JBL Soundgear Clips Black

The JBL Soundgear Clips look futuristic and deliver clear sound. They clip securely around my ears, yet I barely feel them. Unfortunately, I miss a strong bass.

Clear sound I hear clear sound, making vocals and instruments sound pure and clear. Music genres like soul and jazz really shine. Despite the earbuds' open-ear design, I don't hear much of my surroundings. In the office, I can't hear other people typing. When someone talks to me, I don't realize they're talking to me. I hear voices, but I can't understand what's being said. Unfortunately, these earbuds lack a strong bass. This causes the sound to lack some depth, making house and techno sound less vibrant. I sometimes want to turn up the earbuds' volume higher than it should. As it is, the music doesn't fully come through. I can hear others around me hearing my music. Therefore, I wouldn't use these earbuds in a quiet room.

Lightweight design The earbuds fit snugly around my ear. I find them lightweight, so I barely feel them. I also wear the earbuds comfortably with my glasses. With my hair down, I sometimes find it a bit awkward. When I touch my hair, I sometimes touch the earbud, and it sits crooked.

Easy and fast operation The controls are on the part that clips behind your ear. This part is a bit flatter, making it easy to tap with my finger. In the app, I can see what each action does. For example, I can pause the music with one tap and skip to the next track with two taps. The transparent design of the charging case with the battery status indicator looks futuristic. I like this feature. However, I do find the size a bit large for my pocket.

I've been using the JBL earbuds for a few weeks now, mainly while exercising and walking, and I'm very pleased with them. What might be a drawback for many people—the lack of noise canceling—is actually a major advantage for me. I want to be able to hear my surroundings, especially outdoors, and these earbuds make that perfect. The open design took some getting used to at first, as they're quite different from the JBL earbuds I had before. I was initially worried they'd fall out during my first sprint, but that didn't happen at all. They're comfortable and secure enough, even during exercise. I also find the storage system attractive and stylish. Furthermore, the battery life is truly fantastic! The earbuds last a long time and charge quickly. Ideal for those moments, which I often experience, when I realize just before leaving that I've forgotten to charge them. And, of course, not unimportant: the sound is beautiful and clear.

I was really curious about the fit of these headphone clips. Surprisingly good fit; they stay in place very well without pressure. I have small ears, for which headphones are often too big. That's not a problem at all with the JBL Soundgear clips. Excellent sound for the price.