JBL Authentics 300
Ice cool looks, but does the Authentics 300 give you chills or leave you cold?
View online review whf.cm/Authentics_300
The controls feature some rather alluring under-lighting
You know that one kid at school that you couldn’t help but envy? The one who, aside from being tall, athletic and a hit with the ladies (or gents) also ended up getting solid grades, played in the youth orchestra and helped sick puppies down at the local pet rescue?
Well, that’s what the JBL Authentics 300 brings to mind, at least at first glance: a do-it-all polymath with the looks to match.
Two things strike us about the Authentics 300 wireless speaker right out of the gate. The first is how good looking it is, with its lovingly crafted retro design oozing class and sophistication no matter where we place it. The second is how versatile JBL’s stocky unit is. Thanks to its portability, streaming smarts and twin voice-assistant capabilities, the Authentics 300 covers multiple bases.
Emerging deals
Officially, this speaker retails at £380. But prices have already started to drop and, at the time of writing, you can pick one up for just over £300 on Amazon. For comparison, the new, mains-powered-only Audio Pro C20 will set you back around £450. If you want something similarly burly and substantial but which still bills itself as being ‘portable’, the Sonos Move 2 – tested at £449 – springs to mind.