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JBL's Authentics smart speaker line is the first to support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa working simultaneously on the same audio device. Well, somehow it took until recently for that to happen. That is a unique selling point that no other company can match, but in reality, this demand is quite small and not common. In Vietnam, Alexa is even less used.
Design and experience
Dual virtual assistants aren't the only thing you get on the Authentics 300, it offers multiple connectivity options, EQ adjustments on the speaker itself and gives it a retro '70s-style feel. Also, this is the only Authentics speaker with a built-in battery so you can take it with you on the go, but it also comes with a pretty steep price tag.
JBL Authentics 300 design
If you love classic style then you'll almost certainly love the Authentics 300. The black faux leather design with gold accents is an elegant combination. Patterned acoustic fabric on the front gives the speaker a more classic look. In addition, on the Authentics line, JBL has very restrained its logo with a small logo in the corner instead of the tradition of using a large logo as often seen on other JBL speaker lines.
At 4.9 kg, the Authentics 300 is a heavy speaker. It's not small at 34.2 cm wide. This is far different from JBL's popular Bluetooth speakers. But luckily it has a handle to make it easier to move. Inside are a pair of 25mm tweeters and a 5.25-inch woofer. On the underside of the speaker there is also a resonant vibrating membrane to help enhance bass.
There's no Dolby Atmos or spatial audio support, so if you want to experience these technologies , you'll need to upgrade to the more expensive Authentics 500 version.
On the top of the speaker are controls including a power button, a Bluetooth button for pairing, and a heart button that you can assign to activate specific playlists from any of the music services integrated with the app. JBL mobile. Unfortunately, Apple Music and Spotify aren't among them, but you can still stream those services directly to the speaker via AirPlay or by casting on Android. Another minus point on the Authentics 300 is that it is limited to the basic SBC codec, which is disappointing at this price point.
The volume knob on the left doubles as a multi-function button when pressed – once to play/pause, twice to skip tracks and three times to go back – and features treble dials and bass on the right. Each of these dials is surrounded by an LED that visually shows the open level.
The back panel includes a 3.5mm AUX port, ethernet, a USB-C input that supports MP3 and WAV files from an attached hard drive, and a figure-8 power connector. Last but not least, for those who Privacy-conscious, you'll notice a physical switch to turn off the speaker's built-in microphone.
Control application on the phone
An extremely important element that comes with the Authentics 300 is JBL's software. The companion mobile app is generally easy to use.
However, the three-band EQ still has some room for improvement, for example the sound control should be more detailed for such a high-end device. It was virtually no problem to set up both Alexa and Google Assistant on the device, and once done, voice commands worked relatively seamlessly.
In daily use, this speaker works very well, never encountering any problems or minor errors.
JBL Authentics 300 sound
You'd expect impressive sound quality for the price of the Authentics 300, and in reality this speaker will satisfy you in most cases. This speaker has shown excellent ability to play music in acoustic, jazz and classical styles. It has a warm, classic feel, and the detail is top notch.
Authentics 300 has enough power to cover almost any common room, from living room, bedroom, kitchen... The speaker is equipped with a 100W amplifier. And even at the highest power level the sound quality is still very impressive.
However, providing vocals that are too detailed sometimes causes some mixes to not perform well, but overall this device is superior to other JBL portable speakers. In terms of battery life, the Authentics 300 provides about 8 hours, quite good for a high-power speaker. But this is not a speaker suitable for outdoor use because it is neither dustproof nor water resistant.
Conclusion
The Authentics 300 is a very capable speaker with a great look, giving you plenty of functionality and several methods of playing music, be it via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or plugged in via the AUX jack or USB-C. However, the quite high price of about 11 million VND will certainly make many people confused. But you can rest assured, this price is quite worthy of what you get in return, especially in terms of sound quality.
