Verdict
problematical sound and so - so noise cancellation keep the Reflect Aware from earning a recommendation .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
What are the JBL Reflect Aware?
The JBL Reflect Aware are in - ear headphones packed with up - to - date technical school . They have active randomness cancellation and have an iPhone Lightning connector rather than a normal 3.5 mm jack .
They ’re no protagonist to Android devices , but also do n’t require a battery ; they ’re powered by your headphone thanks to that Lightning jackfruit .
The JBL Reflect Aware are some of the higher - end Lightning earphones around . However , since the active noise cancellation on offer is fairly hapless , there are better - sounding devices available at a similar price – and as such , they make for to a small audience .
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JBL Reflect Aware – Design and Comfort
As well as having a techy sharpness , the JBL Reflect Aware are fun headphones . This is obvious from their unusual bakshish style .
Rather than sporting tiny point that tally in your ear canals , the JBL Reflect Aware have big , ear - filling silicone polymer oval and separate oversize earhooks that stabilize the paroxysm of the unit , act the actual charge plate earpiece further aside from your skin .
perspire as much as you like , as you could absent these gristly shield and give them a rinse .
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All the silicone and those healthy core earpiece make the JBL Reflect Aware pretty turgid , but they ’re well-to-do . They feel a little like a custom - moulded silicone phone ; your ears feel as though they ’re grind away full , but at least they ’re full of soft stuff .
Three pairs of the oval tips and three pairs of crotchet assure you attain a decent paroxysm , regardless of your ear shape .
The JBL Reflect Aware cable length find strong too , thicker than that of your modal pair of in - ears . Where the cable length part to the left over and veracious buds , there ’s a ( comparatively ) huge distant ascendency housing . It ’s likely larger than normal because it needs to conform to in a DAC . This convert a digital signaling to an analogue one that can be fertilise to the speaker number one wood , because an iPhone ’s Lightning port can output only digital sound . ready to hand , that .
On the remote control you get the standard three buttons that let you alter intensity and dramatic play / suspension , and a mic on the rear end to let you take calls . There ’s a fourth button on the front , too : this electric switch between the active noise cancellation modes .
JBL Reflect Aware – Active Noise Cancellation
Unlike a duo ofBose QuietComfort 20i , the JBL Reflect Aware do n’t obviate stochasticity 24/7 . The other side to their sporty angle , they enable you to monitor ambient noise so you ’re aware when you need to be . There ’s an iPhone app that lets you vary the layer of ambient dissonance piped through , in a similar mineral vein to theBose QuietControl 30 .
It ’s a great idea , but the actual - world resolution of the ANC system are n’t great . First , without the “ ambient mindful ” feature enabled , the cancellation just is n’t that effective . sure frequency banding seem to be reduced minimally , making the disturbance bed fathom odd .
Even more distracting , using the ANC feature out on the streets , rather than in a relatively quiet room , make it sound as though you ’re listening through a plastic metro . There ’s that odd whooshing of aura you get when you put a shell ( or , yes , a plastic subway system ) up to your ear . I ascertain it disconcerting .
The JBL Reflect Aware ’s noise cancellation is n’t useless , but it ’s not great , either .
JBL Reflect Aware – Sound Quality
Switching the JBL Reflect Aware ’s fighting noise cancellation on and off also has a meaning effect on sound quality . With it enabled , the Reflect Aware have very punchy bass wallop . It ’s fun and adds great deal of vim . Like the sound of theBeats Solo 3 , it ’s good to exercise to , but does n’t work quite as well if you ’re listening to music more actively .
The sea bass is n’t insidious or particularly well controlled for such a pricey headphone , with basslines and gripe drums treading on other share of the mix more than the legal age of £ 170 phone .
Switch ANC off and most of that excess bass part is sucked out , resulting in a more balanced sound . Some of the energy devolve away , beware you , and the mid - range also lose some of its sweetness .
These phone have a big , fairly wide soundstage , but they ’re not as sophisticated or as “ hi - fi ” as I ’d look for the money .
The mids have a slenderly synthetical part , and the treble could be more graceful , often delivered with a sharp-worded edge even though the high frequencies are n’t all that enunciate .
There are much tatty earphone I ’d rather pass my money on . However , the Reflect Aware would be staring for the gym , where their punchy basso and strong vim mitigates – for the money – the slightly unsatisfying sound .
Should I buy the JBL Reflect Aware?
Desperate for a twain of Lightning earphones ? There are n’t that many options out there , and the JBL Reflect Aware certainly sound beneficial than a set of Apple EarPods .
However , the AirPods propose Apple thinks wireless phone are the room forward , rather than ones with Lightning connectors . For now , we ’re going to have to stick to using the 3.5 mm adapter included with the iPhone 7 , because neither route is utter .
The JBL Reflect Aware are sports - quick , but both their sound lineament and alive noise cancellation are , at best , passable given the price . If you ’re face for a great pair of cancelling in - ears , check out theBose QuietComfort 20i , which are in another conference of effectualness .
