The Jlab Lux ANC buds offer a lot of bang for your buck. Like most Jlab headphones, this pair is sturdily built, has versatile and responsive button functions, and is topped off with a monster battery that can go up to around 70 hours. If you care about high sound quality more than anything else, you'll be better served elsewhere.
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Build
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Sound
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Functionality
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Battery
The JLab Lux ANC headphones are one of the brand’s more high-end headphones aimed at the average consumer; only the self-explanatory Studio Pro ANC headphones pack better sound and features (for a bigger price tag, of course). For the price, these headphones offer everything a regular listener needs: a durable build, reliable battery, competent ANC, and (at least) decent sound quality. It’s hard to think of many headphones that offer as smooth and dependable an experience as these can at their price point.
Body politic
If you’re familiar with our last JLab review, much of this will sound similar. The Lux ANC cans have outstanding build quality. After extended (and we mean extended) use, nothing has come loose. The cloud foam makes for a comfy fit, and the top sponge also isn’t huge, so no headphone head dents here.
The JLab standard is probably more present in the sound quality than anything else. Like the Epic Air Sports, the mix is loud and a little bit muddy with bass and mids that are louder than trebles. The muddiness is not as intense as with the Epic Airs, though, making these cans more versatile for different genres.
JLab headphones excel in feature functionality and accessibility. Buttons are tactile and responsive. From these, you can toggle everything you need, like pause, next, volume, and noise-cancellation modes. The less you need to reach for your phone, the better.
These undoubtedly have the farthest-reaching connectivity we’ve tested so far, permeating through multiple walls if connected to a quality device. The claimed range of more than 30ft seems well justified; these will far outperform any earbud when doing chores all over the house without your phone or laptop nearby. Multipoint is mandatory for a more-than-entry pair of headphones, and these don’t disappoint.
Not that ANC party
When it comes to noise-cancellation, the JLab Lux headphones have it as good as you can get at this price range. Headphone size and design often gives them inferior ANC to earphones, so expect a fair amount of leakage when using these outside. The other two modes, Normal and Be Aware, work just as well, so you don’t have to worry about taking them off just for a quick conversation.
Speaking of conversation, the mic is also great. You’ll easily be able to conduct meetings and calls with these. It’s not as clear as a smartphone mic, but it’s enough to be clearly heard on the other end without issue. Battery life is another home run on the JLab Lux ANCs. You can get a crazy 70 hours of playtime on a full charge, which comes down to just under 40 hours with ANC on for most of the time.
On the Jlab app, you can tweak EQ to a noticeable but minimal effect, and toggle between noise-cancelling modes and various customisable background sounds. The background sounds negate the need to download sleep sound apps. Those with sensitive ears can activate safe hearing mode to limit the amount of noise coming in to a certain decibel level. Overall, the app is minimal, so once you’ve programmed your go-to features into the buttons, you rarely find yourself opening it.
JLab Lux ANC verdict
The JLab Lux ANC headphones have been on the market for about two years now, and this has only given them more value for money. If you’re willing to make very mild compromises in sound quality, these cans offer wide utility with a quality build, versatile and accessible buttons, and a battery life that can chug along for a few days. These retail online for R1,800.
