Just received my JBL synchros reflect (wired version) with Android control button. Bought it from American seller; from_wow in Ebay which advertised it as "like new, still in retail package". Received it in just 10 days after payment. Truly speedy delivery thanks man. For your information I have tried JBL synchros reflect (bluetooth) before and I am truly impressed with its sound quality. So this wired version has exactly similar sound quality. So just a matter of preference -wired or bluetooth. For me I prefered a wired version since it has almost all features that I want and need from a sport earphone. and obviously the wired version is much cheaper. After opening the box I played it straight away. Burn in period? Forget it. It sound phenomenally good right out of box.
Features I want/need from sport earphone;
1. Short wire since I usually use it with smartphone and armband. It supplied with extension cable for normal use.
2. Volume button for Android. Yes it is fully functioning with my HTC Desire 820s. The other sport earphone with volume button that I have is BOSE SiE2 , unfortunately it is an iPhone version so it is not functioning with Android phone. My other 2 sport earphone are Meelectronics S6P and Auria Zeal which has volume slider which is functioning but not very friendly.
3. Remote control and microphone. This is important when the phone is inside the armband and I am doing some serious workout. Fortunately all 4 sport earphones ; JBL , S6P , Auria and SiE2 has fully functioning microphone. The other side of caller can hear my voice clearly. So far only JBL and S6P can control music play -one click for play/pause , 2 clicks for next/ forward and 3 clicks for rewind/back. Auria and SIE2 have erratic behaviour when handling remote music play. But for simple answering and ending call all 4 sport earphones function well.
4. Secure fit while exercise. The best fit is BOSE SiE2 >JBL reflect> S6P > Auria Zeal. Auria Zeal has fairly good fit initially but after just few uses somehow it just loose it fit. BOSE earfin has the best design so far. JBL reflect has almost similar design of earfin with my Audio Technica CKX7 (or C-tip as called by Audio Technica). But I never intent to use CKX7 for sport due to absent of remote and microphone. Other manufacturer like Bluedio has similar design (copied?) on its bluetooth sport earphone like Bluedio S3. But Bluedio is still Bluedio. I have their Bluetooth earset and there is no way that they can have sound quality like SiE2 or JBL reflect.
So now the unboxing;
The box looks fairly new and has been open before.
But everything inside look new.
Taken with flash to show the reflective cable and similarly reflective extension cable.
Side by side with SiE2. Different placement of remote, volume control and microphone. With JBL reflect the design makes the microphone closer to mouth but the remote and volume control is best handle with right hand. SiE2 remote button and microphone located at Y splitter and further away from mouth but button can be pressed with either hand. Volume buttons on SiE2 did not work with Android phone.
Different earfin design. SiE2 is more secure.
Different shirt clip. The Reebox branded SiE2 shirt clip is the winner here. Hey JBL ! that design is only suitable for a pen
C-tip of CKX7 is almost similar with JBL reflect. The different is CKX7 is a pure in ear design earphone and JBL reflect and SiE2 is half in ear design. This design is more suitable for sport since I can partly hear the surrounding /environment noise. The disadvantage -needs higher volume.
Sound quality;
1. Bass -this is it. Big, thumping but very tight bass. Fortunately the bass is well controlled and not overshadowing the details and treble. The amount of bass is almost similar to my biggest bass hitter of all -the Pioneer SE-CL541. But compared to the Pioneer, JBL bass is better since it is well controlled and tight. On Pioneer the enormous bass is best for certain music like EDM but somehow I like it for rock/ metal too since it enhance the drum thumping effect. But details and treble are almost drown out.
2. Details and vocals- definitely not the best IEM for this. SiE2 is slightly better in this area .My other IEM Sony XBA10 is still a king followed by JVC FXT90. Details is still quite good but vocals is nearly drown out by big bass and brightly sparkling treble. I am not going to call the JBL as V-shape , it is still fairly balanced but more towards bass. Unlike FXT90 which is also a kind of balanced sound IEM but more towards treble. What make FXT90 better is vocal , which is clearer.
3.Treble -another big winner here. Bright and sparkling. But somehow I still like treble from FXT90. The treble on JBL is mixed with bass making the the treble sound not as pure as on FXT90. A bassy cymbal anyone ? Just my opinion. Not really a downside , just a different sound signature. Still enjoyable.
Overall SQ for me; FXT90 > JBL reflect> IM50> XBA 10 . For sport earphone SQ ; JBL reflect > BOSE SiE2 > Auria Zeal > Meelectronics S6P.
Features I want/need from sport earphone;
1. Short wire since I usually use it with smartphone and armband. It supplied with extension cable for normal use.
2. Volume button for Android. Yes it is fully functioning with my HTC Desire 820s. The other sport earphone with volume button that I have is BOSE SiE2 , unfortunately it is an iPhone version so it is not functioning with Android phone. My other 2 sport earphone are Meelectronics S6P and Auria Zeal which has volume slider which is functioning but not very friendly.
3. Remote control and microphone. This is important when the phone is inside the armband and I am doing some serious workout. Fortunately all 4 sport earphones ; JBL , S6P , Auria and SiE2 has fully functioning microphone. The other side of caller can hear my voice clearly. So far only JBL and S6P can control music play -one click for play/pause , 2 clicks for next/ forward and 3 clicks for rewind/back. Auria and SIE2 have erratic behaviour when handling remote music play. But for simple answering and ending call all 4 sport earphones function well.
4. Secure fit while exercise. The best fit is BOSE SiE2 >JBL reflect> S6P > Auria Zeal. Auria Zeal has fairly good fit initially but after just few uses somehow it just loose it fit. BOSE earfin has the best design so far. JBL reflect has almost similar design of earfin with my Audio Technica CKX7 (or C-tip as called by Audio Technica). But I never intent to use CKX7 for sport due to absent of remote and microphone. Other manufacturer like Bluedio has similar design (copied?) on its bluetooth sport earphone like Bluedio S3. But Bluedio is still Bluedio. I have their Bluetooth earset and there is no way that they can have sound quality like SiE2 or JBL reflect.
So now the unboxing;
The box looks fairly new and has been open before.
But everything inside look new.
Taken with flash to show the reflective cable and similarly reflective extension cable.
Side by side with SiE2. Different placement of remote, volume control and microphone. With JBL reflect the design makes the microphone closer to mouth but the remote and volume control is best handle with right hand. SiE2 remote button and microphone located at Y splitter and further away from mouth but button can be pressed with either hand. Volume buttons on SiE2 did not work with Android phone.
Different earfin design. SiE2 is more secure.
Different shirt clip. The Reebox branded SiE2 shirt clip is the winner here. Hey JBL ! that design is only suitable for a pen
C-tip of CKX7 is almost similar with JBL reflect. The different is CKX7 is a pure in ear design earphone and JBL reflect and SiE2 is half in ear design. This design is more suitable for sport since I can partly hear the surrounding /environment noise. The disadvantage -needs higher volume.
Sound quality;
1. Bass -this is it. Big, thumping but very tight bass. Fortunately the bass is well controlled and not overshadowing the details and treble. The amount of bass is almost similar to my biggest bass hitter of all -the Pioneer SE-CL541. But compared to the Pioneer, JBL bass is better since it is well controlled and tight. On Pioneer the enormous bass is best for certain music like EDM but somehow I like it for rock/ metal too since it enhance the drum thumping effect. But details and treble are almost drown out.
2. Details and vocals- definitely not the best IEM for this. SiE2 is slightly better in this area .My other IEM Sony XBA10 is still a king followed by JVC FXT90. Details is still quite good but vocals is nearly drown out by big bass and brightly sparkling treble. I am not going to call the JBL as V-shape , it is still fairly balanced but more towards bass. Unlike FXT90 which is also a kind of balanced sound IEM but more towards treble. What make FXT90 better is vocal , which is clearer.
3.Treble -another big winner here. Bright and sparkling. But somehow I still like treble from FXT90. The treble on JBL is mixed with bass making the the treble sound not as pure as on FXT90. A bassy cymbal anyone ?
Just my opinion. Not really a downside , just a different sound signature. Still enjoyable.Overall SQ for me; FXT90 > JBL reflect> IM50> XBA 10 . For sport earphone SQ ; JBL reflect > BOSE SiE2 > Auria Zeal > Meelectronics S6P.
