An Affordable, Well-Good Performing Headphones
JBL E55BT are decent-performing Bluetooth headphones that offer comfortable use and a respectable level of reliability for their low price. This is a headset with a very good battery life of 20 hours and a pretty good value for money that is one of its key selling points in the first place. Of course, have in mind that this is no top-class product and that there are numerous compromises; however, considering the price, what it delivers is more than reasonable.
Specifications:
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, 3.5mm analog
Type of charging: over the micro USB cable
Microphone Type: Built-in
Driver size: 50 mm
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB (1 kHz)
Battery life: 20 hours
Weight: 231 grams
Dimensions: Length 221 mm, Height 101 mm, Width 183 mm
Features
JBL E55BT offers balanced sound, with decent bass, due to its 50 mm drives and offers ease of use that is another thing that should be appreciated about this device. There are also integrated control buttons on the right ear cup, a built-in microphone, a one-button remote for wired listening, and even a detachable cable that adds to the device’s great usability.
As mentioned, there is also a Lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that requires only two hours for a full charge and has a great battery life that should give you some 20 hours of autonomy. Also, the JBL E55BT is a lightweight piece of equipment, with decent build quality and is available in five different colors that are another bonus to its versatility.
In other words, every essential is there; nonetheless, some more refined features are out of the picture, which is expected for its price range.
Usage
When talking about the overall performance, JBL E55BT proves to be a very good option and offers a pretty dynamic, refined sound, although not as rich as you may get with the best studio headphones available. In addition, there is also a powerful bass, strong high-mids, and a treble push that gives a nice level of details, yet makes the sound a bit bright.
In the midrange, it delivers a natural sound, including the vocals that sound clear and more than decent for the price.
To make things even better, JBL E55BT is very comfortable to wear and offers a secure fit that allows you to also enjoy some sort of activity while using it, without the fear of them falling off.
Bluetooth is also quite good and offers reliable performance, while the cable connectivity automatically switches headphones to the passive mode, saving battery and delivering more than pleasing results.
Unfortunately, although the JBL E55BT brings good sound isolation and prevents outside sounds to interfere with the overall experience, its influence in the opposite direction is rather disappointing and it won’t give you the deserved level of privacy. In other words, it allows for the person that sits next to you, to hear what you are listening to when the volume is at 70% or more, which certainly isn’t something to be appreciated.
Design
In the design department, the JBL E55BT doesn’t offer anything spectacular and brings mostly a plastic built that includes the cups, inside of the headbands, and even the pads. There is also a little bit of metal in the headband itself and a fabric covering it; however, the plastic dominates, which is more than understandable considering the price.
The earpads provide a soft feeling and are covered with leather imitation cloth, while the earcups are built out of matte plastic and decorated with the JBL logo in the middle. Similar to the earpads, the headband also offers great cushioning and guarantees a comfortable use, which is more than beneficial.
JBL E55BT is available in multiple colors (black, blue, green, red, and white), and offers built-in button commands on the right cup that seems cheap; however, they do the job. These buttons include the power/pairing switch with LEDs, volume buttons, as well as playback and call management buttons that, when pushed together, can be used for track navigation.
Also, there is a 3.5mm jack for the included wired cable and passive connection, and the micro USB connection on the left earcup that allows for easy charging. In other words, everything needed for trouble-free use is there.
Good
JBL E55BT offers quite a lot for its price and although affordable, has a nice collection of features and qualities that maybe doesn’t position its neck and neck with the best headphones on the market, but it definitely does place it within the best budget-friendly headphones.
There is powerful audio, with strong bass, clear vocals, and very good highs. Also, there is solid connectivity that includes both a reliable wireless Bluetooth 4.0 connection and an analog wired connection.
Not to mention that the JBL E55BT headphones are very comfortable to wear, even during long periods, and that the overall build is quite lightweight, which is certainly another bonus.
There are also easy-to-use commands on the device itself, and excellent battery life. In other words, everything needed for a pleasant user experience is there.
Bad
Unfortunately, the JBL E55BT has a few flaws, too. Luckily, they are nothing major; nonetheless, they do exist and involve the lack of noise cancellation and a carrying case. Also, there is no aptX or NFC support, while the music significantly leaks outside, which may be rather disturbing for many users.
In other words, there is a lot of space for improvements.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the JBL E55BT is probably the best model you can find for the price. The closest competition to the JBL E55BT are Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT and Sennheiser HD 4.40. These headphones offer a similar level of performance and build quality, yet also have their downsides.
Also, there is the Sony MDR-XB950BT that comes at a similar price; however, it offers much more bass, which, on the other hand, may not be the perfect fit for everyone.
All in all, JBL E55BT is exactly what it should be, a decent headset for a reasonable price.
