The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless are versatile in-ears with a lightweight, breathable, and portable design. They're similarly designed to the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless, though with a slightly sportier look, a more secure carrying case, and a higher IP56 rating for water resistance. Their companion app offers a graphic EQ, allowing you to tweak the sound to better suit your preferences. Unfortunately, they don't have the most comfortable fit and can be fatiguing if you're using them for long periods.
Our Verdict
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are satisfactory for neutral sound. They have a slightly overemphasized bass that might sound boomy and muddy but is ultimately quite well-balanced. Their reasonably flat mid-range should result in full-bodied and clear vocals and lead instruments. Their slightly veiled treble range can result in a minor loss of overall detail. Like most closed-back in-ears, they also have a small, closed-off soundstage. On the upside, you can customize this sound profile to better suit your tastes using the graphic EQ or presets in the Jabra Sound+ app.
- Good companion app with graphic EQ.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are very good for commuting and traveling. They do a great job of passively isolating you from ambient noise in your daily commute, like the low rumble of bus and train engines. They're also fairly portable, even in their carrying case. However, their continuous battery life is on the short side. Unfortunately, they can be fatiguing when worn for long periods of time like on multi-hour flights. Their high audio latency over Bluetooth could also be somewhat disruptive if you like to watch movies or videos on your way into the office.
- Very low leakage.
- Great passive noise isolation.
- Sturdy, IP56-rated build.
- Compact, lightweight design.
- Not as comfortable for all users.
- High Bluetooth latency.
- Short continuous battery life.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are great for sports and fitness. They're compact, sturdily-built, and let your ears breathe freely. They do a good job of staying in your ears too, though they aren't quite as stable as some in-ears with an ear hook design. Although we don't currently test for it, these in-ears are also rated IP56 for dust and water resistance.
- Sturdy, IP56-rated build.
- Breathable, stable fit.
- Compact, lightweight design.
- Not as comfortable for all users.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are decent for office use. They can be fatiguing to wear for extended periods. On the upside, they have great passive noise isolation and support multi-device pairing, so you can stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your computer. You can also turn up the volume to further reduce background noise without bothering your coworkers, as these earbuds barely leak. However, their continuous battery life might not be enough to get you through the day without a recharge, and their carrying case supplies only about two additional charges.
- Very low leakage.
- Great passive noise isolation.
- Multi-device pairing capability.
- Not as comfortable for all users.
- Short continuous battery life.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They aren't compatible with PS4 or Xbox One, and while you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, their latency is likely too high for gaming.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are okay for phone calls. Their integrated mic makes recorded speech sound thin, muffled, and lacking in detail. It also does a mediocre job of separating background noise from speech, which can make it harder for the person on the other end to hear you. On the upside, these earbuds have great passive noise isolation thanks to their in-ear design, so you should be able to focus on your phone call rather than the sound around you.
- Great passive noise isolation.
- Mediocre microphone noise handling capability.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: Compared their build quality and IP rating with the newer Jabra Elite 8 Active True Wireless'.
- Updated Aug 11, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 18, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are available in four different color variants: 'Copper Blue', 'Copper Black', 'Copper Red', and 'Titanium Black'. We tested the 'Copper Blue' variant, but expect the other models to perform similarly overall.
If you come across another variant of the Jabra Elite Active 65t, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
Although similar in design to the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless, the Jabra Elite Active 65t are sports-oriented earbuds with slightly different features. They're just as portable as most truly wireless headphones we've tested but aren't the most stable. Some users may also find them somewhat uncomfortable to wear during longer listening sessions. Their battery life is less than newer headphones on the market, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless. Their companion app features a graphic EQ with presets that make it easy to fine-tune your listening experience, making them one of the best sounding wireless earbuds.
Check out our recommendations for the best headphones under $200 and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless. The Active 65t are slightly more water-resistant and are rated IP56 compared to the original’s IP55 rating. They also have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. Overall, they are very similar headphones, but active people who run outside in bad weather or sweat a lot might prefer the better build quality of the Active. If this doesn't apply to you, the normal 65t may be a better and less expensive choice.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless and the Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless are two great truly wireless headphones for sports, but people might prefer the functionalities of the Jabra over the Jaybird. The Jabra have onboard volume controls, which the Jaybird is lacking; this could be a deal-breaker for some. They also block a bit more noise and feel slightly better-built. They also have lower latency and can connect simultaneously to two devices. On the other hand, the Jaybird are a bit smaller and a bit more comfortable than the bulky design of the Jabra. Their app also offers better customization thanks to a fully parametric EQ. They also feel a bit more secure in the ear thanks to their stability fin sleeve options.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless and Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless have different strengths. The Elite Active 65t are better built and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time. However, the Elite 3 are more comfortable and have a superior battery performance.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a more neutral sound profile, their integrated mic has a better recording quality, and they have a companion app that offers a graphic EQ plus presets. They can also passively isolate more noise than the JLab, even with their ANC on. However, the JLab are more comfortable, have a better battery performance, and come with a low latency Movie Mode to help reduce audio and visual syncing issues.
Test Results
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are similar in look to the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless but with a slightly sportier, eye-catching look, courtesy of their copper accents. We tested the 'Copper Blue' variant, though they're also available in 'Copper Black', 'Copper Red', and 'Titanium Black'. Their unique design is slightly larger than most truly wireless in-ears, but it isn't as noticeable as the bulkier part sits within the notch of your ear and doesn't protrude as far out as Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are reasonably comfortable, but they can get fatiguing to wear after a while. While they come with three sets of ear-gel tips to better contour to the shape of your ears, they're still fairly bulky. If you're looking for slimmer earbuds, the Jabra Elite Active 75t Truly Wireless are more compact and comfortable while still having a secure fit.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have okay controls. They have the same button layout as the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless with two main buttons on each earbud. The left earbud controls volume and track-skipping with a button rocker. By pressing either side of the button rocker, you can raise or lower the volume while holding the button down skips or rewinds tracks. The right ear can play or pause media and answer calls with one touch. Pressing and holding the button activates your phone's voice assistant. You can also press the button twice to activate a talk-through mode. Unfortunately, using these controls could force them deeper into your ear, which could be uncomfortable.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t, like most truly wireless in-ears, are very breathable headphones and are great for sports. Although they don't cover the outer ear, they sit within the notch of your ear, trapping in a little bit more heat compared to other in-ears. However, this shouldn't make you sweat that much more than usual.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are very portable. While they're bulkier than most other truly wireless designs, they should still easily fit in your bag or into most pockets. The case is also fairly compact, making it easy to carry around with you.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have a good hard case. While it's the same shape and size as the original Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless, its lid fits more securely, which is a good improvement, especially if you like to toss the case into your bag. The case is fairly compact and should fit in most pockets. Unfortunately, the case doesn't feel as polished or as premium as the likes of the Samsung Gear IconX Truly Wireless.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have great build quality. They're made of plastic that feels dense and durable. They have a rating of IP56 for dust and water resistance and a nice matte finish that feels more premium compared to the regular Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless. However, the newer Jabra Elite 8 Active True Wireless are rated IP68 and are fully dust and waterproof.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have a stable fit. They should do a good job of staying in place, but since they're a little bulky, they might not be stable for all listeners. They also don't come with additional stability fins to better fit smaller or larger ears, but they do offer three sets of ear-gel tips instead.
- Jabra Elite Active 65t headphones
- 3x ear tips
- Charging case
- USB-A to micro-USB charging cable
- Manuals
The sound profile of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is fairly balanced, though with a touch of added boom. Fans of EDM and hip-hop might enjoy this, though others may crave a little more low-end thump and rumble. If you're listening to jazz or classical music, higher-pitched instruments in the treble range like the flute or violin may sound a little veiled. If this isn't to your liking, their companion app features a couple of EQ presets as well as a graphic EQ.
The frequency response consistency of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is excellent. Assuming the user can achieve a proper fit and an air-tight seal using the assortment of tips that come with the headphones, they should be able to get consistent bass and treble delivery each time they use the headphones. However, because these earbuds are a bit bulky, some users might have a hard time achieving a perfect seal, which could cause a slight drop in bass.
The bass accuracy performance of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is impressive. While the mid-bass is fairly well-balanced, the low-bass lacks a bit of thump while the high-bass adds a touch of muddiness and boominess to some mixes.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t's mid accuracy performance is excellent. There's still a slight overemphasis continuing from the bass range, and it adds a touch of muddiness and clutter to vocals and lead instruments. A slight dip in the mid-mids also nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. However, both have a very subtle effect on the sound as the mid-range is still quite even and mostly flat overall.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t's treble accuracy performance is very good. There's a slight dip between the low to mid-treble which will make leads and vocals lack clarity while making the overall mix sound dark and lispy. However, a minor rise in the mid-treble can also make higher notes like sibilants like S and T sounds slightly sharp and piercing, which might not be suitable for especially bright audio.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have very good peaks and dips performance. While there's a slight discrepancy between the left and right driver, they mostly follow the same pattern. The overall peak in the bass range can generate some muddiness and boominess, but more so in the left driver. The dip in the mid-mid can also push instruments to the back of the mix, but a more noticeable degree in the right driver. Another dip in the mid-treble produces a dark sound while the following peak extends into the high-treble and makes notes in this range especially bright and piercing.
The stereo imaging of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is very good. The group delay falls almost entirely below the audibility threshold for the entire range, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The L/R drivers are also well-matched in regards to frequency and phase response, but some amplitude mismatch is present. Thankfully, this shouldn't have a huge impact on the accurate placement of objects within the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.
The passive soundstage of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is poor. Like most other in-ear headphones, their design bypasses the outer ear, which is crucial in creating an out-of-head, speaker-like listening experience. Bypassing it makes the soundstage sound small and seem as if it's located primarily inside your head. Since they have a closed-back design, their soundstage is perceived as less open compared to that of open-back headphones.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t's weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. While audio reproduction should be fairly clean and pure, there may be some distortion at moderate listening volumes. However, this might not be noticeable to all listeners.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t's test results are only valid for these settings. However, we were unable to determine the firmware version. If you own these headphones and know where to find it, let us know in the discussions.
The noise isolation performance of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is great. They do a mediocre job of reducing the low rumble of bus and plane engines but block out ambient chatter and higher-pitched sounds like the hum of A/C units to a remarkable degree.
The leakage of the Jabra Elite Active 65t is exceptional. The volume of escaping audio falls well below the noise floor of most offices, making these a great choice when you want to crank up the volume without disturbing those around you.
The recording quality of the Jabra Elite Active 65t's microphone is alright. Speech recorded will sounds thin. While you should still be understood, your voice also sounds muffled and lacking in detail.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t's microphone noise handling capability is mediocre. While you should have no problem in quiet environments, in moderate to loud spaces, this microphone has difficulty separating speech from ambient noise, making it harder for the person on the other end of the line to understand you.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless have mediocre battery performance. Their five-hour-plus continuous battery life is notably less than that of alternatives like the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless or the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless. However, it's worth noting that battery life can vary with your own usage patterns. Their charging case also only supplies about two extra charges. Thankfully, they have an auto-off timer to help conserve power when not in use. They also charge fairly quickly.
If you like to customize your sound experience, the Jabra Sound+ offers a good amount of options and features. It has a graphic EQ plus presets and a hear-through mode, which is good if you want to stay more aware of your surroundings. It also has battery data and location-based triggers for keeping your work and home settings separate. If you're into fitness, this app additionally offers an accelerometer with a basic step counter, though it isn't a replacement for more sport-oriented apps, though.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t have good Bluetooth connectivity. While they don't support NFC pairing, they can simultaneously pair with up to two devices. They also remember up to eight of the last synced devices when you open the charging case, making it easier to auto-pair. Unfortunately, these earbuds have high latency on PC and iOS which could affect your video streaming or gameplay. Although Android has lower latency, it still could be somewhat noticeable. However, apps and devices seem to compensate for this to varying degrees, so your mileage may vary in real-life usage.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are truly wireless in-ears and don't have an audio cable or a wired connection. They come with a micro-USB to USB-A cable for charging their case. If you're looking for wired in-ears, check out the 1More Triple Driver.