How can you tell an original JBL speaker from a fake?

The American company JBL has been producing audio equipment and portable acoustics for over 70 years. Their products are of high quality, so the speakers of this brand are in constant demand among lovers of good music. The demand for goods on the market led to the fact that counterfeits began to appear. How to check a column for originality and identify a fake, we will talk in our article.

To begin with, let's take a closer look at the technical features of American JBL speakers. The middle frequency range is 100-20000 Hz, while if the upper limit is usually kept at 20,000 Hz, the lower, depending on the model, varies from 75 to 160 Hz. The total power is 3.5-15 watts. Of course, against the background of full-fledged audio systems, such technical parameters are not impressive, but you need to make a big discount on the dimensions of the product - for models of this class, 10W of total power will be quite a worthy parameter.

In all representatives of the lines, the sensitivity is at the level of 80 dB. The performance parameter on a single charge is also of great interest - the column can work under conditions of intensive use for about 5 hours. Users note that the speaker is distinguished by high-quality sound reproduction, an ergonomic control system and the introduction of the latest technological systems. In particular, users can learn about certain operational features of the product by the indicator lights located on the body.

The JBL speaker is charged via a USB port, the bluetooth provides a stable connection with smartphones and other mobile devices. Unfortunately, almost 90% of all JBL products sold in Russia are counterfeits.

Branded speakers JBL have a number of differences - colors, packaging, shape, as well as sound features.

To find out if the original column is offered to you, you need to carefully look at its packaging. A real JBL is packaged in a soft foam bag and usually contains basic information from the manufacturer. All other accessories are placed individually in small plastic bags. The fake does not have an additional cover, or the most primitive ones are used, or the accessories are not packaged in any way.

Packages with the original speaker and the corresponding accessories are placed in a box, usually the company logo is printed on it, and on the fake one it is presented as a sticker in the same place. The column shown on the package should have the same shade as on the product itself - for counterfeits, the equipment is usually black on the box, while inside there may be another, for example, turquoise. On the back of the original box, there is always a description of the main technical and operational parameters and the main functions of the speakers, information about bluetooth and the manufacturer itself must be placed in several languages.

On the counterfeit box, all information is usually indicated only in English, there is no other information. The original JBL package has a matt embossing top that reflects the name of the product; a fake certificate does not provide such a design. On the cover of the packaging of a fake column, information about the manufacturer and importer must be placed, as well as the serial number of the column, EAN code, and a bar code. The absence of such data directly indicates a fake.

On the inside of the cover of this speaker, a color image is printed, an additional cover is provided with the model name.

Among the main external characteristics of the authenticity of the column, the following are distinguished. The cylindrical body, which visually resembles an elongated cola can, can be made in the form of a modified keg. There is an orange rectangle on the side of the column, the camouflage contains the JBL and the "!" Badge. The analogue has such a rectangle smaller in size than that of the real product, and the icon and letters, on the contrary, are larger. The logo of the original seems to be recessed into the speaker case, on the counterfeit it, on the contrary, is glued on top of double-sided tape. Moreover, it is often attached unevenly, and you can pry it off with your fingernail without any effort.

The logo icon may differ in color from the original, the print quality is also much lower. The power button for a real column is larger in diameter, but it protrudes above the body less than a fake. A fake speaker often has gaps between the case and the buttons. The original JBL speaker has a textured fabric pattern on the case; this element looks completely different on fakes. The back cover on the original JBL is made of extra durable material.

A rubber sealant is provided around the perimeter, making the panel easy and simple to open. The fake has soft, low quality rubber, so it practically does not protect the column from water, and it does not open well. Along the perimeter of the lid from the inside, the country of manufacture and the serial number of the product are indicated in small print, the counterfeit does not have a serial. Passive emitters of a real speaker do not have a shine, only the JBL logo, a fake has a pronounced shine of a part.

Both the original and the fake speakers have 3 connectors under the cover, but there is a difference between them. It should be noted that the Chinese are very fond of "shoving" additional functionality into their products, for example, the option of playing from a flash drive or radio. Therefore, before buying a JBL speaker, you must definitely look at the connectors, if you notice a place under the micro sd under the card, then you have a portable replica in front of you.

If scammers can repeat the appearance of the speaker itself and the packaging, then they usually save on the internal contents, and this directly affects the sound quality. So, a real JBL starts working with one press, the fake power button needs to be supported by a drowned one for a few seconds. In addition, at high volume, the fake speaker starts to move on the table surface, and the bass is almost inaudible. A real speaker at the increased sound behaves completely calmly. The counterfeit speaker is usually convex, and the passive speaker is slightly larger than the original.

All the contents of the original column are in their own specially designated places, and for fakes they are scattered interspersed. The set of the branded column includes:

• user manual;
• adapters for several types of sockets;
• cable;
• Charger;
• warranty card;
• directly the column.

All accessories are orange.The counterfeit package contains something reminiscent of instructions - an ordinary piece of paper without a logo. In addition, there is only one adapter for the outlet, there is a jack-jack wire, the cable, as a rule, is tied with a wire rather sloppy. In general, the fake is made of low-quality plastic and has noticeable defects - nodules.

In conclusion, we will give some recommendations on what to do if you bought a fake.

• Return the speaker, along with the packaging and receipt, back to the store where it was purchased and claim a refund of the amount paid. In accordance with the law, the money must be returned to you within 2 weeks.
• Make a claim for the sale of counterfeit in 2 copies: one must be kept for yourself, the second must be given to the seller.
• Please note that the seller must leave a mark of acquaintance on your copy.
• To sue the store, write a statement to the appropriate authorities.

You can also send an e-mail directly to the manufacturer. The company's lawyers will help you deal with the seller and terminate his activities in the future.

For information on how to distinguish original JBL speakers from a fake, see the following video.