This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I want to like this earbuds more than I do, and at the same time, they aren't bad enough where I can't say I would not recommend them. They are somewhere in the "your mileage may vary" category for me, and I hate that because it's like a cavern of indecisiveness. What, then, led me to this conclusion?
First, I'll touch on what I like about them.
Upon first opening the box, they appear to be a decently complete and capable kit. It doesn't include a case, which would have been a nice add, but otherwise it's pretty complete. The box has a setup guide that helps you quickly get connected and fitted with them. You can use any mix and match of the 5 different pairs of ear tips to help fit the various sized ears everyone has. A pair of foam tips is included, as is a pair of double-height narrow tips to fit deeper in the ear. Additionally, the JLabs Cush-Fins are supposed to help the body of the earbud fit more comfortably in the ear. Keeping with fitment, the wire at the earbud that fits to your ear is flexible which allows you to bend it to a position that secures the earbuds to your ear and head while keeping it comfortable, to your liking.
A cable clip is included already on the wire, and an apparel clip is included in the bag so you can clip them to the collar of your shirt behind your neck; it snaps onto the cable clip fairly easily. On the wire is the control box that consists of 2 arrow buttons, the middle multi-function button, and the micro USB charging port. The buttons feel good when you press them, the USB port had a solid connection to the included charging cable, and the cover for the USB port was easy to open and close.
Once I got them fitted to my head, they paired up really easily following the instructions. Pairing mode is indicated with a voice prompt, as is the battery level, and it was very clear and easy to understand. Out of the box the battery was "high" but I charged them fully before testing them out. Once charged and paired, I tested the battery life since the package claims 6+ hours of playtime. With them connected to my computer, I started a streaming radio station with the volume at a comfortable level and left them sitting. I started at 10:05am, and they ran until 4:47pm, with Low Battery beeps starting 10 minutes before they died. I was impressed by the 6hr 42m runtime.
Before the runtime test I played 3 different rock, country, and R&B songs through them to test the sound quality and the built-in equalizer modes, and they sounded very good. The preset JLab Signature mode was the most balanced for good lows and highs. The Balanced setting fell a bit flat, and the Bass Boost was too muffled and "bassy". Even during the runtime test with the streaming radio station the audio quality was above average.
With all this, there are still some shortcomings that bothered me with this kit, putting me in the wishy-washy window. For starters, with all the ways to make them fit your comfort level, they take too much work to get comfortable each time I put them on. The wire around your ear has to be re-bent each time because it adjusts when you remove them, and the fitment process for this is annoying due to the shape of the body and the angle of the earbud tip. Once they are in they start to get comfortable, but it's a bit of a pain each time. Additionally, the Cush-Fins are either hit or miss. On one ear they helped with comfort, and on the other ear I could never get it settled just right. The earbud on my left ear would vanish when I got it situated, but my right ear always had a comfort issue no matter how I adjusted or what tip I used.
Leading to comfort issues is one of my biggest complaints with them: the control box. It's heavy. Awkwardly so. I have a bunch of other earbuds with a similar design, and for most of them I forget the controls are there, for better or worse. The downside on those is the buttons aren't as prominent, but with this set, it's the reverse. They are so prominent and heavy that, when moving around actively, or even casually, the box swings, and bangs, or pulls the earbuds on my right ear to where it annoys me when using them. The apparel clip helps, but it doesn't solve the issue. If the clip were used closer to the controls it might help more, but then either the box is behind your neck, or the clip is near your ear pulling oddly.
The final minor issue is the equalizer setting and when it activates after connecting them to a source. There is a noticeable delay when you connect the earbuds and start playback before the equalizer setting takes effect. At first I thought the audio through the computer was messed up, as it sounded super flat and without volume. Then, what seemed like a full minute later, the sound quality just jumped and mids and highs were distinguishable. I tried it through a couple phones as well to confirm the behavior. It's a minor quibble compared to the comfort issues, but one worth pointing out.
I also didn't have a chance to test the sweatproof rating, as I normally wear my earbuds when working out in the yard, or on bike rides, and the temps are too cold currently that I am not working up that sweat to put them through the paces.
Overall, as mentioned, I want to like these more than I do because the sound quality is really good for the cost. I will still use them here and there, but they will not be my primary set, because I can't get past the fitment in my right ear, the comfort of the control box, or the process of fitting them each time. But this is where the YMMV part comes in because these issues of mine might not be yours. Your ears are different, and the controls might not concern you like they do me. Because of that, with the audio quality, solid battery life, and various fitment options, they are still worthy of testing out.
This review is from JLab - Fit Sport Fitness Earbuds Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Black
