We've 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
- 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
- 10/01/2021 JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless reviewed
Best JBL Headphones
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Best JBL Headphones
Mixed Usage7.2Neutral Sound7.4Commute/Travel7.4Sports/Fitness7.4Office7.3Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.4Phone Calls6.2Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe best JBL headphones that we've tested are the JBL CLUB 950NC. These well-built Bluetooth over-ears have a comfortable, stable fit and are decently versatile. They have a well-balanced sound profile that you can customize with a parametric EQ and presets in the JBL Headphones app. Their 25-hour continuous battery life is suitable for long days on the go, and they don't leak a lot of noise, so your music won't bother co-workers at the office.
Their ANC feature can effectively block out mid-range and higher-pitched noise like voices or a humming computer fan, so they can help reduce distractions at work. Unfortunately, it struggles more with bass-range sounds like rumbling engines, so they may not be ideal for your daily commute. Their integrated mic doesn't have a great performance.
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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 earbuds we've tested by JBL 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. Otherwise, these earbuds are among the best JBL earphones with mic capability that we've tested.
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Best Mid-Range JBL Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.0Commute/Travel7.8Sports/Fitness8.2Office7.2Wireless Gaming5.4Wired Gaming5.2Phone Calls6.7Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe best JBL earphones in the mid-range we've tested are the JBL Endurance Peak II True Wireless. These headphones lack features like a companion app or ANC, but their design makes them better for sports than our top pick. They have flexible ear hooks that help give them an impressively stable fit, so they stand in place during workouts. They also have a higher IPX7 rating for resistance against being submerged in water, so a little rain during an outdoor run won't damage your earbuds.
They have a bass-heavy sound profile that adds intense thump and rumble to your audio, which can help keep you pumped up if you're using them at the gym. Their well-balanced mid-range ensures that voices and instruments reproduce clearly and accurately, so they're suitable for a variety of genres and types of content. However, they don't come with features like an EQ or presets for sound customization. They're also less comfortable than our top pick since they can feel bulky and get uncomfortable if you're wearing them for a long time.
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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 best JBL wireless earbuds in the budget range that we've tested are the JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless. 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 a bit short, so they aren't the best JBL wireless headphones for long flights or commutes, and 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.
Compared to other brands
- Well-balanced sound. Although we haven't tested 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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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.
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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.
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 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.
