Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. The JBL Endurance Sprint have a cool sporty design that works well for most use cases. They are compact enough to carry around on your person despite their slightly larger than average earbuds. They're also stable enough for the gym and provide enough passive isolation to be suitable for most environments and for commute and travel. Unfortunately, they do not have the best controls and they aren't the most comfortable headphones to wear for really long listening sessions.
- Good noise isolation.
- Low leakage.
- Above-average sound quality.
- Slightly bulky and uncomfortable fit.
- Mediocre touch sensitive control scheme.
Decent for neutral listening. They have a well-balanced sound that delivers a good bass, treble and a fairly neutral but slightly underemphasized mid-range. This gives them a balanced sound overall but they tend to slightly push instruments and vocals to the back of the mix, due to their slightly recessed mid-range. They also have a big spike in their treble which won't be audible to most since it's at very high-frequencies but for some, they may sound a bit piercing. Unfortunately, like most in-ears, they do not have a wide and open soundstage so they won't be the ideal choice for more neutral listeners. They also do not get very loud, which may be a deal breaker for some.
Above-average for commuting. They're compact, easy to carry around and block a lot of noise passively. Also, they barely leak so you can play your music a little louder if you need to block even more noise. Unfortunately, they aren't the most comfortable wireless in-ears we've tested so they may not be ideal to wear for really long continuous listening sessions on long trips.
Good for sports. The Endurance Sprint have a stable ear-hook design that will prevent the headphones from falling off your ears no matter the physical activity. They also have good battery life and provide all the essential functions with their touch-sensitive control scheme. Unfortunately, their control scheme is not as precise and they do not come with foam tips for better comfort.
Average for office use. They block a lot of noise and barely leak. They will be suitable for most office environments and you can play your music at higher volumes without distracting your colleagues. Unfortunately, they won't be the most comfortable headphones to wear for really long listening sessions.
Below-average for gaming. They have a mediocre-at-best microphone, and too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They also have no companion app so they won't be as customizable as most gaming headsets and their Bluetooth connection is not compatible with consoles.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 14, 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 Sep 06, 2018: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Endurance Sprint are decent mixed-usage in-ears but better sports headphones. They have a lightweight and well built wireless design that stands out a bit more than other sports-oriented wireless in-ears, thanks to the slightly larger earbuds and thick ear-hooks. They also have a rubberized coating that gives them a stylish and decently high-end look and feel, but the audio cable is somewhat thin and flimsy. They also have a slightly uncomfortable in-ear fit that won't be for everyone, and that's not as stable as some of the in-ears and earbuds compared below. On the upside, they have decently balanced sound for most genres and provide good enough noise isolation to be a suitable option for most environments and uses.
See our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds under $50 and the best budget wireless headphones.
The Jaybird Freedom 2 are a slightly better wireless in-ear than the JBL Endurance Sprint. The Jaybirds have a smaller form factor that will more easily fit into pockets, which makes them a bit easier to carry around on your person. They also have a more comfortable semi earbud fit that most will prefer over that of the Endurance Sprint and they have a customizable sound that you can easily EQ with the Jaybird MySound app. The JBL, on the other hand, have a slightly more rugged look and feel and deliver better noise isolation and lower leakage thanks to their in-ear fit. They also have a slightly more stable ear hook design for sports, but the earbuds do not stay in your ears as well as the Jaybird.
The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2017 are slightly better headphones overall when compared to the JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless. The Anker offer better value for your money with a decently well-balanced sound and a better, more comfortable in-ear fit than the JBL. The Anker also have a longer battery life and a slightly more stable fit, since the in-ear seal of the earbuds is not affected as much as the JBL's when the headphones move around. The Anker also have a better, more precise control scheme than that of the JBL. However, the JBL have a better design, a more high-end look and feel, and block more noise for busy commutes. The JBL also have a few unique features like the magnetic ear hooks, which some may prefer over that of the Anker. They also have a slightly better-balanced sound than the Anker, although they do not get as loud.
The JBL Endurance Sprint are slightly better headphones overall than the JBL E25BT. The Sprint have a better build quality and a more sports-oriented design with IPX7 water resistance. They also have a better-balanced sound and a more stable ear-hook design that will prevent the headphones from falling off your ears when running or doing more intense physical activities. The JBL E25BT, on the other hand, are more portable and have a better control scheme. They also deliver a slightly longer battery life on average although they do not have an auto-off feature so they won't last as long the Endurance Sprint.
The JBL Endurance Sprint are a slightly better headset overall than the Bose SoundSport Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable semi-open earbud fit that most will prefer over that of the Endurance Sprint. They also support NFC pairing with mobile phones, have a better-balanced sound and a slightly more precise control scheme than the Sprint although it is a bit difficult to use due to the heavy rubber coating. On the upside, the JBL have a slightly longer battery life on average. They also have a more isolating in-ear fit which makes them a bit more suitable for noisy environments and commuting although they will not be as comfortable as the Bose.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
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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