Everyone seems desperate to put a pair of smart glasses on their faces (or at least technology companies seem desperate to sell us this solution), but the closest we have to it now are the $ 200 Bose Frames or the $ 250 frames from Amazon Echo. The problem is they deliver audio only. It’s too expensive for an alternative headset that doesn’t sound as good as a real headset, so consider JLab Audio’s new DIY solution, which allows you to easily update your existing glasses with wireless sound.
JLab JBuds are not really buttons in the sense that you stick them in your ears like you would with a pair of AirPods. Instead, they are designed to attach to the arms of your glasses – be they prescription glasses or simply sunglasses – and then pop the audio in your ears using downward-facing speakers. They are more of an open headset solution like the Bose Sport Open headphones announced earlier this week that allow you to listen to your music while listening to everything that is happening around you. This makes they are ideal for runners or anyone who doesn’t want the world around them to be silenced. Unlike headphones and earphones, they also do not make physical contact with any part of your ear, which means they are potentially more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
The JBuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, which means they would easily survive sweat and heavy rain, but they would not survive a dip. This is probably due to the large speaker opening that allows the sound from the JBuds’ 16mm drivers to reach your ears. It’s the same approach that headphones use (drivers are a little out of your ears), but without the earcups, So there is an concern about these types of personal audio devices so that everyone can hear what you are hearing. JLab promises that it is not a problem, considering how the sound is directed to the ear canal, but it is not a black hole from which no audio can be reflected. If you’re playing your music, you can probably expect someone nearby to be able to rock too.
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JBuds include buttons to adjust the playback volume, answer calls and even toggle equalization settings, and the battery life is estimated to be over eight hours. It’s amazing to see a set of $ 50 headphones including your own custom charging cable, which, in this case, is divided into two magnetic connectors to help minimize the open doors on each speaker. But at the same time, proprietary charging cables are never a welcome solution, even with the convenience of magnets.
JBuds will be available this spring for $ 50.