JLab JBuds Air Pro

With the Pro version, JLab pimps its JBuds Air with larger batteries. Compared to in-ears from other manufacturers in the same price range, the model also stands out with three EQ sound modes, a transparency mode and protection against sweat and rainwater.

The JBuds Air Pro from the American manufacturer JLab may seem a bit clumsy, but they are 15 percent narrower than the JBuds Air. The look is determined by the silver embossed logo, under which the respective function key is located.

The rubber rings, which come in two different sizes and are pulled over a suitable recess in the body, ensure that the True Wireless in-ears fit perfectly and securely in the ear. The silicone eartips, which are available in three different sizes, snap into place thanks to the wide driver opening.

Additional technical equipment includes a multicolored illuminated status LED for each earpiece, a MEMS microphone and the permanently connected USB cable in the charging case, which is "hidden" in the bottom. The case has three LEDs on the front that confirm the charging process.

 

Can be used in wind and weather

Each JLab JBuds Air Pro weighs 5.3 grams, so they are not particularly heavy in the ear. With their somewhat bulky figure, they are really adapted to the shape of the ear. They protrude visibly from the ear canal, but not over the ear, which prevents air circulation during sporting activities. Their IP55 certificate also underlines their mobile use, with which they burst with sweat and rainwater.

 

Fast loading and long run time

It takes 1.5 hours to recharge the JLab JBuds Pro and two hours for the case, which my test also confirms. JLab puts the playing time at nine hours, which of course depends on the volume. Because in the long-term play test with three quarters of the maximum volume, the built-in 60 mAh lithium polymer batteries lasted just under eight hours. For a longer gaming marathon, the case stores an additional 27 hours. The running time benefits from the automatic stopping when the in-ears are removed from the ears.

 

Operate streamed music and more

The JLab JBuds Air Pro have Bluetooth version 5.1. The connection between the handset and the smartphone is stable and only breaks off after a distance of more than ten meters in an open field.

Pairing the JBuds Air Pro with an Apple iPhone or Android device (here thanks to Google Fast Pair) is done in no time at all. Taking the earphones out of the case and placing them in the ear, a voice prompt announces the readiness for pairing and the current battery status is broken down into three rough levels (“Full”, “Mid”, “Low”).

For a second device such as a tablet or laptop, the JLab JBuds Air Pro do not have to be decoupled, but can also be connected directly to it (multipoint). In the so-called "single mode" only one of the two handsets can be used. An advantage in traffic as well as with a low battery, to give at least one listener a power nap in the case. In addition to the standard functions (volume, play/pause, next track), the headphones also offer "Siri" and "Ok Google" support at the push of a button twice. Incoming calls can be accepted, ended and rejected.

 

Adequate voice quality and transparency

In a quiet environment, the built-in MEMS microphone sounds a bit noisy and muffled, and the frequencies fluctuate slightly, but it is still clear. However, speech intelligibility is lost with increasing background noise, although background noise is audibly concealed.

With in-ears, you quickly feel too isolated from the environment. This is where the “Be Aware” mode comes into play. In this transparency mode, ambient noise is mixed in via the two built-in microphones. You don't feel encapsulated, you can hear the traffic, you can have face-to-face conversations without having to take the headphones out of your ears. Thanks to the JLab app, you can even adjust the intensity of the ambient noise.

A number of settings thanks to the app

The app, which is available for both Android and Apple products, not only provides the current percentage of the battery status, but also allows the user to assign the touch keys individually. In addition to the aforementioned "Be Aware" mode, the app also offers three EQ modes JLab "Signature", "Balanced" and "Bass Boost", as well as a 10-band EQ for individual adjustment according to sound preferences. Thanks to Tile, the link to which is also in the JLab app, the listeners can be located if lost.

Unfortunately, the app connection is still quite buggy at the time of this test. A JLab engineer advised us to put the phone on Do Not Disturb, as there is currently a known issue on Android where Google Fast Pair is blocking the automatic over-the-air update process.

 

Appealing sound depending on the EQ mode

JLab installs six millimeter dynamic drivers with an output of 98 +/-3 dB and 16 ohm impedance in the JBuds Air Pro. The listeners deliver a hearty, but not overly loud level. In other words: I still find the signal pleasantly audible even at full volume.

The frequency response ranges from 20 to 20,000 hertz. When streaming, which is only supported with the SBC audio codec, the listeners deliver a decent bang in the low frequencies. In the intro of Massive Attack's "Protection" the bass literally thumps without distorting the transients. The highs also know how to assert themselves on the dominant groove.

Finally, in the factory preset JLab SIGNATURE mode, high frequencies are also boosted. Only the mids fall behind, which I personally don't dislike, but suppresses some of the sound in the song. Therefore, advocates of a linear sound image should opt for the BALANCED mode. However, I find the “BASS BOOST” preset to be exaggerated and too dull in terms of bass. In my opinion, it is only suitable for EDM, where sawtooth sounds with exaggerated highs should really hurt the ear.

If you don't get used to the three EQ modes, you can simply adjust the sound yourself with the app's 10-band EQ.

Another special feature of the JLab JBuds Air Pro is the Movie Mode, which improves the lip sync between word and image through reduced latency (below 100 milliseconds).

The true wireless in-ears JLab JBuds Air Pro, which cost almost 80 euros, score with a fairly long playing time, a comfortable fit and protection against sweat and rainwater. A bass note runs through their powerful sound, but this can be adjusted thanks to EQ management in the app. The built-in microphones ensure clear transparency in conversations, announcements or even street noise via "Be Aware". On the other hand, the JLab JBuds Air Pro weaken during phone calls with a noisy, somewhat unnatural-sounding voice signal that becomes less understandable as the background noise increases. It's a tick that you'll want to tick if you value additional features such as movie mode, Bluetooth multipoint and tile support, and a good price-performance ratio.

1. +long battery life
2. +good and customizable sound
3. +Protected against rainwater and sweat
4. +solid and comfortable seat
5. +convenient operation
6. +Movie and Be Aware modes
7. +Bluetooth multipoint

1. -Only SBC audio codec
2. - Speech intelligibility during phone calls