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JLab is known for producing some of the most high-quality headphones for less than one hundred dollars. Over the course of the previous two years, we have evaluated a variety of devices, ranging in price from the unrivaled $20 Go Air Pop to the Tom’s Guide award-winning $79 Epic Air Sport ANC. Speaking of which, the latter was just upgraded for the huge Holiday 2022 rollout that the corporation is planning, and we were able to get our hands on it.
Active noise cancellation (ANC), class-leading battery life, and a fitness-friendly design that is highlighted by ear hooks are all features that have been carried over to the second generation of the Epic Air Sport ANC headphones. JLab also included brand new capabilities, such as built-in Tile capability and wireless charging, in their latest update.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review Specifications
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones, action cameras, and other small cameras |
| Maximum load capacity | 325g |
| Tripod weight | 53g |
| Maximum height | 16.5cm |
| Material | ABS plastic and stainless steel |
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Design and Comfort
The design of the earbuds was not changed, which is both good and bad. You still get a good build quality and IP55 protection against dust, a lot of sweat, and heavy splashing. The silver-debossed logo makes it easy to spot the brand. On the other end, where the buds are, they are big and stand out.
We also would have liked more color choices. The charging case also had parts that were copied and pasted. The pill-shaped design is back, and the three LED lights and built-in charging cable are still there. At least it’s easy to carry around and strong enough to handle the abuse you’ll give it every day on your commute and at the gym.
When it comes to exercise, the JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) fit well. The tips make a tight seal, and the cush fins wrap around the cymba (upper inside part of the ear). We ran around a few blocks without having to adjust the buds. The Cloud Foam tips made by JLab are a good alternative to memory foam tips because they mold to your ears over time to make a better fit. You can buy this earbuds from its official website
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Sound quality
JLab is known for making loud music, and the JBuds Air ANC doesn’t change that (2nd Gen). The strong bass is great for fitness fans who want to get their blood pumping before a workout, but the weak mids and highs will turn off audiophiles. The buds are set up with four EQs: Signature, Balanced, Bass Boost, and Custom.T
he Custom EQ lets you change the bass, mid-range, and treble manually, but it doesn’t do a good job of showing you the changes. Bass Boost puts too much emphasis on the low end, which makes some fuzz, and lessens the mid-range. Balanced tries to even out the frequency range, but it doesn’t work, and in the process it lowers the bass and the highs.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Performance
With a weight of only 5 grams, the JBuds Air ANC are some of the lightest headphones on the market, which is clear when you put them on. Because they are small, they are easy to put into the ear canal, where they fit tightly thanks to the right ear tips and the fixing ring. This effectively seals the ear canal, which improves the sound quality. This means that the earphones stay in place even when your head moves more quickly, like when you’re playing sports. The JBuds Air ANC are also IP55-certified, which means they are safe from sweat, dirt, and splashes of water.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Connectivity
As a calling headset, the Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) isn’t very good. Many people said that my voice was hard to hear and that there was a lot of background noise, no matter where we were. Some people heard cars go by, and others were angry at how loud the wind was. My wife also told me that the volume during calls was low.
When it was quiet, the call quality was much better. The performance of Bluetooth is average. You get thoughtful features like one-tap Google Fast Pair for instant connectivity with Android devices, but the Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) doesn’t make it easy to pair with iOS or macOS devices. On my MacBook Pro, it took over 20 minutes and several tries. In open spaces, it has a range of up to 50 feet. There is no multipoint technology.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Noise cancelling
The Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) can cancel out noise on up to 19 different levels. This sounds like it has a lot of power, but even when set to the highest level, the technology isn’t as good as other heavyweight models in the same category. At best, these buds can block out common distractions like talking coworkers, barking dogs, loud TVs, and the humming of a central AC unit. All the other sounds will slowly join the soundscape.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Battery Life
The JLab Epic Air ANC possesses skills in a wide variety of domains. Earbuds with a long battery life and several essential features that are not typically found on cheaper headphones, such as a wear-detect sensor and a Be Aware mode, are featured in this product. However, because there are so many options to choose among, the earphones aren’t perfect and do have some drawbacks (even just memorising the touch shortcuts can be a challenge).
Price and availability
The Epic Air ANC, which can be purchased for £99.99, $99, or €119.99, provides a greater amount of functions than many of JLab’s competitors that cost more money. However, the performance of those characteristics is the most significant consideration in this regard. When we initially opened the box, we were delighted with a diverse selection of ear tips to choose from.
The Epic Air ANC comes with a total of six eartips: a small, medium, and large pair of gel tips; a medium and large pair of extra-long tips; and a medium pair of cloud-foam eartips. The extra-long tips promise a tighter seal. We have a propensity to select the smallest size that is supplied, and in this case, they provided a constricting fit that generated a secure sensation in the ear and produced a tight seal.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: Final words
The JLab Audio JBuds Air ANC Truly Wireless are a cheap pair of in-ear headphones that block out noise. They have a v-shaped sound profile that adds thump and sparkle to your favorite songs. They don’t come with a companion app, but they do have three EQ presets built into their controls. They also have pretty good battery life. But their ANC isn’t great and doesn’t block out as much noise in the midrange and treble as it does when it’s not turned on. Still, they are a cheap option if you want truly wireless headphones with an ANC feature.
JLab JBuds Air ANC (2nd Gen) review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Best-in-class battery life
- Sturdy and secure design
The Bad
- Poor call quality
FAQs
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are a little bit better for mixed use than the Skullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless. Even though they are both truly wireless in-ear headphones with a sound that is heavy on bass, the Sesh are more balanced.
Is it rainproof to use the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC? Only the earbuds of the JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds have an IP rating of IP66, which means they are waterproof. This means that these earbuds can handle getting wet and sweating, so they are great for working out.