TL;DR
JLab's Epic Open Sport headphones aim for the sweet spot between awareness and audio quality for athletes, and they largely hit it! Expect a secure, comfortable fit that stays put during workouts, surprisingly solid sound with a decent bass kick (even for open-ear buds), and a standout hybrid control system featuring both tactile buttons and touch. While the charging case feels a bit budget and call quality can struggle in loud environments, they boast impressive battery life, LDAC support, and wireless charging at a very competitive price. Ready to see if they're your next workout companion? Read the full review to find out!
We have previously reviewed several JLab products, including the in-ear headphones Jlab JBuds Pods ANC and the over-ear model JBuds Lux ANC. In both instances, the conclusion has been consistent: they offer strong performance for their price point. While they may not always achieve top-tier benchmarks, they consistently deliver significant value.
Our latest review focuses on the JLab Epic Open Sport. These are open-ear sports headphones, similar in design to models such as Huawei FreeArc or JBL Endurance Zone. The market for open-ear headphones has expanded significantly, driven by the premise of allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings while listening to audio.
JLab promises support for high-resolution audio via LDAC, extended battery life, and a durable construction with an IP55 rating, all at a price just over a thousand kronor. We investigate whether they fulfill these claims!
Design and Comfort
Upon handling the case, the immediate impression is not one of premium quality. The lid exhibits a degree of flimsiness and instability during opening and closing. While not critical, the hinge mechanism could benefit from improved robustness.
Consistent with competitor designs, the case is quite substantial. However, given their designation as dedicated sports headphones, typically stored in a gym bag rather than a tight jeans pocket, their size is less of a concern.
The headphones feature a form factor similar to competitors like Huawei FreeArc or JBL Endurance Zone, incorporating a robust hook that loops around the ear. In this regard, JLab has achieved notable success.
Despite their moderate weight, approximately 9 grams per earbud, they offer exceptional stability. Regardless of head movement, they remain firmly in position. We have worn them for many hours without experiencing any discomfort, making them barely noticeable. This secure fit is paramount for sports headphones, eliminating concerns about dislodgement during activity.
Sound Quality
Consistent with other JLab headphones we’ve tested, these units are pre-set to the “JLab Signature” sound profile out of the box. This profile delivers impressive audio quality without requiring any adjustments.
The bass frequencies in Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy are precisely rendered, delivering a powerful and dynamic presence. Vocals in Cowboy Junkies’ Postcard Blues are reproduced with clarity and distinction, achieving an accurate sonic representation. JLab has equipped these headphones with large 14.2 mm drivers that effectively articulate the audio.
As is characteristic of open-ear headphone designs, the absence of an ear canal seal means the deepest bass frequencies lack the ultimate physical impact of closed-back models. Nevertheless, the overall sound remains remarkably full and engaging.
The headphones also support LDAC, which is always appreciated for higher audio resolution. While the inclusion of this feature on open-ear sports headphones might seem unconventional when it could be considered more appropriate for models like the JBuds Pods ANC we previously tested, the provision of superior audio quality is undeniably a positive attribute.
Another noteworthy characteristic is their volume capabilities; they offer substantial output. This capability is not universally found across all sports headphone models, yet it is particularly crucial for open-ear headphones, which are positioned slightly away from the ear and must effectively contend with ambient noise, such as in a loud gym environment.
Features and App
We have covered the companion app in our previous reviews of JLab headphones, and it continues to impress. It features a comprehensive equalizer, offering several preset modes and full user control over the audio profile via a 10-band equalizer.
A standout feature of the JLab Epic Open Sport is its intuitive control scheme. JLab has intelligently recognized the limitations of touch-only controls in certain scenarios. Consequently, in addition to touch-sensitive surfaces integrated into the logo, a tactile physical button is present on the top of each earbud.
Within the app, users can precisely assign functions to both the touch surfaces and the physical buttons, and it’s also possible to disable either control type entirely. These physical buttons prove invaluable, particularly when wearing gloves or when hands are moist during strenuous activities. Conversely, the touch controls operate flawlessly for casual use at home or in an office setting. This hybrid control approach is a highly commendable design choice from JLab, one that other manufacturers would do well to emulate.
Naturally, there is support for Multipoint connectivity, enabling simultaneous connection to both a computer and a mobile device. Its performance was seamless during our testing.
Battery Life and Charging
JLab specifies 7 hours of playtime from the earbuds and an additional 23 hours from the case, totaling 30 hours. In our tests, we consistently yielded approximately 7 hours of playtime before depletion. This duration is generally sufficient for the majority of extended workout sessions.
A welcome feature is the case’s support for wireless charging, a convenience not always present at this price point. Fast charging of the earbuds is also available via USB-C for urgent situations, providing approximately 1 hour of playtime from a 10-minute charge. While this is marginally less efficient than some competitors who offer greater playtime for similar charging durations, it remains adequate for salvaging a workout session.
Call Quality
The headphones are equipped with two microphones per earbud. With the assistance of Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), they aim to mitigate ambient noise during calls.
Performance is generally satisfactory. In quieter environments, vocal clarity is excellent. However, in noisier surroundings, their performance diminishes considerably, with particular difficulty encountered in very windy outdoor conditions, where the microphones demonstrably struggle. For calls conducted indoors or within a vehicle, they function effectively.
Conclusion
Overall, we are highly impressed with the JLab Epic Open Sport. They deliver strong audio performance, feature an exemplary control solution with both physical buttons and touch surfaces, and provide an ideal fit for workouts. The inclusion of wireless charging further enhances their appeal.
The recommended price is 1,190 SEK, but at the time of testing, they can be found for approximately 890 SEK. This positions them as one of the more affordable options among serious open-ear sports headphones. At this price point, they offer substantial value. However, a less-than-premium charging case and merely acceptable battery life marginally detract from the overall score.
JLab provided review samples for this test. The sender of materials has no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
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