JBL ranks among the top 5 in headphone market shares in the US.
But does popularity equate to quality?
And are JBL headphones even worth your money?
Well, I’ve got all the answers that you’re looking for.
Continue reading to find out:
- 5 of the finest JBL headphones for every budget.
- 5 surprising facts about JBL headphones (#2 is a definite shocker).
- How JBL compares in various aspects to other headphone brands.
- And a lot more…
Why JBL is one of the best headphone brands
JBL is one of the best headphone brands due to its sound quality and affordability. JBL headphones are great at producing powerful bass. Plus, there are many models under $100. Also, JBL has been creating audio devices for decades. And they use this expertise in crafting high-quality headphones.
JBL headphones – 5 facts
#1: JBL headphones are excellent for bass lovers
Take a look at the cover of some JBL headphones. And you’ll see the words ”Pure Bass” in bold letters written on it.
That’s how JBL markets a lot of its headphones. And the company more than delivers in that regard.
In fact, JBL headphones are among the best in enhancing the bass quality of any audio.
Now, some may not like it. And there are those who criticize JBL headphones for producing too much bass.
However, that shouldn’t be an issue if you want your bass loud and powerful.
That’s why JBL is ideal for fans of the following bass-heavy genres:
- Funk.
- Hip-hop.
- Alternative rock.
- Progressive metal.
- Electronic dance music.
#2: JBL headphones aren’t considered high-end
The most expensive JBL headphone model is the CLUB 950.
The price?
$350 each.
But believe it or not, that’s not considered as high-end in the headphones industry.
In fact, you’ll find many from other brands that are 2 or 3 times more costly. Here are a few examples:
All of those headphones cost upwards of $1000. And they all produce superb sound quality.
However, it was never JBL’s intention to compete with those.
Instead, JBL caters more to casual listeners. Those who’d rather not spend an outrageous amount on a gadget.
And that’s why you can’t really consider JBL as a high-end headphone brand.
#3: JBL has among the widest selection of headphone variants
One of the reasons for JBL’s popularity is its wide variety of headphones.
I just mentioned its $350 model. But you can also find plenty of variants under $100.
In fact, there are even some that are less than $30. Here are just a few of them:
Now, just because they’re cheap doesn’t mean the quality’s poor. Those headphones still produce excellent sound for their price point.
And that’s what’s great about JBL. This brand has been able to balance quality and affordability.
So you really can’t get wrong with any of the JBL headphones that you can find on the market.
#4: JBL also creates headphones for kids
Should kids even be allowed to use headphones?
Well, if it’s a JBL one, then yes. That shouldn’t be a problem.
Do you know why?
It’s because JBL also produces safe-for-kids headphones.
These variants never exceed 85 decibels in loudness. This minimizes the risk of potential hearing damages for kids who’ll use them.
Moreover, JBL headphones for kids have really soft cushions in the ear cups. So they’re very comfortable to wear.
And they also have child-friendly buttons. That’s why they’re really easy to operate.
In addition, they’re very affordable. Their prices range from $35 to $60 only.
Now, here are some of the best-reviewed JBL headphones for kids:
#5: There’s a JBL headphone designed by Dwayne Johnson
JBL also makes headphones for other brands.
And among the most notable ones the company did was the Project Rock over-ear headphones.
JBL built those in collaboration with Under Armour and Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson.
Now, the Project Rock headphones were created specifically for those who love to work out.
They’re designed to be sweatproof. And they have a powerful bass that Dwayne Johnson helped fine-tune.
In addition, buyers also get to enjoy a free 12-month MapMyRun premium subscription. It’s an app by Under Armour for fitness tracking.
And at only $150, these JBL-built headphones certainly offer a great bang for your buck.
You might also want to know: Sony vs JBL Headphones: Which Are Better?
What are the best JBL headphones?
The best JBL headphones are the CLUB ONE and the Tour One Black. These 2 are built with a combination of durable metal and plastic. They both have advanced adaptive noise-canceling technology. And they produce fantastic sound quality.
But aside from those 2, there are several other excellent JBL headphones.
So if you’re shopping for one, but you’re unsure what to buy…
Don’t worry. I got you.
Of the many JBL headphones available out there…
I picked out 5 that I believe are the best.
The first 2 are flagship over-ear headphones. By that, I mean these are the most expensive and highest-quality JBL offers.
The next 2 are budget headphones under $100. And the last 1 is an in-ear headphone. This is in case some are also interested in that.
#1: JBL CLUB ONE
If you’re after the very best JBL headphones and the price isn’t an issue…
Then go for the CLUB ONE.
This headphone model costs $350. And it has the best specs of all JBL headphones.
First, let’s talk about its build.
The CLUB ONE is made of durable metal and hard plastic. It really looks and feels premium.
Moreover, it also has a superb adaptive noise-canceling feature. With this, you can enjoy your favorite music without distraction from the outside.
Also, while JBL headphones aren’t known for their comfort…
The CLUB ONE is certainly among the exceptions. It has thick but soft padding. And the ear cups are oval-shaped. So they’d fit perfectly around the average ear size.
Other great features of the CLUB ONE include:
- Hi-res audio for crisp, clear sound.
- Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.
- Up to 45 hours of battery life per single charge.
All in all, it’s well worth its price tag.
And if you’d like a more in-depth review of the CLUB ONE, check out this video:
#2: JBL Tour One Black
As an alternative to the CLUB ONE…
Another flagship JBL headphone that you can consider is the Tour One Black.
At $300, it looks simpler in design compared to the CLUB ONE. But don’t let that fool you. This variant is also made of sturdy materials.
In addition, it also comes with JBL’s acclaimed adaptive noise technology. And it also produces JBL’s signature powerful bass sound.
But perhaps its best feature is its 4-microphone setup. 2 of those are for noise canceling. And the other 2 are for voice enhancement.
This setup makes this model perfect for phone and video calls. Your conversations will be clear and smooth. It’ll be like the person you’re speaking to on the other end is right in front of you.
Furthermore, this headphone also comes with a TalkThru feature.
This means it can automatically lower the audio volume when it hears your voice. So you don’t have to take it off when you need to talk to someone.
It’s also voice-assistant compatible. And it can last up to 50 hours for every single charge.
#3: JBL Tune 710BT
Not everyone needs all the features that come with $300 headphones.
In fact, you’d find many under $100 that are still worth buying.
Now, JBL has plenty of those budget headphones. But arguably the best is the Tune 710BT.
It only costs around $80 each. And it’s packed with many impressive features.
For one, like the Tour One Black, this model can also last up to 50 hours per charge. Now, that’s really impressive for this price point.
Sound-wise, it has JBL’s patented Pure Bass. So fans of bass-heavy songs will enjoy using this.
And it also has active noise-canceling tech. Admittedly, it isn’t as great as the more premium JBL headphones. But it’s still good enough to at least minimize outside noises.
The Tune 710BT is also really light. It only weighs 7.8 oz (220 g). So it’s comfortable enough to use. And it’s not a hassle to carry it around.
#4: JBL Tune 510BT
An even cheaper alternative to the 710BT is the Tune 510BT.
This one only costs $50.
And as with the 710BT, you’ll also enjoy JBL’s Pure Bass with this model.
Plus, it has built-in buttons in the ear cups. So playback control is really easy to do.
Moreover, it’s compatible with Google Assistant. And you can use it for up to 40 hours per charge.
It also comes in 4 different colors, namely:
- Pink.
- Blue.
- Black.
- White.
Overall, the 510BT is great for those who want quality headphones for cheap.
#5: JBL Tune 230NC TWS
In addition to over-ear headphones…
JBL also has many in-ear variants. And if you prefer this type, then you should go for the Tune 230NC TWS.
It’s priced at just $80. So it’s much cheaper than AirPods or Galaxy Buds.
And it comes with great active noise-canceling tech.
Moreover, this variant has 4 built-in microphones. So it’s also great for phone calls.
It’s even sweatproof and water-resistant. So you can use this while working out. And you won’t have to worry about potentially damaging it.
Furthermore, it can last up to 40 hours for every charge.
And best of all…
The 230NC also happens to be really comfortable to wear. So it’s an excellent buy for in-ear headphone lovers.
How does JBL compare to other headphone brands?
JBL compares favorably to other headphone brands in some aspects. For instance, its headphones are generally more affordable. And they have a punchier bass sound than most. However, JBL headphones aren’t as comfortable as others. And their warranty doesn’t last as long.
#1: JBL and Beats are similar in several aspects
If there’s 1 brand that’s most similar to JBL…
It’s Beats. And there are several reasons why.
First, both brands specialize in producing bass-heavy sounds. That’s their main selling point, in fact.
Another similarity between the 2 is in design.
Now, I’m not saying both brands’ headphones look similar. But the 2 brands understand the importance of aesthetics.
JBL and Beats both acknowledge that headphones have to look good, too. And the 2 deliver in crafting fashionable devices.
And lastly, both offer relatively affordable headphones.
Now, don’t get me wrong. $300 to $350 headphones aren’t really cheap by any means.
But that’s about as high as JBL and Beats prices go. Neither sells over $1000 headphones.
#2: JBL headphones aren’t for audiophiles
You may have already heard of terms like high-fidelity and audiophiles. These words usually pop up on headphone review videos or articles.
But let me try to explain them.
High-fidelity or hi-fi is the reproduction of sound with minimal distortion.
Basically, a high-fidelity sound is studio-quality. It would be very similar to how a band or an artist originally recorded a song.
Now, audiophiles are those who are passionate about high-fidelity music. They seek an almost perfect audio quality.
And while there are brands that can make the kind of sound audiophiles are looking for…
JBL isn’t one of them. Its headphones sound great. But this brand’s listening devices aren’t built to produce high-fidelity sound.
So if you’re an audiophile…
You should go with others like Sennheiser and HIFIMAN.
#3: JBL headphones are more affordable than other brands
In connection with the previous item…
One reason JBL doesn’t produce hi-fi headphones is that the firm wants to keep its prices low.
It’s actually costly to build hi-fi-capable headphones.
And JBL would rather maintain its affordability.
As a matter of fact, among the most established brands…
JBL has arguably the widest selections of cheap headphones. You may refer to the previous section to find out the best sub-$100 JBL headphones.
#4: Other brands are more comfortable to wear than JBL headphones
Do you happen to have sensitive ears?
And are you looking for the most comfortable headphones?
If so, then you might be a bit disappointed with JBL. Its headphones are fine if you wear them for about 2 to 3 hours.
But anything longer and you’ll start to feel discomfort. And many users can attest to that.
Again, this goes back to JBL’s desire to keep its production cost relatively low. And so the materials in most JBL headphones aren’t the highest quality.
The ear pads aren’t as soft compared to others. And the headband isn’t as flexible.
So if you’re looking for comfortable headphones to wear, go for any of these brands instead:
- JVC.
- Sony.
- HIFIMAN.
- Audio-Technica.
- Dan Clark Audio.
#5: Other brands offer a longer warranty period than JBL
JBL offers a 1-year warranty for their headphones. This mainly covers factory defects.
And the coverage period is similar to the following brands:
- Bose.
- Sony.
- Beats.
- Philips.
- Samsung.
Now, while JBL’s warranty is good…
You’ll also find many brands with much better offers.
For instance, the following brands’ headphones come with a 2-year warranty:
- Sennheiser.
- Beyerdynamics.
- Audio-Technica.
Moreover, there’s even 1 brand, Audeze, that offers 3 years of warranty.
The good news, though, is that JBL headphones are generally durable. On average, they last around 5 to 8 years.
So as long as you take good care of your JBL device…
You won’t have to worry too much about warranties.