JVC HA-EBT5 - Review 2022

Exercise-focused options have evolved into their ain subgroup in the headphone world, and not just because they're sweat-proof and offer a secure fit. Information technology has just as much to do with the heavily sculpted sound signature they typically offer. JVC's wireless HA-EBT5, at $79.95, is a fine instance of this—the bass response is heavily pumped and the highs are tweaked to a nigh overly sibilant level. It'south not a sound that volition appeal to purists, but if y'all listen to electronic or popular music with a lot of deep bass while you lot exercise, the HA-EBT5 provides the heavily sculpted and bass-boosted audio signature you're looking for to push you lot through your workout.

Pattern
Available in all blackness, black/cherry-red, lite blue/white, and pinkish/white, the IPX4-rated HA-EBT5 offers a secure fit in a no-nonsense, simple design. The cablevision connecting the earpieces can sit behind your neck or below your chin. Support fins on each earpiece help stabilize the in-canal fit, and they can be adjusted by shifting them between two positions in social club to achieve the ideal fit. The HA-EBT5 also ships with six pairs of black silicone eartips to ensure that they are comfortable and snug. One-half of these eartips have a more open up pattern that allows ambient dissonance in—ideal for runners who need to exist more than aware of their environment.

JVC HA-EBT5 The right earpiece houses a connection for the included micro USB charging cable, every bit well as a condition LED. An inline remote command and mic can also be found near the correct earpiece, hanging at roughly mentum superlative. Y'all'll have to get used to operating the three-button remote without being able to see information technology, but JVC provides well-raised buttons that are easy to discern. The 3-push remote includes volume up/down buttons and a central multifunction push for operating playback and phone call management.

The volume buttons operate independently of your source device's master volume, and double as track management buttons when tapped multiple times instead of held downwards. This is not the platonic layout of controls—it'due south easy to hold a volume button down for too long and skip a track accidentally. Making the multifunction button the track navigation button typically leads to fewer navigation errors.

JVC estimates battery life for the HA-EBT5 to be roughly 4.5 hours, which is well-nigh equally depression equally it gets among the Bluetooth headphones we've tested. Your results will vary with your book levels, simply you might observe yourself charging this pair more often than y'all'd similar.

Performance and Conclusions
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the HA-EBT5 delivers laudable low frequency response without distortion, even at summit, unwise listening levels. There's also quite a bit of boosting in the higher frequencies, so what you terminate up with is a very sculpted sound, with the mids seemingly scooped out of the equation in favor of thick lows and very vivid highs.

Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track with very fiddling deep bass in the mix, gets enough of low frequency presence applied to his baritone vocals and the drums. Simply only as much every bit you tin can sense the enhanced bass depth, in that location'southward an added sibilance and edge to the vocals. There'south as well a noticeable high frequency aspect to the tapping of the drums, and an especially brilliant sounding attack on the guitar strums.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick pulsate loop's assail gets less of the high-mid edge we often look, and thus it sounds a bit less sharp and somewhat more than wearisome and thumping. The highest frequencies are quite boosted, though, so the background vinyl crackle is brought to the forefront. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate this shell are also powerfully boosted here.

Simply put, the HA-EBT5 is an exceptionally sculpted listening experience that can in no way laissez passer for authentic. But practise earphones are rarely made with purists in heed. If a thumping bass sound gets yous going on the treadmill, y'all're non alone, and the HA-EBT5 volition deliver the low end you're looking for. If you lot're afterward a bit more balance in your mix, however, with more high-mid crispness, less super-pumped high frequency brightness, and a little more than definition to the bass, there are other exercise-friendly Bluetooth options worth considering. Nosotros similar the JBL Reflect Mini BT, the Kicker EB300, and the Skullcandy XTfree in this price range. And if Bluetooth is less of a priority than a wet-proof design, the SOL Republic Relays Sport is a much more affordable exercise-focused pair, but information technology'south not wireless.