- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently tested 50 JBL headphones. They're a well-known brand that packs their headphones full of active features like music sharing or auto-off timers.
Updates
- 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
- 10/01/2021 JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless reviewed
- 08/16/2021 JBL Tune 760NC Wireless reviewed
Best JBL Headphones
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Best Wireless JBL Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.6Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness8.3Office7.5Wireless Gaming6.1Wired Gaming5.9Phone Calls7.1Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are the best JBL wireless earbuds we've tested. These earbuds are well-built and have a comfortable, stable fit, so they're suitable for long days at work and should stay in place during workouts. They have a very versatile, well-balanced default sound profile as well. It's suitable for different genres and types of content, and if you prefer a different sound, their companion app has a parametric EQ and presets that you can use to customize it. Their ANC feature can block out a decent amount of noise, and they can help reduce noise like rumbling engines during your commute or background chatter at the office. While their 7.4-hour battery life may not last through an entire workday, you can easily top up the earbuds battery in the case, which holds about three extra charges.
Unfortunately, their latency with PCs and Android devices is high, so you may notice that your audio and video are out of sync if you use them to watch a video on your computer or phone. They don't support multi-device pairing, which is a bit disappointing if you often switch between using your phone and computer. Otherwise, these versatile earbuds are among the best JBL earphones with mic capability that we've tested.
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Best Over-Ear JBL Headphones
Mixed Usage7.2Neutral Sound7.4Commute/Travel7.4Sports/Fitness7.4Office7.3Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.4Phone Calls6.2Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best over-ear headphones from JΒL that we've tested are the JBL CLUB 950NC. These well-built Bluetooth over-ears have a comfortable, stable fit and a decently versatile overall performance. Their neutral, well-balanced sound profile makes them suitable for listening to a wide range of audio content, though they lack low bass. If you prefer a different sound, you can use the parametric EQ and presets in the JBL Headphones app to customize their performance. They don't leak a lot of noise, and their 25-hour continuous battery life makes them suitable for long days on the go. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out background noise typically found in an office setting, like chatter from other coworkers.
Unfortunately, their ANC feature struggles to block out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines, so they may not be ideal for your commute. Their integrated microphone has a disappointing recording quality, and they're mediocre for making phone calls. Their bulky over-ear design isn't as portable as truly wireless in-ears like the JBL LIVE 300TWS Truly Wireless, either. They're still a solid choice, and they're the best JBL wireless headphones with an over-ear design that we've tested.
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Best On-Ear JBL Headphones
Neutral Sound7.6Commute/Travel7.4Sports/Fitness7.2Office7.3Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.4Phone Calls6.7Type On-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best JBL headphones with an on-ear design that we've tested are the JBL Live 460NC Wireless. These wireless headphones have good build quality, with a metal-reinforced headband and faux-leather ear cups. They're also decently comfortable, breathable, and have an easy-to-use onboard control scheme. Their ANC feature delivers a satisfactory noise isolation performance, and they have a fairly neutral default sound profile with a touch of extra thump and rumble in the bass range. If you prefer a different sound, it can also be customized with a parametric EQ and presets in the companion app. They also have a long continuous battery life of just under 30 hours, so they don't need to be recharged every day, and an auto-off timer to help conserve power when you're not listening to audio.
Unfortunately, you may find their fit a little tight on your head, especially if you wear them during long listening sessions. They may not be ideal if you make many phone calls since their integrated mic makes your voice sound muffled and has a hard time separating it from ambient sound. If you like their breathable on-ear design, they offer a well-balanced, customizable sound and a decently versatile performance.
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Best Budget JBL Headphones
Mixed Usage7.1Neutral Sound7.1Commute/Travel7.6Sports/Fitness7.7Office6.9Wireless Gaming5.3Wired Gaming5.1Phone Calls6.6Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best JBL earphones in the budget category that we tested are the JBL Endurance Sprint. These sports headphones come in several bright colors and have ear-hooks that help give them a very stable fit. They're rated IPX7 for resistance against being briefly immersed in water and last for about nine hours continuous use, so they can easily last through long runs. While they don't have an ANC feature, their design passively isolates you from a good amount of noise, so they can help cut out the sound of workout machines and background conversations at the gym. Their very neutral sound profile also makes them some of the best sounding wireless earbuds we’ve tested, and they're suitable for a variety of genres and content.
Unfortunately, it can be tricky to get a good fit, and they only come with three different ear tip sizes, so you don't have a huge selection to choose from. The onboard control scheme is also hard to use since it's easy to accidentally register the wrong command, which can be frustrating, especially during a workout. If you're looking for a budget-friendly pair of earbuds for sports, they're a good option, especially if you're looking for neutral sound.
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, 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 lineup, some of their headphones have comfort issues like 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 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.
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.
Recent Updates
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Mar 22, 2022: Verified that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
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Dec 17, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
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Oct 19, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations in their categories and that the products are in stock.
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Jul 21, 2021: Replaced the JBL Live 460NC Wireless with the JBL CLUB 950NC Wireless as the 'Best On-Ear JBL Headphones'.
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Apr 19, 2021: Added the JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless as 'Best Truly Wireless' pick.
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 headphones as comfortable as other popular brands like Bose and Sennheiser, and they don't offer any models that are 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.
If you're still looking around, check out recommendations for the best over-ear headphones.