Jabra Elite 8 Active Review Drop Resistant
Jabra Elite 8 Active Review Drop Resistant
Jabra Elite 8 Active: The Toughest Earbuds in the Market
Jabra, the renowned audio equipment manufacturer, has released a range of earbuds in the past few years, leading to some confusion among consumers. However, the company’s marketing team promises a more streamlined approach with its latest releases. The flagship models, the Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active, offer unique features that help them stand out in the crowded premium earbuds market.
A Durable Design Enhanced with Unique Features
The Elite 8 Active, priced at $199, is a part of Jabra’s new lineup. These earbuds come with a host of features that make them stand out. They are designed to be extremely durable, with an IP68 rating for dustproofing, watertightness, and sweat resistance. The earbuds also have a drop-resistant design, making them resilient to accidental falls.
Despite their ruggedness, the Elite 8 Actives are lightweight, weighing only 5 grams each. They feature Jabra’s ShakeGrip technology, which provides an extra grip to ensure a secure fit. These earbuds are comfortable to wear and sit flush with your ears. The physical control buttons allow for easy music control and call management.
Outstanding Sound and Dolby Spatial Audio
One of the standout features of the Elite 8 Active is its sound quality. Equipped with 6mm drivers, these earbuds deliver decent clarity and punchy bass. While they may not match the sound quality of more expensive buds, such as the Elite 10 or Sony WF-1000XM5, the Elite 8 Actives offer a satisfying audio experience. Additionally, the Jabra Sound Plus app allows users to customize the sound further with preset EQ options or their own custom EQ settings.
The Elite 8 Actives also come with Dolby Audio and Dolby Spatial Sound technology. While the Elite 10s have the added benefit of Dolby head tracking, the Elite 8 Actives provide an expanded soundstage, creating a more immersive audio experience.
Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Transparency Mode
Jabra’s Adaptive Hybrid ANC (active noise cancelling) technology provides an excellent level of noise isolation. The Elite 8 Active earbuds effectively block out ambient noise, ensuring an uninterrupted listening experience. They also offer an adjustable HearThru transparency mode, allowing users to hear the outside world when necessary.
Impressive Durability and Battery Life
The Elite 8 Actives truly live up to their claim of being the world’s toughest earbuds. They are fully waterproof and dustproof and have passed nine durability tests, meeting military standard specifications for ruggedized electronics. The charging case is also dust- and splashproof, with an IP54 rating.
Battery life is another highlight of the Elite 8 Actives. With ANC enabled, the earbuds offer up to 8 hours of playback time, and up to 14 hours with ANC turned off. These numbers are impressive and surpass the battery life of the Elite 10 model.
Voice Calling and Additional Features
While the Elite 8 Active excels in many areas, its voice-calling performance could be slightly better. The six-microphone array and improved wind noise reduction technology provide clear voice quality in less noisy environments. However, in noisy environments, the background noise reduction may not be as effective as some competing models.
The earbuds also come with additional features, such as multipoint Bluetooth pairing and support for Google Assistant and other voice assistants. The Jabra Sound Plus app allows for firmware updates and provides access to a “Find My Jabra” feature, helping users locate their misplaced earbuds.
Conclusion: The Ideal Earbuds for Durability and Performance
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds offer a durable design, impressive sound quality, and a range of advanced features. With their rugged build and IP68 rating, they are among the toughest earbuds on the market. The sound quality may not be as refined as higher-priced alternatives, but they offer a well-balanced audio experience.
Retailing at $199, the Elite 8 Actives provide excellent value for money, especially for those who prioritize durability and secure fit. As the holiday season approaches, it wouldn’t be surprising to see discounts on these earbuds, making them an even more attractive option. Jabra has once again delivered a compelling product that combines durability, performance, and impressive features to serve the needs of demanding users.
Elite 8 Active Key Features, as per Jabra:
- IP68 rated dust-proof, watertight, sweat-proof, and 1m drop-resistant earbuds
- IP54 rated dust- and splash-proof case
- Crystal-clear sound and added dimensionality with Dolby Audio
- Jabra ShakeGrip technology for a secure fit in a sleek design
- Adaptive Hybrid ANC for auto-filtering background noise
- Wind Neutralizing HearThrough for indoor and outdoor activities
- Six-mic call technology with wind noise protecting mesh
- 6mm speaker drivers
- Up to 8 hours of battery life and up to 32 hours with the case (ANC on)
- Stable smartwatch connectivity
- Google Assistant, Fast Pair, Swift Pair & Spotify Tap playback
- Bluetooth multipoint connection
- Ready to support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) & LC3, LC3plus codec with a future firmware update
- Price: $199
