06 Mar
Blog

Jabra Elite Active 75t review: Fully waterproof wonders

Jabra Elite Active 75t

"For $ 20 more than the Elite 75t, you get complete water protection and a super secure fit."

  • Safe and comfortable fit

  • Great sound quality

  • Waterproof

  • Good call quality

  • No wireless charging

  • Average battery life

When Jabra released its latest real wireless earbuds, the Elite 75t, we knew it wouldn't be long before the Elite Active 75t came out. After all, the same pattern occurred in 2018 when the company first launched the Elite 65t and then the Elite Active 65t.

Yes, history has repeated itself, and the Elite Active 75t can now be pre-ordered for $ 200-20 more than the Elite 75t. Although the new models are more expensive than their predecessors, the price difference between active and inactive versions remains the same.

Unlike the Elite Active 65t, which offers better water protection than the Elite 65t and built-in accelerometers for basic tracking of in-app activities, the Elite Active 75t offers only two small improvements. Complete sealing thanks to protection class IP57 and a slightly grippier outer surface. Are they worth the upgrade? Let's find out.

Design and comfort

Jabra Elite Active 75tSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

We just come out and say it. The Jabra Elite 75t are the best fitting real wireless earbuds we've tried here at Digital Trends, and the Elite Active 75t are identical. They have the same ergonomic shape that feels like it was specially shaped for my ears. I know they don't fit everybody like a glove, but your chances of getting a good fit are better with these buds than with many other options.

Rest assured, the Elite Active 75t will not be released unintentionally.

The Elite Active 75t doubles this ergonomics with a slightly rubber-like outer surface. It is barely noticeable until you insert it in your ear, and it immediately becomes clear that if you don't pluck them freely, they won't go anywhere.

This is true when you use it for the first time, and it's still true an hour after your workout, as sweat has turned from a trickle to a current. Most people will find that the Elite 75t is completely safe, but if you want an extra level of safety, the Elite Actives offer just that.

If you've ever shied away from the Jabra Elites because they lack the ear hooks of a Powerbeats Pro or JLab Epic Air Sport, you can be sure that the Elite Active 75t won't be released unintentionally.

I found the standard medium tips to fit perfectly, but Jabra also includes a small and a large set.

Audio quality

Jabra Elite Active 75t just in caseSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Elite Active 75t sounds great. Some real wireless earbuds, especially at cheaper prices, feel like a compromise. You have the convenience of being completely wireless, but at the expense of decent sound. This is not the case here.

The Elite Actives do what good earphones should do: bring your music closer and discover nuances that you may not have heard through speakers or even headphones. With low, medium, and high frequencies, all of which are fully rendered, the Elite Active 75t is cheap compared to medium-range wired earbuds and the similar prices, but not completely wireless Bowers and Wilkins PI3.

To get a much better sound, you need to upgrade to the $ 300 master and Dynamic MW07 Plus.

They bring your music closer and let you discover nuances that you may not have heard before.

Although Jabra hasn't discussed the acoustic differences between the Elite 75t and the Elite Active 75t, I can tell you that they have unique sound signatures. The Elite 75t are large and bombastic with a bass forward sound that some may find overwhelming. The Elite Active 75t are much more balanced in comparison. With the free Jabra Sound + app for Android and iOS, you can customize the EQ to your heart's content. However, the default setting is very pleasantly neutral and suitable for most music genres.

You won't find active noise cancellation on the Elites, like more expensive buds like Apple's AirPods Pro or Sony's WF-1000XM3, but passive noise isolation through the silicone earplugs reduces most outside noise to the point where it doesn't occur more. t compete with your music. I guarantee that you will need to use Jabra's HearThrough system to have a personal conversation with the Elite Active 75t in your ears.

Controls and app

Jabra Elite Active 75tSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

We see more and more real wireless earbuds opting for touch controls instead of physical buttons. That's not a bad thing, especially when these touch controls are responsive and easy to use. Some, like Apple's AirPods Pro, are excellent. Others, well, not so much.

That's why I appreciate Jabra's only physical button on every Elite Active 75t earphone. They're easy to find with your fingers (whether you're wearing gloves or naked), easy to use (a light press is all that's needed), and can control almost all of the important functions, including volume and voice assistant access.

At the moment, you need to remember what the individual key and button combinations are responsible for, even if they don't feel intuitive. However, with an update to the Sound + app that will be released later this year, you can customize the way the buttons work.

Portability and ports

Jabra Elite Active 75t charging caseSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Even if your real wireless earbuds like the amazing Samsung Galaxy Buds + can hold all day, you probably won't be wearing them all day, so a good charging case is important. The charging case of the Elite Active 75t is very small, so it can easily be put in your pocket. The hinged lid can also be easily opened with one hand, but closes with a satisfactory click thanks to a tiny magnet.

A second set of stronger magnets will keep the earbuds docked in their sockets until you are ready to remove them. The overall construction and materials of the case are both superb, and a tiny LED on the back gives you a color-based battery status when you open or close the lid.

The USB-C connection is handy for charging (assuming you're a USB-C person), but there's no wireless charging – a bit of a disappointment considering the price.

Battery life

Jabra claims that the Elite Active 75t has a life of 7.5 hours before it needs to be returned to the charging case. I just reached this number when I played music between 50% and 75% volume. In today's world, this performance is good – certainly better than anything Apple's products can do (the AirPods and AirPods Pro each last about 5 hours) – but it's still far from the top of the charts.

Is this a problem? Let's be honest. Very few of us will ever want or need to listen to their buds for more than 7 hours. Still, it's a competitive world out there, and if Samsung can deliver 11 hours in one set of earphones that cost $ 50 less, it tells us what to expect from other real wireless buds.

With a total of 28 hours (including charging case) and a quick charging time of 15 minutes for 60 minutes of playing time, the Elite Active 75t doesn't have to apologize on this front.

durability

The Elite Active 75t isn't the first true wireless earbud to offer the waterproof protection that IP57 provides, but it's hard for us to find a set that doesn't compromise.

This is the real reason why you should consider the extra $ 20 when choosing between the elites and the elite activists. It's like an insurance policy. They pay a little more in advance to make sure that these buds, even if they choose an unintentional Kerplunk, will survive to play another day.

Does this insurance policy last? I carried her in the gym, in the shower after the gym, and let her sit in a sink for 10 minutes without a problem.

Technically speaking, IP57 means you can let them swim, but I would advise against it. For one thing, water and Bluetooth are bad companions. Connection problems are likely to occur. Second, as safe as the Elite Actives are, you will be a sad puppy if one or both of you can break free in the sea. In a pool, I guess the chances of recovery are a little better.

Too close to call

I found the call quality of the Elite 75t very good in almost all situations, and the Elite Active 75t performed equally well. The ability to use the correct earbuds alone is useful for calls, as is the side-tone feature for calls with two earbuds. It works just like HearThrough mode, so you can hear as much of your own voice as you want.

Warranty information

The Jabra Elite Active 75t comes with a two-year manufacturer's warranty against dust and sweat.

Our opinion

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is identical in almost every respect to the excellent Elite 75t and offers a more secure fit and better protection from water for an additional investment of $ 20. They have a flatter EQ that reduces the strong bass signature of the Elite 75t, which can seduce those who don't need additional robustness, but simply want a more neutral sound.

Is there a better alternative?

No. If you want a set of completely waterproof, wireless earbuds that sound fantastic and fit like a glove, you won't find a better product than the Jabra Elite Active 75t – at all costs. If you mainly focus on water resistance and want to save some money, you'll get $ 150 JBL Reflect Flows They offer the same protection from water and a longer battery life, but they don't sound as good as the Jabras and they lack some functions like volume control.

How long it will take?

Jabra products are solidly made from high quality materials. The Elite Active 75t are no exception. We expect them to last for many years as long as they are not misused.

Should you buy them

Yes. The secure and comfortable fit of the Jabra Elite Active 75t as well as the excellent sound quality and protection from dust and water make it a perfect companion for everything from daily commuting to the most strenuous workout. As long as you are not looking for active noise cancellation or long battery life, they are a good choice.

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05 Mar
Blog

Jabra Elite 75t Review: Massive Bass From Tiny Buds

Jabra Elite 75t real wireless headphones

"With its excellent fit, comfort and battery life, the Elite 75t from Jabra are small but deliver a large bass."

  • Should fit most ears

  • Full, rich sound

  • Very light and convenient

  • Very portable

  • Outstanding call quality

  • Bass can be too much for some

  • No hands-free assistant option

  • Average battery life

The Jabra Elite 75t are the company's newest and best wireless earbuds. Originally planned for $ 200, Jabra lowered the price to $ 180 shortly before they hit the stores in November 2019.

This puts the Elite 75t in the middle of a crowded category: They are cheaper than a set of normal Apple AirPods with a wireless charging case, but more expensive than those who use a normal case. They're considerably cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro, valued at $ 249, and yet are $ 20 to $ 30 more expensive than the Jabra Elite 65t, which the company plans to continue selling.

How does the Elite 75t stack up? Do they have enough features to justify a place in this exploding market and are they really as comfortable as Jabra has claimed? We put her to the test to find out.

Crazy comfort

It's true: the Elite 75t are extremely comfortable for real wireless earbuds. If you hate filling your ear canals with silicone, you won't magically become a fan of this sensation. But they're incredibly small, making them sit well in your outer ear and create less pressure in your ear canal to keep them there. Not only is this overall more comfortable, it may also give you the opportunity to enjoy real wireless earbuds if you're having trouble fitting other models.

Jabra Elite 75t real wireless headphonesRich Shibley / Digital Trends

Unlike most real wireless in-ear earphones, the Elite 75t doesn't come with ear fins – the tiny silicone tabs that anchor a bud and prevent it from popping out. This is because they are small and light enough not to need them. This ultra-low weight virtually eliminates the feeling of bulk that other earphones can create during intense activities such as running. They really go away as soon as you put them in your ears.

Big, bold bass

Given the small size of the Elite 75t, one thing I wasn't expecting was the huge, deep, and resonant bass. When I started it for the first time, I was surprised and started looking for the EQ settings in the Jabra Sound + app. The equalizer was not messed up – it was set to the flat factory profile. The bottom line is that the Elite 75t has been tuned to prefer low frequencies, sometimes at the expense of clear and detailed highs or clear mids.

They are perfect for watching movies – who needs a subwoofer when you have the Elite 75t?

For some listeners, this is a treat. You won't usually find real wireless earbuds with this kind of bombastic bass response. So if you've been looking for buds that can mimic the boom that is usually associated with large over-the-ear cans like Beats Studios, you're here. I will love the Elite 75t. For some genres like jazz and classical, this distinctive low-end warms the sound and lets you feel the deep vibrations of the bass, which is played in a confined space. They are perfect for watching movies – who needs a subwoofer when you have the Elite 75t?

Music fans with a preference for balanced and precise acoustics should look elsewhere. Even after playing extensively with the EQ settings, it was impossible to find a really neutral setting that would allow my favorite songs to be played without prejudice.

Pocket mates

Aside from the bass, one of the first things you notice about the Elite 75ts is how small they are and how small their charging case is. Both were significantly reduced from the 65t, which makes them perfect travel companions, whether you prefer bags or purses or whether you go to work or to training. You just have to look at the Amazon Echo Buds to see how well the Elite 75t fits in your pocket.

Jabra Elite 75t real wireless headphonesRich Shibley / Digital Trends

The charging case has a lid that snaps into place with a magnetic seal. Even if it should accidentally open, the earbuds are firmly magnetically locked, making it unlikely that the earbuds will get out of control. Fortunately, in this case, you can use the Sound + app to track the location of the Elite 75t and force it to howl high if it gets stuck in the recesses of a sofa or wallet.

I was glad to see the charging case updated to USB-C as this is pretty much the standard for all (non-iOS) phones now, but I would prefer the charging indicator to be in the front rather than the back.

The case isn't as easy to open with one hand as the original AirPods or the super cool Klipsch T5, but we doubt that this will be a deal breaker for everyone.

Push your buttons

Real wireless earphones usually use a variation of touch-sensitive surfaces or good, old-fashioned buttons. The Elite 75t chooses the latter – one on each earphone – and I really like them. They are easy to use, you know exactly whether you pressed them or not thanks to a satisfactory click, and it is much more difficult to accidentally trigger them.

Jabra Elite 75t real wireless headphonesRich Shibley / Digital Trends

You may need to put a few fingers on the side of your head for better click accuracy. However, I do the job of repeatedly tapping an earphone into my skull to stop my music. You get a wide range of activities – four actions per earbud – with single, double, triple and long clicks.

All important tasks are covered: play / pause, skip / track tracks, answer / end calls, turn HearThrough mode on / off, volume and voice assistant. The only downside is that you can't have a say in what each button does. Every earphone and click combination has a specific action, but Jabra tells us that an update to the Jabra Sound + app in 2020 will activate "MyControls", a function to customize the button function.

It is your call

Jabra has a long history of making Bluetooth headsets with excellent call quality, and the Elite 75t doesn't disappoint. The four-microphone array can easily handle a variety of environments, and callers found it easy to hear me (and me, them).

Frequent voice callers will appreciate that you can use both earbuds or just the right earbud to make and receive calls.

When I first tested the Elite 75t, I noticed the inability to hear itself while I was on the phone with two earbuds. It turned out that I had missed the "Sidetone" function, which enables just that. With the Sound + app, you can not only switch Sidetone on or off using the left earbud, but also adjust how much of your voice gets through. After trying it out, I'm happy to let you know that it works very well and makes the Elite 75t a great companion for phone calls.

Asked and answered

In a similar context, it is also very easy to make yourself heard when you speak to your preferred voice assistant. Pressing the right earphone button twice activates either Alexa or Siri (on iOS) or Alexa or Google Assistant (on Android). As practical as it is, my time with the Echo Buds has made me a hands-free Alexa addict, and I want to be able to call any voice assistant by simply asking for it.

There are many cases where it is more convenient and safer to keep your hands where they are. There may even be emergencies where you simply cannot reach your ears or your phone. If you can say, "Hey Google, call 9-1-1," it can save your life. Jabra, if you're listening, please consider this for the Elite 85t.

Good (not great) battery

Jabra claims that the Elite 75t can last 7.5 hours on a full charge. In our tests, in which the earphones were operated continuously at maximum volume, we were only able to use them for almost 7 hours. Many new real wireless earbuds that aren't made by Apple are better, but it's still a solid upgrade over previous generations, and all the more impressive considering their small size.

The charging case is suitable for almost three full charges, so that you have a total time of approx. 28 hours between the plug-ins. With the quick charge function, you can take an hour with just 15 minutes of charge.

Quite passive

A feature that is becoming increasingly common in real wireless earbuds is active noise cancellation. Sony has it. Apple's expensive new AirPods Pro have it. Even the budget-friendly Echo Buds have it. But the Elite 75t doesn't.

On the one hand, you could argue that these in-ear earphones don't really need them due to their almost complete noise isolation. Because the noise isolation is so good, HearThrough mode offers adjustable microphone sensitivity to make noise when you need to know your surroundings better (or to have your name heard by the barista at Starbucks).

Would noise cancellation be a nice addition? Yes. But you don't need it to enjoy the Elite 75t, especially at its price.

Our opinion

The Jabra Elite 75t is small, but very comfortable and is a good choice for small ears or for those who want to wear earphones for a long time – something that enables their battery life of 7.5 hours. Their bass-heavy EQ is impressive given its size – but not for everyone. Overall, it is a highly portable, high-quality set of real radio buds with user-friendly controls and excellent call quality.

Is there a better alternative?

If you don't mind a slightly larger bud and a battery life of just 5 hours, the Amazon Echo Buds offer more features and less bass-intensive sound for a very reasonable $ 130. If battery life is paramount, you should definitely consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds + for $ 150.

However, if you are an iPhone user, you need to check out the excellent AirPods Pro. They cost $ 70 more but offer amazing noise cancellation, great sound, and go perfectly with Siri. However, none of these earphones can keep up with the water and dust protection class IP55 of the Elite 75t and the excellent ergonomics. If you want even more protection from water, the Elite Active 75t will soon be available with protection class IP57 for $ 200.

How long will they last?

The Jabra Elite 75t has a two-year warranty that is above average. The water and dust resistance corresponds to protection class IP55. This suggests that in the long run, they're at least as robust (if not significantly more) than many of the other real wireless earphones out there.

Jabra's build quality is excellent and the battery is solid (for real radio buds anyway), so they should last for years.

Should you buy them

If you're a fan of bone-shaking bass, you've come to the right place – the Elite 75t are the real wireless earbuds for you. They are also a good choice if you are having trouble fitting the earbuds. If you're looking for a more balanced sound, the Elite Active 75t will be available shortly and offer a less bass-heavy EQ in addition to its better water resistance.

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