Content
- Introduction
- JBL Tune 125TWS
- JBL Tune 225TWS Ghost Edition
- Impressions
Introduction
At the end of last year, the JBL brand brought a pair of wireless headphones to Russia. As the name suggests, we are talking about the relatively affordable Tune 125TWS and the slightly more expensive Tune 225TWS Ghost Edition.
Basically, this is an easy upgrade from the previous 120TWS and 220TWS headphones. In the new products, the quality of communication has improved, each earphone has received a Bluetooth-module so that you can communicate with any earphone, the operating time has slightly increased, the colors have changed.
The most unusual gadget I think is the 225TWS Ghost Edition, since the case and headphone housing are completely transparent. Of course, this does not affect the sound quality at all, but the JBL brand is not only about sound quality, but also about emotions. In the modern world, as I have written more than once, cool-looking devices are needed, since the technical characteristics, plus or minus, are the same for everyone. This applies to all equipment in general. What’s the difference between the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S21, in essence? That’s right – by design. They changed their appearance – and it became fresher, new emotions appeared.
The positioning of the 125TWS and 225TWS is the same – for young people. The former will be chosen by those who love in-ear headphones, and the latter – by earbuds. The cost of the first is about 4 490 rubles, the second – 5 490 rubles.
JBL Tune 125TWS
Set:
- Headphones with case
- Cable
- Instructions
- Warranty Card
They are sold in four colors: white, black, pink and blue. In each of the options, several colors are used: for example, in pink, the case is white, but inside it is pink. In the blue version, the case is black, but inside it is blue. Etc.
I got a gadget in white for a review. In fact, the body of the case is light gray, but inside, when the lid is opened, it is white.
The design is very nice: smooth outlines, smooth shape. Such headphones catch at first sight. Pay attention to the ZTE LiveBuds headphones, which also cost 4 rubles. It’s just a piece of black plastic – no emotion. To be fair, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are not handsome either: the same boring case, the usual shape of the headphones. Another thing is Buds Live: cool, unusual, right?
Returning to JBL. The case body is matte, slightly rough to the touch. The plastic itself is simple, you don’t feel the high cost in your hand. However, the price is 4 rubles – “what did you want for this money?” …
The build is good (no squeaks, no crunches when compressed), but the top lid is slightly loose. On the back side, you can see the hinges on which the lid is attached. The size is such that it can be used instead of door hinges.
Dimensions – 65x55x25 mm, weight with headphones – exactly 75 grams (I have very accurate scales, they measure one more decimal place). The case is, frankly, large. Why can’t JBL make TWS gadgets compact? Probably because it uses an 850 mAh battery!
The case has three LED indicators and a USB Type-C connector for charging the battery. Unfortunately, no wireless.
The lid opens slightly and does not have a clear position fixation. Held very tightly on magnets.
Total for the case: cute (in white it doesn’t look so bold as in blue or pink), made of practical materials, large.
Under the lid of the “barrel” there are two earpieces held in place by magnets. The headphones can be taken out easily, no force or special skill is required.
The inserts are oblong in shape and resemble an “airfield cap”. They are made of plastic, in my case it is the glossy material of the main body and matte – the buttons.
Each of the headphones has a mechanical button, an indicator of operation. Unlike the Tune 120TWS, the Tune 125TWS has microphones in both ears. Pressing the button once starts or pauses the music. Double – calls the voice assistant.
The headphones fit into the auricle without any problems. For more comfortable use, I had to use large ear cushions. However, even in this case, the impression was that due to the design of the headphones, they could easily fall out of the ears. I think this is due to the relatively short tube that goes into the auricle.
In addition, it is worth noting that the earplugs create pressure in the pinna. But this is the case when you press the buttons. Everything is as usual in such cases.
Total for the headphones themselves: they look great, but they sit controversially in the auricle, it is necessary to select ear pads.
Each earbud contains 85 mAh batteries. This is an impressive volume. Typically 40-60mAh. The case is equipped with an 850 mAh battery. At a volume of 50-60%, the headphones “live” for at least 6-7 hours. I don’t know who will need to listen to music for so long in a row. On the other hand, they can be used as a headset: if you do not throw them in a case every time, you will be able to use the 125TWS for almost a working day. Charged in 2 hours.
I won’t write much about the sound, since it hasn’t changed compared to the JBL Tune 120TWS. The manufacturer only says that the diameter of the JBL Tune 120 TWS emitter is 5.8 mm and the JBL Pure Bass technology is present.
The frequency response is designed to emphasize high frequencies around 10 Hz and low frequencies around 000 – 70 Hz. 120 Hz “ears” are still holding, the sound is audible, but below it – definitely not (or I no longer perceive). So JBL didn’t lie about Pure Bass technology. The mids are slightly overwhelmed.
It is difficult to say for which genre the headphones were created, but the music sounds good in them on the whole, I would say – pop.
As a headset: you can be heard quite loudly, relatively clearly, although sometimes intelligibility may not be the best, after all, you have TWS headphones in front of you.
Sample audio recording >>>
JBL Tune 225TWS Ghost Edition
Set:
- Headphones with case
- Cable
- Instructions
- Warranty Card
The case resembles a small backpack: the front panel is slightly “belly”, and the back is flat. Looks cute. Most likely, the brand hoped to attract a female audience, she should like the case.
The most important feature is the transparent case! It comes in two colors – red and black. Both look very unusual.
I also tested Harman / Kardon SoundStick 4 acoustics. Who doesn’t know: they also have a completely transparent case.
True, in the case of headphones, we see the components that make up the device: microcircuits, small capacitors, resistors, on the back side there is a flat rectangular battery. Cool, there is no other word for it.
Since there is almost nothing like this on the TWS headphone market, the 225TWS Ghost Edition will be at least surprising from those around you. Even my wife, far from technical, raised her eyebrows and chuckled. And it costs a lot: it means that the thing is good! ?
The case measures 47x55x25 mm and weighs about 59,7 grams.
For me, the important thing when interacting with the case is the opening and closing mechanism. In the 225TWS, it is convenient: if you want to open, then gently push the lid, and it will go to the extreme position by itself. When closed, it will slide into place smoothly. Nice little thing. The case does not pass the test for opening and closing with a swing. The same 220TWS opens without problems.
The JBL inscription is embossed on the frontal plane, the USB Type-C connector is located below. Let me remind you that the previous version had a microUSB connector.
And there is also a device charge indicator. It is located under the cover. Almost invisible.
Total for the case: without a doubt, the chip with transparent plastic is just great!
With the appearance of the headphones, it is worth highlighting a few points. Firstly, the color of the case matches the color of the headphones. Even the shades are right.
Secondly, we see a transparent body again. It is a pity that only the “stem” is like this, but the emitter is not visible. Inside the “stem” we see some cables, a mechanical button mechanism and a “tube” with a battery.
Thirdly, these headphones are not in-ear, so passive sound isolation is average. However, this type allows you to comfortably wear the headphones for a long time without putting pressure on the eardrum. For example, lately I’ve been wearing earbuds. And my wife simply physically cannot stand the “plugs”.
There is a multifunctional button on the headphones, it is mechanical. Slightly above and to the left of it (under the mesh) is the work indicator. The microphone is located almost at the end of the “stem”. There are also three contact pads for charging the battery.
As I already wrote about the fit – no problems, the headphones do not press, but they also do not fall out of the auricle, even during fitness exercises or light jogging.
Total for headphones: not as unusual as the case, but in any case they look unusually cool!
JBL Tune 220 headphones only support SBC and AAC codecs. They will be enough for any streaming service or MP3 music up to 320 Kbps. They sound extremely interesting: you can feel the volume here, a rather wide stage, deep low frequencies (exactly from 30 Hz), the middle frequencies are worked out well, the high frequencies do not stick out, do not interfere with the voice transmission. It is best to listen to soul, jazz, pop or classical music in them. They do a little worse with rock or metal.
Headphones can work as a pair or separately. If we are talking about the headset mode, the interlocutor hears you clearly and legibly, the sound is slightly muffled, as if there is not enough high frequencies.
Sample audio recording >>>
Unlike the Tune 125TWS, which uses large batteries, each Tune 225TWS has only 22mAh batteries. This is an extremely small value. The case is equipped with a 410 mAh battery.
In general, at 50-60% volume, the operating time will come out in the region of 3.5 – 4 hours. That’s not a lot. However, I calculate something like this: from home to work – 1.5 hours, and then I put the “ears” in the case, and there they are charged for about 15-20 minutes to get another hour of listening.
Impressions
I will not tire of repeating that the JBL brand is more about emotions. If you don’t need them, then you have just a huge selection of companies that will sell you specifications. No, I’m not against this approach, there are people who choose things solely based on the capacity of the batteries, the size of the emitter, the availability of the necessary codecs, and so on.
JBL Tune 125TWS headphones are suitable for those who need long battery life, while they do not want to get a boring piece of plastic.
Headphones 225TWS Ghost Edition – about design, about style, about “show off”. And don’t frown here: do you think people buy a Porsche 911 because it’s comfortable? Of course not. They also want to say: look, what a car I have, dude!
A decent number of TWS headphones are sold for 4 – 500 rubles: Xiaomi AirDots Pro, Anker Soundcore Liberty, PaMu Slide T6w, Koss 000i and a dozen more. But most of all models are from JBL – for every taste. If you don’t like 6TWS, then add some cash to the Active Noise Canceling HONOR Magic Earbuds. But this will already be about technical characteristics, not emotions ?
Friends, tell us in the comments: what was the last thing you took to get an impression, and not because it’s technically cool?
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