The JBL Authentics 500 is a premium home speaker that combines a retro design inspired by classic JBL speakers with present-day smart features like voice assistant support with built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. With three tweeters, three mid-range drivers, and a built-in subwoofer, it's technically a 3.1 sound system. It also supports Dolby Atmos Music through compatible streaming services like Tidal.
Our Verdict
The JBL Authentics 500 is good for music. Its Self-Tuning room correction tool automatically adjusts the speaker's sound based on your room's unique acoustics. With it on, its sound is fairly balanced overall, with enough low-end extension to give bass-heavy music some thump and rumble. That said, its bass range is uneven, so kick drums can lose some punch while basslines and lower-pitched instruments sound warm and even a touch muddy. Still, it's quite customizable, with bass and treble knobs on the speaker as well as presets and a graphic EQ in the JBL One companion app. It gets remarkably loud, too, albeit with some compression at max volume, especially in the bass range. You'll want to ensure the speaker is facing you for the best sound, though.
- Graphic EQ.
- Gets loud.
- Some compression at max volume.
The JBL Authentics 500 is adequate for videos and movies. While this speaker can't fully replicate the deep rumbles of a dedicated home theater system, it has enough low-end extension to add some thump and rumble to action scenes. The balanced mid-range ensures dialogue is detailed and easy to understand. You can connect this speaker over Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi for video playback from your devices. Its latency is on the higher end over Bluetooth, so you'll want to stick with AirPlay to avoid lip-syncing issues.
- Graphic EQ.
- Gets loud.
- Some compression at max volume.
- Higher latency on Bluetooth.
The JBL Authentics 500 is decent for podcasts. Voices are reproduced with clarity, so it's easy to follow along with the conversation. The speaker gets remarkably loud, too, which is great for filling up larger spaces with sound. That said, it's not the most portable, so you can't bring it to different rooms of your home while listening to longer episodes. And it's a front-facing speaker, so if you're positioned behind it, voices will sound muffled.
- Graphic EQ.
- Gets loud.
- Some compression at max volume.
- Wired-only design.
The JBL Authentics 500 is excellent for voice assistant support. Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant offer great performance, even if you're further away from the speaker. You can use both assistants at the same time, too. However, Alexa performs better than Google Assistant at picking up on your commands in noisier environments. For more private moments, you can always mute the microphone.
- Gets loud.
- Microphone mute button.
- Some compression at max volume.
This wired-only speaker isn't intended for outdoor use.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 28, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0.1. This includes the Test Bench 1.0 updates to all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness, as well as the revised Low-Frequency Extension calculation and related DRC updates introduced in Test Bench 1.0.1. There have also been text changes throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, where applicable, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our Test Bench 1.0 changelog and Test Bench 1.0.1 changelog.
- Updated Jul 13, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0, which includes new results for all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our changelog.
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Updated Nov 25, 2025:
We updated the Portability section of this review.
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Updated Apr 14, 2025:
We mentioned the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 in the Battery section of this review.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker is available in Black, and you can see the label here for the model we tested.
If you come across another version of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL Authentics 500 is the more premium alternative to other speakers in the Authentics lineup, like the JBL Authentics 200. Compared to the 200, this speaker is larger and louder, and it supports features like Dolby Atmos Music through compatible streaming platforms. It's a wired-only device meant for home use, and its wide array of customization tools gives you lots of control over its sound.
See also our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best smart speakers, and the best JBL speakers.
The JBL Authentics 500 is a more feature-packed speaker than the Sonos Five. Unlike the Sonos, the JBL has built-in voice assistant support, so you don't need to connect a third-party device. It gets louder and supports Bluetooth, too.
The Sonos Era 300 and the JBL Authentics 500 are both premium home speakers with built-in voice assistant support. Some listeners may prefer the JBL's retro design. But if you already own Sonos products, you can integrate them with the Sonos Era, which is a nice feature.
The JBL Authentics 500 is a larger and more premium cousin of the JBL Authentics 200. While the 200 is a good option if you're low on space and has many of the same features as the 500, it can't get as loud or reproduce as much low-bass. Plus, it lacks support for Dolby Atmos Music.
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 and the JBL Authentics are wired home speakers with different strengths. They're both similarly well-built and have great, intuitive control schemes. However, the JBL can get louder. That said, the Bose has a better voice assistant performance and can pick up commands even in noisy environments. It also has better directivity, so audio sounds consistent from different listening angles.
Test Results
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