JBL Reflect Response Sports Headphones Quick Review

Targetted towards those who have an active lifestyle and require devices that could keep up with them, the JBL Reflect Response headphones might be the perfect companion on your next run. Here’s our quick review.

Design and Construction

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Having a behind-the-neck sports design, the face of the Reflect Response flaunts a glossy plastic material with the company’s logo placed front and center. The remaining material has a rubbery feel to it and carries a matter finish to deviate from the main piece and give it emphasis.

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The main switch is squeezed almost at the edge of the device and is accompanied by a single LED light that indicates the status of the unit whether it is on, off, or searching for a device to pair with.

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Just underneath the power button is the microUSB port for charging the Reflect Response. It is protected by a rubber flap that repels liquid away from the port.

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The stems that support the gadget when wrapped around your neck is somewhat similar to those that are found in sunglasses — not just with the looks but also even the flexible material they have almost felt the same, just more bendable.

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Since it is poised to be used when you’re working out or going for a run, users no longer need to press anything to navigate the music. If you look closely, you’ll see the sensors embedded on the outside surface of each earbud.

This makes it possible to just lightly tap on them which will have a corresponding command depending on which side and how long you trigger the sensor.

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The bundle includes a set of interchangeable buds that come in different sizes and shapes depending on what the user needs and feels comfortable with. Additionally, there’s a travel pouch included to easily pack and bring it anywhere.

Features

Since the Reflect Response is technically called smart headphones, it should naturally have features that make it “smart”, right? Below is a rundown of the device’s features that should help individuals concentrate more on the task at hand and less on stopping just to skip to the next track.

Touch Control Technology – Control music playback and phone calls by touching the outside of each ear bud.

Ergonomic fit neckband – The device is lightweight with a patented, ergonomic designed neckband to accommodate the needs of a serious athlete.

Ergonomic ear tips –  They help keep the buds to stay in place regardless of how intense your workout routine is.

Sweatproof – It has a nano-coating technology that protects the internal components from sweat so you can concentrate solely on your training.

Reflective cables – Jogging at night? Keep safe and stay visible with the reflective cable that it uses.

Bluetooth connectivity – Obviously, it connects via Bluetooth for wireless streaming of audio to the earbuds, leaving you to freely move around without getting bothered by any dangling cable.

10 hours+ audio playback – The company claims that it is equipped with a battery that could last more than 10 hours on a single charge so you could train continuously without having to worry about your headphones dying.

Performance

We got to try out the Reflect Response while jogging and even riding a bicycle on an off-road trail and one thing is for sure — the earbuds latch to your ears even when you make big and sudden movements. I personally did a lot of those especially in cycling where I had to do shoulder checks whenever I was turning or switching lanes.

Sound quality is appreciated in the entire spectrum since it’s got authoritative mids, a good brightness to its highs, and a solid bass performance considering that these are just in-ears with very little physical space for sound reverberation. Additionally, distortion was also kept to a minimum even when the volume was cranked to the loudest.

Its in-ear design also blocks off external noise, acting like passive noise cancellation. This way, you can be disconnected from the outside world while you lift weights, jog, or simply walk around the neighborhood. Be mindful, though, where you use it as being unaware of your surroundings may lead to accidents.

Conclusion

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The JBL Reflect Response is a solid performer with specific users in mind. As mentioned in the beginning of this review, it targets those with an active lifestyle by providing the mentioned features and honestly, it delivered well doing them.

One major gripe that we do have is that there’s no way of controlling the volume aside from your smartphone. So, when an instance arises and you have to suddenly talk to someone, it’s either you just pause the music or remove an earbud. The JBL Reflect Response retails for Php7,490.

JBL Reflect Response specs:
Driver type: Dynamic
Driver size: 8.6mm
Design: Behind-the-neck
Frequency response: 10Hz – 22kHz

What we liked about it:

  • Touch-sensitive controls
  • Secure fit
  • Full sound
  • Reflective cables

What we didn’t like:

  • No volume controls

The post JBL Reflect Response Sports Headphones Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

JBL Synchros S100i Quick Review

In-ears are for those who are looking for an easy-to-bring and lightweight headphones. They all offer great portability but differ on sound reproduction. Some, since their drivers aren’t as big as on- or over-ear headphones, have weak sound and poor quality. Let’s see if the JBL Synchros S100i will be able to impress us on this Quick Review.

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Before we begin with the review, it’s important to note that the Synchros S100i is specifically made for Apple products. Its got a 3-button inline remote which lets you control the volume and change songs easily. In contrast, there’s the Synchros S100a that is optimized for Android devices.

The JBL Synchros S100i goes with a minimalist approach on its design. It sports an all white end-to-end color right from its audio jack up to the housing of its drivers that are accentuated by silver elements. The company does away with plastic build on the S100i and instead opted to use metal alloy for the housing of their 9mm drivers. This in turn adds a solid and an overall premium feel to the in-ear buds.

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The S100i comes with a tangle-free cable, an in-line clothing clip, two sets of differently-sized buds, additional memory foam tips, and a small travel case.

The cable has a standard length which is just enough to be used while connected to a device inside the pocket of your pants. Once plugged in to the ears, it stays in place even while we were moving around. It was also comfortable enough to be used for long periods of time – a characteristic that most earbuds have.

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After hooking up the S100i to a laptop and streaming songs on Spotify to listen to different genres, we were taken by surprise with its performance. For a small driver it delivered powerful bass levels without getting muddy, but the element that impressed us most is its capability to reproduce clear and untainted vocals. We’ve had a lot of encounters with over-ear studio headphones in the past carrying 40-50mm drivers and we could say that when talking solely about voice quality, the S100i’s 9mm driver isn’t far behind.

It can also go loud without any audio clipping which is an admirable feat thanks to its maximum output power of 5 mW. Highs could be a bit more warm, but overall, we were very much satisfied with its sound reproduction.

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The JBL Synchros S100i has a simple look that would make you think it’s just another pair of ordinary earbuds. But once you put it on and play some tunes, you would hear and experience that it’s more than that. The words “Comfortable,” “Adaptable,” and “Powerful” are printed on its box and true enough they deliver those qualities once you try them on.

The catch is, it will set you back for Php5,299. But if you’re an in-ear kind of person because you want the portability and ease of bringing it anywhere, the S100i is a recommended companion.

JBL Synchros S100i specs:
Design: In-ear
Type: Earbuds
Driver size: 9mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 22MHz
Maximum power output: 5 mW
Sensitivity: 106dB

What we liked about it:
* Sturdy build
* Impressive lows
* Untainted vocals
* No audio clipping

What we didn’t like:
* Looks very plain and simple
* Highs could be warmer
* More expensive than other in-ears

The post JBL Synchros S100i Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.