I will be frank. When JBL launched with the Tour Pro 2 earbuds with touchscreen housing in January, my immediate reaction was one of skepticism. “Just what I need, another screen to see“I thought to myself.
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While the display is certainly innovative, and license of invention suggests that the idea of it was also on Apple’s mind, where I — and most audiophiles — ultimately value sound quality, especially with Tour Pro 2 is $250 reward.
However, after a few weeks of testing the JBL Tour Pro 2, I’m happy to report that, while not perfect, both the external monitor’s functionality and the audio performance have canceled out my original presets. . And there’s a software feature that might be even more appealing to some. Continue reading.
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JBL Tour Pro 2 . Speaker
The standout feature of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is the touchscreen charging box, which functions as a remote control.
For starters, the headline of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is a 1.45-inch touchscreen embedded in the charging case. While some of the touchscreen features are more fun than practical, such as customizable screensavers, small “flashlights” and timers, the screen is still fun to interact with. . (By the way, kudos to JBL’s PR team for sending testers with the ZDNET logo preloaded!)
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Although the screen has a little lag between taps and swipes and requires more pressure to navigate than your smartphone or tablet, I was still able to customize my personal EQ settings. yourself and even use the built-in headset locator. It also makes for a quick transition from ambient mode to ANC mode, both of which impress when it comes to audio control.
The exterior design can be configured with the image of your choice. Christina Darby/ZDNET
I find that Tour Pro 2 is not too far from the transparency mode of Apple’s second generation AirPods Pro. Both allow me to be effectively aware of my surroundings, especially on the busier streets of New York City, without sacrificing my morning Taylor Swift listening ritual.
The ANC isn’t too far off the AirPods’ noise cancellation either. When turned on, the buds will seal and can silence the hum of the subway. But, again, the sound is a bit slimmer than other $200 over-ear headphones and a far cry from what it is now. champion ANC, Bose QuietComfort II.
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My favorite feature, believe it or not, is not the touch screen or the noise cancellation of the buds. Instead, I found VoiceAware, which lets you control how much voice you can hear when making calls, to be the most impressive.
As someone who despises the sound of their own voice and mainly uses wireless headphones For calls, this feature not only lowers the volume I hear when I speak, but it’s also easily accessible thanks to the touchscreen. The overall quality of the microphone is also decent; I received almost no complaints from callers as I walked around the noisiest streets.
For the price, the JBL earbuds have the usual premium list like wireless charging, multipoint connectivity with up to two devices, and 40 hours of battery life in the carrying case. While the touchscreen affects some of the compactness of the case, it still fits comfortably in the front and back pockets.
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In the end, I was very impressed with JBL Tour Pro 2 . Speaker. The touchscreen isn’t meant to be life-changing, but it doesn’t make me feel any more screen fatigue either. In the future, I’d like to see a screen that requires less pressure to interact with and a faster touch response time. At $250, should you buy these instead of similarly priced competitors? Yes, but only if the extra functionality of the monitor and the advantages of the lowered microphone input appeal to you.
