Jabra Elite 4 Active

I have only had these earbuds for 6 days, I am still getting used to them, here are my thoughts so far. As I work from home I appreciate the noise cancelling. Not all noise is cancelled, but it takes the edge off, for example, road noise. They are not small, and it is not possible to lie down on your side with them in as they are uncomfortable. I don;’t like that you have to press the bottom of the earbud to control the volume/pause/skip etc, as this makes the earbud press against your inner ear bone and this doesn’t feel pleasant.

I’ve really enjoyed trying these Jabra earbuds out. My brother said they are a reputable brand, and these did not disappoint.

The Jabra Elite 4 Active arrives in quite nondescript packaging (bordering on generic looking if I’m honest) and the little charging case doesn’t really carry any loud branding. However the case is sturdy and the charge lasts FOREVER.

I normally have some trouble with in ear headphones as I have various piercings dotted around my ears. This can lead to an irregular or uncomfortable fit. I swapped the default medium Eargels to the small ones and they are snug and feel great on, even while exercising.

When using the Active Noise Cancellation, it is very easy to just zone out and the sound quality is very nice. I’ve been using the Jabra Sound+ app on my phone to play around with the different modes while listening to a range of different genres and would recommend anyone who gets these to do the same to find your ideal setting.

After going on several jogs with these in, I have tried out the Hearthrough mode and found it really helpful to stay aware of my surrounding and traffic etc. I also like that you need to press the buds to access the controls as this reduces the chances of brushing past one and accidentally skipping a song or pausing a track.

Would definitely recommend these!

Whilst opening up the package I was a little sceptical whether these ears pods would perform up to what they had said. Firstly the case is very sturdy and feels robust with the lid securing brilliantly. The pods themselves are light and they fit amazingly in your ears. Even with sharp movements they do not slip or move. The sound quality is amazing and once you download the Jabra app you can set the music to exactly how you would like it. Overall really impressed with these stylish ears pods

I think the Jabra Elite 4 are a decent pair of earphones although overpriced at their current price. Whilst the earphones are extremely comfortable and lightweight, there is a small trade off with the sound quality – particularly when compared with competitors at a similar price point. At their default settings, the earphones have a very ‘flat’ sound. The Jabra Sound+ app is essential to modify the EQ to get the most out of the ear phones, and they are certainly capable of generating plenty of bass. Unfortunately the sound stage is quite limited compared to my Anker earphones; I suspect this is due to the the ‘smaller’ 6mm drivers. Sound isolation is excellent even in the absence of active noise cancelling (ANC). The ‘HearThrough’ functionality works as intended. Furthermore, the headset works perfectly well when making phone calls and the microphone quality is quite good. Battery life is exceptional – I have yet to charge my case despite heavy usage. I also like the fact the Jabra app provides an indicator of battery reserve for each earphone and the case. Lastly, the fit is excellent and remain in my ears despite working out. Ultimately I think the Elite 4 Active are a good pair of earphones for everyday use or exercising. I suspect most people will find the sound quality good enough for their needs although unlikely to cater for audiophiles or enthusiasts.

Having received the Jabra Elite 4 Active in good order I was immediately presented with an opportunity to test this device on the go whilst visiting London on the train. I have experience of another manufacturer’s Bluetooth earbuds (not a particularly mainstream brand at a slightly lower price point) and was disappointed, particularly in-call. Whilst I haven’t specifically tested in-call yet, in every other respect my experience with the Jabra Elite 4 Active has been decent.Right off the bat the fit was excellent – extremely comfortable; insert and a small twist sees the earbuds sit nicely in the ear. I noticed little movement or slip, even when chewing. Jabra support these earbuds with an App which was relatively easy to follow, although I recommend activating “Find My Jabra” which seems to make them pair more readily following initial set-up. The options are just right, with both a equaliser and options in relation to noise reduction to achieve the perfect setting.Sounds quality exceeded my expectations. The bass was deep but not over-powering and I noticed myself picking up components of tunes I’d missed using my previous device. The noise reduction obviously helped here immensely – on a noisy train I could literally here nothing else (although there is a pass-through option too). The only negative for me was the case in which you store the earbuds and which offers a charge. Compared to my other experience I found the finish a little lacking and the hinged top somewhat flimsy. I can imagine this getting squashed out of shape in a pocket or bag.However in general my initial impressions are very positive and I had no hesitation in offering 4/5 stars at this stage.