My Honest JBL Tour Pro 2 Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Deal-Breaker
It seemed that the JBL Tour Pro 2 could become the best TWS headphones in the company’s history. This is a flagship-level model with a huge range of functions and a unique charging case featuring a touch display for easier operation and smartphone notifications.
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However, the sound quality is disappointing for this price segment, meaning the Tour Pro 2 doesn’t quite succeed at its main purpose. No matter how diligently you adjust the sound in the equalizer, it remains unbalanced and inconsistent with other top-level models. This is a letdown, as these headphones had the potential to be one of the best on the market.
Build Quality & Design
The Tour Pro 2 earbuds might look a little big at first, but they are actually very comfortable. They fit well in most ears, and you can wear them for a long time without your ears getting tired. You can get them in two colors: black or beige. The beige color is a particularly nice and interesting choice.
It’s important to know that these earbuds do not have an official waterproof or dustproof rating. However, they should be able to handle things like a sweaty workout or getting caught in light rain.
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Thanks to the case’s screen, you can forget the inconvenience of tapping the touch panels on the earbuds. You can change the volume with a simple vertical swipe on the display. The screen itself is customizable in the JBL Headphones app; you can adjust the brightness, choose a screensaver, enable notifications, or select icons for quick-launching functions.
JBL has promised future updates that will allow users to view call history and receive social media notifications. For now, you can only see and manage incoming calls on the case screen. In any case, the smart case is a fantastic feature that makes using the headphones much more convenient. It’s also worth noting that the underside of the case now includes small rubber feet to prevent it from sliding on a table.
In any case, even now, the case is great and makes using the headphones much more convenient. It is also worth noting that small rubber feet have appeared on the underside of the case, thanks to which it does not slide too much on the table.
Controls
To control the JBL Tour Pro 2, it is more convenient to use the display of the case, but you can also use the touch panel on the top of the “leg” of each of the earbuds
For example, one tap on the left touch area of the earphone turns noise cancellation on and off. Double-tapping there activates the TalkThru function for a more comfortable conversation on the phone. And pressing and holding calls up the voice assistant. Control can be configured in the smartphone application, although not completely, but partially.
Sound Quality
JBL Tour Pro 2 is good in everything except the main purpose of any headphones – sound quality.
The model is equipped with excellent 10mm dynamic drivers, but the problem is not with them, but rather with the sound tuning itself.
If you boost the bass, the mids become muddy and the highs sound too harsh. The sound appears unbalanced with any profile selected in the equalizer. And this is strange, because usually JBL headphones do not have such problems.
Of course, the music sounds acceptable, but you expect something completely different from a top-level TWS model. It also lacks support for high-definition codecs, such as LDAC or aptX. Moreover, many models offer them at 2 times cheaper and sound more interesting. Sound Quality bl Tour Pro 2
JBL Tour Pro 2 is good in everything except the main purpose of any headphones – sound quality.
The model is equipped with excellent 10mm dynamic drivers, but the problem is not with them, but rather with the sound tuning itself.
If you boost the bass, the mids become muddy and the highs sound too harsh. The sound appears unbalanced with any profile selected in the equalizer. And this is strange, because usually JBL headphones do not have such problems.
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Of course, the music sounds acceptable, but you expect something completely different from a top-level TWS model. It also lacks support for high-definition codecs, such as LDAC or aptX. Moreover, many models offer them at 2 times cheaper and sound more interesting.
Features JBL Tour Pro 2
The JBL Tour Pro 2 includes Personi-Fi 2.0 technology to customize the sound to your hearing profile. The system first checks for ambient noise, so it’s best to perform this setup in a quiet room. It then checks the seal of the earbuds in your ears. After this, a series of sounds is played, and you signal when you can no longer hear them. While Personi-Fi 2.0 allows for some personalization, it doesn’t fix the core tuning issues.
Regarding active noise cancellation (ANC), the technology in the Tour Pro 2 is implemented well, eliminating most unwanted background noise. However, the noise reduction on competing models from Apple and Sony is noticeably better.
Battery Life
Despite the touchscreen display, the JBL Tour Pro 2’s battery life is excellent. A full charge provides up to 10 hours of playback. This drops to 8 hours with ANC on, and 6 hours in True Adaptive ANC mode. The charging case extends this to a total of 50, 40, and 30 hours, respectively.
Fast charging is also supported just 15 minutes in which provides 4 hours of playback. The case itself supports convenient wireless charging.
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Verdict
So here’s the deal with the JBL Tour Pro 2: that case with a touchscreen is seriously cool. It’s super convenient to change your volume or sound settings right from the case, without ever needing to grab your phone.
But honestly, for the high price you’re paying, the sound quality itself is just okay. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t really blow you away like you’d expect from a top-tier pair of earbuds. The tech is awesome, but the sound doesn’t quite keep up.
Is it worth buying?
The JBL Tour Pro 2 is recommended only for tech enthusiasts who are captivated by the unique charging case and prioritize features over audio fidelity. For those seeking the best sound quality for their money, there are better options available.
Pros And Cons:
Pros:
Innovative Smart Case: The unique color touchscreen on the case offers incredibly convenient control over settings, music, and calls without needing your phone.
Excellent Battery Life: Long playback time on a single charge, with a massive total battery life when including the case.
Comfortable Fit: Ergonomic design fits securely and comfortably in most ears for long listening sessions.
Effective ANC: The active noise cancellation works well to block out most ambient sounds.
Cons:
Disappointing Sound Quality: The core audio tuning is unbalanced and harsh, not meeting the standard for a flagship, premium-priced product.
No Official Water Resistance: The lack of an official IP rating is a major omission for high-end earbuds in this price range.
Lacks High-Res Codecs: No support for LDAC or aptX, which are available on many cheaper competitors.
Price: The high price is not justified by the audio performance.
JBL Tour Pro 2 Specifications
Type TWS, in-ear, in-ear
Drivers 10 mm, dynamic
Frequency range 20 – 20,000 Hz
Resistance: 16 ohms
Connection: Bluetooth 5.3
Noise suppression: Active Noise Cancellation, True Adaptive, Smart Ambient
Microphones: 6 pcs.
Functions: Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, JBL Legendary Pro Audio, surround sound, VC
Application: JBL Headphones
Battery Earphone: 70 mAh
Case: 850 mAh
Autonomy Normal mode: 10 hours (earbuds) / 50 hours with charging case
Noise canceling: 8 hours/40 hours. With True Adaptive Noise Canceling: 6 hours/30 hours
Water protection: No
Charger: 2 hours (headphones), quick charging of 10 minutes will give up to 5 hours of operation, wireless charging of the case
Weight: Earphone: 6.1g
Case: 73 g
Colors: Black, beige
Price: US$249.95
