Jaybird Vista 2 Review 🎵

The Jaybird Vista 2 are the second generation of the Jaybird Vista. You can read our review of the first-generation Vista here.  I’ve used a handful of mid-priced earbuds and the Vista first generation has been my go-to for road cycling and mountain biking for the last year. They are more comfortable than the competitors, have great sound, are sweat-resistant and I love the case and form factor of the earbud.

The new Vista 2 looks a lot like the predecessor.  The case is about the same size, the earbuds are about the same size and shape however there have been some upgrades. First off the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) helps to drown out the noise around you.  However, on a bike even with the wind sensitivity turned on the ANC is basically useless and I always turn it off (which can be done by double-tapping, not clicking the earbud). Jaybird also gave the earbuds a battery upgrade.  The price also increased slightly, but will likely come down after the newness wears off or around the holidays.  Jaybird always seems to cater to the active user, and these are a great option for the gym or on the trails.

The active noise canceling works, when in a quiet place where the noise can easily be isolated. However, in applications where there is high wind noise, they don’t work that great, and there really isn’t a way to carry on a conversation with these earbuds even at a slow bike pace.

The Jaybird Vista 2 launched at the beginning of June 2021 for $199 USD. Some have compared them to the Jabra Elite Active 75t (one of my other favorites), Sony, Bose, and some compare the Jaybird Vista 2 to the Apple Airpods. There is really no comparison to the Apple Airpods, the Vista and the Vista 2 have far better value than the Apple Airpods.

The in-ear design with different sized wing ear tips allows the earbuds to have a semi-custom fit.  These are some of the most secure headphones I’ve used. I have never had one fall out. But if you do, there is a feature in the app to help you find it.

The design and shape of the Vista 2 are basically the same as the original Vista. The case has a slightly different shape to it and feels slightly cheaper than the Vista. Another noticeable difference is what looks like fabric on the outside instead of a smooth finish. Jaybird refers to this as “WindDefense” fabric designed to help stop the wind from interfering with phone calls and other mic uses.  My one major complaint with the Vista 2 is just how poorly they work in the wind with ANC on so I can’t say that “WindDefense” works all that great.

Pushing on the outside fabric of the earbuds you get a click button feel.  I like the sensitivity of the buttons, it doesn’t take a lot of pressure to push them in so you don’t feel like you are forcing the earbud into your ear canal. 

The SurroundSense technology is supposed to provide transparency between your earbuds and the world around you.  In fact in the advertising, they even show a person with a bike helmet on using the earbuds. I had to completely turn on ANC and the surround settings let too much noise from the wind in that it was distracting and annoying.  In the gym or at the office they perform a little better, but not the best feature of the earbuds.

Jaybird VIsta 2 Specs

• Comfortable and light weight
• IP68 water and dust resistant
• Durable light weight case
• Easy to charge
• Comfortable wing ear fit
• Up to 24 hour battery
• Case Width: 74.6mm
• Case Height: 38.5mm
• Case Depth: 25mm
• Earbud Width: 15.7mm
• Earbud Height: 16.2mm
• Earbud Depth: 20.3mm
• Weight with medium eargel: 6.7g
• Weight without eargel: 5.4g
• Weight case without earbuds: 42.8g

Jaybird Vista 2 Everyday Use

Using the Jaybird Vista 2 almost every day for the last month. I’m sweat all over them, got them wet in the rain, never had one fall out of my ear or the case thanks to the magnet holding them in.  The buttons are easy to push, they are easy to pair with my phone via the little button in the middle of the case or the app.  The companion app for IOS and Android works great and has a ton of extra features.

The earbuds have a small “L” and “R” on top of them in case you forget what earbud goes where. 

The earbuds are really durable, I have dropped them and toss them around a lot. I also store the case in the back of a cycling jersey that is notorious for filling up with sweat on long hot rides here in Utah. The military-grade rating of MIL-STD-810G is provided as drop-proof, crush-proof, and dust-proof.

There are 3 small lights on the front of the case. When you open the case they light up indicating how much charge is left in the case. They will also light up when you close the case.  When you insert the earbuds into your ear you are greeted with a nice voice telling you “Connected, Battery Fully Charged” or the estimated battery left in the earbuds.

I use the earbuds primarily for cycling both road and mountain, but I also use them in the gym and prefer them to the look and sweat of the over-the-ear headphones in the gym.

Another feature I appreciate is that you can use either earbud individually. I often prefer only wearing 1 earbud when walking around the store or at the gym with a friend. It works better than the ANC and trying to allow surrounding noise or voices in through the headphones. Another feature is to just tap the earbuds instead of pushing the button. This will cycle through the ANC.  It’s a quick way to turn them off and on.

The earbuds do offer Google Assistant but not Amazon Alexa.

Jaybird Vista 2 Battery

Jaybird has stated that there is 33% more battery life than in the original Vista headphones. This is directly affected by having the ANC on or off. One of my favorite new features is the case is wireless charging. I just drop it on the wireless charging pad and forget about it until I’m ready to go, then I know they should be good for about 24 hours with me. The Vista 2 offers 8 hours of listing per charge or 6 hours with ANC and SurroundSense mode turned on.  With the wireless chargeable case, you can get 2 full charges for up to 24 hours.  This makes it nice for those extra-long flights.

Charging the Battery takes a few hours if the earbuds and case are completely drained.

• lay Time: 8 Hrs* + 16 Hrs in the case
• Charging Time: 2 Hrs
• Quick Charge: 5 min = 1 hour play time
• Charging: Via charging case with USB-C connector & Qi Wireless Charging
• Input power: DC 5V 500mA
• Type: Lithium Ion
• *May vary dependent on usage, device & aging
• Battery Voltage: 3.8V
• Energy Voltage in Watt Hrs Per Battery: 0.26 Wh

Jaybird Vista 2 Audio Specifications

• Type: In-Ear Style
• Noise-isolation: Passive & Active Noise Reduction
• Impedance: 23 Ohm +-15% at 1KHz
• Speaker sensitivity: 103.5 +-1.5dB at 1KHz
• Output 12 mW RMS (with level limit)
• Total Harmonic Distortion <3% (1KHz, 1mW)
• Audio Format: 16-bit Stereo
• Codec: Bluetooth® SBC Implementation & AAC
• Response Bandwidth 20Hz – 20kHz
• Driver Size: 6 mm

Jaybird Vista 2 Bluetooth

• Bluetooth Version: 5.0
• Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
• Profiles: Handsfree , Headset , A2DP , AVCRP , SPP
• Wireless Range: Class 2 standard range 10m/33ft

Jaybird Vista 2 Microphone Specs

• Type: Digital MEMS, Omni directional
• Sensitivity: -38dB +-3dB (Test conditions: 1KHz, 0dB = 1V/Pa)

Jaybird App

Jaybird Vista 2 Audio Quality

The audio quality of the Vista 2 is pretty good for all-around listening. Further, you can adjust the EQ with the app depending on the music, podcast, or phone calls you are making. There is also some preset EQ in the app that you can try out or create your own personal EQ.

How to Update Jaybird Vista 2

From time to time Jaybird releases updates to the earbuds. When I first used the earbuds there was already an update. The updates are initiated from the companion app. Below are the Steps to update Jaybird Vista 2.

In Conclusion

The Vista 2 is more expensive than the cheap $50 wireless earbuds you can find on Amazon. However, I’ve used them before and they don’t last.  The Vista has been my go-to earbud for cycling and working out for the past year. I’m sure the Vista 2 will replace them.  I think I preferred the smooth feeling to the new fabric on the outside. They just feel like they soak up my sweat when working out. I found these are my favorite choice for comfort as well, I can wear them all day with little fatigue. They are expensive, but I think the value is there for them.  If you want all the features, as well as really good battery life, and know that they are durable enough to handle the elements you should definitely consider them. Please use the affiliate link below to support us.