Home Speakers / JBL
JBL Authentics 500
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
Overall score 8.7/10
Pros
- + The least locked-in speaker here — AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Alexa, Google and Roon all at once
- + The only speaker here running two voice assistants simultaneously
- + 270W with a real 6.5-inch subwoofer, and it goes properly loud
- + Dolby Atmos Music plus a 3.5mm aux and USB-C input
Cons
- − Expensive at its $749.95 list, though street prices are often far lower
- − No Matter, Thread or Zigbee — it is an endpoint, not a hub
- − Google Assistant's long-term future is uncertain now that Google has moved its own hardware to Gemini
- − Large and heavy
JBL Authentics 500 review: what the specs say
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in. At $749.95, JBL's 2023 model sits at the premium end of the category — the home Speakers we compare run from $49.99 to $749.95. It scores 8.7/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Connectivity at 9.8/10 — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. The weakest is Value at 7.0/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: expensive at its $749.95 list, though street prices are often far lower; and no Matter, Thread or Zigbee — it is an endpoint, not a hub. Every specification on this page comes from JBL's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously — both wake words are live at once |
| Drivers | 3.1 channel — 3x 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters, 3x 2.75-inch midrange woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer |
| Power Output | 270 W |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4/5GHz), plus Ethernet |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast (SBC and AAC) |
| Streaming Protocols | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and Amazon HD Music |
| Multiroom System | Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast groups and AirPlay 2 — all three major ecosystems |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes |
| Smart Home Hub | No — it is an Alexa and Google endpoint, not a hub. No Matter, Thread or Zigbee |
| Spatial Audio | Yes |
| Line In | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, 3.5mm AUX, USB-C |
| Material | Retro fabric cabinet with Quadrex grille and leather-look trim |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Compare JBL Authentics 500 With
Cheaper Alternative
Sonos Five — $599.00