JBL takes ‘groundbreaking’ leap with new air-conduction earbuds

JBL has made its first foray into the open-ear wireless earbuds market with the JBL Soundgear Sense. The American manufacturer revealed its new earbuds alongside four new speakers and two other pairs of headphones at a Club JBL event in Berlin this week.

It claims to have made a breakthrough in audio technology, with promises of redefining sound quality for open-ear style headphones by incorporating “OpenSound Technology with air conduction”. Technically, all headphones save bone-conduction headphones use air conduction to transmit audio and just how these earbuds break the mould is unclear.

We do know the buds house large 16.2mm drivers, however, and boast an advanced bass-enhancing algorithm. The latter will likely prove crucial as most open-ear models struggle to replicate low frequencies as effectively as their in-ear, silicone-tipped counterparts due to the lack of a passive seal.

JBL has been keen to point out the earbuds’ comfort and versatility, and the Soundgear Sense uses ear hooks to help ensure they remain in place – despite their less intrusive open-ear design. Those ear hooks can be rotated and switched out for different sizes to personalise the fit and the headphones themselves sit on the curvature of your ears without obstructing the ear canal.

An IP54 rating for dust and water resistance ensures the Soundgear Sense is well-equipped to handle the rigours of exercise and sport, and a detachable neckband is included for extra peace of mind during vigorous activity.

Four integrated microphones enable you to make and take phone calls while using the Soundgear Sense, while Bluetooth multipoint pairing means you can connect the buds to two different devices simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly.

The JBL Soundgear Sense will be available in black and white colourways from Thursday, 31 August, and will cost £130.