JBL UA True Wireless Streak review
Our Verdict
The JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak shows forcefulness in sound and blueprint, only at that place'southward besides much weakness in other areas to fully recommend information technology.
For
- Warm, bright audio
- Potent connectivity
- Fully waterproof
- Personalized fit
Against
- Lacks extra features and app support
- Unreliable controls
- Weak transparency mode
- Quick-draining battery and discharge issues
Tom's Guide Verdict
The JBL UA True Wireless Streak shows strength in sound and blueprint, simply there's also much weakness in other areas to fully recommend it.
Pros
- +
Warm, vivid audio
- +
Strong connectivity
- +
Fully waterproof
- +
Personalized fit
Cons
- -
Lacks extra features and app support
- -
Unreliable controls
- -
Weak transparency mode
- -
Quick-draining battery and discharge issues
The JBL UA True Wireless Streak is the latest collaboration between the sound and sportswear brands that packages bass-forward sound and fitness-friendly features into a waterproof pattern. It also comes with multiple ear tips and a free yr of service to i of the best running apps for Android and iOS: Map My Run.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak specs
Color: Black, Red, Teal, White
Battery life (rated): 6 hours, 18 hours (with charging instance)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Processor: Not stated
Size: Not stated
Weight: 0.ii ounces (per bud), two.2 ounces (charging example)
After a week of testing, these sporty wireless earbuds showed their worth in some areas, while disappointing in others. Stiff audio performance will boost your adrenaline during workouts, and features similar Ambient manner are ideal for increasing awareness when jogging outside. Nevertheless, the Streak'southward lack of app support, extra features, and responsive controls are blunders that hurt its overall value. Keep reading our full JBL UE True Wireless Streak review to find out why information technology won't be joining the ranks of the best sport headphones.
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JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak review: Price and availability
- $149 at Amazon
- $99 at B&H
The JBL UA True Wireless Streak can be purchased for $149.95 straight from Under Armour or at major online retailers, including Amazon and B&H, the latter currently selling it for as low equally $99.95. Four colors are available: Blackness, Red, Teal, and White.
This set of buds falls correct in betwixt the inexpensive and sub-luxury price points. By comparison, the Streak is more expensive than critical darlings like the Jabra Elite 65t ($99) and Klipsch T5 II Sport ($129), but cheaper than higher-priced models like the Bose Sport Earbuds ($159) and one of the best wireless earbuds out there, the Beats Powerbeats Pro ($199).
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JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Design and comfort
- Fully waterproof
- Secure fit, just at the toll of long-term condolement
As well the Project Rock special editions, all other JBL 10 UA products bear monotonous designs, the Streak falling into that category as well. JBL focused on sustainability over style, which shows in the adroitness. These buds come with an IPX7 rating that makes them fully waterproof in up to ane meter of h2o for 30 minutes. The sturdy plastic shell ensures you they won't break when striking the physical.
There isn't much particular in the design other than the UA logo imprinted right on the forepart. JBL's decision to requite some of the colors a translucent exterior gives the buds a cheaper look likewise.
The charging case is the most attractive component of the Streak. Its pill-shaped form is striking and fits nicely into denim pockets or a gym bag. I too like the UA branding on the inside lid, which also has a powerful magnet that keeps the case tightly shut. The LEDs on the front end and embossed UA logo at the tiptop are neat touches likewise. At 2.2 ounces information technology'due south not the lightest charging instance, but isn't something that will weigh yous downward when sprinting to the gym.
The UA Truthful Wireless Streak and the best running wireless earbuds have 2 things in mutual: quality condolement and fit. JBL achieves both with the Streak. Multiple ear tip sizes and fins come bundled with the purchase to accommodate different ear shapes. I was fine sporting the preinstalled pairs, which enhanced stability and produced a tight seal that kept the buds locked in. Be mindful that the Streak was designed for exercising, not casual listening, so wearing them longer than two hours will effect in some fatigue; the cavity increasingly applies force per unit area to the concha.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Controls and digital banana
- Inaccurate tap recognition
- Questionable input assignments
- Weird Siri integration
The Streak's impact controls are confusing and frustrating to operate. It seems like JBL didn't give much thought to the control scheme, divvying commands awkwardly betwixt each bud and not integrating a triple-tap gesture that would accept made usability more convenient. Onboard book controls are another notable omission.
Listeners have a variety of media controls at their disposal such every bit playback, call management, voice assistance, and the ability to switch between listening modes. Unfortunately, the bear on panels brand almost of them difficult to execute past struggling to register double taps accurately. A single tap on the left earbud enables TalkThru or Standard mode, while a double tap activates Ambient Aware mode; information technology would have made more sense to accept one office that lets you cycle through all three modes.
Another letdown is the vocalism banana feature, something that has become an ongoing trend with contempo JBL models such as the Club Pro Plus. While yous're given access to Google Banana and Alexa, which work decently to execute phonation commands, users must de-select the two voice assistants in the companion app to use Siri on iOS and macOS. At that place isn't any indication to exercise this in the quick start guide or production page, leaving you to either discover this through some troubleshooting or word of mouth. You lot're welcome.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Audio quality
- Warm just counterbalanced
- Minimal distortion
- No ANC simply good passive isolation
JBL's sound profile leans heavily on the warm terminate of the sound spectrum, but the engineers did a surprisingly expert job of balancing out frequencies to requite the Streak a nice mix of punchy lows and crisp highs. You go a nice feel for this on jazzy Hip-Hop tracks similar A Tribe Chosen Quest'south "Jazz (We've Got"), where the pounding drum loop lands hard and horn samples remain melodically striking throughout the recording.
But what y'all really desire is boom-filled sonics to fuel your workouts, which the Streak delivers. Putting on 2Pac's "California Love" revved up the engine before a 5K run, giving the pulsating bassline extra oomph that competitors like the T5 II Sport and Bose Sport Earbuds couldn't friction match. It was also bully to hear Roger Trotman's synthesized hook crystal articulate. Even on super-boomy tracks similar KRS-One's "Outta Here," the Streak kept bass response in check and never distorted vocals or veiled background instruments.
Jazz records are my become-to for post-workout recovery and the Streak did a fine chore of helping cool things downwards. The choir-esque harmonies at the beginning of Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor" sounded soothing and offered relief during stretches, though it was the build-up to Byrd's vibrant sax play that sent a jolt of energy through my ears and lifted me off the ground. Despite the T5 Two Sport producing better instrumental separation and clarity on such tracks, the Streak proved that it's no slouch either.
These buds might not come with active noise cancellation, but the passive racket isolation they provide is constructive to minimalize ambience noises that enter your ears. The tight seal created past tips prevents sound from bleeding out every bit well. Volume isn't hazardously loud either, only don't have that as an open invitation to blast music during runs.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Special features
- No app support
- Laissez passer-through modes helpful but imperfectly implemented
The Streak isn't uniform with the JBL Headphones app, which is inexplainable, specially when there are other JBL ten UA products that back up the software. This was a greatly missed opportunity that would have given owners several useful features, including an EQ with multiple presets and the Bank check My Best Fit setting to determine the best ear tip size for optimal fit.
At least yous go two listening modes that come in handy when commuting: Ambient Aware and TalkThru. Both of them work similarly in that they open up upward the mics and permit in more ambient noise to increment your environmental awareness. Sadly, the results don't compare to what you get from JBL's more expensive models.
TalkThru is the improve-performing mode and lets you communicate conspicuously by dropping book down to 20 percentage without pausing music. The result is that enabling it creates this whooshing effect that makes y'all feel like you're underneath an air vent. Ambient Aware won't permit yous hear much either; whisking cars were all that defenseless my attention during daytime jogs. At that place were even moments when my wife thought I was ignoring her during the testing phase.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Battery life and charging case
- Middling bombardment life
- Inconsistent belch rates
JBL rates battery life at 6 hours, which is actually well-nigh 5 hours after factoring in volume, streaming, and listening modes. This is practically equal to the Sport Earbuds (five hours) and lower than the T5 Two Sport (8 hours). Another downer is that the buds only come 20% charged out of the box; my sample unit did, anyway.
USB Type-C fast-charging is supported, though there is very petty data shared other than a full charge can be accomplished in 2 hours. That doesn't sound peculiarly fast. My testing did run across the right bud go from 10 to 70 percent in 15 minutes, while the left remained at 10 percentage, a clear indication that the Streak has discharge issues.
Complaints aside, a full charge is sufficient for about 3 to 4 days of workouts before tossing the buds into the charging case, which holds up to xviii hours fully charged. This falls brusque of the average industry fourth dimension set up by the AirPods' charging case of 24 hours. Popular features similar a Bluetooth pairing button and wireless charging are missing as well. Something else worth noting is that the USB-C port on the rear doesn't accept a flap to protect it from clay or moisture impairment.
JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Phone call quality and connectivity
- Adept wireless range
- Low clarity in calls
If you're in a compression and need to make a telephone call, the Streak will suffice, but it won't be a become-to for long conversations or business organization calls. One positive is that yous'll hear those on the opposite finish loud and clear. That performance isn't reciprocated, as at that place is muffling and some minor cutout that occurs on your end, no affair the environment. My married woman could tell I was outside and heard everything around me; JBL's dual axle-forming mics picked upwardly a lot of ambient noise. When within the business firm, she said my vocalisation was audible, simply was nevertheless cutting out every few seconds. Video chats were also unsatisfying with clients sounding very buzzy during Google See calls.
Bluetooth v.0 is outstanding on the Streak. Removing the buds from the instance automatically places them in pairing mode. Google Fast Pair does speed upward the process on Android devices, but you won't take whatsoever issues connecting to iOS/macOS devices either. Range is the Streak'south unsung feature and is really higher than what's advertised, giving you most twoscore feet of wireless listening before audio stutters.
JBL did program the Streak to be used in stereo or mono (just exit 1 bud in the case), though they excluded its proprietary Dual Connect+Sync engineering science to easily switch connections from one device to another.
JBL UA Truthful Wireless Streak review: Verdict
If y'all happen to be a longtime JBL or UA fan, and want reasonably affordable conditioning buds with dynamic sound and a nigh-harm-proof design, you may wish to bank check out the Streak. The engineers did right by the sound signature, which balances impactful bass and crisp highs very well. Waterproof protection also grants peace of mind when engaging in sweat-inducing activities or lounging by the pool expanse. Bluetooth is strong too to maintain a steady connection in most settings.
However, the Streak kind of feels like an unfinished JBL production with a UA logo slapped on information technology. I say that considering there are some bugs that were never flushed out, and JBL has yet to make Siri more conveniently accessible to users. On peak of that, the controls and transparency modes don't work well, which strengthens my belief that JBL rushed these buds off the associates line.
All the same, the Streak is as well overpriced at $149, and y'all tin find other elite-performing alternatives like the T5 2 Sport and Elite 65t that offering more than performance more significantly less greenbacks.
- More: The best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/jbl-UA-true-wireless-streak
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