The JBL Tune 510BT Wireless are budget-friendly wireless on-ear headphones. They have a pretty non-descript design and, like many headphones at this price point, they lack additional features like noise cancelling (ANC) or companion app support. On the upside, they support multi-device pairing, so you can connect them with up to two devices simultaneously.
Our Verdict
The JBL Tune 510BT are decent for neutral sound. Their sound profile is slightly V-shaped, with a mildly overemphasized bass and treble response that adds extra kick and brightness to your favorite tracks. However, some users may find they sound too thumpy and boomy. They also don't offer any sound customization features. On the upside, they deliver audio quite consistently.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Lack of sound customization features.
The JBL Tune 510BT are an acceptable option for commuting and traveling. They do a bad job of blocking background noise, especially the low rumble of bus engines and the chatter of other commuters. They also aren't especially comfortable or sturdily built. Their 38-hour-plus battery life will be more than enough for long overnight trips.
- Long continuous battery life.
- Easy-to-use control scheme.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
- Cheap-feeling build quality.
The JBL 510BT are okay for sports and fitness. They're quite lightweight and allow for a decent amount of airflow to your ears, but they do a middling job of staying in place and don't feel sturdy enough to endure a few drops and bumps. Thankfully, they have an easy-to-use physical control scheme that allows you to adjust your music without forcing you to pull out your phone.
- Easy-to-use control scheme.
- Decently breathable fit.
- Cheap-feeling build quality.
- Unstable on the head.
The JBL 510BT headphones are mediocre for office use. They do a terrible job of filtering out the chatter of nearby coworkers and leak quite a bit of audio at higher listening volumes, which could annoy people nearby. They're also rather uncomfortable due to their poorly padded headband. That said, they can pair with two devices simultaneously, so you can remain connected to your computer while streaming music from your phone. Their long continuous battery life will also ensure you don't run out of charge mid-way through your workday.
- Long continuous battery life.
- Multi-device pairing capability.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
- High levels of audio leakage.
The JBL Tune 510BT aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They aren't compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, or PS5 consoles, and their latency on Bluetooth-enabled PCs is too high for gaming.
The JBL Tune 510BT headphones aren't suitable for wired gaming since you can only use them wirelessly.
The JBL Tune 510BT aren't bad for making phone calls. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound clear and natural, but it can struggle to isolate speech from loud background noise. Due to their poor noise isolation capability, you may have difficulty following what's being said on a call if you're in a noisy environment.
- Decent mic recording quality.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
Changelog
- Updated May 27, 2024: The Sound Profile and Battery sections have been updated to compare these to the JBL Tune 520BT Wireless.
- Updated May 14, 2024: We remeasured the headphones' dimensions and subsequently updated the Portability text and score as well as the Verdict score for the Sports/Fitness section.
- Updated Jul 18, 2023: We've updated this review's text to improve its accuracy. There hasn't been a change in scoring, though.
- Updated Apr 11, 2023: Added a mention of the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless in the Sound Profilebox.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Tune 510BT are available in four different color schemes. 'Black', 'White', 'Rose', and 'Blue'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly overall.
If you come across another variant of these headphones not listed above, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Tune 510BT are budget-friendly wireless headphones. While these are fairly basic on-ears overall, their inclusion of multi-device pairing capability is somewhat rare at this price point. However, they feel cheaply made and do a bad job of filtering background noise. Unlike the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2, they lack companion app support, so you can't customize their sound to your liking.
If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best headphones under $50, the best on-ear headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones under $100.
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are more customizable and versatile on-ear headphones than the JBL Tune 510BT. The Sony's companion app lets you customize the sound to your liking or make changes to the controls. The JBL, on the other hand, have no app compatibility and can't be customized at all. Their mic also makes your voice sound much quieter than the Sony headphones' mic, meaning you'll have to speak louder when answering calls. The Sony's battery also lasts a lot longer than the JBL headphones' and will get you through a whole workweek without needing a recharge.
The Sony WH-CH510 Wireless and the JBL Tune 510BT are fairly well-matched, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The JBL have a more comprehensive control scheme, provide superior mic recording quality, and can pair with two devices simultaneously. Meanwhile, the Sony have a more breathable, stable fit and block out marginally more background noise, though their performance in this respect is still poor.
The JBL Live 400BT Wireless are better overall headphones than the JBL Tune 510BT. The 400BT feel slightly sturdier, have a significantly more stable fit, block out far more ambient noise, and leak less audio. While their sound profile is fairly neutral out of the box, they have a companion app with a parametric EQ, and EQ presets to customize their sound. Despite having a shorter continuous battery life than the 510BT, they have an auto-off timer to help conserve charge and offer full mic and audio compatibility on a wired connection, thanks to their included 1/8" TRRS cable. Conversely, the 510BT are a little lighter and slightly more portable.
The JBL Tune 520BT are the updated version of the JBL Tune 510BT. The Tune 520BT have a much longer battery life and support the brand's app for greater flexibility, including an equalizer. On the other hand, both headphones have many of the same features, like button controls, and are similarly lightweight with unstable on-ear fits. That said, the Tune 510BT have a better-sounding microphone. Otherwise, they're very alike.
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