Jlab Epic Air Sport review – We can be more than (gym) friends

Jlab’s Epic Air Sport earbuds aren’t just for the active and sporty, though there’s plenty for them here, too. They bring a versatile feature set, packed into an IP66 rating to resist dust and big splashes. They’re great for active individuals who want a pair of sporty buds that are just as useful outside the gym. However some compromises in the sound mix might leave some audiophiles wanting a bit more.

Making sport of it

The Jlab Epic Air Sport earbuds look like standard sports earbuds. Their hook design means they never randomly lean out of place or fall off without disturbance. The hook is made of flexible rubber, while the rest of the bud is made of solid plastic. They also come with four pairs of silicone tips and a very handy pair of cloud foam tips.

An IP66 rating means these don’t fear high water jets (within reason). The case is bulky, and while not disastrous, isn’t fun to carry. Wireless charging is a nice option, though.

Versatility is the Epic Air Sport’s calling card. They come packed with features including (breathe in): highly customisable buttons, auto-on/off detection, wear detection, ANC, ambient mode (called Be Aware), movie mode, and a few others. One feature that would make this a perfect list would be multipoint connection. A damn shame that it’s missing.

The customisable buttons are our favourite feature. The ability to control volume, next or previous, play or pause, answer or reject calls, noise canceling modes, and more without pulling out your phone is handy when out and about in South Africa. Because reasons. Beyond safety, between these controls and active noise cancelling, they’re the most relevant features to daily use.

Much more than a gym buddy

Infrared sensors enable wear detection, a neat feature that detects when you’ve inserted them, showing a notification to connect in one button. This mitigates the pain of no multipoint. At least it connects quickly when you have to switch devices. Auto on/off detects when you’ve taken them off and pauses automatically. It’s a cool feature, in theory, but less convenient when it’s generally quicker to just pause and switch to Be Aware instead.

Without ANC active, the hook pressed against your skull amplifies the droning sounds of your body, particularly when active. This often means you can’t exercise without ANC or music on. The ANC itself is decent, though we’ve heard stronger from cheaper headphones. The secure fit means there isn’t much sound leakage anyway.

The Epic Air Sport’s sound quality is decent, which feels somewhat underwhelming at this price. Much of this is a personal preference since we prefer clear trebles and separation. While not terrible, these aren’t great at either. Middling trebles and dominant mids result in a warm mix lacking high-end clarity and detail, though that EQ range bodes well for vocals. Only audio enthusiasts are bound to notice this, and even then, it’s easy to overlook considering how much more these buds can do.

Another of the Epic Air Sport’s standout qualities is its incredible battery. A fifteen-minute charge gets you an hour of playtime. Each earbud maxes out at about 16 hours of battery life, and the case supports another three full charges, totalling up to over 70 hours of playtime, less with ANC on. The case charges in a little over three hours.

Jlab Epic Air Sport verdict

The Jlab Epic Air Sport earbuds’ vast feature set makes them ideal for fitness enthusiasts and everyday users. Customizable buttons, wear detection, and strong battery performance ensure versatility. However, sound quality may disappoint audiophiles seeking precision and clarity, and the lack of multipoint connectivity feels like a missed opportunity. You can pick up the Jlab Epic Air Sport buds online for R2,000.