JBL announces the Charge 5 speaker and much, much more

JBL Xtreme 2 5

Credit: Adam Molina / Android Authority

CES 2021 is entirely virtual, but that hasn’t stopped Harman from announcing many new JBL headsets. From headphones to true wireless noise-canceling headphones, many of them hit the virtual stage, so let’s get started.

Just a warning, there are many products to discuss here.

JBL Tour Series

JBL Tour headsets are new additions to the JBL portfolio. Designed with business professionals in mind, the JBL Tour One and JBL Tour Pro Plus feature adaptive noise cancellation along with other features that frequent flyers will appreciate.

JBL Tour One

JBL Tour ONE on white background

The JBL Tour One is a pair of over-ear ANC headsets with 40mm drivers and a frequency response that extends to 40kHz. The headset supports Adaptive Ambient Aware and TalkThru listening modes, and has a set of four microphones for clear voice transmission. You will have 25 hours of noise-canceling playback and Bluetooth enabled, but turning off noise cancellation doubles that time. It charges via USB-C and supports fast charging: 10 minutes of charge provides two hours of playback.

You can use the JBL Headphones app to customize the sound profile and certain settings, such as SilentNow and “My Alarm” for travel. It is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. There is also an automatic play / pause feature thanks to the proximity sensors in the headphones.

JBL Tour Pro Plus

JBL Tour Pro1

If you already have a pair of protectors, the Tour Pro Plus may be more your style. These true wireless headsets are much more discreet and portable than the Tour One and offer interesting features like adaptive noise cancellation, Adaptive Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes. Tour Pro Plus also supports intelligent audio and video, which automatically optimizes the sound depending on the content (for example, music vs. movie playback).

They have an IPX4 rating and offer six hours of playback on a single charge. Like Tour One’s ears, you can extend this number to eight hours of playback if you disable the noise canceling feature. Supposedly, just 10 minutes in the case gives the headphones an hour of battery life.

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Tour One and Tour Pro Plus will be available on May 30, 2021 and will cost $ 299 and $ 199, respectively.

JBL Reflect Mini NC TWS

JBL Reflect Mini TWS1

The second pair of real wireless headphones are the JBL Reflect Mini NC TWS. They look a lot like last year’s JBL Live 300 TWS and feature a more standard headset design. The “NC” in the model name indicates noise cancellation. Like Tour One headphones, these headphones support automatic play / pause functionality.

They have a discreet carrying case that you can easily put in your pocket or gym bag. In addition, the buttons deserve an IPX7 rating, so you can submerge them for up to 30 minutes without damaging them. They are also compatible with Google Fast Pair, so you don’t have to worry about Bluetooth settings when pairing with Android.

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

JBL expands its line of Live headphones

The JBL Live series is filled with consumer-friendly headphones for everyday use. This is a very popular line of JBL headphones and the expansion brings welcome updates to popular products.

JBL Live Pro Plus

JBL LIVE Pro1

JBL also added four new pairs of headphones to its Live series, the first being the JBL Live Pro Plus. These true wireless headphones feature adaptive noise cancellation. They have touch controls that allow you to adjust playback and have a water resistant IPX4 construction. It even offers hands-free voice support for Alexa and Google Assistant.

The USB-C case is compatible with Qi for wireless charging and provides 21 extra hours of playback to listen on the go. The headphones last six hours on a single charge, with ANC enabled. They will go on sale from March 14th for $ 179. You can get them in black, white, pink and beige.

JBL Live Free NC Plus

JBL LIVE FREE NC1

The second pair of real Live wireless headsets announced are the JBL Live Free NC Plus. They have an IPX7 waterproof rating with up to seven hours of constant playback. The Qi compatible charging case adds two more full charges and uses USB-C to charge. They also have automatic play / pause functionality thanks to proximity sensors integrated into the buttons and touch controls for playback and access to the intelligent assistant.

The JBL Live Free NC Plus will sell for $ 149 starting March 14.

JBL Live 660NC

JBL 660NC1

For those who prefer to listen, the JBL Live 660NC may be right for you. Support voice access to your smart assistant. They also have Bluetooth multipoint, which allows you to connect the headset to two devices at the same time. This is a great resource for remote employees who like to keep their ears to their phones and laptops.

As with many other JBL headsets, these are noise-canceling and share the same design as the last generation Live 650BTNC. You can enjoy 40 hours of constant playback with ANC enabled and 50 hours when ANC is disabled. This is very impressive, considering that Tour One only manages up to 25 hours when the ANC is on. Speed ​​Charge technology guarantees four hours of playback after just 10 minutes of charging the headset.

They will be available on March 14th and will cost $ 199. You can get them in black, blue and also white.

JBL Live 460NC

JBL 460NC1

JBL also put a pair of ears into the mix with the JBL Live 460NC. They share all the same specifications as the Live 660NC, but in a smaller, more compact design. Fast charging efficiency is identical to that of the larger Live 660NC. The only difference here is that instead of 40 hours with ANC, you should be able to squeeze out 50 hours of constant playback, which is impressive. They also have hotword detection to activate your favorite assistant, as well as automatic pause functionality.

You can purchase the JBL Live 460NC on the ears for $ 129 on March 14 in black, blue, white and pink.

Related: See more CES 2021 ads here

JBL adds to its portfolio of budget headphones with more headphones Tune

The JBL Tune line of headphones is the most economical and extremely popular with budget-conscious buyers. JBL knows it is sensible to satisfy money-conscious shoppers and has brought new features for affordable headsets.

JBL Tune 660NC and Tune 510BT

JBL has updated its Tune schedule with some new options. The Tune 660NC and Tune 510BT are two new models in the ear tuned for a stronger bass response. They feature Bluetooth 5.0 and Bluetooth multipoint.

The biggest difference between the two that you should know is that the Tune 660NC has active noise cancellation and slightly longer battery life. You can get up to 55 hours of constant playback (44 with ANC) with the headset, compared to the non-ANC Tune 510BT and its 40-hour battery. Both headphones support fast charging; Five minutes of charging provides two hours of media playback.

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

JBL Tune 215BT and Tune 125BT

If you’re still a fan of traditional Bluetooth headsets and don’t want to deal with the hassle of real wireless connection, take a look at the Tune 215BT and Tune 125BT. These are standard Bluetooth headsets with a very old wire connecting 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 charge feature that offers one hour of playback in just 10 minutes. Unfortunately, none of the models are sweat resistant, so they are not good options for the gym. The biggest difference between the two is that the 125BT model has magnetic headphones for cable management, while the 215BT does not.

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

The JBL Charge 5 brings welcome improvements

JBL Charge 51

The JBL Charge series is one of the most popular models in the world of Bluetooth speakers, and the Charge 5 does not reinvent the wheel. In addition to a slightly different appearance, it appears to be a small update to the previous JBL Charge 4.. It has a beautiful fabric cover and an IP67 construction resistant to dust and water. A built-in 7,500mAh battery allows up to 20 hours of constant playback and functions as a battery to charge your devices.

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

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 71

For those looking for a premium home speaker, Onyx Studio 7 is ideal. It has a sleek new design and useful features like dual 25mm tweeters and an aluminum handle to move you from room to room. It has about eight hours of constant playback and can be paired with a second Onyx Studio 7 speaker for true stereo sound.

You can choose one in April for $ 299. It will be available in black, blue and gray.

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