JBL Authentics 300 vs Bose Soundlink Max: Which sounds better?

The JBL Authentics 300 and the Bose SoundLink Max are really good speakers designed for home music listening and at the same time designed to be portable, so you can bring them around with you easily.

The Authentics 300 features a retro-inspired design with a leather-wrapped exterior and a distinctive Quadrex speaker grille, making it a really unique retro vintage speaker to have. It supports both Alexa and Google voice assistants, providing versatile smart capabilities. However, it lacks an official IP rating, although the speaker is slightly water-resistant.

In contrast, the SoundLink Max comes with a more modern and sleek design and comes with a nice built-in handle for portability. It features an IP67 rating, providing strong resistance to water and dust, making it suitable for outdoor or poolside use. While it doesn’t support voice assistants, it offers a longer battery life of up to 20 hours, compared to the Authentics 300’s 8 hours. Additionally, the SoundLink Max provides a more balanced sound profile with punchier bass and clearer treble, although the total power output is less than the Authentics 300.

Specs Comparison

The Authentics 300 delivers a total power output of 100 watts, featuring two 25mm tweeters and a 5.25-inch woofer, providing a frequency response from 45Hz to 20kHz. It delivers up to 8 hours of battery life and recharges in approximately 3.5 hours. In contrast, the SoundLink Max provides a maximum power output of approximately 50W RMS, utilizing two 89mm transducers, one 23mm transducer, and two passive radiators, delivering a frequency response from 40Hz to 20kHz. It features a longer battery life of up to 20 hours, with a recharge time of about 5 hours. It is notable that Bose does not release the total power output so the 50W figure is derived from our tests and estimates based on the tweeter volume (2 X 15W) and bass output (1 X 20W woofer).

The Authentics 300 supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, along with Ethernet and USB inputs, and integrates Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control. The SoundLink Max focuses on Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, supporting SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs and includes a 3.5mm auxiliary input.

Design-wise, the Authentics 300 features a retro ’70s-inspired look with a leather-like enclosure and metal handle, while the SoundLink Max looks modern and has a rugged design with a silicone exterior and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

Personally I like the design of the Bose SoundLink Max more because it looks sleek and very durable. Weighing approximately 4.9 kg, the Authentics 300 is heavier compared to the SoundLink Max’s 2.13 kg, which, although the Authentics 300 also comes with a built-in handle which looks rather obtrusive when placed on a table. The SoundLink Max is fully waterproof as well, making it a far more versatile speaker than the Authentics 300.

Specs Table

Note: The JBL Authentics 300 features a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing for portability within the home. The Bose SoundLink Max, with its IP67 rating, is designed for both indoor and outdoor use.

Sound Comparison

I played Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” on both speakers to gauge their bass response and clarity, especially since the song has lots of low-end beats and high vocals. The JBL Authentics 300, with its 50Hz to 20kHz frequency response and dual passive radiators, offered a balanced sound that felt intimate and clear. I noticed that the vocals came through well and the bass was controlled without overwhelming the midrange. The speaker felt designed for portability yet capable of handling popular tracks with precision. The Bose Soundlink Max, on the other hand, has a broader frequency response due to its larger drivers and more robust amplification. Its sound felt fuller and more expansive which was noticeable even during the intricate passages of the song. I would say that the bass from the SoundLink Max felt tighter but the Authentics 300 had more soundstage and spatial separation.

Next, I switched to “Back in Black” by AC/DC to examine how both speakers handled rock music. The Authentics 300 maintained its balanced approach but I sensed a slight limitation in the low-end authority compared to the Soundlink Max. Its 96 dB max SPL was sufficient for a personal listening experience. Meanwhile the Bose delivered powerful lows and clear highs, its specification of a 360-degree soundstage coming into play. I really liked how the Bose Soundlink Max filled my room with sound due to its multiple drivers. While the Authentics 300 felt more like a companion for casual listening, the Bose seemed designed for a more immersive environment (its drivers are tuned for larger rooms).

Finally I played “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran and “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars on both speakers to cover a range of tones. On the JBL Authentics 300 the vocals were detailed and the midrange remained a strong point. However its soundstage felt somewhat limited in width. The Bose Soundlink Max provided a more expansive soundstage with deeper bass and clearer highs. Both speakers handled high volumes without distortion but their specifications influenced the listening experience. The Authentics 300 felt nimble and adequate for on-the-go listening while the Bose Soundlink Max delivered a fuller, room-filling sound that was accompanied by deep bass notes.

To sum it up, the JBL Authentics 300 sounded crisp and very clear especially with the highs and vocals; there’s a unique vintage warm to the sound and they can reproduce live jazz performance with excellent soundstage and stereo separation. The Bose SoundLink Max provided exceptionally good bass (especially when EQed), and the bass felt much weightier and more punchy than the Authentics 300, which is surprising considering that the SoundLink Max is a much smaller speaker than the Authentics 300. While the highs and midranges may not be as pronounced as the Authentics 300 due to its tweeter design, I still really enjoyed listening to the Bose SoundLink Max especially with EDM music performances and Ed Sheeran’s soundtracks.

Design Comparison

The JBL Authentics 300 has a retro vintage vibe, featuring a solid rectangular cabinet wrapped in leather and fitted with a distinctive Quadrex speaker grille—a design element that first appeared on JBL’s L100 Hi-Fi loudspeakers in 1970. This vintage-inspired design is complemented by modern connectivity options, including dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3, allowing for versatile usage within the home. However, at approximately 4.9 kg (10.8 pounds), its substantial weight makes it more suitable for stationary use rather than portability.

In contrast, the Bose SoundLink Max has a modern and rugged design, emphasizing portability and durability. Weighing around 2.13 kg (4.7 pounds), it is lighter than the Authentics 300, making it more convenient for on-the-go use. The SoundLink Max features an IP67 rating, which makes it ideal for taking outdoors anywhere and you don’t have to worry about. The speaker dropping in to water. Additionally, it offers a longer battery life of up to 30 hours, providing extended playtime for various activities.

I would just pause here to say that the latest JBL Xtreme 4 speaker is a notable alternative to both speakers. The Xtreme 4 shares a similar form factor with the SoundLink Max and is designed for portability. However, the SoundLink Max has a more balanced sound overall, with a more prominent bass range and better directivity. It also features an aux input and lower latency with iOS and Android devices. Overall, I liked the bass on the Bose SoundLink Max more than the Authentics 300 or even the JBL Xtreme 4. Read also our comparative review on the JBL Xtreme 4 vs Bose SoundLink Max.

The Verdict?

If I had to choose between the JBL Authentics 300 and the Bose SoundLink Max, I would go for the Bose SoundLink Max because the entire speaker is lighter and IP67 waterproof, and also delivers exceptionally good sound performance and deep bass. While the Authentics 300 is quite a good speaker in its own right and is capable of very nice soundstage and separation, I did find it rather heavy to carry around and the lack of an IP rating does not make it ideal to take outdoors, which is a real limitation. The battery life on the Authentics 300 is only 8 hours as compared to the SoundLink Max which delivers 20 hours on a single charge. I also preferred the sleek and modern design of the Bose SoundLink Max which looks refined and can blend in easily into modern home interior décor. Overall, the bass on the Bose SoundLink Max is the major deciding factor for me and I highly recommend this speaker for it’s powerful deep bass and overall portability.