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You are here: Home / Archives for Sports Headphones

JBL Endurance PEAK Waterproof Sports Headphones Review

03/04/2019 By Hakan Can

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

Best Sports Headphones Under $120?

True wireless in a sports headphone is a goal of many of today’s top headphone brands. The latest in-ear waterproof-rated sports headphones are the ENDURANCE PEAK from JBL. PEAK is the 5th model in the JBL ENDURANCE line. At the time of this writing, the ENDURANCE PEAK has received rave reviews earning a 4.4 out of 5 rating from respondents on JBL’s website, feel free to read their testimonials. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review.

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

Pros:
• High-quality audio
• Touch control design
• Secure wrap around design
• IPX7 waterproof rating
• 28 hours of total battery life

Cons:
• Changing case does not have USB-C connection
• $120 price may be an issue to some

Read:   JBL Unveils New Wireless Headphones and Speakers at CES 2019

JBL Endurance PEAK Headphones Review

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

What You Need To Know About Operation

  1. To power on the headphone, remove the right ear headphone and unhook the POWERHOOK™. You’ll hear an engine startup noise. Do the same with the left headphone so that it pairs with the right. A red light will appear when they power on.
  2. For Bluetooth pairing of the headphones to your mobile device, go into your Bluetooth Settings within your mobile device and pair them. You’ll hear a few guitar sounds, and it’ll be complete.
  3. For Bluetooth pairing to a new device, tap the control panel on the right headphone, then tap and hold for five seconds. Now you’re all set. When both headphones are in use, a solid blue light will appear.
  4. All controls are on the right headphone.
  5. To control music, tap the control panel once to play/pause, twice to advance a track, and three times for the previous track.
  6. To adjust volume, brush your finger up or down the control panel to increase or decrease it. You should see the volume adjusted live on your mobile device too.
  7. To control phone calls, tap once to answer a call or to hang up, double tap to decline a call.
  8. To charge the headphones, simply place them into the charging case. There are four lights on the front of the case indicating the percentage level of charge.
  9. Playtime lasts for 3-4 hours. Charging of the headphones takes up to two hours. A 10-minute charge will lead to one hour of additional battery life.
  10. On the right side of the case is the USB charging port. The case provides 24 hours of battery.

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

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Design and Features

For the past week, I’ve been testing the JBL Endurance PEAK headphones at my gym Lifetime Fitness. The first thing I noticed is how eye-catching they were to other gym members. I was approached by no less than a handful inquiring about them. It turned out that no one had ever seen this JBL model before.

During that week, the Endurance PEAK headphones were put through their paces during numerous workouts including plenty of time on a treadmill. Surprisingly, they never once budged from my ears.

The headphones allow for passive audio to come through rather than blocking it all via auto noise cancellation (ANC.) In my opinion, when exercising you need a little bit of external noise to prevent from being startled. On the flip side, so much passive audio was blocked making it difficult to participate in a conversation. Every now and then, I found myself removing the left earpiece to hear those attempting to speak with me.

To counter this issue, there’s a mono mode should you decide to forgo the left headphone altogether. This takes some time to get used to as each ear hears something different.

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review
JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

Per the JBL website, “The flexible and secure ear hook design automatically turns the power on/off when putting on or taking off the earphones. These headphones can switch on and off without the need to replace them back in their case every time.” In other words, there’s a wear detection feature. Automatic shutoff occurs after five minutes when no audio is played. Standby mode is good up to three hours, then it’s time to recharge.

If you’ve not worn this type of headphone before, there’s a slight learning curve with respect to its control panel. But don’t worry, it should only take a couple of workouts to master the tapping sequence. See Items 5-7 in the list above. I encountered no issues with anything related to playing music or taking calls. However, I was unable to pause a live stream webinar or the CNBC player.

The (black, blue, or red) outer shell is rubbery and flexible, yet sturdy, particularly the POWERHOOK™ portion of it. The (white or gray) inner shell is of hard plastic. Both shells are sweat and waterproof garnering an IPX7 rating. Per the literature, you can go swimming with these headphones. Just remember to dry them before placing them back into the charging case.

The Endurance PEAK headphones come with three pairs of ear tips and one pair of enhancers. Earbuds are angled and noticeably so to fit your ears better. It is currently available in three colors: black with gray, red with gray, and blue with white.

Read:   Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Headset Review: Oh What Sound!

Specifications

• List pricing of $119.95
• Driver Type: Dynamic 10 mm per ear
• Waterproof Rating: IPX7:
• Frequency Response: 16 Hz – 22 kHz
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6
• Bluetooth Version: 4.2
• Available in Black, Blue, Red

• Operating Temp: 0 – 40°C
• Battery Life: Up to 4 Hours
• Battery type: Rechargeable Polymer Li-ion
Battery (3.7 V, 75 mAh)
• Charging Case Battery: 24 Hours
• Charging Case Charge Time: 2 Hours
• Charging Case Battery: Rechargeable
Polymer Li-ion battery (1500 mA est.)

What’s In The Box?

• Pair of Headphones
• Charging Case
• USB Charging Cable
• Quick Start Guide

• Safety Booklet
• Warranty Booklet
• 3 Pairs of Ear Tips
• 1 Pair of Ear Enhancers/Secures

Read:   Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

Amazon Music Playlist

• Meg Myers – Make A Shadow
• Tove Lo – Queen Of The Clouds
• Halsey – hopeless fountain kingdom
• Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack

• Mumford & Sons – Babel
• The Black Keys – El Camino
• Play List – Dark Pop
• Play List – Caffeine For Your Ears

Audio Performance

As I often state, in my opinion, the most critical factor regarding headphones is sound quality. The JBL Endurance PEAK in-ear sports headphones were tested across music from the artists and playlists listed above.

Two changes were made to the music playlist I used from my previous headphones review. You can see a link to that review at the bottom of this section. I added a couple of rock albums to mix things up a bit from the electronica and female-heavy pop music.

The first thing I noticed was how low and deep the bass could get. After having listened to Caffeine for Your Ears and Dark Pop Amazon Music playlists, I can state that these in-ear headphones have not only met but exceeded my expectations. Overall, the audio was high-quality and distortion free.

Take a listen to Ping Pong from Bassnectar and Pure Grinding from Avicii. You’ll be most impressed with the bass and percussion of these audio tracks in less than 15 seconds. I played these songs repeatedly to focus on whatever sounds (instrumentals) I may have missed the previous times around. Hearing the ping pong ball set to the audio track was terrific.

For a great test of keyboards including sounds that appear to be from other instruments, but you know they’re actually produced by a keyboard, then listen to Mantra from Timmy Trumpet. Listening to what seems to be a xylophone is a trip in an electronic track.

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

I would have been remiss if I didn’t listen to Halsey’s album hopeless fountain kingdom. While the Endurance PEAK reproduced its audio well, and the album is a joy to listen to, she’s not the ideal artist to listen to while working out. When I need to get my pump on, my go-to choice is electronic and rock music. Halsey was more of a test of the headphones capabilities.

As mentioned earlier, these headphones can be used underwater. While that opportunity has yet to present itself, I was able to test the Endurance PEAK during heavy snowfall. Not only did they get wet and perform as advertised, but the headphones also blocked out a substantial portion of the high-decibel noise generated by my Toro snow thrower.

If you live in New England as I do, I suggest you wear a pair of headphones while your machine tosses the snow. Your ears will thank you for the better listening experience. Mine were happier for having listened to Babel from Mumford & Sons.

Read:   1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, the JBL Endurance PEAK headphones look very similar to earlier models within the Endurance family, minus the neckband. When compared to their competition, JBL definitely stands out, and in a good way.

I found these sports headphones to be very comfortable in and around the ear, more so the latter. After wearing for a short while, I didn’t notice the ear hooks at all. I’ve come to like this design very much and see myself using them for the foreseeable future. Why some choose to wear those bulky over-the-ear sports models is beyond me. They’re not practical for cardio workouts.

Audio life of 3-4 hours is good enough to cover two days of workouts. The charging case increases its life to about two weeks without the need to recharge. A 10-minute charge will lead to an hour of playback. The audio quality is quite good with an extensive range of 16 Hz – 22 kHz.

As I often state, you get what you pay for. The $120 list price is quite fair. In fact, I’m surprised these sports headphones don’t list for more. Those I spoke with in my gym were surprised that the JBL Endurance PEAK was only $120. If you time a sale right, you might grab them for an even $100.

JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review

• Design – 4.5
• Features – 4.0

• Sound – 4.25
• Value – 4.25

What do you think of this JBL Endurance PEAK headphones review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the JBL Latest Products Page to see their newest products. To learn more about warranties, click this link for JBL Help information. These headphones come with a one-year limited warranty.

FTC Disclosure: JBL provided Beantown with one (1) Endurance PEAK headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2019.

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Filed Under: Headphones Tagged With: Endurance PEAK, In-Ear Headphones, JBL, Sports Headphones, waterproof headphones 03/25/2019

Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

12/20/2015 By Tom McLaughlin

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Pure Monster Sound® and Adidas® Sport Come Together

Monster is known for its high-performance audio cables and it’s Pure Monster Sound®. It is this very sound that is integrated into their headphones and speakers. Adidas® is a world-renown brand for all things sports. This past year, these two major brands teamed up to create sports headphones equipped with Pure Monster Sound. What they created was the Adidas Sport Supernova™ in-ear headphones by Monster.

Initial Thoughts – Adidas Monster Headphones Review

The Adidas Sport Supernova comes to us with plenty of promises: superb sound quality, tight grip in the ear, waterproof design, perfect for extended workouts, total noise isolation, lightweight, and durability. All these promises come at a price of under $100. Based on the things I’ve heard, I was excited to get the chance to try them out for myself.

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewThe packaging is sleek, yet simple. What you don’t use and/or wear (i.e. cardboard, plastic) can make its way straight to the recycle bin. Not counting the black-and-white patterned headphones, the packaging consists of the following:

  • A rugged and breathable mesh carry pouch
  • 3 sets of ear tips
  • 3 different sets of the SportsClip™
  • A multi-language user manual

The first time using the Adidas Sport Supernova was while walking along the busy, noisy streets of Downtown Boston during the afternoon rush. Upon placing the headphones into my ears, and turning the music on, the surrounding noise immediately disappeared. Everything around me went silent. The music I was listening to sounded fresh and clean. These in-ear headphones were truly noise isolating. The Pure Monster Sound definitely fulfilled my expectations.

The sweat-proof, water-resistant design held true to Monster’s promise. This means that you can wash them off after each use, but don’t toss them in with the laundry.

While the grip wasn’t as comfortable as I had initially expected, with some adjustment, it became much more so. You can thank the nine different customizable fits of the SportClip for this.

Another feature of the Adidas Sport Supernova is ControlTalk™. On the headphone wire, there’s a controller with three buttons and a microphone. These buttons are to answer and end calls, turn the volume up or down, pause music and video, skip, and rewind. It’s easy to access if you’re on a run and can’t pull out your phone to pick up a call. It’s useful in everyday settings like walking or just sitting as well. Note: the functions of the buttons vary on the manufacturer of the mobile device. Below is a table that covers eight manufacturers of mobile phones.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

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One Week Later

When I started using the Adidas Sport Supernova, I was enamored with them. I couldn’t go without having them in my ears. The sound was so good. But, it didn’t take long for any negatives in its design to manifest.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Photo Credit: Monster

Due to its noise-isolating design, the Sport Supernova in-ear headphones are for indoor use, primarily with cardio equipment. They are not intended for anything longer than 1-2 hours of use. Even with their ergonomic design, I found it difficult to use them beyond this 2-hour time period. As they are designed to isolate noise, they did need to be removed from my ears for a while to let them rest from the pressure. This was a bit disappointing as I would have liked to use them longer.

(If you’re looking for a comparable pair of headphones designed for outdoor use, then check out the Adidas Sport Response™.)

The headphone’s audio is impressive! There’s no doubt about this. Yet, it is stifled by one complication, its cord. I noticed that problems arose from it while exercising.

The 4′ long black-and-white cord is wide and flat to make it tangle-resistant. Unfortunately, this made it encumbering when it needed to be fluid. Many times during my workouts, the wire would tug on anything it touched and managed to pull out the headphones, despite the grips. This flat design is not ideal for running. If there’s ever a Sport Supernova 2, I hope Adidas and Monster choose a round cable design.

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The Sound

I was impressed by the Pure Monster Sound when I first popped the Sport Supernova into my ears. The bass sounds were deep and strong. Everything sounded nice. Smooth, quiet melodies flow in the isolated noise and the high notes felt just right.

However as I listened more, I began to notice a little distortion. The sound began to crack slightly on the high notes. From then on, these high notes felt a little thin, but the overall sound was still solid.

The playlist that I used to test these in-ear headphones was originally put together by JamAudio. You can see all the songs listed here.

One of my playlist favorites for testing speakers and headphones is Brass Monkey by the Beastie Boys. One play of this song’s intro reminds me why these headphones sound is so impressive. Even after the recommended break-in period of 20 hours, and despite the light distortion on some highs, the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!

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The Verdict and Final Thoughts

The Adidas Sport Supernova is fantastic in terms of sound quality. It isolates noise well, it has a suitable fit, it is sweat resistant, tangle resistant, and has ControlTalk.

Yet on some of its promises, it falls a little short. It fell out of my ears while working out, even with the correct SportClip. And it wasn’t as long-term comfortable as I would have liked. Because of this, the functionality doesn’t come together as well as I had hoped.[Tweet “the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!”]

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewAs a practical audio accessory, it is very good quality for $79.99. If you can look past the issues with the flat cord and a little distortion in the highs, you will have truly found a great pair of headphones.

Have you tried the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones by Monster? Were you surprised by the quality of the product? What do you love about them? And what do you think of the SportsClip? Let us know over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Monster Products website. Feel free to check out their 2016 product lineup as seen at the recent CES. They’re doing some great over there!

FTC Disclosure: Monster Inc. provided Beantown LLC with an Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones sample for review purposes. We’re not paid ambassadors. Our opinions are 100% our own.

All photographs and graphics are the copyrighted property of Monster Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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Filed Under: Headphones Tagged With: Adidas, In-Ear Headphones, Monster, Sport Supernova, Sports Headphones 09/14/2016

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