Jabra Elite 8 Earbuds Introduction
The Jabra Elite 8 Active is a solid choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who prioritize durability, sound quality, and a secure fit. Their excellent battery life, ANC, and call quality make them a well-rounded option for active lifestyles. However, the touch controls can be finicky, and the lack of multipoint connection might be dealbreaker for some users. Consider your budget and priorities before making a decision.
These headphones were designed to be the toughest earbuds to withstand any element you can put them through. They are protected from dust, sand, and sweat.
Military Tested
Tested to meet US Military Standards for rugged electronics (passing 9 durability tests*), these earbuds tough it out no matter how extreme your workout environment.
Dust-protected case
Even the case is dust-resistant (with an IP rating of IP5X) so bring it along for any adventure where you might be kicking up some grit.
Dust-protected case
Even the case is dust-resistant (with an IP rating of IP5X) so bring it along for any adventure where you might be kicking up some grit.
Fully waterproof earbuds
Completely watertight earbuds, even under conditions of prolonged submersion up to 1.5 meters (IP rating of IPX8). Rinsing underwater, splashing during water sports, or getting soaked on a rainy day won’t stop them.
Saltwater-proof
Tested against saltwater splash so a run on the beach or a particularly high-impact workout is never a problem.
Splashproof case
The case has full protection from splashed water from any direction (IP rating of IPX4) so you can take it with you no matter what the weather forecast is saying.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Sound Review
The earbuds are powered by Dolby Audio Spatial Sound, the 6mm speakers offer a unique listening experience where the sound comes from around the ear not just in the ear. I am not an audiophile but I’ve used dozens of different headphones. These are not the best-sounding in-ear headphones I’ve used. I assume this comes from the smaller size and ruggedness. I believe it’s a tradeoff to get a headphone that is rugged and waterproof to sacrifice some sound quality. They still sound good, and many would argue much better than other popular earbuds on the market.
Jabra Elite 8 Earbuds Pros
- Durability: These earbuds are truly built tough. They boast an IP67 rating, meaning they’re dustproof, waterproof, and sweatproof. They can even withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, making them perfect for outdoor activities and even swimming. The Jabra ShakeGrip technology ensures a snug fit that won’t budge during intense workouts.
- Sound Quality: The Elite 8 Active delivers crisp, clear audio with rich bass thanks to Dolby Atmos support. You can personalize the sound using the Jabra Sound+ app to suit your preferences. While not audiophile-grade, they offer excellent sound for the price point, especially for workouts.
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): The Adaptive Hybrid ANC effectively blocks out ambient noise, allowing you to focus on your music or audiobook. It automatically adjusts to your surroundings, ensuring optimal noise cancellation in various environments.
- Battery Life: With up to 8 hours of playtime from the buds themselves and an additional 3 charges from the case, you get a total of 32 hours of listening time. This is enough for even the longest workouts or commutes.
- Call Quality: The six-microphone setup provides clear and intelligible calls, even in windy conditions. This makes them a good choice for taking calls on the go.
- Comfortable Fit: The earbuds come with several ear tips and fins for a customized fit. Once you find the right combination, they provide a comfortable and secure fit that won’t cause fatigue during extended use.
Jabra Elite 8 Earbuds Cons
- Touch Controls: Some users find the touch controls to be a bit finicky and unresponsive at times. This can be frustrating when trying to adjust volume or skip tracks during workouts.
- No Multipoint Connection: The Elite 8 Active doesn’t support multipoint connection, which means you can’t connect them to two devices simultaneously. This can be inconvenient if you frequently switch between your phone and laptop.
- Price: While not the most expensive earbuds on the market, they are pricier than some other options that offer similar features.
- Case: The case lid opens very easily. This can cause concern that the earbuds although held in by magnets might fall out.
Jabra Elite 8 Fit
The Elite 8 Active has been designed from thousands of ear scans to ensure compatibility with most ear shapes and sizes. They use Jabra ShakeGrip(TM) to help the earbuds stay in. After using these earbuds in a wide variety of environments I’ve never had them fall out. Additionally, these are the lowest-profile earbuds I’ve ever personally used. They are discrete in the ear and weigh almost nothing.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Battery
The earbuds can last 8 hours with active noise canceling (ANC) turned on, and 14 hours with ANC turned off. The case has an additional 32 hours of battery charge with ANC on, and 56 hours with ANC off.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Noice Canceling
There are 4 levels of built-in noise-canceling technology in the Elite 8 Active earbuds.
Jabra Elite 8 Active HearThrough
I am an avid cyclist and typically use these headphones for cycling. In the past HearThrough has been unusable while cycling because of the wind noise. The Elite 8 has been upgraded to neutralize the wind sound when HearThrough is turned on. This is a nice safety feature to allow hearing traffic and other sounds while still being able to use the headphones on a ride.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Microphones
There are a total of 6 microphones to select and consolidate from when making a phone call or recording with the earbuds. This combined with the Clear Call technology makes taking calls on the go possible even when cycling or running outdoors in windy conditions.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Additional Consideration
- If you’re on a tight budget, there are more affordable earbuds with similar features, but they might not be as durable.
- If you need multipoint connection, there are other options available, but they might not offer the same level of ANC or sound quality.
- If you prioritize sound quality above all else, there are audiophile-grade earbuds that offer superior audio, but they might not be as durable or sweatproof.
