JBL Reflect Flow Pro active earbuds: true wireless Review
As an avid runner and fitness enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for headphones that can keep up with my active lifestyle.
I recently had the chance to test out the JBL Reflect Flow Pro earbuds, true wireless sports headphones to see how they best fit for running and workouts. After testing them for several weeks, here is my comprehensive review.
Verdict.
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro excels as rugged durable sports headphones that can withstand intense workouts and running in any weather condition. The customizable ear fins and tips provide unmatched stability and marathon battery life keeps you powered through long hours of training.
While more of a niche pick for athletes compared to standard Bluetooth earbuds, the Reflect Flow Pro hits nearly all the right marks for fitness-focused functionality. For runners and gym enthusiasts wanting true wireless buds built to last, these quickly earn my hearty recommendation.
Pros & Cons
jbl reflect flow pro earbuds Key Features
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro headphones boast a set of features tailored for sports and an active on-the-go use. Some of the key features include:
Excellent Battery Life
With up to 10 hours with anc of battery life per charge and 30 extra hours from the charging case, these headphones offer incredible longevity on a single charge. I never once had to worry about my headphones dying mid-workout.
IP68 Rating
The Reflect Flow Pro also has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, meaning they are dustproof and sweatproof and can be submerged in 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes. Perfect for intense sweaty workout and runs in any weather condition.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The adaptive noise cancelling (ANC) system blocks unwanted ambient sound so you can focus on your workout. The Smart Ambient mode allows some sounds to filter through, which is useful for outdoor safety.
The efficient noise cancellation feature filters out distracting background noise, enabling you to concentrate on your exercise routine. The Smart Ambient mode permits certain sounds to pass through, making it beneficial for ensuring outdoor safety.
Capabilities for cable-free powering convenience.
Rather than needing to plug in yet another cable, you can simply set the earbuds charging case down on any Qi-compatible wireless charging pad. This enables fuss-free charging by just placing on a wireless charger whether that’s a stand on your nightstand or charging mat on your desk.
You can then wakeup to fully powered up earbuds and case ready to accompany your morning workout powered wirelessly overnight.
Even mid-day you can conveniently get extra quick top-up charging by just setting them down on a wireless pad as part of your daily routine.
This modern wireless charging support makes powering the JBL Reflect Flow Pro earbuds a seamless process integrate into any environment equipped with Qi charging surfaces.
Combined with the already extremely long battery life, the wireless charging support enhances these earbuds as a grab-and-go pair you never have to think twice about charging.
Charging Case
The chunky charging case features a durable exterior shell that helps protect the earbuds when not in use. Despite its ruggedness, the pill-shaped case still slips into pockets fairly easily.
Importantly, the case provides a further 30 hours of charge to complement the already generous 10 hours in the earbuds themselves. That means you can essentially recharge the JBL earbuds over 3 times on the go before needing an outlet.
The case connectivity is seamless, with the earbuds automatically pairing when placed inside. There are four LEDs on the exterior displaying the current battery level so you can quickly check if a top-up is needed.
For powering up, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro case can either use the included USB-C cable for wired charging or any Qi wireless charger for cable-free convenience.
Customizable Ear Tips
It comes with multiple sizes of ear tips so you can find the perfect in-ear seal for comfort and sound isolation. This includes standard silicone tips, foam tips, and fins.
The multiple sizes of ear tips ensure a snug fit in your ear, which is essential for both comfort and audio quality. The standard silicone tips are great for everyday use and provide a comfortable fit for most users.
The foam tips, on the other hand, offer a more custom fit as they conform to the shape of your ear canal, providing a secure and comfortable seal.
The fins are designed to secure the earbuds in place, especially during activities such as sports or workouts. Overall, the variety of ear tips ensures that you can find the perfect combination for your specific needs,
whether it’s for long listening sessions, working out, or simply blocking out external noise.
Audio performance
As a headphone specifically designed for sports, sound quality is not as much of a priority compared to other features catered to an active lifestyle.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by the well-balanced sound profile of the JBL Reflect Flow Pro, especially for a workout headset.
The bass is punchy and the midrange and treble are clear, making for an enjoyable listening experience while working out. The sound isolation is also quite good, which helps block out distractions during a workout session.
Overall, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro is a great option for those who lead an active lifestyle and want a reliable,
high-quality pair of wireless earbuds for their workouts. The sound quality, comfort, and durability make it a standout choice for sports enthusiasts.
Clear Mids/Highs
The 6.8mm dynamic drivers deliver clean and crisp mids and highs. Vocals in music sounded defined with good detail and resolution. Treble frequencies also had nice sparkle. Soundstage wasn’t the widest, but had decent depth for a Bluetooth sports headset.
The bass was punchy and tight, providing a good amount of impact without overwhelming the sound. Overall, the sound quality was impressive for a Bluetooth sports headset, making it great for workouts and on-the-go use.
The clean and crisp audio
along with the punchy bass, make for an enjoyable listening experience. However, if you’re looking for a wider soundstage, you may want to consider other options.
- Sound Quality Rating: 4/5
Punchy Bass
balanced,These headphones pack a bass-forward sound signature with boosted low frequencies. The bass hits deep with plenty of thump and impact perfect for high intensity workouts when you need that extra adrenaline kick.
However, audiophiles who prefer a more balanced neutral sound may find it slightly boomy.
Overall, the headphones provide a powerful and energetic listening experience, making them a great choice for those looking for a lively sound.
The snug fit and sweat-resistant design also make them ideal for workouts. However, if you prioritize accuracy and balance in your audio, these may not be the best option for you.
- Bass Rating: 4/5
Overall Sound Rating: 4/5
While it falters slightly on soundstage expansion and neutrality, the dynamic and exciting sound is good enough for everyday sports use. The JBL signature bass boost adds momentum.
The JBL signature bass boost brings a dynamic and exciting sound, which is perfect for everyday sports use. However, it does falter slightly on soundstage expansion and neutrality.
Comfort & Fit
Comfort and stable fit are extremely important in workout headphones you’ll be wearing for hours at the gym or out on runs. This is an area where the Reflect Flow Pro shines thanks to its clever build quality.
Extremely Comfortable
Weighing only 35g each earbud is so light you barely notice them. The angled nozzles and variety of ear tips provide a nice, conforming fit that feels snug but not suffocating. I never felt irritation or discomfort, even during marathon sessions.
Stay Firmly In Place
The fins and tips keep the headphones locked into the ear even during intense lateral head movements and jarring motions. They stayed put when sprinting, weightlifting, or rock climbing. I don’t have to worry about needing to regularly re-adjust.
No Ear Fatigue
Despite the sport-focused noise isolation design, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro does not cause ear discomfort or ache after prolonged wear thanks to the large customization options and vented design. Your ear canals don’t feel blocked or strained.
- Comfort Rating: 5/5
Other Features
Seamless Bluetooth Connectivity
A set of true wireless earbuds Internally, 6.8mm drivers deliver a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and an impedance of 16 ohms. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and support the AAC and SBC codecs
but not AptX. The earbuds utilize 6.8mm drivers to produce sounds within a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with an impedance of 16 ohms. They can connect via Bluetooth 5.0 and are compatible with AAC and SBC codecs, but not AptX.
Touch Controls
The capacitive touch controls make it easy to control music playback and call functions without reaching for your phone. You can touch to pause or play, skip tracks, adjust volume, activate ambient sound mode, etc.
Microphone Quality
The noise-isolating design results in clear voice pickup without much background interference. Callers mentioned my voice sounded loud and clear when chatting mid-workout.
Speak-to-Chat
This useful feature automatically pauses your music and activates ambient mode when you speak so you can have conversations without removing the buds from your ears. Once you stop talking for a few seconds, it goes back to your music, so you can stay aware of your surroundings.
Jabra elite companion app
The JBL Headphones app allows you to customize the sound profile of the Reflect Flow Pro earbuds to your liking. You can tweak the equalizer settings and bass boost intensity via the JBL headphones app for example. This lets you dial in the sound quality to best match your music tastes.
The companion app also enables control of other headphone settings and features. You can toggle noise-canceling and ambient-aware modes, adjust touch control gestures, install firmware updates, configure auto-off timers to preserve battery life and more.
voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control.
By tapping one of the earbuds, you can instantly activate Alexa or Google Assistant to issue voice commands without needing to touch your phone. This allows you to request music playback, set reminders, ask questions, control smart home devices, and more with the power of your voice.
- Features Rating: 5/5
How It Compares
Compared to other leading options in the sports headphones category, such as the Jaybird Vista 2 and the Powerbeats Pro, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro holds its own with better stability and battery life while keeping comfort high.
However, the Vista 2 and Powerbeats Pro offer a more balanced, neutral sound quality for a wider range of music genres, with the Powerbeats Pro coming out ahead as the best-sounding workout buds.
The Reflect Flow Pro counter has noise cancelling and ambient modes missing in the others, IP68 waterproofing, and speak-to-chat, which makes it ideal for runners and outdoor athletes wanting more smart features.
For pure ruggedness, though, no other workout earbud comes close to the JBL. The only area it slightly lags behind is audio quality, which suitably matches most buyer’s needs.
So if you demand a marathon battery, absolute stability, and complete waterproofing, get the unmatched JBL Reflect Flow Pro. But if sound quality trumps everything, check out the Powerbeats Pro. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of them as your fitness companions.
JBL Reflect Flow Pro active Vs AirPod pro
Design and Comfort:
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro features a more customizable fit with swappable stability fins and multiple ear tip sizes, better staying securely in place during high-intensity workouts and runs. The AirPods Pro feature a universal one-size Apple in-ear design, which people either love or hate.
Durability and Water Resistance:
The Reflect Pro earbuds have IP68 protection, allowing them to be submerged in water for long periods. They are dust- and sweat-proof, making them suitable for even the most extreme conditions. The AirPods Pro have an IPX4 rating, which protects them from gentle splashes and sweat.
Audio Quality:
\The AirPods Pro offer a more balanced and neutral sound that is better suited for general music. The Reflect Pro earbuds are tuned with boosted bass and a lively sound tailored for high-energy sports sessions. The AirPods Pro have better noise cancellation.
Battery Life:
With up to 10 hours of playtime on the Reflect Flow Pro and 24 extra hours from the case, they vastly outlast the AirPods Pro’s 4.5 hours and nearly 3 extra charges. For all-day workouts, the Reflect Flow Pro’s battery is insane.
Special Features:
The Reflect Flow Pros have ambient sound modes, earbuds/case battery life indicators, and speak-to-chat, which the AirPods lack. The AirPods Pro, conversely, offer seamless connectivity with the iPhone.
So overall, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro true wireless earbuds are the better choice for serious fitness enthusiasts and athletes needing 100% secure buds with an inexhaustible battery to push through grueling, long training.
JBL Reflect Flow Pro true wireless earbuds vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds:
Durability
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro has an IP68 rating, making them dustproof and waterproof, plus sweatproof, and able to handle full submersion. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 only have IPX2 splashing resistance. For fitness, the JBL is far more rugged.
Battery Life
With up to 10 hours of playtime and 30 extra via cases, the Reflect Flow Pro triples the playtime of the Galaxy Buds, which last around 5–6 hours per charge. The Reflect Flow Pro offers a playtime of up to 10 hours, with an additional 30 hours provided by the case, thereby tripling the playtime of the Galaxy Buds, which typically last around 5–6 hours per charge.
Sound Quality
The Galaxy Buds offer more balanced, neutral audio, while the JBLs boost lively sound with thunderous bass and sculpted treble. The JBL signature suits workouts better.
Noise Cancellation
Both feature adaptive noise cancellation, though the Galaxy Buds ANC has a slight edge at blocking ambient noise during calls and media playback thanks to Samsung semiconductor expertise.
Call Quality
With ambient-aware modes on both allowing some external noise in, call quality is even with both having beam-forming mics and windshielding.
So if you want supremely rugged sports earbuds to blast bass-heavy audio through extreme marathon gym and running sessions, the waterproof JBL Reflect Flow Pro is unmatched. But for more well-rounded everyday sound quality and smart features, the Galaxy Buds make a strong case too.
