JLab Epic Bluetooth Review

Size & Fit

In a sense, earbuds are a lot like a pair of shoes. Some are more comfortable and fit better than others. With the JLab Epic earbuds, you can be certain you'll have a tight and comfortable fit, even if you have ears like Dumbo. You can even use these wireless earbuds when running. We also didn't have any issues with these earbuds falling out when lifting weights, jumping rope and doing calisthenics. JLab includes six different-sized silicone tips so you can get a secure and custom fit.

Even though the earbuds kept a tight seal and remained in our ears, they weren't as easy to put on as other earbuds. You have to wrap them around the back of your ear like a hook and then insert them into your ear canal upside down. The earbud's cord that wraps around your ear is flexible but remains secure. Weighing in at just 0.53 ounces, these earbuds are incredibly lightweight, and we were able to forget they were even there when wearing them for extended periods of time. If you aren't used to around-the-ear-style earbuds though, they may feel funny at first, but you get used to them after wearing them a few times.

Audio Performance

The sound of the Epic cordless earbuds is quite remarkable, considering their price point and the fact that they are wireless. During our sound quality tests, we noticed a trend with wireless earbuds – almost all of them have boosted bass, so you may want to increase the treble for a more balanced sound. This shouldn't be a huge problem, since several people listen to electronic, hip-hop or rock music while working out. While listening to Florence and the Machine's "Shake it Out," the vocals didn't sound as full as they would with a premium pair of headphones. Rest assured, the Epic earbuds sounded better compared to the other wireless earbuds we tested. They are capable of reproducing an array of frequency ranges and sound great.

Although we don't recommend using your earbuds at full volume, if you need to crank up the volume to block out your gym's radio, or any other background noise, these earbuds – which have an 8-mm driver – get quite loud. While wearing these earbuds in the office, people had to motion with their hands to get my attention, the seal is so strong. At the time, the earbuds weren't even at full volume.

Like other earbuds, the Epic has a three-button remote. To pair them to your smartphone, tablet, or computer, press and hold the center button. Pairing was seamless and took less than a minute. The remote, which is located behind your right ear, is easy to find and use. Other earbud remotes weren't positioned as well and felt harder to reach, especially while running.

Battery & Connectivity

The biggest annoyance with wireless earbuds is you have to remember to charge them. A rocking playlist can really make for a stellar workout. And when you open your gym bag, pull out your earbuds and put them in only to find out that they are dead, odds are you're going to be annoyed and a little less motivated to achieve your fitness goals. Fortunately, this pair of wireless earbuds have 10 hours of juice. Charging the buds with the included micro-USB cable on a Dell XPS laptop took a little more than three hours. A full charge lasted us an entire workout week.

We also tested the wireless range for these wireless Bluetooth earbuds. JLab advertises 30 feet, which is standard for most Bluetooth devices. We actually were able to go 85 feet away from our phone before the wireless signal started to break up. Your mileage will vary, depending on if you have lots of furniture or other obstacles that can impede the Bluetooth signal.

Convenience

These earbuds have a built-in microphone, so you can use them to make phone calls or interact with Siri or Google Now. However, since the mic is positioned behind your ear, it doesn't pick up your voice as well as a wired pair of earbuds would.

JLab Epic earbuds are water- and sweat-resistant so if you get caught in the rain or have an intense workout, you shouldn't worry about them breaking. They aren't completely waterproof, so you shouldn't wear them while swimming laps or in the shower. But make sure that the micro-USB port door is shut when wearing them everywhere else to lower the risk of potential water damage. Overall though, these headphones are quite durable. Even though JLab includes a case, we still threw them in a gym bag with sweaty clothes, tennis shoes, and a leaky water bottle without the case. The earbuds came out unscathed and fully operable. The same can be said when they were stashed in my work bag. They withstood the weight of 15-inch MacBook Pro no problem.

Help & Support

JLab provides fantastic customer support. These earbuds come with a one-year warranty. If you need help pairing the earbuds to your device or have any issues, you can reach out to the company by email, telephone or through JLab’s many social media channels. There isn't a live chat option, but JLab does have a FAQs page.

Summary

These are arguably one of the best pairs of wireless earbuds. They have impressive sound quality, a wide wireless range and are incredibly durable. The Epic earbuds fit in most sizes of ears and remain secure, even during the most strenuous of workouts. Not only that, they are comfortable, water-resistant and have a long lasting battery.

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