Audio expert JBL from the USA has been on the market since 1946. founder James B.ullough L.ansing did not notice the rise to a global brand, but the company is now one of the leading providers of loudspeakers and sound technology for cinema halls. And it can do even more: in 2021, in-house headphones have blossomed into a good and often inexpensive choice for music fans. COMPUTER BILD shows the best JBL headphones with Bluetooth in the test. You can find more highlights in the articles on the best in-ear headphones on the market and the best Bluetooth headphones.
The best JBL headphones
JBL Audio
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Per
Detailed sound
Long battery life (34 hours 35 minutes)
Cons
Bass slender in the lows
Slightly heavy (268 grams)
JBL Audio
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Clear and precise sound
Battery life of almost 8 hours
Cons
Touch operation is very sensitive
JBL Audio
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Great sound
Strong battery life (9 hours)
Cons
A little uncomfortable
Large and scratch-prone charging case
JBL Audio
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good sound
Waterproof (IPX7)
Cons
Press something in the ear
Average battery life (6 hours 7 minutes)
JBL Audio
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Good wearing comfort
TruNote calibration
JBL Audio
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Pleasant sound
Easy handling
Cons
Big, a little uncomfortable
Somewhat short term
JBL Audio
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Effective noise canceling
Good battery life (26 hours 32 minutes)
Cons
Very difficult
Somewhat dry sound
JBL Audio
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Good wearing comfort
Good battery life (11 hours 20 minutes)
Cons
Sounded with a little less brilliance
Complete list: the best JBL headphones
Which are the best JBL headphones?
People interested in JBL often wonder which company’s headphones are the best. Of course, there is no general answer to this. There are differences between all of the company’s Bluetooth devices. JBL in-ear headphones land – as the name suggests – in the ear, often directly in the ear canal. And even here there are big differences in design to be discovered: with a rod or as a button in your ear? Both are possible. If you don’t like that, the JBL over-ear headphones are also powerful technology that easily takes on the competition from Apple, Sony, Bose and Philips. What you might not know: JBL has been part of Harmann International Industries since 1969, which in turn has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung since 2017.
JBL over-ear headphones: lonely at the top
One of the company’s best headphones currently in the COMPUTER BILD test is the JBL Tour One, which with a grade of 1.4 left the competition behind in passing. This is no wonder: thanks to the soft padding, it is very comfortable to wear, and the sound is rich in detail and brilliant. Only the bass is a bit slender in the depths, unlike JBL. The active noise cancellation (ANC, Active Noise Canceling) works wonderfully, the battery life of almost 35 hours is exemplary. The price is 220 euros.
Detailed sound
Long battery life (34 hours 35 minutes)
Bass slender in the lows
Slightly heavy (268 grams)
The JBL Live 500BT is a bit more bass-heavy for just under 80 euros. A bargain, especially since the manufacturer doesn’t miss much from a technical point of view. The sound is good, at the push of a button you switch the headphones to transparency mode and listen to the surroundings. The battery life is a strong 34.5 hours. There are deductions for something uncomfortable to wear.
Great battery life (34 hours 31 minutes)
Transparency mode at the push of a button
A little uncomfortable
No bag with me
What does TWS mean?
Before going to the JBL In-Ears with Bluetooth, COMPUTER BILD answers the frequently asked question: What does the abbreviation TWS actually mean? After all, the three letters are even included in the name in some JBL products. The answer to this is actually quite simple: TWS stands for “True Wireless”, in German: really wireless. So there is no cable between the two in-ear headphones or to a playback device. What is quite normal today for many newer headphone models was a rarity a few years ago.
JBL in-ear headphones: Enjoy sound in the ear
The JBL Live Pro + presented itself as strong in the test with a clear and precise sound in combination with a long battery life of almost eight hours. The active noise suppression worked well, only the touch controls on the in-ear reacted very sensitively. The headphones are already available for 150 euros.
Clear and precise sound
Battery life of almost 8 hours
Touch operation is very sensitive
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro are also really good for around 170 euros. The technology holds tight in the ear, although it is a bit uncomfortable in the long run. The charging box also leaves more frustration than pleasure. But the balanced and lively sound with rich bass, the great battery life of nine hours and the usual powerful JBL app are convincing. Thanks to protection class IP68, the in-ears are even waterproof and can stay in the cool water for a long time – ideal for athletes.
Great sound
Strong battery life (9 hours)
A little uncomfortable
Large and scratch-prone charging case
With the JBL Tune 225TWS, the manufacturer has been offering in-ear headphones with rods for some time, which are visually reminiscent of the Apple AirPods (2nd gen). For just 66 euros, customers receive audio technology with a pleasant sound and a good fit in the ear. With a weight of just 10 grams, the JBL In-Ears are hardly noticeable. However, voices sometimes sound cold and volume buttons are missing. The battery life is rather weak with less than five hours.
Pleasant sound
Sit well in the ear
Voices sometimes sniffed
No volume buttons
JBL headphones: test result
The world of JBL headphones is big, sometimes colorful, technically convincing and often affordable. Inexpensive over-ear and inexpensive in-ears such as the JBL Live 500BT or the JBL Tune 225TWS offer good features for little money. Even better: if the company calls for more money for a product, the technology plays right at the top of the list of the best, as the over-ear JBL Tour One and the in-ears JBL Live Pro + and JBL Reflect Flow Pro show. Are you looking for speakers from the manufacturer rather than headphones? No problem: COMPUTER BILD has tested the best JBL models for every situation in life.
