Klipsch The Three II vs JBL Authentics 500

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Nov 25, 2025 02:39 PM

See Klipsch The Three II Review

Bluetooth Yes

Wi-Fi No

Speakerphone No

Voice Assistant No

Battery Powered No

Bluetooth Yes

Wi-Fi Yes

Speakerphone No

Voice Assistant Yes

Battery Powered No

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Our Verdict

Klipsch The Three II

JBL Authentics 500

The JBL Authentics 500 is better than the Klipsch The Three II. They're both retro-style home speakers, but only the JBL offers built-in voice assistant support and a companion app with plenty of customization features. It also brings more low-bass and, unlike the Klipsch, offers Wi-Fi connectivity.

Variants

The Three II (Matte Black)
The Three II (Walnut)

Authentics 500 (Black)

Review

See JBL Authentics 500 Review

Check Price

Matte Black

The Three II

Black

Authentics 500

Walnut

The Three II

Black

Authentics 500

BestBuy.com

Black

Authentics 500

Walmart.com

Black

Authentics 500

B&H

Main Differences for

Music

Threshold

0.10

Music

6.6

7.7

Frequency Response Accuracy

6.5

7.6

EQ

Graphic

Soundstage

6.5

7.3

Full Comparison

Music

6.6

7.7

Videos/Movies

6.4

6.9

Podcasts

6.3

7.0

Voice Assistant

2.7

8.6

Outdoors

5.0

7.3

Design

Style

Style Photo

RGB Lights

Show Text

Portability

3.7

2.9

Dimensions Photo

Volume

757 in³ (12,398 cm³)

1,629 in³ (26,700 cm³)

Weight

11.0 lbs (5.0 kg)

17.5 lbs (8.0 kg)

Power Source

AC Only

One-Hand Carry

Show Text

Build Quality

6.7

Build Quality Photo

Material Quality

Great

Water Resistance

Dust Resistance

Unspecified

Impact Resistance

Unspecified

Floats In Water

Show Text

Controls

5.0

8.0

Controls Photo

Controls Photo 2

Ease Of Use

Great

Feedback

Great

Music Play/Pause

Yes (Physical)

Call Answer/End

Volume Up/Down

Yes (Physical)

Track Next/Previous

Yes (Physical)

Microphone On/Off

Yes (Physical)

Additional Controls

Yes

Show Text

In The Box

In The Box Photo

Show Text

Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy

6.5

7.6

Frequency Response Graph

Slope

-0.12

0.04

Std. Err.

4.87 dB

2.58 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

54.2 Hz

44.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

18.8 kHz

19.9 kHz

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Raw Frequency Response

Raw Frequency Response Graph

Binaural Recording @ 1m

Binaural Recording @ 2m

Soundstage

6.5

7.3

Directivity Graph

Directivity Index

6.57 dB

4.99 dB

Stereo

Yes

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Dynamics

8.4

Dynamic Range Compression

SPL @ Max Volume

105.0 dB SPL

102.8 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume

3.27 dB

2.81 dB

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Active Features

Battery

0.0

Battery Life

N/A

Charge Time

N/A

Power Saving

N/A

Charging Port

No Battery

Battery Powered

Show Text

Voice Assistant

0.0

9.3

Alexa

Built-in (Wi-Fi Only)

Google Assistant

Built-in (Wi-Fi Only)

Speakerphone

Siri

Voice Assistant

Yes

Voice Activation

Yes

Microphone Mute

No Microphone

Yes

Far-Field Performance

No Assistant

Excellent

Ambient Noise Performance

No Assistant

Good

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App

0.0

9.6

App Picture

App Name

No App

JBL One

iOS

Yes

Android

Yes

EQ

Graphic

Stereo Pair Mode

Yes

Party Mode

Yes

Multi-Room

Yes

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Connectivity

Wired

Aux Input

Yes

USB Audio

Yes

Other Ports

Yes

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Bluetooth

9.0

7.5

Bluetooth

Yes

Bluetooth Version

Unspecified

5.3

Bluetooth iOS Latency

9 ms

269 ms

Bluetooth Android Latency

22 ms

244 ms

Bluetooth Range

229.7 ft (70.0 m)

334.6 ft (102.0 m)

Multi-Device Pairing

2 Devices

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Wi-Fi

0.0

7.6

Wi-Fi Version

No Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi Frequency Band

No Wi-Fi

2.4GHz & 5GHz

Wi-Fi

Yes

Apple AirPlay

Yes

AirPlay Latency

N/A

161 ms

Google Chromecast

Yes

Chromecast Latency

N/A

Show Text

Check Price

Matte Black

The Three II

Black

Authentics 500

Walnut

The Three II

Black

Authentics 500

BestBuy.com

Black

Authentics 500

Walmart.com

Black

Authentics 500