Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise-canceling portable ear-insert models ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment.
Additional features:Has integrated volume control, microphone, and call connect/disconnect control. Either earphone can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Free JBL Headphones app download for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features.
Sound quality:We found the Vibe Beam 2 delivers sound quality that falls in the acceptable range - it reproduces music and voice reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound and excellent active noise reduction. The
bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a bit boomy. The
midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even but is a bit grainy, hazy and congested (think sonic traffic jam). The
treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is a bit prominent, sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying), smeared and dry. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Coolish character. The overall sound can best be summarized as a bit grainy, sizzly and dry. No sound can be heard when there is no audio program to drown it out. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones.
Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the front a bit more high frequency noise can be heard. The noise cancelling electronics do not produce any background noise that is noticeable even in low ambient noise environments.
Comfort and Fit:As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some.
Small
Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels bulky in their ear bowl and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal and ear bowl, but that they will stay in place during casual use and are very stable even with vigorous head movement.
Medium
Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that with or without the ear bowl supports this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement.
Large
Users with large sized ear bowls will probably find that with or without the ear bowl supports this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are somewhat stable even during fairly vigorous head movement.
Hitting the stem that hangs out of the ear can knock an earphone loose and cause it to fall out of the ear.
