JBL Wave Buds
See price on AmazonOverall Score 8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
JBL Tune Flex
See price on AmazonOverall Score 7.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | JBL Wave Buds | JBL Tune Flex |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IP54 | IPX4 |
weight | 9g | 9.6g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 8mm | 12mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | 100dB/mW | 108dB/mW | |
POWER | battery life | 8hours | 8hours |
battery life of charging case | 24hours | 24hours | |
charge time | 2hours | 2hours | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 2only | 4only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
mic sensitivity | -38dBV/Pa | -38dBV/Pa | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
IP ratings is the rank of protection given by a casing, against solids and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to resistance against liquids (water).
Scoring IPX4, the JBL Tune Flex's rating is read as, the first number of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second value of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. In comparison to the JBL Tune Flex, JBL Wave Buds have a rating of IP54 meaning that
ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The JBL Tune Flex have a weight of 9.6g . We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry.
JBL Wave Buds, at 9g weigh less than the JBL Tune Flex by -0.6g For a device to be true wireless it must have no wires connecting any part of the device together, JBL Tune Flex are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is an important difference as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the pair of earbuds . JBL Wave Buds also is true wireless because it has no wires linking the pair of earbuds . JBL Tune Flex are resistant to sweat JBL Wave Buds's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc JBL Tune Flex have stereo speakers, what this means is that JBL Tune Flex's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience. The JBL Wave Buds also have stereo speakers ANC uses advanced kind of tech to reduce ambient sounds.
How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.
The JBL Tune Flex have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue since you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background sounds.
The JBL Wave Buds too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both devices ideal for flights and morning travels. Each operate with different noise cancellation types, pick the setting that suits your travel or that suites your relaxation time. JBL Tune Flex stay tightly in place, this creates an acoustic seal that reduces background noise and also prevents the earbuds music from leaking out at the same.
Both JBL Wave Buds, and JBL Tune Flex have passive noise reduction which means that both limit ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out. JBL Tune Flex driver unit is 12mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the device, the unit size dictates the sound produced by the device.
JBL Wave Buds driver unit is 8mm in diameter,
which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of JBL Tune Flex by 4mm
, as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better quality sound. JBL Tune Flex's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio device produces low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal while at it.
JBL Wave Buds's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices can produce equal bass JBL Tune Flex's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well an audio component produces high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal on its way through. JBL Wave Buds's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble SPL, is the pressure level of sound, in decibels, dB, JBL Tune Flex's measurement is 108dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
JBL Wave Buds's sound pressure level measurement is 100dB/mW. The sound pressure level, a device is can be taken differently by separate people, so we need to have the means to get a standard measurement of sound level expressed in numerical terms. The JBL Tune Flex's battery life is 8 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge.
A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. JBL Wave Buds's battery life is equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and the JBL Tune Flex's case is said to have a full charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself. JBL Wave Buds's charging case has a battery life of 24 hours, equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex It takes 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Tune Flex's battery.
It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time. JBL Wave Buds takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex The JBL Tune Flex have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the device has a low battery. The battery indicator lights display the charging status of your earbuds and charging case.
JBL Wave Buds too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you tell the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low. The JBL Tune Flex use USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable. JBL Wave Buds too use USB TYPE-C.
This USB-C plug comes along with most current laptops, phones, and tablets. The JBL Tune Flex have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. JBL Wave Buds has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
JBL Tune Flex have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth. JBL Wave Buds have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex JBL Tune Flex support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps.
Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the JBL Tune Flex will work fine with your iPad. If you intend on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The JBL Wave Buds support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate. JBL Tune Flex have 4 microphones.
While the JBL Wave Buds microphones are 2, less than that of JBL Tune Flex by 2 . More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out noise. JBL Tune Flex have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out background sounds from the earbuds' sound. The JBL Wave Buds too use a noise-canceling microphone.
This is useful in noisy areas. The JBL Tune Flex microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The magnitude of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a measure of its sensitivity.
It's the 'loudness' of the sound that the earbud microphone can pick up. The JBL Wave Buds microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. Microphone sensitivity is a measurement of a microphone's efficiency on how well it converts voices to electrical energy.
The JBL Tune Flex support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing them The JBL Wave Buds support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music while being aware of your surrounding, say you’re having a jog but still want to be able to hear traffic. When lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the JBL Tune Flex have a find earbuds feature. JBL Wave Buds too have the find earbuds feature.
Simply use the device app on your phone to play an alarm from your device to help you locate them. The JBL Tune Flex support fast charging. Usually, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.
Also the JBL Wave Buds too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
JBL Tune Flex support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect. The JBL Wave Buds have a multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex . Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call and not miss notifications coming from another connected device.
JBL Tune Flex have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The JBL Wave Buds too have the mute function. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk.
With the JBL Tune Flex, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds. The JBL Wave Buds too have a control panel on them. The JBL Tune Flex support voice prompts.
With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection. The JBL Wave Buds too support voice prompts .i.e the device will notify you if the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds. JBL Tune Flex come with a special pouch.
Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them inside your pockets without a cover can easily damage them. JBL Wave Buds also have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.