- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently reviewed 20 JBL headphones. They're a well-known brand that packs their headphones full of active features like music sharing or auto-off timers.
Updates
- 04/24/2020 JBL Endurance Peak reviewed
- 03/27/2020 JBL TUNE 220TWS reviewed
- 12/13/2019 JBL Reflect Flow reviewed
- 12/05/2019 JBL Tune 120 reviewed
- 07/26/2019 JBL Live 400BT reviewed
Best JBL Headphones
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Most Versatile JBL Headphones
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe most versatile JBL headphones that we've tested so far are the JBL Live 650 BTNC. These Bluetooth over-ear headphones have a solid build and a lightweight design with soft ear cup padding that makes them comfortable to wear, even over long periods. While their sound profile leans into the bass and is well-suited for more thumpy genres like EDM or hip-hop, they'll still be accurate enough for a variety of other audio. If you don't like how they sound, they also come with a parametric EQ and presets when using their companion app, JBL Headphones, on iOS or Android. Unfortunately, they don't have as powerful noise cancelling as the JBL E65BTNC Wireless but they still do a great job of cutting down background chatter. Overall, the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless are well-rounded for any use and should please most users.
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Best On-Ear JBL Headphones
Type On-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe JBL Live 400BT are the best on-ear JBL headphones we've tested so far. Their well-balanced sound profile is great for a variety of music genres and if you want to tweak it, the JBL Headphones app offers a full parametric EQ with presets. Their battery life is outstanding as they have 30 hours of continuous playtime and an auto-off timer, so you won't have to worry about running out of power if you forget to turn them off. They can pair with up to two devices at the same time, which is great when you want to switch between your computer and phone. However, they feel more cheaply made than the JBL Everest 310 Wireless and some users may find their on-ear fit uncomfortable, especially for long listening sessions. Still, if you prefer on-ear headphones, these ones have a decent overall performance and are a solid choice from this brand.
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Best Budget JBL Headphones
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best budget JBL headphones we’ve tested so far are the JBL Endurance Sprint. These colorful wireless earbuds have an ear-hook design that feels fairly well-built for their price point. If you enjoy sports, these headphones are a very good option as they have a stable fit and have an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for it. They're also among the best-sounding wireless earbuds we’ve reviewed so far and their well-balanced sound profile is easily suited for a variety of audio genres. On the downside, some users may not find their in-fit the most comfortable and their touch controls are very sensitive so registering an accurate command can be difficult. Still, they have a 9-hour battery life that should be enough to get you through your work day and they can reduce a good amount of background noise around you. At their price point, these are a pair of wireless in-ears with a decent performance.
Compared to other brands
- Well-balanced sound. Although we haven't tested the JBL's full range of headphones, 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 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 such as controlling noise isolation or tweaking sound with their fully parametric equalizer.
- Easy-to-use. The JBL headphones we've tested so far tend to have simple and intuitive controls. Most also have a dedicated sync button for Bluetooth pairing, which makes the process easier.
- Mediocre comfort. Although we haven't tested all of JBL's headphone lineup, some of their headphones have comfort issues such as too tight a 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 so far 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 critical listening.
Overall, JBL makes feature-packed headphones that usually have a well-balanced sound as they tend to 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.
Conclusion
JBL offers a variety of headphones 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 as comfortable headphones as other popular brands such as Bose and Sennheiser, and they don't offer any models that are specifically catered for critical listening, their colorful designs are packed with unique features like music sharing that make JBL a great brand for casual, everyday headphones.
If you're still looking around, check out recommendations for the best over-ear headphones.
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