Design and features:The Elite 45e has an integrated microphone and volume, music player, and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. Additional features include support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth devices that have those capabilities. This model is claimed by the manufacturer to be water and dust resistant and comes with three pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, three pairs of ear bowl supports in various sizes, and a USB charging cable. The free Jabra Sound+ app provides switchable noise masking, ambient sound monitoring, graphical EQ, and software update functions.
Sound quality: We found the Elite 45e delivers sound quality that falls in the Good range - it reproduces music and voice reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. The overall sound can best be summarized as boomy and soft. Bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is somewhat soft, hazy and congested (think sonic traffic jam). The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is fairly extended, but is irregular - it is generally slightly smeared (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer sound blurred) and subdued but has a mid-treble peak. While the sound has a decent sense of liveliness it is somewhat closed-in (sound-wise it is somewhat obvious that you have something plugging your ears).
Comfort: These earphones are a hybrid ear insert/ear bud design - the earpieces seal the ear canals but they don't insert into the ear canals as far as typical ear insert models, and they are supported by ear bowls like a ear bud model rather than the ear canals. They fit and stay in place with no problem, and the ear bowl support ear pieces make the fit very stable even with vigorous head movement, but you may have to fiddle a bit to find the position that provides the best sound quality. The wire collar is not generally noticeable and is very convenient unless it interferes with clothing; if the earphone connecting cables rub on clothing the sound may be heard through the earphones. when earphones are not in the ears they clip together magnetically, dangle from the collar, and rest on the chest where they will swing out away from the body when leaning over; this can be bothersome or expose the earphones to damage.
