JBL Authentics 200 review: Better than the Sonos Era 100?

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With the Authentics series, JBL presented a event as part of IFA 2023 three new loudspeakers from a completely new series: the Authentics 200, 300 and 500All of these speakers feature modern technology in a retro design and are intended to be visually reminiscent of vintage JBL speakers. The Authentics 200 is the smallest model in the series and, in addition to its stylish and compact design, is said to also boast excellent sound. I'll tell you below whether it succeeds and what else it can do.

tl; dr

With the Authentics 200, JBL has launched a very good home speaker that really impressed me.proI really liked it. During my test, I was particularly impressed by its retro design and its wide, detailed sound, but I also really liked other features, such as its operation. I also thought it was great that the equalizer can be adjusted not only via the JBL One app, but also via the dials on the speaker itself. It's also worth mentioning that you don't have to choose between Google Assistant and Alexa; you can use both at the same time.

The size and weight are compared to the Authentics 500 significantly lower, making it much easier to find a suitable spot for the speaker, and it's also well-suited for rooms like bathrooms. The price, at around €250, is also fair in my opinion. I can recommend the Authentics 200 to anyone looking for a home speaker with a very stylish retro design, excellent sound, and some cool features. You can buy the speaker at all major electronics stores, as well as from JBL itself.

Buy JBL Authentics 200 at JBL

Buy JBL Authentics 200 on Amazon

Unboxing & scope of delivery

Like other JBL speakers, the Authentics 200 comes in a white-gray box with orange accents. The front panel features a large image of the speaker and some of its features. Inside the box, you'll find the speaker itself, its power cable, and the usual paperwork.

Design & processing

With the Authentics series, JBL is going for a retro design that is reminiscent of old JBL speakers. All speakers in the series look very similar and I particularly like them.proThe Authentics 200 is the smallest and lightest of the series. With dimensions of 266,3 × 171,7 × 167,4 millimeters, the Authentics 200 is significantly more compact than the Authentics 500, but still considerably larger than, for example, the Sonos Era 100. It weighs 4,15 kilograms, which is quite heavy for a speaker of this class, but negligible since this is a stationary Wi-Fi speaker. The Authentics 200 is covered on all sides with a type of black synthetic leather and has a black mesh front that sits in a gold metal frame with a small engraving on the top. A gold JBL logo serves as a small accent on the front.

On the top is the control panel, which consists of three rotary dials and two small buttons, also in gold, and makes a good impression. The back is made of dark gray plastic with small grooves. At the top is the mute switch for the speaker's microphone, which is red or green depending on its status. Below that is the name of the speaker. At the bottom are the connections, which are also described. On the bottom is the large passive radiator. Next to this are the rubber feet, which ensure the speaker stands securely and is non-slip. Overall, the speaker makes a very high-quality impression and, thanks to the materials and design, appears not only retro but also quite classy. The workmanship is also of a high standard. Nothing wobbles or rattles and everything seems very stable.

Service

JBL has used a new operating concept for the Authentics speakers, consisting of three rotary controls and two buttons. These are located in the middle of the top and also look pretty stylish and well integrated. The first rotary control can also be pressed and is used to adjust the volume by turning it and to control playback by pressing it. Pressing it once starts or pauses playback, pressing it twice skips to the next track and pressing it three times goes back to the previous one. The other two rotary controls are for fine-tuning the sound. One controls the treble and the other the bass. I think these rotary controls are really good because you can quickly and easily change something about the sound without having to access the JBL app.

Picture: TechnikNews

For connecting to Bluetooth devices such as smartphones or record players, there's a Bluetooth button between the rotary controls. Below this button is the Moment button, which the user can configure via the JBL One app. Using this button, for example, you can instantly play your favorite playlist that you've previously saved in the JBL app. However, this only works if you use one of the supported music services. At the top of the back, there's also a mute switch for the built-in microphones. The speaker's operation is generally very simple and user-friendly, and I really liked it.

Ports & Connectivity

The Authentics 200 has the connections at the bottom of the back. In addition to the power connection, JBL has installed a 3,5 mm jack, a USB Type-C port and an Ethernet connection. The USB port can not only be used to play music, but also to charge the connected device. I think it's really good that the user is given so many connection options and that you can also play music via cable. The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 for wireless connection. In addition, JBL has not only given the Authentics 200 Spotify Connect and Apple Airplay, but it also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The special thing here is that JBL has managed to make it so that you don't have to decide which voice assistant to use, as is the case with most others, but that you can use both at the same time. For people who are active in both Amazon and Google's ecosystems, this is an extremely ingenious feature.

Picture: TechnikNews

sound quality

JBL has installed a stereo audio setup in the Authentics 200, consisting of two 25mm tweeters, a 5-inch woofer, and a 6-inch passive radiator. These have a total output of 90 watts and cover a frequency range of 50 Hz to 20 kHz. The speaker's sound is really good, especially considering its size. The highs and mids are detailed, and the bass is pronounced. The speaker also gets quite loud, which I really liked. Of course, just like with the Authentics 500, the sound can be customized to your liking using the JBL One app and the equalizer. This also allows you to get a good deal more bass out of the speaker.

Picture: TechnikNews

Compared to the larger Authentics 500, the Authentics 200 doesn't have to hide at normal volumes, even though the latter sounds a bit better and has significantly more bass. At very high volumes, however, the Authentics 500 completely destroys the smaller 500. However, one shouldn't neglect the significantly smaller dimensions and the much lower price. Compared to its biggest competitor in this price range, the Sonos Era 100The Authentics 200 offers a slightly more detailed sound with more bass, and surprisingly, I liked it a bit better. Overall, I find the sound of the Authentics 200 really strong, and it completely convinced me.

JBL One app

Of course, the Authentics 200 also comes with an app, called JBL One. Users can use it to customize and adjust a number of features. One example is the equalizer, which offers a few presets but can also be completely customized. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the app allows you to set up the Moment button, which allows the user to play their favorite music from one of the supported music services at the touch of a button. Unfortunately, Apple Music is not supported, which I find quite a shame as a user of this streaming service. On the positive side, you can create a stereo pair with a second Authentics 500 or connect another compatible speaker. The app is very clearly laid out and offers some cool features that I really liked.

Prices & Availability

JBL initially launched the Authentics 200 with a recommended retail price of €329, which I consider relatively high. However, the speaker now costs only around €250, making it similar in price to the Sonos Era 100. Compared to the Sonos Era 200, the Authentics 200 sounds better and is louder, but it's also a bit larger and heavier and doesn't offer the Sonos features. Nevertheless, as already mentioned, I would prefer the Authentics 100 to the Era 200 purely in terms of sound quality. For this reason, I also find the current price very fair. You can buy the Authentics XNUMX at many electronics stores, as well as from JBL itself.

Buy JBL Authentics 200 at JBL

Buy JBL Authentics 200 on Amazon

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