Best Workout Earbuds: JBL, Soundcore, Beats Reviewed
Powering Your Performance: The Ultimate Workout Earbuds Review
TLDR: For optimal workout motivation, we evaluated five popular earbuds based on fit, durability, and sound quality. The JBL Endurance Peak 4 offers robust features and good ANC but is bulky. The Soundcore Sport X20 provides excellent ANC and transparency in a compact design. The Beats Power Beats Pro 2 excels with a secure fit, physical buttons, and top-tier transparency, plus a unique heart rate sensor. The JLab Epic Sport 3 delivers the best sound quality on this list with excellent transparency. Finally, the budget-friendly B Manny T16 offers comfort and powerful bass but lacks advanced features. Our top picks are the Soundcore Sport X20 for its balance of features and portability, and the JLab Epic Sport 3 for superior sound.
Earbuds are more than just audio devices during workouts; they are a crucial motivational tool. Scientific evidence suggests that bass-heavy music can significantly enhance workout performance. However, finding the right pair involves overcoming common challenges: poor fit, lack of durability against sweat and dust, and weak sound output. This review dives deep into five prominent earbud models, prioritizing secure fit (often with ear hooks), robust durability, and powerful bass to keep you energized.
JBL Endurance Peak 4: Feature-Packed for Your Gym Bag
The JBL Endurance Peak 4 stands out as the newest addition to this lineup. While its case is on the larger side, making it more suitable for a gym bag than a pocket, the earbuds themselves come in various colors and include three sizes of silicone tips. The thin, flexible ear hooks ensure a secure fit, keeping the buds firmly in place despite their noticeable presence in the ear.
Controls are entirely touch-based, which can be a minor inconvenience with wet hands or gloves, but they are customizable. A notable drawback is that JBL forces users to choose between ambient sound, volume, or playback controls, limiting simultaneous access. These earbuds lack a wear sensor and wireless charging. However, they support multipoint connectivity, allowing connection to two devices simultaneously, though the app doesn’t display which devices are connected.
In terms of noise cancellation, the JBL Endurance Peak 4 achieves a respectable Tier B rating, outperforming some competitors. It also features effective automatic wind noise reduction. Transparency mode, however, is rated Tier C, as it limits awareness of surroundings by suppressing considerable low-end sounds and voices, with slight occlusion and light white noise present. The dedicated sport modes offer customizable ANC and sound presets, allowing users to tailor their audio experience for different activities, such as enabling transparency for outdoor runs or maximizing ANC for gym sessions. The feature-rich JBL app provides extensive customization options.
Call quality requires users to speak up to be clearly audible, as the microphones can struggle, leading to voice cut-outs. While customization is solid, including a bass-heavy workout EQ, the maximum volume might not be sufficiently loud for some users, even with volume limits disabled.
Soundcore Sport X20: Compact Powerhouse with Superior ANC
The Soundcore Sport X20 offers a compact design available in three colors, accompanied by five sizes of round ear tips. It features reliable button controls, which are preferred for sweaty hands, though customization is limited to single, double, and long presses. Like the JBL, these buds support multipoint connectivity, but unlike the JBL, the app clearly indicates which devices are connected. There is no wireless charging or wear sensor, meaning audio won’t automatically pause when a bud is removed.
Noise cancellation on the Soundcore Sport X20 is rated Tier A, providing excellent low-end noise reduction while still allowing voices to be somewhat audible. It includes an adaptive or manual ANC mode (weak, moderate, strong) and a wind noise reduction mode. Transparency mode also performs exceptionally well, earning a Tier A rating. It offers two modes (vocal and full transparent) and wind noise reduction that doesn’t compromise transparency quality, delivering natural ambient awareness with minimal occlusion and white noise.
Call quality is fine in quiet conditions, and in noisy environments, background noise is present but the voice remains surprisingly clear, though users need to speak up. However, they are not recommended for use in windy conditions due to excessive wind noise. Call controls are limited to hanging up. The stock sound profile is bass-focused with ample volume headroom, but highs and mids can sound muffled. The Soundcore app offers extensive customization, including hearing tests and various EQ presets, to fine-tune the sound.
Beats Power Beats Pro 2: Secure Fit and Physical Control Champion
The Beats Power Beats Pro 2, an Apple product, excels in fit and comfort, earning a five-star rating for both. The ear hook design ensures they remain securely in place during intense workouts. Transparency mode is a standout feature, achieving a top-tier S rating for its natural sound. Battery life is robust, offering 8 to 10 hours of playtime, and the case supports wireless charging. Physical buttons are a significant advantage, providing reliable control even with sweaty hands.
A unique feature of the Beats Power Beats Pro 2 is the integrated heart rate sensor, a feature not commonly found in earbuds, which can even sync with gym equipment and third-party Android apps like Strava. Integration with Android phones is surprisingly good, thanks to a dedicated app, unlike standard AirPods. Call quality is generally good, with comprehensive controls including volume, answer, decline, hang up, mute, and head gestures.
However, noise cancellation is only average, rated Tier C, struggling particularly with voices. While bass is decent, the high end can sometimes sound harsh and lack resolution, with fewer customization options compared to other buds. The case is large and not very pocketable. The IPX4 water resistance is acceptable but lower than many competitors. A design flaw includes accidental presses of the play/pause button when adjusting the fit.
JLab Epic Sport 3: Best Sounding with Excellent Transparency
The JLab Epic Sport 3 features touch controls with a unique swipe function for volume, indicated by an indentation above the touch area. Controls are customizable, but adjusting volume causes an annoying latency and music pausing. Multipoint connectivity is available, but requires disconnecting from one device before entering pairing mode, and there’s no device list in the app. It includes wireless charging and a wear sensor. A convenient built-in USB-C cable for charging is a practical addition.
The app offers workout-related features like an interval timer and a safe hearing volume limiter. ANC and transparency modes both have adjustable intensity sliders and can be switched off. ANC is rated Tier B, effectively reducing low-end noise, surpassing the JBL Endurance Peak 4, but voices can still be heard. There is no specific wind reduction mode for ANC, but wind noise is minimal. Transparency mode is excellent, rated Tier S, providing natural ambient noise with very light, non-disturbing occlusion and white noise, similar to the Beats Power Beats Pro 2.
Sound quality is a highlight, with three sound modes: Jab signature (harmonic with restrained treble), Nulles preferred (boosts treble), and a bass boost for workouts. Overall, these are considered the best-sounding earbuds on this list. Call quality is good in quiet and noisy conditions, though speaking up is necessary. They are unusable in windy conditions. Call controls include answer, hang up, and volume, but lack mute or mode change from the buds.
B Manny T16: Budget-Friendly Bass Power
The B Manny T16 is notable for its extremely low price point. It features a chunky case and buds, made from cheap-feeling plastic, lacking a premium feel. Despite the build quality, they are comfortable and stay securely in place. The nozzle is slightly thicker, which might affect comfort for some, and the thick ear hooks could interfere with glasses, though they sit high enough to avoid conflict for some users. Three sizes of silicone tips are included.
A unique feature is the charge display indicator on the case, providing a clear battery level. Controls are entirely button-based, with one multi-function button and a volume rocker on each bud. The multi-function button can be hard to press, pushing into the ear and affecting comfort. The sound profile is heavily bass-focused, dark, and muffled, which can be acceptable for workouts where micro-details are not the priority. They offer tons of volume and their passive seal can compensate for the lack of ANC.
However, the B Manny T16 lacks ANC and transparency modes, making awareness of surroundings an issue. It also foregoes extras like wireless charging, multipoint, wear sensor, and an accompanying app. There is no official IP rating, which is a significant drawback for workout earbuds. Call quality is average across quiet, noisy, and windy conditions, requiring users to speak up, and the voice can sound hollow with audible background noise and wind.
Pros and Cons
| Feature | JBL Endurance Peak 4 | Soundcore Sport X20 | Beats Power Beats Pro 2 | JLab Epic Sport 3 | B Manny T16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Fit | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Comfort | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Physical Buttons | ❌ (Touch) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ (Touch) | ✔️ |
| ANC Performance | ✔️ (Tier B) | ✔️✔️ (Tier A) | ❌ (Tier C) | ✔️ (Tier B) | ❌ (None) |
| Transparency Performance | ❌ (Tier C) | ✔️✔️ (Tier A) | ✔️✔️✔️ (Tier S) | ✔️✔️✔️ (Tier S) | ❌ (None) |
| Wireless Charging | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Wear Sensor | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Multipoint | ✔️ (Limited app info) | ✔️ (Clear app info) | ❌ | ✔️ (Manual disconnect) | ❌ |
| IP Rating | ✔️ (Not specified, but durable) | ✔️ (Not specified, but durable) | ✔️ (IPX4) | ✔️ (Not specified, but durable) | ❌ (None official) |
| Sound Quality | ✔️ (Good bass, customizable) | ✔️ (Bass-focused, muffled highs/mids) | ✔️ (Decent bass, harsh highs) | ✔️✔️✔️ (Best on list) | ✔️ (Bass-heavy, muffled) |
| Call Quality | ❌ (Requires speaking up) | ✔️ (Good in quiet/noisy, bad in wind) | ✔️ (Fairly good) | ✔️ (Good in quiet/noisy, bad in wind) | ❌ (Average, hollow voice) |
| Portability | ❌ (Bulky case) | ✔️ (Compact) | ❌ (Large case) | ✔️ | ❌ (Chunky case) |
| Unique Features | Sport modes | Adaptive ANC | Heart rate sensor | Built-in USB-C cable | Charge display indicator |
Comparison Table
| Feature | JBL Endurance Peak 4 | Soundcore Sport X20 | Beats Power Beats Pro 2 | JLab Epic Sport 3 | B Manny T16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controls | Touch | Buttons | Buttons | Touch (Swipe for volume) | Buttons |
| ANC Tier | B | A | C | B | N/A |
| Transparency Tier | C | A | S | S | N/A |
| Wireless Charging | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wear Sensor | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Heart Rate Sensor | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| App Customization | Extensive | Extensive | Limited | Extensive | None |
Final Verdict
After a thorough review of these five workout earbuds, the choice ultimately depends on your priorities.
For a balance of features and portability, the Soundcore Sport X20 emerges as a strong contender. Its compact design, reliable button controls, and excellent ANC and transparency make it a versatile choice for various noisy environments. While the sound profile is bass-focused, the extensive app customization allows users to tailor it to their preferences.
However, if superior sound quality is your absolute top priority, the JLab Epic Sport 3 takes the crown. These earbuds deliver the best audio experience on this list, coupled with excellent transparency for situational awareness. The built-in USB-C cable is a thoughtful convenience, and while they feature touch controls, the overall package is compelling.
The Beats Power Beats Pro 2 remains a unique option, particularly for those who value a secure hook-style fit, physical buttons, and the integrated heart rate sensor for fitness tracking. Its top-tier transparency is also a major plus, despite its average noise cancellation and bulky case.
The JBL Endurance Peak 4 offers a robust, feature-packed experience with good ANC, but its large case might deter those seeking maximum portability.
Finally, the B Manny T16 serves its purpose as an ultra-affordable “beater” pair. While it lacks advanced features and refined audio, its comfort, secure fit, and powerful bass make it a viable option for budget-conscious users who simply need something to get the job done during workouts.
Each of these earbuds offers distinct advantages, ensuring there’s a perfect match for every workout warrior.
Products Mentioned in This Post:
- JBL Endurance Peak 4
- Soundcore Sport X20
- Beats Power Beats Pro 2
- JLab Epic Sport 3
- B Manny T16
- Oppo FindX 9 Pro
- AirPods Pro
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