the invention to have Bluetooth anywhere

The advancement of technology is unstoppable and The furor for novelty is leaving in its wake a trail of outdated formats and electronic corpses, victims of often irreversible obsolescence. In the world of audio, the transition from analog to digital has been accompanied by the arrival of Spotify and other streaming platforms, and by wireless speakers and headphones, to which technologies such as noise cancellation, spatial audio or increasingly powerful Bluetooth.

There are those who have thought about all those devices without a Bluetooth connection that have long been forgotten in drawers and closets, such as old walkmans, discmans or mp3 players that only have an auxiliary output for wired headphones. We are talking about Jabra, which a few months after presenting the Elite Active 8 and the Elite 10, which we already analyzed in EL ESPAÑOL – Omicrono, has just launched the second generation of both devices. Beyond the improvements in active noise cancellation, transparency mode or call clarity, they have a unique novelty: the first smart case with Bluetooth LE Audiowhich provides a wireless connection to any device that has a USB-C input or a 3.5 mm jack.

The bad news is that they will be the last Elite to be launched on the market, following the recent decision by Jabra’s parent company, GN Store Nord, to discontinue the series, since the The goal is to “focus resources and efforts on enterprise products,” according to company sources, although the products will continue to receive updates and be compatible throughout their useful life.. All the more reason to enjoy the excellent performance offered by these two modelsnow available in the Spanish market for 229.99 euros in the case of the Elite Active 8 gen 2, and 279.99 euros in the case of the Elite 10 gen 2.

Continuity and improvements

Second parts are sometimes good (and there they are Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Terminator 2 to prove). From Jabra they seem to follow the same path, since in a very short time they have demonstrated their ability to improve two headphones that already belonged to the premium range of audio devices. If the Elite Active 8 gen 2 are designed for the most athletes, with military-grade resistance, the Elite 10 gen 2 have a plus in both noise cancellation and spatial sound, something that allows them to compete head to head with the AirPods Pro.

After several months using the original Elite 10 daily, this second generation is clearly continuous in terms of design and main functions. Are very comfortable to wear, even during long sessions, and to facilitate optimal results, Jabra includes in the box three sets of ear tips with semi-open perforated grilles to ensure the best fit. In fact, it is essential to try the different sizes until you find the one that fits best to perceive the extent of its active noise cancellation.

The 10mm dynamic drivers are the same as the original model, with a wide frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz, but the ANC has been improved especially in the mid and low frequency ranges. The difference after the first listens does not seem very striking, but in situations such as a plane ride a notable improvement is perceived, almost completely isolating you from the environment.

As for the sound, in addition to the Dolby Atmos support and the ability to use spatial sound while listening to podcasts, both headphones have significantly improved call performance. To do this, they have 6 microphones and algorithms that are activated automatically to recognize background noises and highlight the voice, and I have been able to verify this by recording some of the calls in noisy environments.

As for the transparency mode, which is still activated with a single press on the left earbud, I have not noticed a big improvement, even though Jabra claims that its new Natural HearThrough better reduces wind noise and is up to twice as effective than in the first generation of headphones. Be that as it may, it works correctly, and allows you to perceive what surrounds you while continuing to listen to your favorite music.

Regarding autonomy, the data are very similar to those of the first generation. The Danish company estimates that the Elite 10 Gen 2 can last 6 hours with ANC on or 8 hours with ANC off, which are extended up to 30 hours with the charging case, although these results obviously depend on the volume level at which they are used. The best thing is that with just 5 minutes of charging you get 1 hour of playback, which can save you more than one trip on public transport.

All this is complemented with an app, Jabra Sound+, very complete, intuitive and with many customization optionsfrom the gestures when playing songs and activating or deactivating functions, to the possibility of choosing predefined equalizations or customizing them to your liking.

A different case

At first glance, the charging cases of this new generation of Jabra headphones are almost identical to those of the previous one, except for one detail: a small elongated button in the lower area. It’s the key to making the Elite 10 gen 2 and Elite Active 8 gen 2 the world’s first Bluetooth LE Audio headphones.

Thus, the new chip integrated in the case allows me to transmit audio wirelessly from my old Creative mp3 player and my Panasonic discman, which I haven’t listened to in years but they still work, thanks to the 2-in-1 cable included, compatible with USB-C and 3.5 mm jack. In addition, it has lower latency than standard Bluetooth connections and HiFi sound quality thanks to the LC3 codec. Simply press the button on the case and the connection is immediate, it’s that easy.

Another possible use of this unique feature is on airplanes, where the screens in the front seats usually do not include the possibility of wireless transmission. It can also be very useful on televisions, record players or stereos that do not have Bluetooth.

An ingenious way to give a second life and expand the possibilities of all those antiques to give them a new life. Additionally, the Jabra Elite 8 Active gen 2 case has the same functionality and an IP54 rating for extra protection against water and dust.

Should I buy them?

When you use a product often and are satisfied with the result, It is inevitable to wait with some impatience what the next iteration is going to be like.. In the case of the second generation of Jabra headphones that I use on a daily basis, I expected certain improvements, but I had never imagined that they would include the case with Bluetooth LE Audio, which allows you to listen to almost any device and anywhere wirelessly.

That extra would already be enough in many cases, but to that we must add improvements to both active noise cancellation and call clarity and, to a lesser extent, transparency mode to better perceive the environment. The continuity in key elements such as the app is also appreciated, with great customization options.

The trickiest point, as usual, is the prices, since the 229.99 euros for the Elite Active 8 gen 2, and 279.99 euros for the Elite 10 gen 2 may put more than one person off. However, it is a very competitive cost for everything they offerstarting with comfort and sound quality and ending with this charging case destined to mark a before and after in the sector.