TechAudioHeadphonesJLabs' premium ANC headphones are gunning for Sony and BoseCan affordable ANC headphones really compete with the best noise cancelling headphones? JLabs says yesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechAudioHeadphonesJLabs' premium ANC headphones are gunning for Sony and BoseCan affordable ANC headphones really compete with the best noise cancelling headphones? JLabs says yesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Can affordable ANC headphones really compete with the best noise cancelling headphones? JLabs says yes
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: JLabs)
(Image credit: JLabs)
When it comes to thebest noise cancelling headphones, you know what to expect: a price tag between £200 and £300 and a big brand name on the side –Sony, maybe, orBose. But JLabs hopes to shake things up a bit with a set of high-end ANC headphones that cost considerably less without sacrificing sound quality or ANC performance.
The new JLabs JBuds Lux cost just $80 and promise long battery life, excellent sound quality, multipoint Bluetooth, spatial audio and more. They might not have the cachet of the bigger audio brands, but at this price that’s not going to deter would-be buyers: the spec is extremely impressive for the money.
JLabs JBuds Lux: key specifications
The drivers here are 40mm, the same size as you’ll find in premium flagships from big names, and JLabs says the frequency response is 20Hz to 20KHz with very low distortion. That’s the most common frequency range for Bluetooth headphones, although you’ll often find that high-end models have a wider range with a wired connection: for example Sony’sWH-1000XM5go down to a subterranean 4Hz in that mode. The JBuds Lux also support spatial audio and Bluetooth LE audio; the Bluetooth here is 5.3 with multipoint andGoogleFast Pair.
If you prefer buds to over-ears, JLabs has something for you too. The new JBuds ANC 3 are $59.99 and promise 42 hours of battery life, Bluetooth multipoint and improved noise cancellation. They too have the Be Aware transparency mode, and they’re rated IP55 for dust and sweat resistance.
Whether you go for the headphones or earbuds, both models connect to JLabs' smartphone app for control over the noise cancelling, touch control assignment (for the earbuds) and equalisation adjustments and presets.
The new JLabs ANC 3 earbuds are available now and most models of the noise cancelling headphones will ship in February; the mauve option will ship in March. For now both models are US only but we’d expect a UK release in early 2024.
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