We've tested 50 JBL headphones and earbuds. They're a well-known brand that packs their devices full of active features like music sharing or auto-off timers.
Updates
- 03/20/2023 JBL Endurance Peak 3 True Wireless reviewed
- 09/29/2022 JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless reviewed
- 12/21/2021 JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless reviewed
- 12/15/2021 JBL Tune 125TWS Truly Wireless updated
- 12/01/2021 JBL Tune 130NC TWS Truly Wireless reviewed
Best JBL Headphones
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Best JBL Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.2Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness8.1Office7.4Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming5.6Phone Calls6.9Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe best JBL earbuds we've tested are the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless. These earbuds have an ANC feature that can reduce noise like rumbling engines during your commute or background chatter at the office. They have a slightly v-shaped sound profile, so your audio has extra rumble and punch, while instruments are bright. It's well-suited for genres like pop and rock, but if you prefer a different sound, there's a parametric EQ and presets in the companion app.
Their battery lasts for about eight hours of continuous use. There's an auto-off timer to help conserve power when you're not using the buds, and you can always top them up in the case, which holds around three extra charges. The earbuds are well-built and have a great customizable control scheme.
Unfortunately, they don't have the most comfortable or stable fit and can pop out of your ears when you're talking. The JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless are similar earbuds that are more comfortable and less likely to fall out of your ears during workouts, but they have a less effective ANC and shorter continuous battery life.
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Best Mid-Range JBL Earbuds
Neutral Sound6.8Commute/Travel7.5Sports/Fitness8.1Office6.8Wireless Gaming5.4Wired Gaming5.2Phone Calls6.0Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe JBL Endurance Peak 3 True Wireless have a sport-oriented look, with ear hooks and a 'TwistLock' design that give them great stability during moderate and intense exercise. They also have an IP68 rating which protects them against dust and brief submersion in water, and have a 10-hour continuous battery life, meaning they won't die to get damaged during long, arduous excursions in more unpredictable terrain.
Their default sound profile is very bass-heavy, which will complement genres like R&B and hip-hop. If you want a different sound, though, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to fine-tune the mix to your liking. This is an improvement from the previous generation, the JBL Endurance Peak II True Wireless, which has no app compatibility, leaving you unable to change their sound profile if you aren't a fan.
Unfortunately, these headphones aren't very versatile off the trail or treadmill, as they can't passively isolate you from much ambient noise, like rumbling bus engines. They'll do a better job of cutting out chatty coworkers and noisy AC units in an office, but their tight ear hook design gets uncomfortable during long workdays. The hooks also don't accommodate smaller ears well, meaning that you'll end up needing to adjust them more often.
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Best Budget JBL Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.3Commute/Travel7.5Sports/Fitness8.0Office7.1Wireless Gaming5.5Wired Gaming5.4Phone Calls6.9Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless are the best JBL wireless earbuds for the budget-minded user. They have a shorter battery life than the other earbuds listed here and don't have ANC or sound customization features. Their sound profile is better balanced than the JBL Endurance Peak II True Wireless, with just a bit of extra rumble and punch, which is nice if you're not a fan of a bass-heavy sound. They're also decently comfortable and have a good build quality, although they lack an IP rating for dust and water resistance.
Even though they don't have an ANC feature and can't isolate you from bass-range noises like rumbling engines, they do a good job of passively blocking out mid-range sounds like background conversations. Their battery provides about five hours of continuous use, which is short, so they aren't the best JBL wireless headphones for long flights or commutes. They don't have an auto-off timer, but they come with a case that holds roughly four extra charges, and you can use one bud while the other charges in the case.
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Best JBL Headphones
Neutral Sound7.7Commute/Travel7.3Sports/Fitness7.3Office7.3Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.4Phone Calls6.8Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe JBL Live 660NC Wireless are the best JBL headphones we've tested. These over-ears have a few tricks up their sleeves. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously. They also have a companion app, which offers a parametric EQ and presets to help you customize their otherwise bass-rich sound profile to suit your tastes. They even have an ANC system, and while they have some trouble cutting down the low rumble of bus engines, they do a better job of tackling office range sounds like ambient chatter and the hum of computer fans.
They're well-built, and there's a metal plate inside the headband to help reinforce it. They're decently comfortable and lightweight, but they have a high clamping force, making their fit slightly fatiguing over long periods. However, this prevents them from moving around too much, and they have better stability than the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless, making them a solid choice if you're looking for over-ear headphones for working out. They last just under 26 hours continuously and have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off.
Compared to other brands
- Well-balanced sound. Although we haven't tested JBL's full range of headphones and in-ears, this brand noticeably focuses on well-balanced sound reproduction. As they're a subsidiary branch of Harman, their headphones typically follow the Harman curve, which creates a balanced sound profile suitable for most audio genres.
- Feature-packed. JBL's wide variety of wireless headphones and in-ears come jam-packed with active features like music sharing or auto-off timers. They also have a mobile app that allows you to customize more of your audio experience, like controlling noise isolation or tweaking sound with their fully parametric equalizer.
- Easy-to-use. The JBL headphones we've tested tend to have simple and intuitive controls. Most also have a dedicated sync button for Bluetooth pairing, making the process easier.
- Mediocre comfort. Although we haven't tested all of JBL's headphone and in-ear lineup, some have comfort issues like a tight fit or slightly small ear cups that don't fit well around the user's ears.
- Plasticky designs. Most of JBL's headphones have decent build quality, but the ones we've tested feel plasticky, especially given their price range.
- No open-back models. While it may not be an issue for more casual listeners, JBL lacks an open-back model that can create more spacious soundstages suited for audiophiles.
JBL vs Anker
Anker is often seen alongside JBL when looking for lower-end, more affordable headphones. However, Anker's products offer a better noise isolation performance than even the best JBL earphones. Some of their products even support LDAC, which is a codec designed for Hi-Res Audio. However, JBL's headphones tend to have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their companion app offers a parametric EQ compared to Anker's graphic EQ.
JBL vs Skullcandy
While JBL and Skullcandy both target the budget range with their lineups, JBL have a more expansive range of products at different price points. Many of their products are also better built and have more neutral default sound profiles compared to Skullcandy's very plasticky designs and generally bassy sound. That said, Skullcandy's models are more flashy, and some people may even prefer their unique collaboration colorways to JBL's more muted colors.
Overall, JBL makes feature-packed headphones and earbuds that usually have a well-balanced sound as they closely follow the Harman curve. However, their design and fit may not always be the most comfortable, and despite their price, they have a plasticky build that can feel a bit cheap.
Lineup
JBL has quite a few lineups, but there aren't clear distinctions between a few of them. Some are sorted by rough price brackets:
- Vibe = Budget-friendly wireless in-ears/earbuds.
- Tune = Lower mid-range in-ears/earbuds and over-ears.
- Live = Mid-range wireless in-ears/earbuds and over-ears.
- Tour = High-end in-ears/earbuds and over-ears.
Others are sorted by usage or intended audience:
- Club = Inspired by DJs and musicians. Includes in-ears and over-ears.
- Endurance = Sports-oriented in-ears with stability fins or ear hooks.
- JR = On-ear/over-ear headphones designed for kids.
- Quantum = Over-ears with boom mics for gaming.
- Reflect = An older lineup, but made of sports-oriented headphones with stability fins.
In addition, JBL uses some abbreviations at the end of their products' names to indicate particular features:
- BT = Bluetooth
- NC = Noise cancelling
- TWS = Truly wireless
Recent Updates
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Apr 17, 2023: Replaced the JBL Endurance Peak II True Wireless with the JBL Endurance Peak 3 True Wireless.
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Feb 02, 2023: We've replaced the JBL Club 950NC Wireless with the JBL Live 660NC Wireless as the Club aren't currently available. We've also added brand comparisons with Anker and Skullcandy as well as expanded information regarding their product lineup.
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Nov 11, 2022: Reorganized article to make it easier to find what you're looking for. Added the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS True Wireless as the 'Best JBL Earbuds' and the JBL Endurance Peak II True Wireless as the 'Best Mid-Range JBL Earbuds'.
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Jun 27, 2022: Added the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless as the 'Best Sports JBL Headphones'. Removed the JBL Endurance Sprint because they're out of stock and replaced them with the JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless as the 'Best Budget JBL Headphones'.
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Mar 22, 2022: Verified that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
Conclusion
JBL offers a variety of headphones and earbuds for different uses. They generally have a well-balanced sound, but you can EQ most of them with their companion app if you want it to sound slightly differently. While they don't produce headphones as comfortable as other popular brands like Bose and Sennheiser, and they don't offer any models specifically catered for audiophiles, their colorful designs are packed with unique features like music sharing that make JBL a great brand for casual, everyday headphones.