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JBL E45BT is a compact on-ear headphone with 40 mm drivers and a nice look! The company JBL – a subsidiary of Harman is known for a wide range of headphones: from simple earphones to professional studio solutions. The E45bt headphones belong to the E-class, which is more budget-friendly than the others, but unlike the T-class, the materials from which this Jbl is made are unsparing. The connection is also wireless, which frees the owner from unnecessary wires.
The model is aimed at people with different tastes, so it offers a wide range of colors, from classic black and white to bright screaming blue, red, and restrained turquoise. The materials used do not differ depending on the color.
1. Overview | 2. Quick Review of JBL E45BT | 3. Package | 4. Design & Ergonomy | 5. Bluetooth & Technology | 6. Sound Quality | 7. Conclusion
JBL E45BT On-ear Wireless Headphones Review
1. Overview – not finished
Type: Over-ear Noise Cancelling Headphones | Bluetooth: 4.0 | Battery: 30 Hours | Charging: 4 Hours | Drivers: Dynamic | Drivers-Size: 45 mm | Weight: 385g
Pros
Cons
To be completed
Overall 3/5
★★★★★ 3/5
The headset comes in a cardboard box. Inside are the headphones packaged in a presentable way and appear to the buyer immediately after opening the box. The packaging is done well. The unit is a pleasure to unpack! Below the headphones, in a plastic envelope, the rest of the package is hidden: audio cable, micro USB cable, documentation, and warranty card.
The package didn’t include a carrying case or power adapter. Headphones are portable; they’re supposed to be worn in the bag, not just around the neck, so we’re disappointed with this decision.
Overall 5/5
★★★★★ 5/5
The first impression is a simple appearance, without frills. However, the design can not be called plain and, even more so, tasteless. A variety of materials are used in finishing: glossy and matte plastic, metal, fabric, and leatherette. Unobtrusive decorative elements, which emphasize the belonging of the model to the JBL line, are noticeable.
The cups are made of frosted plastic. The outer part is decorated with textured ornaments. In the center, there is a big JBL logo. No paint. Each letter is a separate element of glossy plastic. It is worth noting that the cups rotate a little more than 90 degrees for a better fit.
The cushions also have a small degree of freedom in the plane perpendicular to the cups. The inside is lined with leatherette. The quality of the material is very good, the stitching is very accurate. The speaker is protected by a cloth with embroidered channel markings. Each cup consists of two parts, which are screwed together.
The headband appears to be based on a steel plate lined with a soft material. The structure is lined with dense fabric – an unusual move, as manufacturers usually limit themselves to leatherette. At the same time, in the light version, the fabric will require careful handling. On the top is a logo, and at the base are added inserts of glossy plastic with the name of the product line. The headband is adjustable, the moving parts are made of metal, with no load-bearing plastic.
The main feature of compact headphones is the ability to fold. JBL E45BT is no exception. The cups are compactly stowed in the headband. The final design will not take much space in the bag, and in winter, will fit into a jacket pocket. All elements that are responsible for folding are metal, so it looks and feels safe and secure.
The head’s fit is soft, the headphones literally hug the head, and the ears are not squeezed. After prolonged use, there is no discomfort. Wireless headphones are heavier than wired analogs, but the weight is pleasant. You get used to them quickly. It is worth understanding that the over-ear headphones do not isolate from the outside world. Soft landing only worsens the situation. The fabric covering the headband is also rather slippery, which doesn’t provide the same stable fit as headphones with a leatherette headband. Before buying, I recommend to try the headphones on and look for a comfortable position on your head.
Similar to most wireless headphones, JBL E45BT has a built-in microphone that is rather nominal. Even in a quiet room, interlocutors complain about the poor recording quality, any additional noise finally muffles the microphone, you have to constantly interrogate. Unlike conventional headphones, wireless models do not do without controls. JBL E45BT is no exception. Everything you need is located on the right cup.
The headset is turned on with a switch with a built-in status indicator. There are three modes: power on – lit white; headset connected to a device – lit blue; pairing mode with a new device – blinking blue. There is a separate button with the Bluetooth logo to go into pairing mode. Two devices can be connected at the same time; switching between them is automatic and works correctly. For audio management, there are three regular buttons. The volume keys on the headset control the connected device’s volume but can also switch tracks and accept/decline a phone call.
4/5
★★★★★ 4/5
Like other wireless devices, the headset is equipped with a battery capacity of 610 mAh, which requires charging via the micro USB port. The claimed battery life of JBL E45BT is 16 hours. Charging takes about 2 hours.
The headphones display information about the battery status to the smartphone. In case the level is not displayed, you can use the BatON app. The headset also reports low levels with an audible notification and a flashing light. During charging, the indicator light is red. When full, it turns off.
In addition to the Bluetooth connection, you can also connect an AUX cable, for which there is a 2.5 mm jack on the right cup. In this mode, the battery is not consumed. The electronics of the headset are disabled. Therefore – no buttons or microphone work. The complete fabric braided cable is equipped with a microphone and a single key. Unusual detail – the plug is at an angle of 45 degrees, a practical solution.
4/5
★★★★★ 4/5
A wired connection is not necessary to enjoy your music. The wireless connection works correctly and benefits from low latency. When watching videos, the audio track plays without delay. The range also allows you to freely move around the home.
Whether you play music in wired or wireless mode, the character of the headphones’ sound is average; there is no boomy bass, the highs also do not prevail. JBL E45BT is not another set of headphones created to please the stereotype “more bass, cooler sound”. Everything in proportion here, the engineers managed to find the right balance.
It should be noted that complex compositions saturated with instruments suffer from a lack of detail. A smartphone with a dedicated audio chip and music in FLAC will fix the situation, but JBL E45BT is not positioned as a Hi-Fi device. The headphones are designed for the mass consumer and are fully consistent with an ordinary smartphone’s capabilities paired with a streaming service or music downloaded to MP3.
Of the disadvantages – the lack of proprietary application. The company has My JBL Headphones in its arsenal, but it supports only the flagship Everest line. I think that the limitation is strictly a marketing one. It is not due to inexpensive headphones’ ability to customize the sound. Fortunately, out of the box, JBL E45BT tuned pretty well.
Overall 4/5
★★★★★ 4/5
JBL E45BT is a versatile choice for those looking for compact wireless headphones for every day. It meets most demands of music lovers and provides a few handy features. The sound is of high quality and even allows you to play some games with headphones. The JBL is suitable for fans of non-heavy music, e.g., instrument details on a very medium level. Audiobooks and multimedia files will sound good, but special sound effects in movies can cause blur. The E45bt Jbl has a microphone, but many say that its quality is average.
The headphone’s ergonomics makes the JBL E45BT headphone comfortable, allowing you to wear them without discomfort. The E45BT keeps the bar high in terms of appearance, a nice variety of colors, and nice materials.
Connectivity is also standard but differs with additional control buttons. JBL is good for everyday use, and the price doesn’t disappoint – very few models can compete with E45bt. In the end, the company managed to create an attractive model that looks nice and sounds decent. Quality assembly and folding design complete the picture, very reliable, and easy to use headphones!
Pros
Cons
