Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

JBL’s gorgeous Authentic L8 brings a 70’s vibe to wireless sound

jbls gorgeous authentic l8 brings 70s vibe wireless audio jbl
Image used with permission by copyright holder
There’s something inherently appealing about a piece of technology that points to the future without forgetting the past. JBL has taken that theme to heart with its new wireless speaker, the Authentic L8. An elegant, yet affordable way to get your musical fix, the L8 blends state-of-the-art wireless technology with a gorgeous vintage vibe to fill any room with sound and sophistication.

Inspired by JBL’s classic 70’s Century L100 loudspeaker, the L8 is crafted from a sleek wooden cabinet and loaded with quality components. Removing its retro waffle-style grill reveals a four pack of drivers, including a pair of 1-inch tweeters, and dual 4-inch full range drivers with gleaming white cones to recall the audio days of yore.

The system is driven by 120 watts of total power, which echoes through the well-built cabinet for a surprising explosion of sound. And while the L8 pushes more bass than a speaker this size has a right to, it also exposes an impressive amount of detail and refinement across the sound spectrum. Even your low-res MP3 files will sound better thanks to the L8’s proprietary DSP.

When it comes to wireless connection, there are a host of ways to play, including Bluetooth, as well as Wi-Fi with both Airplay and DLNA support to hook up with nearly any PC or mobile device in your home. Additional connections include a 3.5mm Aux input, dual USB ports to charge your devices, and even an optical input for your TV or Blu-ray player.

Want even more next-gen tech? The L8 is available with a wireless charging pad that will charge Qi-compatible devices – just slap the device on the pad and walk away, no cables required.

The L8 comes in high gloss piano black, as well as a wood-grain finish, both of which strike a chic aesthetic that really ties the room together. But it’s the sound performance that makes this speaker worthy of your hard-earned cash. For $540, the L8 will turn heads, and is sure to make a great addition for anyone who’s looking for big sound in a small package.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is an audio engineer, musician, composer, and all-around lover of all things tech, audio, and cinema. Hailing…
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more