I tried one of the most recommended budget Headphones (JLab JBuds Lux ANC Review)

You would be thinking, what does a budget headphone even signify. Well, for me it must be under $90 and should provide exceptional value to the consumer.

credit: https://www.jlab.com/products/jbuds-lux-anc-headphones-cloud

I have been using Over-the-ear JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones (not a great name to be honest) in the “cloud” color for about 3 months now, and I have some opinions about them.

The Price

I was able to find them new for $29.99 plus taxes on Walmart(Yep! that’s right) during the sale season in November. Although, they usually sell for about $60, which is not that high but still double the sale price. Hence, I would recommend waiting for the price drop.

Build Quality

It's an all plastic build with aluminum skeleton in the headband to provide confidence when using it. Though the hinges, earcups, and the outer headband are all made of cheaper plastic, I felt the build quality to be sufficient for normal usage. I tested the headband’s flexibility, and it passed all my rigorous twists and bends that I could throw at it. I did not hear any creaking noise during my tests and in daily use. Although, I would not recommend doing this intentionally for any reason whatsoever (more on this later).

The earcups have ample amount of swivel and rotation which will ensure flexibility and adaptability. The headphones also are able to fold which makes them easier to carry around, although they do not come with a case in the box.

credit: 6JBudsLuxGraphite-1024x576.jpg

I like the feel of earcups and the headband, as they feel durable with matte-finished plastic. I have no complaints regarding the feel of the headphones.

But, after using them for about 2–4 hours a day for about 3 months now, there have been some developments in the build quality. The headphones have started to creak a little when putting them on and removing them from my head. But they don’t creak when you have worn them and are moving around. This is the reason I don’t recommend twisting and bending your headphones, as this can have an effect on their longevity. Another anomaly I noticed is a shuddering sound when I am using the headphones. This has become very noticeable and does seep in even when listening to music. Upon further investigation, it seems to be coming from the gaps between the plastic covering and the aluminum skeleton in the headband. This is disappointing as it affects your experience of using them. It may have developed due to the twisting of the headbands that I did, which might have resulted in the formation of gaps in the headband.

Comfort

The earcups have a plastic leather covering with soft foam inside which makes the earcups feel comfortable. The shape of the earcups is unique and I appreciate JLab for trying a new shape which resembles the natural shape of our ears. It is very comfortable.

credit: 5JBudsLuxCloud_3daf7bb2-f5be-4e37-a64c-0121340c19df.jpg

The earcups have sufficient padding. The headband padding is made of breathable fabric, which is unique at this price point. The padding is sufficient on the headband, but I realized that it’s not as soft as the earcups. This has resulted in pressure on top of my head. Considering my big head, I would say it would be okay for small and normal-sized heads. I was really stretching them to use on my head (thanks to my big head). Another thing I appreciate is the soft material used inside the earcup, the soft and relatively thick layer inside the earcup provides great comfort for your ears. Although this results in reduced depth of the earcups.

credit: JLab-JBuds_LUX-Studio-5_a58cbeea-5710–496a-9d75–596c3208a487.jpg

The earcups are not deep enough for bigger ears. This can result in heat buildup, which I have noticed to be uncomfortable after continuously wearing them for about 3 hours. This might be lower if you live in a warmer climate region. My surrounding ambient temperatures ranged from 12–19 degrees Celsius. But it’s not that big of an issue considering the price, and you can always just let some air in from time to time, and you will be sorted.

Technological Specifications

Audio

• Driver size: 40mm
• Output: 98 +/- 3 dB
• USB-C sound supported (High Res Certified)
• Spatial-audio support

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth v5.3
• Range: around 30ft
• Audio codecs: SBC
• Google Fast pair and Multipoint support

Battery

• Without ANC: 70+ hours
• With ANC: 40+ hours
• Charging time: 2.5 hours
• Supports Fast charging

Physical

• Physical rubberized controls
• Weight: 235 grams

Sound Quality

The department where these headphones shine is the sound quality. I was skeptical at first considering that these headphones only support SBC codec, which has existed for over 2 decades now. Overall, the sound quality is great for the price, with emphasis on low end, decent mid-range, and treble implementation. The headphones are loud enough, but I was mostly listening to them at around 80–85% volume. Compared to other headphones, this is higher, which means the Lux ANC do not get as loud as their competitors. Still, they do get loud enough at around 85% volume, and listening to higher than 85% should be in the range hearing loss, which is not recommended according to WHO.

Frequency response curve, credit: https://www.soundguys.com/jlab-jbuds-lux-anc-review-114634/

Low end (Bass)

If you are looking for bass-heavy headphones in a budget, this might be a great pick. You will find a good amount of emphasis on deep bass, which provides bass sensation without mudding out the mids and highs.

Mid-range

Mid-range have a little dip which makes the vocal sound lacking a little bit. Although, they still perform great for the price, I really wished the vocals sounded closer to my ears. Other than that, the instrument separation is very good and is clear and distinguishable up to an extent (due to SBC codec).

Treble

High-end sounds good for the most part, but there is a boost in the 5kHz– 10kHz range which can make some instruments sound harsher. This implementation makes the soundstage wider, but I noticed one or two high-frequency sounds (clapping or beeping sounds) overpowering other sounds; this might be a problem for long-time listening. There are little dips in other high-end frequencies which I feel can be improved using the EQ.

Active Noise Cancellation

credit: https://www.soundguys.com/jlab-jbuds-lux-anc-review-114634/

ANC is weak for the price, and there are better products out there which can reduce more noise. JBuds Lux are able to reduce low-end rumble noises but struggle with mid-range frequencies and high-end noises. I noticed it was able to reduce a bit of the traffic noise, but it could not reduce the tyre and wind noise that those cars created. I think these might not be able to eliminate plane noises and car noises, but could work as a daily commuter if you just want to listen to music for shorter periods of time. There is also a faint amount of white noise when ANC is turned on, which is noticeable and could be a dealbreaker for some people. Although it is not noticeable when you are listening to music. I tested the ANC performance when traveling in pubic transports like buses and cabs and found that I had to increase the volume even if ANC was on.

Ambient mode and Wind noise reduction

The headphones have an ambient mode which lets the environment noise in to let you hear your surroundings. But, I have felt the ambient mode is mostly indistinguishable to Normal mode (ANC Off mode). I did not perceive any discernible difference, except for some frequencies that were marginally amplified.

There is no Wind reduction mode or implementation in these headphones. This makes wind noise sound uncomfortable when using ANC and Ambient modes. Wind reduction mode would have been a good addition at this price.

If you plan to take a lot of calls on these headphones, mics are good enough for quieter environments but if you plan to use them outside, mic pickup can be a hit or a miss sometimes.

Conclusion (Should you buy them?)

If you are on a tight budget and want a good sounding headphones with great battery life then this might be your pick. If you care about sound quality and want something where bass does not overpower other sounds, then this is a good pick.

These are comfortable for most people, although they are not meant to be used in gyms as they can fall off relatively easily. The headband pressure can be higher for big heads. I wear spectacles and I did not find any problems with the comfort. I liked the button placement on the right earcups and the button feel is also pretty decent.

ANC isn’t the headphone’s strongest feature, and they lack a wind noise reduction mode.

Additionally, they don’t support basic audio codecs like AAC and LC3. However, you can use the USB-C cable included in the box to connect to your phone’s USB-C port and enjoy high-resolution sound. I’ve noticed that the frequency response remains consistent, but the loudness is improved, and the vocals sound slightly closer to the ear.

If you’re comfortable with some lacking properties and want comfortable daily commute headphones, consider these. Another good thing is JLab provides a 2-year warranty with these headphones which is rare. Try finding them in a sale for $30-$50. I’d consider other options from Soundcore and Edifier for more than $50 though.

I think JLab has done a great job for its budget offering by providing a reliable option along with great warranty, which displays confidence in its product.