JBL Authentics 500 Hi-Fi Smart Home Speaker with Built-In Wi-Fi and Music Streaming, Voice Assist and Bluetooth Connectivity, Retro Design in Black

I picked up the JBL Authentics 500, and wow—I’m seriously impressed!Right out of the box, the first thing I noticed was how hefty it is. It’s got some solid weight to it, which instantly gave me confidence in the build quality. It’s not something you’d want to move around all the time, but since this is the 500 model (no built-in battery), I wasn’t planning on doing that anyway.Once I unwrapped it and set it up, I couldn’t stop staring—it’s absolutely gorgeous! JBL nailed the design with this one. It blends modern tech with a retro vibe, and it’s just so stylish.When I powered it on and set it up, I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy the whole process was. I started streaming music using the built-in Alexa voice service, and it worked perfectly. Then came the sound test—oh my goodness, the sound! It’s amazing. The bass is punchy, the vocals are crystal clear, and everything is just balanced so perfectly. Hands down, this is the best smart speaker I’ve ever heard, and I’ve tried quite a few, like Sonos, Amazon Echo devices, and Bose. (By the way, personal opinion here, but Bose has really gone downhill lately—just not what they used to be.)Honestly, none of the other smart speakers I’ve tested even come close to how good this JBL Authentics 500 looks or sounds.Another thing I love is how flexible it is. You can pair any speaker from the JBL Authentics lineup with other JBL Authentics speakers and other brands that support Alexa, all through the Alexa app. That’s a game changer for me. For example, I plan to grab more JBL speakers for other rooms, but in my kitchen, I have an Amazon Echo. Being able to sync the JBL with the Echo to play the same music across multiple spaces is awesome.This wasn’t possible with my Sonos or Bose speakers, even though they both had Alexa built-in and showed up in the Alexa app. JBL’s openness here is such a refreshing change.I’ve tried the very best from Bose and Sonos, Bose’s Home Speaker 500 and Sonos’ Five, and neither even comes close to the quality of this JBL Authentics 500.That said, I do have two minor gripes:1. The app could be better. While it’s reliable, it doesn’t offer a ton of features. But honestly, I’d rather have a simple, stable app than something overloaded and glitchy (looking at you, Sonos app). A few more features would be nice, though.2. The Dolby Atmos spatial audio isn’t very noticeable. I didn’t buy this speaker for that feature, so it’s not a big deal, but I gave it a shot anyway. There’s a slight difference, but it’s not as dramatic as I expected.Other than those two small points, this speaker is incredible, and I’d absolutely recommend it. I’m already planning to add more speakers from the JBL Authentics lineup to my collection!

Very solid sound not portable need very good wi fi for excellent quality very big sound

A very high quality speaker acting as an upgrade from my Marshall Emberton. The sound quality is much better than a portable one, but it takes considerably more space. Setting up the blue tooth was easy, and the style its well with a wooden cabinet.

My old Bose speaker just gave up and I needed a replacement. I tried another one from a reputable manufacturer but some songs just lacked a deep thumping base while also having super rich and vibrant vocals / instruments. However, this JBL Authentics 500 is just absolutely, completely and utterly amazing! Music sounds like it should - it's High-Fidelity (Hi-Fi) sound rated - the generation of portable speakers don't really make the mark and sound like tin cans when compared this... (sorry Bose...)Worth every penny...

Very powerful, good sound, but not the best. Something is rong with this speaker. I can't say what but the sound is not the best. If you like to listen audiophile music you have to go for better speakers.In the table in the description it says that it is battery power, but it is not so. It's wired.

I was sold used one for the price of new( names of those who used it before are on the Alexa)

I had a Bose SoundTouch 30 that annoyingly packed up and contacted Bose who said that they cannot repair the unit. So I thought I would try a JBL smart speaker as I already had a 9.1 sound bar for the TV which I was really impressed by. Bass and sound quality is amazing with more power than the previous Bose. Easy setup. The Dolby Atmos works over airplay. There are no preset buttons on it but not a problem as you can tell it what to play over Alexa or Google. There is no remote with it, so you need to download the JBL One App. There are volume, treble and base knobs on top. My only gripe is no remote, but I am very impressed overall. Virtually no distortion at really high volume, but it is so powerful you do not need to crank it up that high anyway.

Got it just today.Sound is awesome.The sound is hi fidelity as mentioned.Vety unlike the other speakers.it consider the new bose also.i think I made the right choice! Buy it!