JBL Authentics 300 vs Boombox 3: Which should you get?

The JBL Authentics 300 and the JBL Boombox 3 are quite different in terms of design and purpose. The Authentics 300 has a retro-inspired look with an aluminum frame, a leather-like finish, and the iconic Quadrex grille with a carrying handle, making it suitable for indoor listening. This speaker has a vintage retro design and blends in nicely with modern home interior decor, and is also easier to carry around than the Authentics 200 or Authentics 500 due to its built-in handle design. It delivers 100W of power with a 5.25-inch woofer and a 6.5-inch passive radiator, which brings depth to the bass without overpowering the rest of the sound.

The Boombox 3, on the other hand, has a more modern and rugged design built for portability, featuring an integrated handle that makes it easy to carry around. This speaker is built like a tank and has IP67 waterproof resistance and tough durability, making it suitable for listening under extreme weather and wet conditions. It packs a bigger punch with up to 180W of power when plugged in and uses a three-way speaker system that includes a subwoofer, providing deeper bass and well-balanced mids and highs. One major difference is that the Boombox 3 comes with an IP67 rating which means it’s waterproof and dustproof, making it a great for outdoor adventures and poolside parties, while the Authentics 300 is better suited for indoor use without any specific water resistance.

Comparing the Specs

The Authentics 300 features a retro-inspired design with a leather-like enclosure and a convenient metal handle, which makes it great for both indoor and outdoor listening (although the Authentics 300 does not have an IP rating and may not be water resistant). It delivers 100W of total speaker power output, featuring two 25mm tweeters and a 5.25-inch woofer, providing a balanced stereo sound. The built-in rechargeable battery offers up to 8 hours of playtime, depending on volume levels and audio content.

In contrast, the Boombox 3 is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, featuring a rugged build with an integrated handle for easy portability. It offers a higher output power, delivering up to 80W RMS for the subwoofer, 40W RMS for the midrange drivers, and 10W RMS for the tweeters in AC mode. When operating on battery, the output adjusts to 60W RMS for the subwoofer, 30W RMS for the midrange drivers, and 8W RMS for the tweeters. The Boombox 3 also boasts an IP67 rating, making it waterproof and dustproof, suitable for various environments. Its battery life extends up to 24 hours, allowing for extended playtime during outings.

Specs Table

 Note: The JBL Boombox 3 specifications provided are for the standard Bluetooth version. The Boombox 3 Wi-Fi model includes additional features such as Wi-Fi connectivity and support for 3D Dolby Atmos.

Sound Comparison

Both the JBL Authentics 300 and Boombox 3 have different sound signatures and I used “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen to test their performance. The Authentics 300 has a balanced midrange and a frequency response that spans from 50Hz to 20kHz. Its dual passive radiators help deliver clear vocals and controlled bass. The Boombox 3 on the other hand handles the low end more forcefully with a frequency response reaching down to 20Hz. Its larger drivers and power handling capabilities allow for a punchier sound that is noticeable especially during quieter parts of a track.

Next I played “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd on both speakers. On the Authentics 300 I noticed a clean separation of instruments and a tight soundstage. Its two drivers offer a precise reconstruction of the guitar solos and delicate passages. The Boombox 3 revealed a broader and more immersive soundstage. Its triple driver arrangement provides a dynamic presentation with deep bass that fills the room. While both speakers maintained clarity at higher volumes, the Boombox 3 emphasized the lower frequencies more strongly (in part due to its extra woofer).

I also listened to “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk and “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz to further compare the two. The Authentics 300 delivered accurate vocal reproduction and a satisfying level of detail. I felt that the Boombox 3 gave me a more visceral experience with heavy beats. Both speakers performed well within their specifications handling loud passages without distortion. The differences came down to user preference for subtlety and midrange clarity versus a more bass-driven presentation that the Boombox 3 offers.

Overall, I would say that I did enjoy the sound signature of the JBL Authentics 300 slightly more. It has brighter highs, clearer vocals and decent soundstage, while the JBL Boombox 3 sounded boomy and the bass can get somewhat muddy at higher volume levels. The Authentics 300 felt like a speaker designed for critical listening while the JBL Boombox 3 is a party speaker designed to blast music, and this delivers lack of clarity in the vocals and upper midranges when playing music through the Boombox 3.

Design Comparison

The Authentics 300 showcases a retro aesthetic, featuring a grid-patterned foam grille reminiscent of JBL’s 1970s speakers. Its black faux-leather grain lining on the handle, sides, and top panels, complemented by gold-tinted metallic accents gives it a nice vintage vibe that is comparable to the Marshall line of speakers. Measuring approximately 13.5 inches in width, 7.7 inches in height, and 7.1 inches in depth, and weighing around 10.8 pounds (4.9 kg), it’s designed for portability within the home. The built-in handle makes it easy to move the speaker from room to room, and the speaker also comes with top-mounted controls, including smooth dials for volume, treble, and bass adjustments. That said, I did find the built-in handle rather obtrusive and affects the visual aesthetics of the speaker (compared to the Authentics 200 or Authentics 500 which does not have a handle), although this would largely depend on your personal preferences.

In contrast, the Boombox 3 adopts a modern design with a sturdy metal handle and silicone grips, emphasizing durability and outdoor use. Its larger dimensions—approximately 19 inches in width, 10 inches in height, and 7.9 inches in depth—and a weight of about 14.7 pounds (6.7 kg) reflect its substantial build. The Boombox 3 boasts an IP67 rating, indicating strong resistance to water and dust, making it suitable for various environments. The design focuses on robustness, with a solid frame and reinforced components to withstand outdoor conditions.

Comparing these speakers to other speakers such as the Sonos Move 2, the Move 2 offers a blend of portability and high-quality sound, with a design that balances modern aesthetics and durability. It includes a built-in handle for easy transport and has an IP56 rating, providing protection against dust and water splashes. However, it is slightly heavier than the Authentics 300, which may affect portability.

Another competitor, the Audio Pro C20, features a minimalist design with a fabric-covered front and a leather handle. While it delivers clear sound quality, it lacks the ruggedness of the Boombox 3, as it doesn’t feature any water or dust resistance. Additionally, the C20 is primarily designed for indoor use, limiting its versatility compared to the Boombox 3.

The Verdict?

If you are looking for a speaker for critical listening, the JBL Authentics 300 is definitely the one I would get. This speaker delivers crystal clear highs, detailed midranges and very nice sub-bass performance. I like the fact that it comes with a handle which also makes it portable, although the lack of an IP waterproof rating is disappointing and I would not recommend bringing this speaker outdoors or expose it to rainy conditions. The bass on the Authentics 300 is also pretty good, and when EQed properly, it delivers a really nice low-end sub bass which makes it very enjoyable to listen to especially for live jazz performances.

The JBL Boombox 3 is a speaker that I would get for outdoor music listening, and it’s great for poolside parties or outdoor events due to its fully waterproof IP67 rating. The Boombox 3 is designed to deliver very loud sound performance, and you can push up this speaker to maximum volume and it will provide really nice sound performance with plenty of bass. The good thing about the Boombox 3 is that it delivers really good bass notes with plenty of depth, and they can handle EDM and rock music which makes them great for powering an entire outdoor party. Compared with the Authentics 300, the JBL Boombox 3 delivers much more bass which makes bass-heavy music genres sound engaging and very fun to listen to at higher volume levels. It also comes with a built-in battery that delivers 24 hours of playtime, making it one of the best outdoor party Boomboxes you can find.