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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Dec 24, 2020 at 09:06 am
Latest change: Writing modified Sep 29, 2022 at 11:12 am
JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless Picture
7.6
Neutral Sound
7.9
Commute/Travel
8.3
Sports/Fitness
7.5
Office
6.1
Wireless Gaming
5.9
Wired Gaming
7.1
Phone Calls

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are well-built, comfortable headphones. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out a good amount of background noise. Their default sound profile is very neutral and balanced, and the parametric EQ and presets in the JBL Headphones app makes it easy to customize their sound to your liking. While their 7.4-hour continuous battery life may not last through longer days on-the-go, their portable charging case offers around three extra charges.

Our Verdict

7.6 Neutral Sound

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are good for neutral sound. Out-of-the-box, their balanced, neutral sound profile makes them suitable for a wide range of audio content. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize them using the parametric EQ and presets in the JBL Headphones app.

Pros
  • Consistent audio delivery.
  • Parametric EQ + presets.
Cons
  • Terrible passive soundstage.
  • High PC latency.
7.9 Commute/Travel

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are very good for commute and travel. They're comfortable enough to wear during long flights without a lot of fatigue, and their portable design makes it easy to carry them on-the-go. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out some background noise, including bus and plane engines. Their 7.4-hour continuous battery life may not be ideal for long international flights, but at least their charging case offers around three extra charges.

Pros
  • Good noise isolation.
  • Comfortable, stable fit.
  • Portable design.
Cons
  • No multi-device pairing.
  • High PC latency.
8.3 Sports/Fitness

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are great for sports and fitness. These comfortable, well-built headphones have a stable fit, so they shouldn't fall out of your ears during low-intensity workouts. They're lightweight and portable, so you can easily bring them on-the-go. However, they don't have an IP rating for water or dust resistance.

Pros
  • Comfortable, stable fit.
  • Portable design.
Cons
  • Not water-resistant.
  • High PC latency.
7.5 Office

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are good for office use. They're comfortable enough to wear through your workday, and they don't leak a lot of noise. They can also block out background noises typically found in an office, like the sounds of coworkers chatting nearby. Their 7.4-hour continuous battery life may not last through your 9-5, but fortunately, they come with a portable charging case.

Pros
  • Good noise isolation.
Cons
  • No multi-device pairing.
  • High PC latency.
6.1 Wireless Gaming

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus aren't compatible with PS4 or Xbox One. While you can use them with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their latency is likely too high to be suitable for gaming. That said, if you're into mobile gaming, they have a Video Mode feature that helps reduce audio latency within good levels.

5.9 Wired Gaming

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus can't be used with a wired connection, so they aren't suitable for wired gaming.

7.1 Phone Calls

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are fair for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a decent recording quality, so your voice is natural but also a bit thin. They can also block out a lot of background noise to help you focus on your call. However, the mic struggles to separate your voice from background noise, so they're better suited to making calls in quiet settings.

Pros
  • Good noise isolation.
Cons
  • Mediocre noise handling performance.
  • High PC latency.
  • 7.6 Neutral Sound
  • 7.9 Commute/Travel
  • 8.3 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.5 Office
  • 6.1 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.9 Wired Gaming
  • 7.1 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Sep 29, 2022: We've added a comparison between these earbuds and the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  2. Updated Feb 25, 2022: Added Video Mode latency values to 'Bluetooth'.
  3. Updated Aug 04, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  4. Updated Dec 24, 2020: Review published.
  5. Updated Dec 17, 2020: Early access published.
  6. Updated Nov 27, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Nov 26, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Nov 16, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus come in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.

If you come across another variant of these headphones, let us know in the discussion section below so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are truly wireless headphones with an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature. They do a good job blocking out background noises, though their noise isolation performance isn't as impressive as some of the other truly wireless in-ears we've tested. On the upside, they have a very neutral sound profile, and their companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. See also our recommendations for the best JBL headphones, the best Bluetooth earbuds, and the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ear headphones.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless are both decently versatile in-ears, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The JBL have better noise isolation and they leak less sound. You can also use their parametric EQ and presets to customize them to your liking, while the Samsung just comes with some EQ presets. However, the Samsung are more stable in your ear and they have longer continuous battery life.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are better than the JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless for most purposes. The Jabra have a better control scheme, a longer continuous battery life, and lower latency with iOS and Android devices. They also have a mic with significantly better recording quality. However, the JBL are better-built earbuds, and their mic has a much better noise handling performance.

JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless. The CLUB PRO+ are better-built and have a more comfortable as well as stable in-ear fit. Their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer. However, the Live Pro 2 have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices at a time.

JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless and the JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless are similarly performing headphones. Both headphones are comfortable, well-built, and their ANC systems both offer comparable performances. However, the CLUB PRO+'s microphone offers a better recording quality and a better overall battery performance.

Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless

The Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones for mixed usage than the JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless, thanks to their better noise isolation performance. However, the JBL are a bit better for neutral sound, as they have a better-balanced sound profile and more sound customization features.

Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless

The Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless and the JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless have similar overall performances, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. Out-of-the-box, the JBL have a better-balanced sound profile, which some users may prefer, but both in-ears have great companion apps with lots of sound customization options. The JBL have a slightly better noise isolation performance, but the Jabra leak less audio.

JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are better headphones than the JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless. The JBL are better-built, more comfortable, and have better noise isolation. Their sound profile is more neutral out-of-the-box, though some listeners may appreciate the JLab Audio's bass-heavy sound profile. However, the JBL have a parametric EQ and presets so you can customize their sound, unlike the JLab Audio.

JBL LIVE 300TWS Truly Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are somewhat better for mixed usage than the JBL LIVE 300TWS Truly Wireless. The CLUB PRO+ are better-built, and they have better noise isolation thanks to their ANC feature. They have a longer continuous battery life, and their out-of-the-box sound profile is more neutral. However, thanks to their stability fins, the LIVE are more stable. You can customize the sound profile for both headphones using their parametric EQ and presets, which is nice.

Ultimate Ears FITS Truly Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are better headphones than the Ultimate Ears FITS Truly Wireless. The JBL are better-built with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. They also have better noise isolation. However, thanks to their moldable ear tips, the Ultimate Ears have a more comfortable and stable fit.

JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless and the JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other. While both headphones are comfortable, the CLUB PRO+ are better-built, have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer, and have a better battery performance. However, the Live Pro+'s ANC can reduce more ambient noise around you, and they have better controls.

JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless

The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are somewhat better than the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the CLUB PRO+ are better-built, and their ANC can isolate more noise around you. Their mic also offers better overall performance, and they have longer continuous battery life.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are straightforward truly wireless in-ears. Like the Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless, they're a bit bulky, and they stick out of your ears slightly. They come in a sleek, all-black design, with silver logo accents on their touch-sensitive surfaces.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.03 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are comfortable. They don't put a lot of pressure on your ears, which is nice, and they shouldn't cause a lot of fatigue during your long listening sessions. However, some listeners may not like that the buds stick out your ears due to their bulky design.

6.5
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control No
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have fair controls. On the right bud, you can tap once to play/pause, twice to skip forward to the next track, and three times to skip back to the previous track. On the left bud, you can tap to turn ANC on/Ambient on/off and tap twice for talkthrough. Tap and hold either bud to active the voice assistant, and double-tap either bud to answer/end/mute/unmute. There's some audio feedback, and their touch-sensitive surface is very responsive. You can even customize the controls using the JBL Headphones app. However, if you're only using one bud while the other charges, you lose some control functions since they're split between the left and right buds.

9.2
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 0.8 °C
9.3
Design
Portability
L 1.3" (3.3 cm)
W 1.5" (3.8 cm)
H 1.1" (2.8 cm)
Volume 2.10 in³ (34.41 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are incredibly portable. Like most truly wireless in-ears, they have a small, lightweight design, so they easily fit into your pockets. They also have a small carrying case, which should fit in your pocket or bag easily.

7.5
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 2.1" (5.3 cm)
W 2.0" (5.1 cm)
H 1.3" (3.3 cm)
Volume 5.50 in³ (90.13 cm³)

The case is good. It's mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and durable. There's a magnet to hold the buds in place while they're charging. The one LED light near the charging port shows the charging status, and there are two LED lights inside the case for each bud.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus are impressively built. They're mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and durable. They come with three different sizes of ear tips, but these seem potentially weaker than other parts of the build.

7.5
Design
Stability

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have a stable fit. They should stay in your ears during casual listening sessions and low-intensity workouts, like jogging. However, unlike the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless, they lack stability fins and they may fall out of your ears during high-intensity workouts.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • JBL CLUB PRO Plus headphones
  • 3x ear tips
  • Charging case
  • USB-C charging cable
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.04 dB
Treble Amount
0.61 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have a very neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize their sound profile using the parametric EQ and presets in their companion app.

9.6
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.08 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have superb frequency response consistency. Like most in-ears, once you achieve an airtight seal, they should deliver audio consistently each time you wear them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
9.1
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.25 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
12.24 Hz
Low-Bass
0.82 dB
Mid-Bass
-0.41 dB
High-Bass
-0.19 dB

These headphones have exceptional bass accuracy. The entire range is flat and balanced, so you hear the thump and punch from bass instruments without it sounding too overwhelming.

8.8
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.63 dB
Low-Mid
0.01 dB
Mid-Mid
-1.55 dB
High-Mid
1.34 dB

These headphones have amazing mid accuracy. Vocals and lead instruments are clear, present, and detailed. There's a very slight dip in the mid-mid that may nudge these instruments towards the back of the mix, but it shouldn't be too noticeable.

8.8
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.8 dB
Low-Treble
-0.38 dB
Mid-Treble
0.89 dB
High-Treble
0.79 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have excellent treble accuracy. Vocals and lead instruments sound present and detailed, and sibilants like S and T sounds are present and bright.

8.5
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
0.96 dB
Dips
1.06 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have a great peaks and dips performance, though there's some frequency mismatch between the L/R drivers of our test unit. There's a slight peak in the low-bass so you really feel the thump in bass-heavy music. The dip in the mid-mids nudges vocals and lead instruments slightly towards the back of the mix, while the peak in the high-mids can make those same instruments honky. The uneven mid-treble can make sibilants alternately piercing and dull.

7.5
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.26
Weighted Phase Mismatch
3.1
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
2.52
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
2.85

These headphones have good imaging. Their weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. While the L/R drivers of our test unit are well-matched in phase response, their amplitude and frequency response is mismatched. As a result, objects like footsteps and instruments may not be accurately placed and localized in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, so your results may vary.

0.8
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
2.6
Acoustic Space Excitation
0.8

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have a terrible passive soundstage. Due to their in-ear design, they bypass the outer ear, which is one of the key factors for creating a speaker-like soundstage. Also, due to their closed-back design, their soundstage isn't as spacious as that of open-back headphones like the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No

There aren't any virtual soundstage features.

8.2
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.144
WHD @ 100
0.098

Their weighted harmonic distortion performance is great. The entire frequency range falls within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
4.5.0
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Off
ANC
On
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
7.3
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-19.35 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-14.6 dB
Mid
-14.57 dB
Treble
-28.63 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have good noise isolation. Thanks to their ANC feature, they do a fair job blocking out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. They perform better with higher-frequency sounds, meaning you won't hear the sounds of coworkers chatting nearby or the hum of a nearby AC unit. However, their ANC performs very similarly to their passive capabilities in the mid and treble ranges. If you're looking for JBL in-ears with a better noise isolation performance, it's worth considering the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless instead.

9.3
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
25.41 dB

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have an outstanding leakage performance. They don't leak a lot of sound, and escaping audio sounds very thin, so you can listen to music at high volumes without really disturbing those around you.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have an integrated microphone.

7.2
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
302.04 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
2.95 dB
HFE
6,358.31 Hz
Weighted THD
0.079
Gain
-8.81 dB

The microphone has a decent recording quality. Your voice is natural and understandable, but it also sounds a bit thin.

6.9
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
14.53 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
7.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The microphone has acceptable noise handling. It struggles to separate your voice from background noises, even if you're in a moderately noisy setting.

Active Features
7.5
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
7.4 hrs
Additional Charges
3.0
Total Battery Life
30.8 hrs
Charge Time
1.5 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have a good battery performance. With their ANC on, they last 7.4 hours off of one charge, which is longer than the JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless. Their portable charging case offers around three extra charges. They also have an auto-off timer to help conserve their battery life, which you can adjust in the app. While you can use one bud while the other charges, only some of the controls will be available.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name JBL Headphones
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Parametric + Presets
ANC Control
On/Off
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
No

The JBL Headphones app is impressive. There's a parametric EQ and presets to help you customize their sound profile to your liking. You can also use the app to see the battery level, find the buds, and customize the gestures or controls on the buds. Also, you can adjust the auto-off timer and turn the auto play/pause feature on and off.

Connectivity
7.1
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.1
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
331.00 ft (100.89 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
179 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
128 ms
Android Latency
168 ms

Update 02/25/2022: These headphones' latency was tested using 'Video Mode'. With this mode, they have 21 ms of latency on iOS, 76 ms on Android devices, and 112 ms on PC. All results fall within good levels, and your audio and visuals should stay in sync if you're streaming video. The results have been updated to reflect this change.

The JBL CLUB PRO Plus have decent Bluetooth connectivity. Unlike the JBL Tour One Wireless, you won't be able to pair them to your smartphone and laptop at the same time. They also don't support NFC pairing. Their latency with PCs and Android devices is likely too high to be suitable for watching videos, though they perform a bit better with iOS devices. That said, if you want lower latency when streaming video, they have a 'Video Mode' that helps bring latency values within a good range, ensuring that you don't experience lip-syncing errors. Some apps compensate for latency, though.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A

These headphones are Bluetooth-only.

0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

These wireless-only headphones can't be used with a wired connection. There's a USB-C cable to charge their case.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones aren't compatible with Xbox One.

2.2
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
Yes
Power Supply
USB-C

These headphones have a portable charging case that charges via USB-C.