JBL

Test: JBL Reflect Aero

There is no great shortage of headphones that must be used during training. JBL has a version called Reflect Aero, which is the most expensive headphone in the segment. What makes them more suitable for training is that they are IP68 rated, which means they are dust and water resistant. But they also have a good position to let surrounding sounds through, which can be nice if you're running or cycling. But we started from the beginning.

Advanced options...JBL Aero Reflect are true wireless headphones with active noise reduction. This means that there are, among other things, three different listening modes: you can choose active noise reduction, you can choose ambient recognition mode, which allows ambient sounds to pass through (but at the same time filters out some noise) and Talkthru, which allows you to talk with the headphones (allowing you to hear your own voice and that of the person you are talking to).

There are also possibilities to adjust these different modes to adapt them to the situation you find yourself in. Among other things, you can activate something called Adaptive ANC, which means that the noise reduction works actively and adapts depending on the sound in the environment. The headphones can also detect potential audio leaks in the headphones and compensate for it. You can also test the fit to make sure you get the best fit with the various rubber plugs that come with it (the headphones are connected in part by a regular rubber plug that is threaded into the ear canal and a rubber wing that connects to the outer part of the ear). In ambient awareness mode, you can adjust the amount of ambient sound you want to hear. The adjustment works well and gives visible results. You can also adjust how much of your own voice you hear during calls.

There are touch panels on both earcups and you can choose what tapping them will do. They can activate voice assistant, change listening mode, fade in and out, play/pause and so on. There are no extraordinary features, but they work well and are quite easy to use. If you want to define the sound more precisely, you can use the built-in EQ through the preset modes or by setting the EQ as you like.

Fit and design...The headphones are constructed as a “big” lump in the middle, an ordinary rubber plug and a rubber wing. To be easy to put on, the headset must be screwed into the ear. After a little practice it goes really well and they fit well and close well. But as always when it comes to headphones, it's pretty subjective whether they fit well and comfortably or not. I tested the different sizes of wings and rubber plugs, and the headphones sit comfortably for a while. But then a certain discomfort begins to arise. I suspect it is simply the “big” lump in the middle that is a little too big and presses against the ear. If I only used the headphones when I was working out or in other time-limited ways, it probably wouldn't bother me as much. But sitting for full days of work (which is exactly the same as battery life, 8 hours) or just several hours at a time, doesn't work for me.

Good sound - bad sync...The sound on the JBL Reflect Aero is good, I even think it's extraordinarily good for in-ear headphones. They may not have that last bit of pressure on the base (which also depends a little on the fit), but they hit a lot of points. Also, the call sound is good, I can hear the other person just fine, my voice was listed as a little weak but perfectly fine. Along with all the configuration options (found in the app), I must say that these headphones offer quite a lot of possibilities for the user. However, something they don't do very well is if you want to watch a video with them. It seems that JBL is aware that they are not super good at video because there is a specific mode where you can choose whether you want to watch the video. Here, the sound quality will be a little worse, but the synchronization will be better. Of course there will be a difference, the sync goes from very bad to bad. However, I have to say this is what I experienced when looking at the phones, when I connected them to my laptop the lag wasn't as noticeable. So if you want headphones to watch lots of videos on your phone then I'll look elsewhere. But for those who want a good headset that works in the most diverse situations and can be adjusted in the most diverse ways, the JBL Reflect Aero is a good option.

by: mundophone