JBL announces the Charge 5 speaker and more

CES 2021 is all virtual, but that has not stopped Harman from announcing many new JBL headsets. From ear-to-ear headphones to noise-canceling true wireless earbuds, many have hit the virtual show floor, so let’s dive right in.

Just a warning, here are many products to discuss.

JBL Tour Series

The JBL Tour headset is a new addition to the JBL portfolio. The JBL Tour One and the JBL Tour Pro Plus are designed for business staff and offer customizable noise cancellation along with other features that regular pilots will appreciate.

JBL Tour One

The JBL Tour One is a pair of over-the-top ANC headphones with 40 mm drivers and a frequency response ranging up to 40 kHz. The headset supports Adaptive Ambient Aware and TalkThru listening modes, and features a four-microphone array for clear voice transmission. You will get 25 hours of playtime with both noise suppression and Bluetooth enabled, but disabling noise suppression doubles the time. It charges via USB-C and supports fast charging: 10 minutes of charging delivers two hours of playback.

You can use the JBL headphone app to customize the audio profile and certain settings like SilentNow and “My Alarm” for travel. It is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. There is also an automatic play / interrupt function thanks to proximity sensors in the ear cups.

JBL Tour Pro Plus

If you already own a pair of ear-ears, the Tour Pro Plus may be more your style. These true wireless earbuds are far more discreet and portable than the Tour One, and offer beautiful features such as adaptive noise suppression, Adaptive Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes. The Tour Pro Plus also supports smart audio and video, which automatically optimizes the audio depending on the content (e.g. music versus playing movies).

It has an IPX4 rating and offers six hours of playback at a single charge. Just like the Tour One over-ear, you can extend the number to eight hours of playback by disabling the noise canceling feature. Presumably the earplugs only give a battery life of the case for 10 minutes.

You may like: The best JBL headphones you can buy

The Tour One and Tour Pro Plus are both available on May 30, 2021 and will sell for $ 299 and $ 199 respectively.

JBL Reflect Mini NC TWS

The second pair of true wireless earbuds is the JBL Reflect Mini NC TWS. It looks a lot like the JBL Live 300 TWS from last year and has a more standard earplug design. The “NC” in the model name indicates noise suppression. Like the Tour One headphones, these earbuds support auto-play / pause functions.

It has a discrete drawer that you can easily toss or toss in your gym bag. Plus, the buttons deserve an IPX7 rating, so you can immerse it for up to 30 minutes without damaging it. They are also compatible with Google Fast Pair, so you do not have to go through Bluetooth settings when connecting to Android.

You can expect about seven hours of constant playback, and the USB-C case offers 14 hours of spare battery. It will be available in the spring and sells for $ 149. The JBL Reflect Mini NC comes in blue, white or black.

JBL expands with its Live range of earplugs

The JBL Live series is full of consumer-friendly headsets designed for everyday use. This is a very popular range of JBL headsets, and the extension offers welcome updates to popular products.

JBL Live Pro Plus

JBL has also added four new headphones to its Live range, the first of which is JBL Live Pro Plus. These true wireless earbuds have adjustable noise cancellation. They have touch controls that let you customize the playback, and have an IPX4 waterproof build. It even supports hands-free voice help for Alexa and Google Assistant.

The USB-C cover is Qi-compatible for wireless charging and offers 21 hours of extra play time for on-the-go listening. The earplugs last six hours on a single charge with ANC capable. It will go on sale from March 14 for $ 179. You can pick it up in black, white, pink and beige.

JBL Live Free NC Plus

The second pair of Live wireless earbuds announced is the JBL Live Free NC Plus. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating with up to seven hours of constant playback. The Qi-compatible charging tray will add two more full charges and use USB-C to charge. It also has an automatic play / pause function, thanks to proximity sensors built into the buttons and touch controls for playback and access to smart assistants.

The JBL Live Free NC Plus will go on sale from March 14 for $ 149.

JBL Live 660NC

For those who prefer over-the-ear, the JBL Live 660NC might be more in your alley. It supports voice access to your smart assistant. They also have Bluetooth multipoint, which allows you to pair the headset on two devices at the same time. This is an excellent feature for remote workers who would like to hear their phones and laptops.

As with many other JBL headphones, it has noise suppression and has the same design as the previous generation’s Live 650BTNC. You can play 40 hours continuously with ANC on and 50 hours when ANC is deactivated. It is quite impressive if the Tour One only kicks in 25 hours when the ANC is switched on. Speed ​​Charge technology gives four hours of play time after only 10 minutes of charging the headset.

It will be available on March 14 and will cost you $ 199. You can pick it up in black, blue and also white.

JBL Live 460NC

JBL also throws some ears into the mix with the JBL Live 460NC. It has the same specifications as the Live 660NC, but in a smaller, more compact design. The fast charging efficiency is even identical to the larger Live 660NC. The only difference here is that instead of 40 hours you have to be able to express 50 hours of constant play with the ANC, which is impressive. It also has keyword tracking to activate your favorite assistant, as well as the auto-pause feature.

You can download the JBL Live 460NC on-ears for $ 129 in black, blue, white and rose on March 14th.

Related: See more CES 2021 announcements here

JBL adds to its budget portfolio with more Tune headers

The JBL Tune series headsets are the cheapest and are extremely popular among budget buyers. JBL knows that it is wise to appease money-conscious buyers, and has brought new features to affordable headphones.

JBL Tune 660NC and Tune 510BT

JBL has updated its Tune range with some new options. The Tune 660NC and Tune 510BT are two new on-ear models tuned for a stronger bass response. They have Bluetooth 5.0 and Bluetooth multipoint.

The biggest difference between the two that you need to know is that the Tune 660NC has an active noise cancellation and a bit longer battery life. You can play continuously for up to 55 hours (44 with ANC) from the headset, compared to the non-ANC Tune 510BT and the battery life of 40 hours. Both headsets support Speed ​​Charge; Five minutes of charging gives you two hours of media play time.

The Tune 510BT costs you $ 49, while the Tune 660NC costs $ 99. Both come in three colors: black, white and blue.

JBL Tune 215BT and Tune 125BT

If you are still a lover of traditional Bluetooth earbuds and do not want to deal with the hassle of true wireless, go look at the Tune 215BT and the Tune 125BT. These are standard Bluetooth earbuds with a good, old-fashioned wire that connects the two.

They are also tuned to JBL Pure Bass Sound and have Bluetooth 5.0. Both models have a tangle-free cable, 16 hours of constant playback and a speed-charging feature that gives you one hour of playback in just ten minutes. Unfortunately, none of the models are sweat resistant, so it is not a good option for the gym. The biggest difference between the two is that the 125BT model has magnetic earbuds for cable management, while the 215BT does not.

Both models come in black and white and are available on March 14 for $ 39.

The JBL Charge 5 offers welcome improvements

The JBL Charge range is one of the most popular models in the world of Bluetooth speakers, and the Charge 5 does not reinvent the wheel. Apart from a slightly different look, it looks like a small upgrade from the previous JBL Charge 4. It has a nice material coverage and an IP67 dust and water resistant structure. A built-in 7.500mAH battery provides up to 20 hours of constant playback, and it also serves as a battery pack to charge your devices.

It comes with Bluetooth 5.1 and has a JBL PartyBoost feature so you can connect it to other compatible JBL speakers. It comes in black, blue, gray, red, teal and a group color. It will sell for $ 179 in April.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7

For anyone looking for a more premium home speaker, the Onyx Studio 7 is it. It has a sleek new design and useful features like 25mm double tweeter and an aluminum handle to move it from room to room. It has about eight hours of constant playback and can be connected to a second Onyx Studio 7 speaker for true stereo sound.

You can pick one up in April for $ 299. This one is available in black, blue and gray.