The JBL Endurance Dive Wireless are sports headphones that have acceptable sound quality. These headphones are advertised to be waterproof enough for swimming, thanks to their IPX7 rating. They have 1GB of internal storage, which is helpful for swimmers since Bluetooth won’t work well in the water, or for working out without your phone. They're versatile for other everyday uses such as commuting since their fit blocks out a good amount of ambient noise. Unfortunately, their design is a bit bulky, and their battery life is worse than the similar and better-sounding JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless.
Our Verdict
The JBL Endurance Dive are decent for mixed usage. They have an acceptable sound profile that's fairly versatile but are better suited for bass-heavy genres. Their fit can create an air-tight seal that blocks out ambient noise from seeping into your audio, making them suitable to use in public transit and at the office. They won’t be ideal for watching TV or gaming due to their latency issues, but these headphones are designed for sports. They have a stable fit, are very breathable, and are designed to be waterproof for swimmers.
- Good passive noise isolation and low leakage.
- Stable and breathable for sports.
- Durable and waterproof design.
- Slightly bulky design.
- In-ear fit might not be comfortable for everyone.
The JBL Endurance Dive are decent for neutral sound. They have a deep and extended bass, a very well-balanced mid-range, and a great treble. However, they might sound a bit overly thumpy, but fans of bass-heavy genres may prefer this. There’s constant underemphasis in the mid-range, which thins out vocals and leads, on top of nudging them to the back of the mix. Overall, these headphones are versatile for many music genres but will be better suited for bass-heavy genres and won’t be the ideal choice for vocal-centric music. Additionally, the in-ear fit might not be ideal for very long listening sessions as some may feel some ear soreness.
The JBL Endurance Dive are good for commute and travel. These headphones’ fit creates an air-tight seal that blocks a good amount of ambient noise, including the deep rumbles of a bus or plane engine. This means they’ll be suitable for public transit, and since they practically don’t leak, you’ll be able to drown even more noise by raising your volume without disturbing people around you. Also, their battery life is long enough for your daily commute but might not be enough for very long trips. If you can’t find a good fit, these in-ears won’t be comfortable to wear for long periods as well.
The JBL Endurance Dive are good for sports. They have a stable ear-hook design and are rated IPX7 for water resistance. They're advertised as swimming headphones and have onboard storage since Bluetooth won’t work well underwater. They're also breathable as they don’t trap heat inside your ears, and they're easy to carry around to the gym. They can also isolate against a noisy training environment, and their bass-heavy sound profile can keep you pumped during your workouts.
The JBL Endurance Dive are okay for office use. They do a very good job of blocking out work environment noise like ambient chatter and A/C noise. However, they won’t be the most comfortable option and may cause some ear soreness if you can’t find a good fit. Their battery life is also a bit short for a whole workday, especially if you're planning on commuting with them as well. On the upside, they have a pretty good wireless range, so you’ll be able to walk around your desk without putting the headphones down, which is nice considering they automatically turn off when you do so.
The JBL Endurance Dive aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They aren't compatible with Xbox and PlayStation consoles. They work with Bluetooth-compatible PCs, but their latency will be too high for video games, and their microphone’s recording quality won’t be great for online multiplayer games. They also won’t be comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 26, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 03, 2019: The test results were processed incorrectly. They have been reprocessed to fix the error, sound score and text have been updated.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Endurance Dive are good sports headphones that set themselves apart by their good value and touch-sensitive surface. There are a few reports online saying that you still get water in your ears when swimming, which noticeably affects the sound quality, but they will still be good for working out.
See our recommendations for the best wireless in-ears for running and working out, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and the best true wireless earbuds.
The Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless are slightly better sports headphones than the JBL Endurance Dive Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable, and their physical controls are easier to use than the touch-sensitive area of the JBL. The Anker fit nicely inside the ears, are very stable for sports, and their sound quality is also a bit more accurate. The Anker also have almost double the amount of battery life. The JBL’s fit isolates against a good amount of ambient noise, making them a better option for commuting. Their cable is also thicker and rubberized, which makes them more durable than the Anker. The JBL also have a noticeably better wireless range and have onboard storage for when you want to use them for swimming or working out without a phone.
The JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless and the JBL Endurance Dive are almost identical headphones in design. Their in-ear fit is the same, and the only real difference between these models is that the Dive have a shorter and thicker cable, which is better suited for swimmers. Performance-wise, they are very similar, but the Sprint have a small edge over the Dive. Their sound profile is more accurate, and we measured about two additional hours of continuous playback time on the Sprint. On the other hand, the control scheme of the Dive feels a bit more responsive, and they have helpful onboard storage since Bluetooth protocol won’t work in the water. They also have a better wireless range.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless and the JBL Endurance Dive are both good sports headphones, but both are better at different things. The Bose have a better sound quality and are more comfortable, but they have a semi-open design that doesn’t isolate much ambient noise. On the other hand, the JBL Dive are waterproof and designed as swimming headphones. They're well-built, and their fit is suitable for commuting thanks to the air-tight seal that blocks out noise. While you might get a bit less battery life on the Bose, you can connect them to two devices simultaneously.
The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless are better sports headphones than the JBL Endurance Dive Wireless. Their fit is more comfortable, and their in-line remote might be easier to use than the touch-sensitive surface of the JBL, especially during physical activity. They fit a bit more securely inside the ear too, which is great for sports. They sound a bit more neutral and have noticeably more battery life. On the other hand, the JBL have internal storage, meaning that you can use them in the water without Bluetooth, and their fit creates an air-tight seal that blocks a good amount of ambient noise, making them a better option for commuting.
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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