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JBL expands Synchros headphone line with lifestyle and sport options

Alex Tretbar
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JBL has expanded its Synchros headphone  line with two new subcategories: the lifestyle-oriented E-Series and the athlete-ready Reflect, both of which have Bluetooth-enabled options. The audio electronics company (currently owned by Harman) is releasing six total pairs of cans – including over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear options – to be featured in the two new Synchros subcategories: the Synchros E10, E30, E40BT (“BT”= Bluetooth) and E50BT, as well as the Reflect and Reflect BT.

The E-Series line starts at the bottom with the conveniently portable $40 E10 in-ear headphones, which feature 9-mm drivers and an inline remote/microphone. The pair is compatible with both Android and iOS, and has uniquely angled ear-tubes that aim to reduce ambient noise.  Next up on the chain is the $80 E30 on-ear pair, winner of the 2014 Red Dot Design Award, with 30-mm drivers, JBL’s signature PureBass lows-enhancing tech, mobile-friendly controls, 3D swivel hinges for ease of movement, and plush ear-cushions. The remaining two E-Series options are the on-ear E40BT and around-ear E50BT, both Bluetooth-enabled and with the same 20Hz-22kHz frequency response ranges. The 40, naturally, pumps sound out with  40-mm drivers, while the 50 operates with 50-mm guns. Both pairs come with JBL’s proprietary ShareMe social technology, which allows users to stream their current song to any other nearby ShareMe-enabled JBL cans.

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On the other side of JBL’s expansion of the Synchros line are the two sets of Reflect cans – the $100 Bluetooth-enabled Reflect BT and its $60 non-Bluetooth counterpart. Both pairs are in-ear sets with 8.5-mm dynamic drivers, and come with JBL’s Freebit ear tips designed to keep the earpieces snugly secured in each ear. The two pairs’ brightly reflective cables provide high visibility in low light, gifting the headphones their namesake and making them a solid choice for nighttime runners. Designed with sporty types in mind, the Reflect is sweat-proof – great for when you are working out.

JBL revealed its Synchros line last fall with a lineup of five pairs of cans that drew inspiration from the company’s own professional stage monitors to deliver the crispness and clarity of soundboard-like audio quality directly to the ears. Now the company has added more aesthetically oriented options to the lineup, as well as athletics-inspired offerings. All pairs are available now through JBL’s online store.

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Alex Tretbar
Alex Tretbar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…
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JBL Synchros S700 premium powered headphones ($350)
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JBL Synchros S300 over-ear ($200)
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