I have had an evening and morning with the JL Labs and I have some thoughts:
Pack-Ins - Nice charging cable, ample foam tips and silicone tips, I got a good seal with XL(no need for after-market), tip rolling for comfort and sq
Case - very well built, metal, classy looks, dongle mounts inside, lights easily read, one nice feature is a non-skid bottom
Build - just okay, faceplate feels cheap, not premium feeling(but not premium price either) I paid 150
App - It has features, EQ is funky and very sensitive to control when set to a level(needs improvement), I am good with the "signature" preset so no big deal to me
Connection - a very solid LDAC connection - my sample rate is 96000Hz at 32bits(Android) AAC for iPhone, LE Audio support on compatible devices. The Epic Lab Edition earbuds are compatible with the new LC3 codec
Touch Controls - somewhat customizable, but I am still trying to master and remember the settings(my bad).
Some notes - most of my listening has been to Qobuz(mix of Hi-Res and CD quality) I found the Spinfit Omni to balance out the sound(my go to at this point, but happy with stock as well).
The driver configuration is a two-driver hybrid, one Dynamic for Bass and a BA Knowles driver. Out of the gate, the sound is full, forward and very bass focused. As is my experience with DD, I am giving them a little settle in time, and then will tip roll again.
The Bass has gobs of quantity, both mid bass and sub. These DD can really bring the slam and the rumble. I wish the decay was a little faster so that the notes didn't linger as long, but that is a wish. I have noticed the bass is very genre dependent. For example, the bass quality is more apparent in instrumental jazz. When the music is modern rock and involved, that is where the decay should be a little shorter. When the track is not bass heavy it really sounds excellent. I loved how GnR, Perhaps, rocked my ears.
The mid range is well done and forward. The slight decay bleed occurs into the mids but it also creates the fullness, these are very full sounding. The upper mids which can be harsh in many modern tunings is smooth for long listening. Sade is very smooth and her vocals are at stage. Male vocals sound a row away from the stage
Treble could use a bit more sparkle, I am not sure if I can EQ because I do not like the EQ in the app as mentioned above(firmware could improve). This is going to sound contradictory, while I love the "Signature" preset, the Bass preset gives the treble a touch more sparkle, to my ears. Overall, the treble is smooth and non-offensive. Not bad, just needs more extension.
Staging is very good. Great stereo separation. Also, while the sound is full you can more certainly distinguish the instruments as there is enough air. The tonality and timbre of the instruments is okay. Overall, the staging is good.
I no longer have the AZ80, 3ANC, Samsung Buds 2 Pro or Jabre Elite 10 or any of the others that I see questions about. I don't feel it is proper to ever recall and comment on recollection alone. I will say these and the 3ANC would be the best comparison, based on price and performance. If I remember the 3ANC were tuned less bassy and had a little more clarity. Do not take that as the JL Labs isn't clear because it has ample clarity. The 3ANC were one of the buds I held on to the longest.
In closing, at 150 a complete steal at their 200 list and excellent buy, especially for those Android users, because of the Codecs. I do not have iPhone so someone else can chime in. For most folks I feel these are a keeper, for me I am enamored with the EX. If the Svanar had the solid, stable connection of the JL Labs it would be King.
I haven't walked outside or made calls. I will be happy to update once I do that. ANC as well
