In the new JBL headphones, the manufacturer has added functions that were previously mainly on-ear. It turned out well, although not so simple.
Since then, as manufacturers began to adapt to customers actively, miracles began to work with new equipment models. Customers always want a Ferrari at the price of a Lada Priora, and even so that they can fill the diesel fuel drained from the tractor. Manufacturers salute, strain engineers, and end up issuing a novelty with instructions on the size of a War and Peace volume. Well, what to do – they wanted to!
JBL, or rather Harman Kardon, ate more than one dog in the audio equipment industry. The next model of the brand is the new JBL 300 TWS fully wireless headphones. They tried to fit everything that consumers of high-quality ears only fantasized for themselves: good sound, enviable autonomy, the ability to use voice assistants, TalkThru or Ambient Aware branded features. That is, to build a hypothetical Ferrari. How did they manage it? Let’s talk about everything in order.
Design and Equipment
JBL Live 300 TWS turned out to be quite large. While they still look natural in men’s ears (although they stick out beyond the contour), they don’t look very elegant in small women’s ears. The same applies to the wardrobe trunk: it is large, sticks out strongly in the pocket of jeans, and certainly does not allow the thought of putting it in a shirt pocket. If you wanted a big battery – get it.
The case is made of semi-glossy plastic, it is difficult to open it with one hand, but with a specific skill, it is possible. The cover snaps onto a magnet. Other magnets help the earbuds themselves quickly and correctly fit into the jacks. For recharging, a USB-C connector is provided at the bottom.
In the kit, we found a traditional stock of replaceable silicone seals. In addition, additional rubber mounts were put in the box, with which the headphones should hold more securely in the ear. They are also different sizes, with three pairs to choose from. And, of course, the orange charging wire, where can we go without it.
Experience of use
The time has come to get into this Ferrari, and for this, as you know, it is not enough to finish a driving school. Inserting the JBL Live 300 TWS into your ears the first time will most likely fail. To understand how to do this correctly, we give two tips.
- Feel free to “screw” the headphones into your ear canal. Here it is necessary.
- The “JBL” label on each earphone should be horizontal after installation.
If you succeed, the “ears” will be held fairly securely. You can even jump on the spot – they won’t fall out. Unless you touch them by straightening your cap or throwing long hair back: the bodies, as we already said, stick out slightly from the ears.
But it’s not enough to sit in a Ferrari. It would help if you customized it for yourself properly. In the case of the Live 300 TWS, you will have to download the JBL Headphones app for this. Moreover, it is “necessary”. All why?
Of course, you can listen to tracks without the application. But the exclusive feature of the new TWS-model is the integration of proprietary TalkThru or Ambient Aware technologies.
For those who are not in the know:
- TalkThru mutes music and begins broadcasting ambient sounds, emphasizing human speech. Useful when you want to talk to someone.
- Ambient Aware simply broadcasts what is happening around, without any accents. A valuable feature for cyclists and other enthusiasts to move along the roads in their own transport: you will definitely hear a car horn.
Considering that the headphones have only 2 buttons (one on the plane of each), how do you “hang” control of all functions on them? Let’s consider what the average Live 300 TWS user needs to do:
- switch tracks
- pause and start again
- adjust the volume
- call voice assistant
- use TalkThru / Ambient Aware.
Any ideas? Well, excuse me, Ferrari is not a Zhiguli with three pedals and a dangling gear lever. The manufacturer decided to create different scenarios for using the buttons. The button of the right earphone was loaded the most. Judge for yourself.
- Simple press – pause / play,
- Double-tap – switch track forward
- Triple press – the same, but back
- Press and hold – call the voice assistant.
But that is not all: attention, drum roll.
- Swipe forward – increase volume
- Swipe back – decrease it.
With the left, everything is more comfortable. For some reason, it only has a forward swipe, and you can “hang” the inclusion of TalkThru or Ambient Aware on it. It is “or”. It’s strange that the second function cannot be swiped backward. To control various functions, you need to download the application. By default, swipes are disabled. That is, they do not cause any reaction.
How convenient is it in practice? To be honest, our editor hasn’t gotten used to such management in a week. Headphones often mistake swipes for taps, so they either stop playback or switch the track. But you are not complaining that speed bumps are difficult to run over Ferrari.
How do they sound?
The sound quality is good. TWS earbuds have progressed a lot lately. Here even the bass is more or less full. Moreover, due to the deep fit in the ear, sound insulation is also good. The right earbud can be used in mono mode: only it has a microphone. But, like the vast majority of TWS models, the quality of communication on the street leaves much to be desired. You will only be heard well if you find a quiet corner.
What about autonomy?
You can’t find fault with autonomy either. The manufacturer promises up to 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, and, surprisingly, the earbuds last 6 hours. If they are discharged at the wrong time, the fast charging function saves: just put them in the case for 10 minutes, say “crex-pex-fex”, and you can listen to music again for an hour. To replenish their energy reserves by 100%, you need to leave them alone for a couple of hours. The case battery lasts more than 2 such full charges.
Conclusion: Our review of the JBL 300 TWS headphones
So, did we like this Ferrari? Let’s face it. The new JBL Live 300 TWS is not without flaws. From the point of view of sound quality, no complaints. But the size, fit, and control – here, as they say, for an amateur.
Pros:
- Excellent workmanship
- Good battery life
- High-quality sound
- TalkThru / Ambient Aware Features
Cons:
- Largeish
- Bulging out of your ears
- Management takes getting used to
