Jaybird Sportsband 2 Quick Review

Jaybird Sportsband 2 Quick Review

Thanks to Advanced Headphones www.advancedheadphones.co.uk for the sample (AMP3’s sister site)

Brief:  Wireless freedom

Price:  £89 but currently have £10 off with the code tped5n

Specification:  Battery Life Standby Time: up to 250 Hrs, Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Po), Bluetooth Codec SBC (or apt-X if music device supports) BlueTooth Protocol Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP, Charging Time (approx) 2.5hrs, Controls AVRCP Music Controls (Play, pause, Next, Back), Call Controls (answer, end, reject call), General (Volume, pair, power) Cord N/A - Bluetooth Connection, Dimensions (HxWxD) 160 mm x 150 mm x 30 mm (Band) 43 mm (earpads), Driver Unit High Integrity Single Driver Ear coupling supra-aural, Frequency Band 2.4 GHz, Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz, Impedance 32ohms, Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year Limited Warranty, Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat, Max. Power Input N/A - Bluetooth Connection Mic Sensitivity -34 dB + /-3dB (1KHz, 0dB = 1V/Pa) Microphone Type 4mm omni-directional Noise Isolation Passive - Up to 75% of ambient noise* Output Level 15mW RMS (with level limit feature) Playback Time Music Play Time: 8 Hrs, Talk Time: 11 Hrs Sensitivity 117 dB SPL/mW, at 1 kHz THD <5% (1KHz, 10mW)

Accessories:  You get some spare pads and a charging cable.

Build Quality:  It’s quite light but still feels and looks pretty sturdy. 

Isolation:  None.

Comfort/Fit:  Pretty good actually, I worried it may be super clampy on the ears to keep it on there but its not too bad.  Probably because its so light it doesn’t need to crush your skull to remain put.

Aesthetics:  Well the one I had I can’t say I adored the colour but otherwise not bad.  I do think the pictures on the Jaybirds web site look a little touched up.  I don’t know why they would though.

Sound:  Honestly they aren’t the best.  Granted a lot of what you’re paying for is the wireless aspect and I really cannot praise that enough.  The freedom they give you is just fantastic but the sound quality is not.  I’d hope given how they go an about apt-X and CD quality etc etc they would be good.  The inclusion of apt-X is clearly for marketing as I know even the old A2DP is capable of far better.  The sound here is thick, warm and heavy.  It feels almost laboured, given the price and marketing I expected better.  They gave me high expectations and the did not deliver.  However, the big selling point of these is the wireless and that aspect is stunning.  If you have never used something like this then I suggest doing so.  No wires is amazingly freeing and if you’re an exercise junky then that aspect must be hugely persuasive.  As a package its selling point is freedom and the ability to move not audio quality.

Small note, the track back and forth buttons only worked once than refused to do anything.  Clearly it didn’t like to play well with Android.  Also I greatly disliked the use of a proprietary charger connector rather than micro usb.

Value:  Hmm, well how important is the wireless aspect to you?  You’re mostly paying for that and as such there are pricey for the audio quality.  Given that sound quality is not their selling point it’s hard to judge value.  I’m not very sporty so for me I’d live the wires but the freedom they offer is a highly compelling feature that you don’t realise how compelling until you have tried it.

Pro’s:   Wonderfully freeing

Con’s:  Don’t sound particularly good.