JBL Everest Elite 150NC
Listen to your tunes — and the world
£179.99 FROM JBL by Harman, jbl.com features Bluetooth 4.1, 12mm driver, 10Hz-22kHz, 400mAh battery
Where do you begin with Bluetooth buds that pack as many features as these? The design – all gunmetal grey, chunky but comfortable with the relevant functions accessible and prominent? The features – from the customisable EQ to adaptive noise cancelling? No: you start with the audio.
These in-ear headphones provide a really excellent sound stage, deserving of the ‘pro audio’ designation. The 12mm drivers in these deepset, magnet-backed buds can reach as low as 10Hz. You can feel the range with every single note; while you might be able to find an even warmer experience in some active noise-cancelling overear cans at a similar price, the 150NC’s form factor is more practical than heavy headphones and tweaking the EQ in-app is a breeze.
The three-level adaptive noise cancelling scores the 150NCs a stack of extra marks. It’s dead quiet until you choose to let sound in, and when you do, it avoids the robotic sound that often plagues some ANC options, seeming to filter through the frequencies that matter. ANC does hit the battery, though Harman claims that it only shaves two hours off the usual 14-hour runtime.
The chunky neckband, then, packs in a lot of lithium-ion, but it’s not heavy, and the echo-dodging mics tucked in the top of each of the ends make for good call quality.
The Everest Elite are pricey but, treated right, they should be tough enough to sustain your investment for a long time.