Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio, Harman Lifestyle Division. "We’re living in an interesting era where ‘newstalgia’ is on the rise. The JBL Authentics plays on our iconic past with its retro design whilst delivering the superior sound that our customers have come to love and expect. Modern innovations such as Dolby Atmos and simultaneous voice assistants meet the retro and reimagined Quadrex grille design to deliver a speaker range that is ready for the future of audio."

Apart from the speaker design, all three models are expanded by a dedicated JBL One app that allows users to easily set up the speakers and browse integrated music services to find new songs and artists. With the app’s fully customizable EQ settings, users can fully personalize their listening experience.

JBL Authentics are made from 100% recycled fabric, 85% recycled plastic and 50% recycled aluminum, while the packaging is made from FSC-certified paper and printed with soy ink. Prices start at $329.99 for the Authentics 200, expand to $429.99 for the Authentics 300, and reach $699.99 if you believe that the Authentics 500 is able to deliver Dolby Atmos and that matters to you. But that again, Dolby or not, the sound of the Authentics 500 will always big bigger.
 
Two Voice Assistants
Thanks to a Harman-level collaboration with Amazon and Google, these JBL Authentics speakers allow users to register both assistants to communicate with either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa at the same time, on the same device. If that's something that anyone needs, or wants, is not the point. The important thing is the choice and flexibility to communicate seamlessly with both voice assistants and take advantage of their different capabilities, and switch between them for different activities. Once the assistants are set-up on the JBL app, users will be able to say “Hey Google,” or “Alexa” to ask to play their music or ask about the weather.

"We’re thrilled to collaborate on the first simultaneous Google Assistant and Alexa speaker, so that users have the choice to engage with whichever voice assistant they’d like," says Duke Dukellis, Director of Google Assistant. "Google Assistant exists to save people time to focus on the things that matter most, and we know that many households have mixed voice assistant preferences and several devices. Now, with the new JBL Authentics speakers, users have access to some of the best features that Google Assistant and Alexa have to offer."

"Amazon has long supported giving customers the freedom and convenience to use multiple assistants on a single device with our Voice Interoperability Initiative, and we’re delighted to make Alexa simultaneously available with Google Assistant on the new JBL Authentics speakers," adds Aaron Rubenson, VP of Alexa, Amazon. "This integration is a great industry-first collaboration to further assistant technology and we’re excited that this will enable more choice for JBL’s customers."

Of course, as Harman notes, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant may not be available in all countries or languages as we all know, so availability, features, and functionality may vary a lot. In English language countries, it should work. Strangely, Harman says that voice activation continues to be "one of the most popular features in audio devices today, playing an important role in 85% of European homes," according to a survey made by the company.

Anyway, even forgetting the voice assistants, and the Dolby Atmos fairy dust, the JBL Authentics look cool for compact speakers, sound good for their size, and are affordable compared to all other models that JBL has introduced with those retro grills so far. Harman doesn't say if it's possible to switch off or disable the always-on microphone for those who don't trust Amazon or Google.
www.harman.com
www.jbl.com