Sale / Good deal – The Jabra Elite 85h “5-star” nomadic headset at €149.99 (-16%)

Jabra is finally entering the fierce battle of wireless active noise reduction headsets with the Elite 85h. It is placed in direct confrontation with the tenors of the market: the QC35 II and the WH-1000XM3.

First successful foray into the world of wireless headphones with active noise reduction for the Elite 85h. This model is a very serious alternative to the tenors that are the QC35 II and WH-1000XM3, even if it is still a little behind in terms of comfort, rendering at the highest frequencies and active noise reduction. Those who can invest a little more for the very best comfort and listening experience will turn to the WH-1000XM3, unless multipoint pairing is absolutely essential.

Strong points

• Impeccable sound reproduction over a large part of the audible spectrum (precision, definition, balance).
• Good distortion/power control.
• Very intuitive use, complete controls.
• Sound+ app at the top.
• Neat design, foldable.
• Complete accessories.
• Stable Bluetooth connection, multipoint.
• Extremely generous autonomy (over 36 hours).
• Weather resistance guaranteed for 2 years.
• Excellent quality hands-free / HearThrough mode.

Weak points

• Treble with a somewhat “chemical” aspect, which lacks detail.
• Deployment of the arch a bit tight for large heads.
• No passive wired use.
• Imprecise volume adjustment (not less than +/-4 dB per button press).
• Bluetooth latency.

NB: The reported price drop is calculated by comparing the lowest price of the day with the average of the lowest prices charged by all merchants for the product last month, with security rules to exclude prices from shops whose the VAT policy is not clear (known as “grey” shops, typically in the case of imports from China).

Alternatively

The Backbeat Go 810 is a good choice if you’re looking for a wireless listening companion with active noise reduction under the $150 mark…especially if you plan to use it primarily that way. Indeed, the sound reproduction is really interesting only in this use. Apart from that, it remains a complete and pleasant model to use. If you are unsure, take a look at the equally interesting HD 4.50 BTNC, or simply the Backbeat Pro 2 since it is now close in terms of price.