TL;DR
The exercise headphone market is shifting to open-ear designs for safety, and JBL enters with the Endurance Zone. While boasting an impressive IP68 rating and long battery life, these headphones offer a less bass-heavy sound than typical JBL models, with clear mids but sometimes harsh treble. Their fit might be an issue for smaller ears, and the charging case feels cheap. Though they excel in comfort and app features, they face stiff competition in audio quality and fit for their price point. Discover if they're your perfect workout companion by reading the full review!
The market for fitness headphones is changing. From being all about blocking out the world with as much isolation and bass as possible, we are now seeing a clear trend toward “open-ear.” We have previously tested models from Shokz, EarFun, and Huawei, among others, that are based on the same principle: letting in ambient sound to increase safety for runners and cyclists.
Now JBL enters the fray with the JBL Endurance Zone. JBL has a long history of durable headphones in its Endurance series. With the Endurance Zone, an IP68 rating and a fit that can handle anything are promised. But how does it sound when you remove the silicone ear tips, and are they worth the price tag? Let’s find out!
Design and fit
In the box, we find a rather substantial charging case and the headphones themselves. The design is of the “ear-hook” type, meaning a hook that goes around the ear. The choice of materials feels well-thought-out, with a soft silicone casing that is very gentle on the skin. We are testing the headphones in a color that rather brings the toy department to mind than a pair of workout headphones. Some on the editorial staff think they look good, others not so much. The headphones are also available in several other, more discreet colors (such as white and black).
Unfortunately, the case feels about as plasticky as it looks, which significantly drags down the overall impression.
The headphones themselves, however, feel much better, with good material choices and a quality feel.
When it comes to the fit, they sit well for most people we have tested them with, but if you have very small ears, it becomes a bit of a problem. The “speaker part” of the headphone itself is quite large. Comparing them to the Huawei FreeArc, for example, makes this clear.
As seen in the picture, the difference is quite substantial. This means the fit is not optimal for smaller ears, and the wearer constantly has a feeling that something isn’t sitting quite right and that they are about to lose them.
Something we really like is the IP68 rating. This means they are completely dustproof and can withstand being submerged in water. JBL also has a feature in the app called “Pulse Dry.” This is a function where the drivers vibrate with a low-frequency tone to physically push moisture out of the grille after they have become wet from rain or sweat.
Sound Quality and Software
As always with this type of open design, sound quality is the biggest challenge. JBL has packed in rectangular 18×11 mm dynamic drivers, and it works reasonably well. You don’t get the extreme bass you are used to from other JBL headphones; since there is no seal in the ear canal, you lose some of the punch in the lower frequencies.
However, the midrange is clear and distinct. Voices stand out well, which makes podcasts and audiobooks work perfectly. The treble can, however, become a bit sharp and fatiguing if you turn the volume up too much, which you often need to do to drown out wind noise when outdoors.
We also note that the maximum volume is somewhat limited; in really noisy urban environments, we wished we could push it a bit further than what is possible.
The app is really good, just as we are used to with JBL. Here you can reprogram the touch controls so they do exactly what you want, adjust the EQ with 10 bands, and set “Audio” or “Video” mode to reduce latency when watching movies.
Battery Life and Charging
According to the specifications, you get 8 hours from the earbuds and an additional 24 hours from the case, totaling 32 hours. In our tests, this holds up well. It is even a bit of an understatement, as you can squeeze out a bit more at lower volumes.
There is support for fast charging, where 10 minutes in the case provides 3 hours of playtime. However, we miss wireless charging for the case.
Call Quality
The earbuds have four microphones that use beamforming to pick up the voice. In quiet environments, it works well and the voice is clear. But just like with many other open headphones, problems arise when it is windy. The headphones pick up some wind, and the wind noise cuts through quite easily, making it difficult for the receiver to hear what you are saying.
Something that is not unique to the JBL Endurance Zone, but applies to most “open-ear” headphones and is still worth pointing out, is that they are very pleasant for phone calls. Since you can hear yourself, you avoid that closed-off feeling (or the sometimes very unnatural transparency) that you get with standard in-ear headphones.
Conclusion
It was a bit difficult to reach a conclusion about the JBL Endurance Zone. I really like that they are IP68 rated, that the battery life is good, and that they are very good for taking calls. But when you start comparing them to competitors, and specifically the Huawei FreeArc which can now be bought for under 1,000 SEK, you realize that some things are not as good. They fit worse and, above all, they sound worse.
The plasticky case also drags down the overall impression of a pair of headphones that cost 1,490 SEK. But should the headphones drop in price, for example during a sale or promotion to under 1,000 SEK, they are a strong recommendation. Because as long as you don’t have very small ears, these are good workout headphones.
JBL sent review units for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
