ITMEDIA, a well-known digital media in Japan, has evaluated two new wireless Bluetooth headsets recently released by Jabra, namely the Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active. Among them, the Elite 10 is more suitable for everyday use, and the Elite 8 Active is built for fitness.
The article believes that these two headphones are at the top level of the market, Elite 10's Dolby 3D sound, super-first-class noise cancellation, and Elite 8 Active's super durability, which is one of the best products in the daily/fitness market, and its performance exceeds the traditional Apple, Sony, and BOSE flagship products.
The new Jabra Elite 10 true wireless Bluetooth headphones
The Jabra Elite 10 is the first flagship model in three years, with a case measuring approximately 66 (W) x 25 (D) x 47 (H) mm and weighing around 45.9 grams.
The battery lasts up to 8 hours with ANC on and 36 hours with the charging case. True wireless Bluetooth headphones Jabra Elite
The form factor is a standard in-ear headset, giving it a slightly smaller feel than other companies' flagship headphones. Includes four different sizes of ear tips (S/M/L/XL/XL).
The headset measures approximately 20 (W) x 29 (D) x 19 (H) mm and weighs about 5.7 grams.
The drivers are 10 mm, optimized for Dolby Atomos spatial sound, and support for head tracking.
Head tracking uses the headset's built-in gyroscope to detect head movements, so when you change the direction of your head, you hear different sounds. Aside from spatial audio, head tracking may be a bit overkill for smartphone use, but when watching movies on a tablet or PC, it provides a more realistic experience.
Note that the Elite 10 supports multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect two devices at the same time.
The headset also features Super Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and is compatible with Jabra Advanced ANC, which is twice as effective as the Jabra Elite 4. Although no specific attenuation figures are given, low-frequency noises such as air conditioning and washing machine operation are effectively eliminated.
The headphones are very lightweight and feel more like in-ear headphones than in-ear canal headphones, with less pressure when using ANC and no fatigue even for long periods of use.
The headphones are also equipped with sound transmission to pick up the sounds of their surroundings. In Advanced ANC, the intensity of the ANC is automatically adjusted based on the shape of the ear, the placement of the headphones, and the surrounding environment (e.g., quiet environment, noise, and strong winds), and the penetration function can also be adjusted in five steps.
There are three microphones on each side, two of which are inside. These internal microphones are not used during normal calls, but automatically activate in case of wind to ensure clear voice transmission and is not affected by the wind.
New Jabra ELITE 10 True Wireless Bluetooth Active Noise Cancelling Headphones In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones ¥2699 Buy
Jabra Elite 8 Active for tough environments
The design of the Jabra Elite 8 Active is similar to that of the Elite 10, but the size is slightly smaller and the earpiece is slightly different.
There are also changes in specifications. The biggest feature is that it is extremely durable, it has passed the MIL-STD-810H environmental durability test of the US Department of Defense, and it is considered the strongest headset in the world, according to the verification of the technology company FORCE Technology. This headset has an IP rating of IP68.
With ANC on, the battery lasts up to 8 hours; When using the charging case, the battery lasts up to 32 hours; With ANC turned off, the battery life is up to 14 hours and 56 hours, respectively.
This headset is actually one size smaller than the Jabra Elite 10, but the specs are almost the same, which is about 20 (W) x 29 (D) x 20 (H) mm. They are lighter, though, weighing around 5 grams.
The drivers are 6mm and support Dolby Atomos spatial sound, but head tracking is not supported.
This headset has an adaptive hybrid ANC feature that adjusts the effect of ANC based on ambient noise. In terms of noise suppression, it's slightly weaker than the Elite 10.
New Jabra ELITE 8ACTIVE Active Noise Cancelling True Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for In-Ear Sport ¥2299 Buy
Highly secure and supports physical key operation
Both the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active have the same operability. The physical buttons on the side of the headphones have a clicking sound, and you can press the keys 1 to 3 times or hold the keys for a long time to perform various actions. Many headphones have touch controls, but it is often difficult to tell if touch is highly recognized.
After all, the sense of security with a "click" sound will be high. These controls can also be freely customized via a smartphone app.
The Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active can also be used in one ear. In this case, the button is still operable.
In actual use, in terms of sound, the author's ears really don't feel any difference between the two headphones. The sound quality of both headphones is very high, and the three-dimensional sense of spatial audio is fully reflected.
The equalizer can also be set through the app. You can choose from six presets, including neutral, or customize them to your liking.
The Elite 8 Active is smaller and fits the ear better, but on the other hand, the Elite 10 won't get too tiring to wear for long periods of time because it features Jabra Comfort Fit technology, which adapts to more ear shapes and pinna sizes than previous Elite series, making you forget you're still wearing it. The effect is good.
Rather than saying which of these two products is better, it is better to choose according to preferences and uses. If you're looking for a lighter fit and enhanced ANC capabilities, choose the Jabra Elite 10. The Jabra Elite 8 Active is not easy to break, making it more suitable for use during sports.