Audio brand JLab has launched, what it calls, “its most premium true wireless” earbuds, and looking at the specs, that statement isn’t total hyperbole.
Dubbed the JLab Epic Lab Edition, these earbuds sport a “hybrid dual-driver design”. One speaker is for pumping out “rich bass and low frequencies” while the other supports the Knowles Preferred Listening Response Curve – or the Knowles Curve for short. Without getting too deep in the weeds, the latter expands the treble sound profile allowing for better high-frequency output. The company states this combination results in a “well-balanced and crystal-clear” audio experience that isn’t possible on earbuds with a single driver.
JLab promises that you'll be able to enjoy higher-quality sound on their smartphones thanks to this hardware – though only through Android, via LDAC.
Notable features
When it comes to features, the JLab Epic Lab earbuds are stacked. They come with Smart Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) to automatically adjust how much environmental sound is blocked. For example, a noisy environment could result in more powerful noise cancelation while a more quiet place tones it down. This can be helpful in extending battery life. Normally, the earbuds have an over 56-hour battery life, but with ANC activated, the number drops down to about 36 hours.
It also supports Bluetooth LE Audio, which makes it future-proof. If you’re not familiar, Bluetooth LE Audio (Low Energy) is a wireless standard capable of enhancing audio via improved bitrates and lower latency between the earbuds and source. It can even deliver longer battery life at the same audio quality as old-school Bluetooth. This tech hit the scene last year, however, there aren't many smartphone models that offer support – at the moment, JLab has confirmed that the buds are compatible with:
- Google Pixel 7/8
- Samsung Galaxy S23 / S23+ / S23 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 / Flip 4
- Sony Xperia 1 V
- Sony Xperia 5 V
Availability
Other notable features on the Epic Lab earbuds include support for spatial audio through Dolby Atmos as well as Windows Sonic, and Google Fast Pair for quick connectivity, plus a resistance rating of IP55 to protect against sweat and dust. Also, the charging case accepts wireless charging.
You can purchase the pair off JLab’s website in Black only for $199.99/£199.99/$249.99 AUD. Around mid-November, an update will arrive on the JLab app adding “a preset to the Knowles Curve” alongside the ability to switch between the brand’s Signature Sound and Bass Boost profiles.
While we have you, be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best earbuds for 2023.
Update 11-14-2023: This article originally referred to the ability of the JLab Epic Buds' ability to upgrade devices to LE Audio via their included USB-C dongle. JLab has now updated its information to say that this is not possible, and Bluetooth LE Audio will only be available on compatible devices.
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