TREBLAB Z2 Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Jul 17, 2020 at 08:15am
Writing modified Oct 26, 2021 at 11:18am
Tested using Methodology v1.4 
TREBLAB Z2 Wireless
6.9
Mixed Usage 
7.6
Neutral Sound 
6.9
Commute/Travel 
7.1
Sports/Fitness 
6.8
Office 
5.4
Wireless Gaming 
7.1
Wired Gaming 
6.1
Phone Calls 
 0

The TREBLAB Z2 Wireless are ANC Bluetooth over-ears with a fairly well-balanced sound profile, making them versatile enough for most genres, though they lack a bit of brightness and rumble. They feel decently well-built and comfortable, though unfortunately, their shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during longer listening sessions. While they have ANC, it doesn't do much, and their microphone makes your voice sound very distorted and unnatural. On the bright side, they last nearly 20 hours off a single charge, and they support multi-device pairing and aptX-LL.

Our Verdict

6.9
Mixed Usage 

The TREBLAB Z2 are fair headphones for mixed usage. They have a fairly well-balanced sound profile and last nearly 20 hours off a single charge. They feel decently well-built and comfortable, though their shallow ear cups may cause discomfort during longer listening sessions. Unfortunately, their ANC feature doesn't work very well, and they do a sub-par job at blocking out background noise. They also aren't the best choice if you make many phone calls, as their microphone makes your voice sound unnatural and distorted.

Pros
  • Fairly well-balanced and versatile sound profile.
  • Very good 20-hour battery.
  • Easy to use physical controls.
  • Low latency on some Bluetooth devices thanks to aptX-LL support.
Cons
  • Microphone performance is disappointing; voices sound very distorted and unnatural.
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Leak a fair amount of audio.
7.6
Neutral Sound 

The TREBLAB Z2 are a good option for neutral sound listening, thanks to their fairly well-balanced sound profile. While most of the ranges are even and flat, their bass range is a bit recessed, which may be disappointing to some people. They also lack a bit of brightness, and some higher frequencies sound dull and lispy. On the bright side, they're consistent among various users, and you should experience their sound reproduction similarly every time you wear them.

Pros
  • Fairly well-balanced and versatile sound profile.
  • Easy to use physical controls.
Cons
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
6.9
Commute/Travel 

The TREBLAB Z2 are fair for commute and travel. They're decently comfortable, come with a good hard carrying case, and their battery lasts nearly 20 hours, which is good for long trips. Unfortunately, their ANC doesn't work very well, so they don't help much with reducing the low rumble of a bus or plane engine. They also aren't the most comfortable during long listening sessions.

Pros
  • Fairly well-balanced and versatile sound profile.
  • Very good 20-hour battery.
  • Easy to use physical controls.
Cons
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Leak a fair amount of audio.
  • Ear cups don't fold inwards for better portability.
7.1
Sports/Fitness 

The TREBLAB Z2 are decent for sports if you prefer the fit of over-ears at the gym. They feel decently well-built and comfortable, and they have easy-to-use controls, so you can quickly change tracks mid-workout. They feel stable enough on the head for jogs and light exercising, though they'll likely fall off during more intense workouts or runs.

Pros
  • Very good 20-hour battery.
  • Easy to use physical controls.
Cons
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Leak a fair amount of audio.
  • Ear cups don't fold inwards for better portability.
6.8
Office 

The TREBLAB Z2 aren't the best option for use at the office. They leak a lot of audio, so your coworkers will likely get distracted when you listen to music at high volumes. They don't block out much background noise, and their shallow ear cups make them uncomfortable when used for extended periods. On the bright side, their 20-hour battery means they should easily last a couple of full workdays.

Pros
  • Very good 20-hour battery.
  • Easy to use physical controls.
  • Low latency on some Bluetooth devices thanks to aptX-LL support.
Cons
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Leak a fair amount of audio.
5.4
Wireless Gaming 

The TREBLAB Z2 aren't recommended for wireless gaming as they only support a wireless connection via Bluetooth. This means they aren't compatible with most modern consoles. While you can pair them to a mobile phone or PC, you may notice high latency depending on your device.

7.1
Wired Gaming 

The TREBLAB Z2 are a decent option for wired gaming. Thanks to the in-line mic on the included audio cable, you can plug them into your Xbox One or PS4 controller and get full compatibility. We only test the integrated microphone, so we don't know how well the in-line mic performs.

Pros
  • Fairly well-balanced and versatile sound profile.
Cons
  • Shallow ear cups may get uncomfortable during extended use.
6.1
Phone Calls 

The TREBLAB Z2 are mediocre for phone calls. The integrated microphone makes your voice sound thin, unnatural, and very distorted. It does a disappointing job separating your voice from background noises. It's worth noting that we only test the integrated microphone, so we don't know how well the in-line mic performs.

Pros
  • Easy to use physical controls.
  • Low latency on some Bluetooth devices thanks to aptX-LL support.
Cons
  • Microphone performance is disappointing; voices sound very distorted and unnatural.
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Leak a fair amount of audio.
  • 6.9
    Mixed Usage
  • 7.6
    Neutral Sound
  • 6.9
    Commute/Travel
  • 7.1
    Sports/Fitness
  • 6.8
    Office
  • 5.4
    Wireless Gaming
  • 7.1
    Wired Gaming
  • 6.1
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 17, 2020: Review published.
    2.  Updated Jul 13, 2020: Early access published.
    3.  Updated Jul 01, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated Jun 30, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

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    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    The TREBLAB Z2 are decent over-ear headphones that don't offer much over the competition. Their ANC performs much worse than the similarly-priced Mixcder E9 Wireless or Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, though they have a much better-balanced sound profile.

    If you don't want to spend over $100 but want something that performs better, check out our recommendations for the best wireless headphones under $100, the best noise cancelling headphones under $100, and the best over-ear headphones under $100.

    TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless

    The TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless are better headphones than the TREBLAB Z2 Wireless. The Z7 are more comfortable and better-built, and their noise isolation performance is significantly better. They also have a superior battery performance, and they also support aptX HD. However, the TREBLAB Z2 support aptX-LL and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.

    Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless

    The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless and the TREBLAB Z2 Wireless both perform similarly overall. While the Anker have a much better ANC feature and last longer off a single charge, the TREBLAB have a better-balanced and less bass-heavy sound profile. The Anker are more comfortable and have a better microphone. On the other hand, the TREBLAB support features like multi-device pairing and aptX-LL, and have easier to use controls.

    Mixcder E9 Wireless

    The Mixcder E9 Wireless are marginally better headphones than the TREBLAB Z2 Wireless. The Mixcder are more comfortable, have a better mic, and have much better ANC. On the other hand, the TREBLAB have a better-balanced sound profile, support multi-device pairing, and last a tiny bit longer off a single charge.

    Cowin E7 Wireless

    The TREBLAB Z2 Wireless are better headphones for mixed usage than the Cowin E7 Wireless. The TREBLAB feel more comfortable and durable, have easier-to-use controls, and support multi-device pairing. Their sound profile is also much better-balanced, with a much more accurate treble range. On the other hand, the Cowin last longer off a single charge and have a slightly better ANC feature, though neither headphones block very much background noise.

    Cowin E7 Pro Wireless

    The TREBLAB Z2 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Cowin E7 Pro Wireless. The TREBLAB are more comfortable and feel better-built. They also have a much more accurate sound profile that doesn't sound as boomy and muddy. On the other hand, the Cowin have a much better ANC feature, and they also last a lot longer off a single charge.

    Mpow H10 Wireless

    The TREBLAB Z2 Wireless and the Mpow H10 Wireless are similarly performing headphones. The Mpow are more comfortable, last longer off a single charge, and have a better microphone. Their ANC feature is also significantly better and blocks out much more background noise. On the other hand, the TREBLAB have a much better-balanced sound profile, support multi-device pairing and aptX-LL, and come with an analog cable with an in-line microphone.

    Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless

    The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are much better headphones than the TREBLAB Z2 Wireless. While both headphones have well-balanced sound profiles, the Sony is a bit more bass-heavy without being overpowering. They also look and feel much more premium and well-built, are a lot more comfortable, last longer off a single charge, and have an excellent companion app that gives access to a graphic EQ. Sony's ANC is also among the best we've ever tested, while the TREBLAB's ANC doesn't do much at all. On the other hand, some people may prefer the physical controls on the TREBLAB, and they may represent better value to some.

    Overhauling Our Audio Measurements And A New Multi-Curve Graphing Tool

    We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.

    For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.

    We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeOver-ear
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessYes
    TransducerDynamic

    The TREBLAB Z2 have a fairly sleek and modern design. They look a lot like the similarly-priced Mixcder E9 Wireless, but with an etched white design on each ear cup. They're also available with a black logo on the earcups as opposed to white.

    7.0
    Comfort
    Weight0.54 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0.9 lbs

    The TREBLAB Z2 are decently comfortable. They're lightweight and well-padded, but unfortunately, the ear cups are very shallow, and your ears will likely get pushed in by them. They clamp the head a little bit, but not enough to be exceptionally uncomfortable during most listening sessions. If you're looking for more comfortable headphones from this manufacturer, check out the TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless instead.

    7.3
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseGood
    FeedbackGood
    Call/Music ControlYes
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlNo
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlOn/Off
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsNo

    The TREBLAB Z2's controls are decent. The physical buttons are easy to use and provide a good amount of feedback, so you know when you've issued a command. The controls are on the right ear cup, and the middle button has a raised dot, so you can easily tell which button you're resting on without looking. The headphones also give you an audio cue when you reach max volume, and you get a good amount of functionality, including media/call control and volume control. When using the headphones with the included analog 1/8" cable, the ear cup controls no longer function, and all inputs are done via a single button on the in-line remote/mic. This is disappointing as the in-line remote is more difficult to use and doesn't provide track skipping or volume control.

    6.0
    Portability
    L8"
    W7.3"
    H1.8"
    Volume105 in³
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    The TREBLAB Z2 aren't the most portable as the ear cups don't fold inwards into a more compact shape. On the bright side, they can swivel to lay flat, making them more comfortable around your neck and easier to fit into luggage or bags.

    7.5
    Case
    TypeHard case
    L9"
    W8"
    H2.5"
    Volume180 in³

    The TREBLAB Z2 come with a good hard carrying case to help protect them while traveling. It should protect against scratches, drops, and light water exposure.

    7.0
    Build Quality

    The TREBLAB Z2's build quality is decent. The entire headphones are made out of solid plastic, with a bit of metal enforcing the headband. While they don't look as premium and high-end as more expensive options, they don't feel especially cheap or plasticky either.

    7.0
    Stability

    These headphones are decently stable. They clamp the head enough to keep them on during light jogs and head movements. They shouldn't move too much if you have to quickly run to catch a bus, but aren't the best option for the gym.

    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
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    In The Box

    • TREBLAB Z2 headphones
    • Hard carrying case
    • 1/8" TRS audio cable
    • Micro-USB charging cable
    • Manuals
    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    -1.24 dB
    Treble Amount
    -1.31 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's sound profile is well-balanced and accurate, making them well-suited for a very wide range of content and genres. That said, their underemphasized bass range may be slightly disappointing to fans of bass-heavy genres, and they also lack a bit of brightness which causes some instruments to sound dark and veiled.

    8.1
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    0.38 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2 are very consistent between various users and reseats. Most people should experience their sound reproduction very similarly, though you may have to adjust them slightly on your head to hear their treble the same way every time you use them.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    8.5
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    2.16 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    13.54 Hz
    Low-Bass
    -2.95 dB
    Mid-Bass
    -2.43 dB
    High-Bass
    0.49 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's bass range is very accurate. While most of the range is underemphasized, it's even and flat without any major sharp dips or peaks. Unfortunately, they lack a fair amount of bass in comparison to many popular headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018.

    9.0
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    1.4 dB
    Low-Mid
    -0.14 dB
    Mid-Mid
    -1.2 dB
    High-Mid
    0.01 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's mid accuracy is outstanding. Almost the entire range is even, flat, and accurate. This results in present and clear instruments and vocals that don't sound muddy, harsh, or distant.

    7.4
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    3.53 dB
    Low-Treble
    -1.06 dB
    Mid-Treble
    -2.03 dB
    High-Treble
    -5.93 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's treble range is decently accurate. While half of low-treble is very accurate and even, it dips a fair amount started in the middle of low-treble, resulting in some higher frequency instruments sounding dull and lispy. High treble is also quite uneven, which may cause some sounds to be piercing and others to be very dull, though this is at high enough frequencies that it generally isn't audible to most people.

    8.0
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    1.23 dB
    Dips
    1.26 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's peaks and dips performance is very good. Most of the ranges are fairly even, without too many sudden spikes. The peak in high-bass causes the headphones to sound a bit boomy in comparison to the underemphasized low and mid-bass ranges, though this isn't too noticeable overall. However, the large dip in mid-treble causes some frequencies to be noticeably dull and lispy, making the headphones lack a bit of brightness.

    5.8
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.35
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    0.78
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    2.32
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    61.28

    The imaging performance is sub-par. While most of the group delay is well beneath the audibility threshold, it crosses over in low-bass, resulting in a transparent treble reproduction but a loose bass range. Our L/R drivers are decently well-matched, and while their phase mismatch score is very bad, this is because the drivers are mismatched at a very low frequency that likely won't be noticeable to anyone. It's also worth noting that these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

    5.3
    Passive Soundstage
    See details on graph tool
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    3.35 dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    4.63 dB
    PRTF Distance
    5.11 dB
    Openness
    4.3
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    4.6

    The TREBLAB Z2's soundstage is disappointing. While the soundstage appears decently natural and very large, it isn't very open and sounds feel to be inside your head as opposed to in front. However, this is to be expected of closed-back headphones.

    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    No
    Speaker Modeling
    No
    Room Ambience
    No
    Head Tracking
    No
    Virtual Surround
    No App

    These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.

    7.4
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.346
    WHD @ 100
    0.172

    The TREBLAB Z2's weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. Almost all frequencies fall within acceptable limits, resulting in a fairly clear and pure audio reproduction.

    Test Settings
    Firmware
    Unknown
    Power
    On
    Connection
    Bluetooth 4.2
    Codec
    aptX, 16-bit, 48kHz
    EQ
    No EQ
    ANC
    On
    Tip/Pad
    Default
    Microphone
    Integrated

    These are the settings used to test the TREBLAB Z2. Our results are only valid when used at these settings.

    Isolation
    5.6
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -13.59 dB
    Noise CancellingYes
    Bass
    -4.11 dB
    Mid
    -11.48 dB
    Treble
    -25.8 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2's noise isolation performance is sub-par. While these headphones have an ANC feature, it doesn't work very well and only slightly lowers low-end sounds like engine rumbles. They do a decent job at blocking out background chatter, though most of this is done passively simply by physically blocking your ears. They do a good job of isolating out higher-pitched frequencies, like the sound of a fan or AC unit, though again, this is almost entirely done passively.

    6.0
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    45.22 dB

    The TREBLAB Z2 have a mediocre leakage performance. The leakage occupies a fair amount of the mid and treble ranges, so the sound leaking from your headphones will be full. It nears the top of the noise floor of an average office, so your coworkers will likely hear a fair amount of what you're listening to.

    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    Yes
    In-Line
    Yes
    Boom
    No
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes

    The TREBLAB Z2 have an integrated microphone as well as an in-line mic on the included analog cable. We only test the integrated mic, and the in-line mic may perform differently.

    5.7
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    20 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    8.9 dB
    HFE
    22,988.02 Hz
    Weighted THD
    1,551.853
    Gain
    -26.76 dB

    The recording quality of the TREBLAB Z2's integrated microphone is sub-par. When using the microphone, your voice sounds very unnatural, thin, and distorted.

    5.7
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    Speech + Pink Noise
    Speech + Subway Noise
    SpNR
    8.4 dB

    The integrated microphone is middling at handling background noise. It's best suited for quiet environments, as your voice gets easily drowned out in noisy situations.

    Active Features
    7.9
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Rechargable
    Continuous Battery Life
    19.7 hrs
    Additional Charges
    0.0
    Total Battery Life
    19.7 hrs
    Charge Time
    4.3 hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    Standby mode
    Audio While Charging
    No
    Passive Playback
    Yes
    Charging Portmicro-USB

    The overall battery performance is good. They last almost 20 hours off a single charge with ANC turned on, which is very good. While they're advertised as lasting up to 30 hours, this may be with ANC turned off. Unfortunately, they take over four hours to fully charge, which is a long time. On the bright side, you can use them passively with their included 1/8" audio cable.

    0.0
    App Support
    App NameNo App
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSNo
    WindowsNo
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    Surround Support
    No

    These headphones don't have a dedicated companion app.

    Connectivity
    7.7
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    4.2
    Multi-Device Pairing
    2 Devices
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    112 ft
    PC Latency (SBC)
    278 ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    279 ms
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    120 ms
    iOS Latency
    281 ms
    Android Latency
    71 ms

    The Bluetooth connectivity is good. They can connect to two devices at a time, so you can easily switch between them. While their SBC latency on PC is high, they support aptX-LL for a much lower latency connection, provided the device you're connecting to supports it. While watching YouTube videos on a mobile device, they have high latency on iOS but very low latency on Android devices. It's worth noting that devices and apps tend to compensate for latency differently, so your mileage may vary.

    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    Non-BT Latency
    N/A

    These headphones only support a wireless connection via Bluetooth.

    9.5
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    Yes
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableYes
    Length4 ft
    Connection1/8" TRS
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    0 ms

    These headphones come with a Micro-USB cable for charging and a 1/8" TRS to TRRS analog cable for a wired connection. Because the cable is only TRS on the end that plugs into the headphones themselves, it doesn't support input from the controls on the ear cups or the integrated microphone, requiring you to use the in-line remote and mic while wired. On the bright side, both included cables are flat silicone cables, which tend to be less prone to tangles and kinks.

    PC / PS4 Compatibility
    PC/PS4 Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    PC/PS4 Wired USB
    No
    PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    No

    Thanks to the in-line mic on their wire, these headphones are fully compatible with PC or PS4 gaming when you use them wired. They're also compatible wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled PC, though you may experience too much lag for competitive gaming.

    Xbox One Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    Xbox One Wired USB
    No
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    No

    Thanks to the in-line mic on their wire, these headphones are fully compatible with Xbox One when you use them wired into the controller.

    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    No Base/Dock
    USB Input
    No
    Line In
    No
    Line Out
    No
    Optical Input
    No
    RCA Input
    No
    Dock Charging
    No
    Power Supply
    No Base/Dock

    These headphones don’t have a base/dock.