JBL brought over a number of its latest products to the Philippines last October 24 that include its Authentics line of premium Bluetooth speakers and its first Bluetooth turntable, the Spinner BT.

Authentics 200, 300, and 500

The Authentics series, which was first announced in late August, includes the Authentics 200, 300, and 500. JBL is banking big on what it calls “newstalgia” with this line, drawing inspiration from the 1970s design of its classic L-100 series of speakers and fusing it with modern technology to give consumers something retro and fresh at the same time.

Striking a balance between modern and retro design was a real challenge for JBL, according to Grace Koh, the vice president and general manager of Harman Asia Pacific. “We didn’t want to make just another retro-inspired speaker,” Koh said.

As far as looks are concerned, the Authentics 200, 300, and 500 definitely have this timeless, classic feel to them. The speakers look premium despite supposedly being primarily made out of recycled plastics, fabrics, and aluminum because of their gold accents, soft curved edges, and modern Quadrex grilles. They even have knobs and dials for controls, providing a heightened tactile experience for users.

We see JBL’s vision of incorporating modern technology into retro-inspired devices with the Authentics’ online capabilities. All of the speakers in the series support music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, and even Pandora out of the box using Wi-Fi. They can also simultaneously run Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

What really differentiates the three Authentics speakers are their sizes and sound capabilities. For example, the top-of-the-line Authentics 500 has a 6.5-inch subwoofer that can output 270 watts of power and is the only device that is certified for Dolby Atmos Music. In contrast, the smaller Authentics 200 doesn’t even have a subwoofer, can only output 90 watts of power, and has no support for Dolby Atmos.

JBL did not disclose the local prices of its Authentics speakers, but we were able to find out that the Authentics 200 will cost somewhere around Php 20,000, which is close to its $349.99 (Php 19,800) price tag in North America. If this is true, then the Authentics 300 and 500 in the Philippines should sell close to their respective U.S. prices of $449.99 (Php 28,300) and $699.99 (Php 39,700).”

 

Spinner BT

While JBL looked into its past to create the Authentics line, the company explored completely new horizons for its Spinner BT Bluetooth turntable. It is the brand’s first Bluetooth turntable and it was introduced to cater to a niche yet strong market for vinyl records, especially among Gen Zers. Despite being niche, the resurging demand for this format of physical media keeps growing, JBL claimed.

The JBL Spinner BT supports Qualcomm’s aptX HD audio technology via Bluetooth, uses “high-quality record-playing components,” and has an aluminum platter with a belt drive. Like with the Authentics, JBL did not reveal the local price for the Spinner BT.

JBL Soundgear Sense, Live 770NC, Live 670NC, and Partybox Ultimate

In addition to the Authentics range of speakers and the Spinner BT, JBL showed off the Soundgear Sense, a pair of IP54-certified open-ear headphones that promise good sound quality while still giving its users more environmental awareness compared to regular cans.

It was followed by the JBL Live 770NC and 670NC wireless noise-canceling headphones, and lastly by the JBL Partybox Ultimate – a massive 1-meter-tall party speaker that can supposedly provide sound to a space the size of two basketball courts.

Prices for the Soundgear Sense and Partybox Ultimate were not revealed at the event, but JBL did show that the Live 770NC will cost Php 10,999, while the Live 670NC will be priced at Php 7,599.

Only the Authentics 200, 300, and 500 are available for pre-order on the Philippines website of JBL as of writing.