Table of Contents
amazon JBL UA True Wireless Flash X reviews
JBL’s UA True Wireless Flash headphones have been our favorite pair since they came out last year, and they only get better in the form of the JBL UA True Wireless Flash X. For $169.95, JBL doesn’t make any significant changes here but has improved battery life (total 50 hours with the included charging case), USB-C charging support, and many other incremental upgrades. They still include MapMyRun’s free year-long membership, and the sound is still punchy and bassy. With a waterproof design and a super-secure in-ear fit.
Design
Available in black, the UA True Wireless Flash X headphones are heavy but light. They use ear tips with separate fin sleeves to create a secure ear and seal the ear canal. They block large amounts of background noise passively, but so do most in-ear models, so JBL’s claim of passive noise reduction here isn’t unique. The headphones come with three pairs of silicone ear tips, and three pairs of fin tubes (in S, M, and L) mixed and matched.
The headphones offer an IPX7 rating, which implies resistance to water ingress up to one meter for 30 minutes. However, Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater; therefore, the working point is that you can wash these headphones in the basin; that is, under good tap pressure, with no problems at all. So, rain, sweat, and splashes are no issue for these. Coupled with a secure fit and an included 12-month MapMyRun subscription, this makes a pretty strong wireless contender in the workout class.
Hence, the IPX7 rating confers full waterproofing up to one meter depth. However, underwater Bluetooth seldom works; so the only option left is to properly wash these headphones in the basin with running water. Well, simply put, rain, sweat, or splashes don’t matter now. Plus, its secure fit accompanied by a one-year MapMyRun free subscription makes it among the more attractive wireless dancing options.
The headphones have one multifunction button each on the external panel, while the on-ear control system divides actions between the two headphones. A single tap on the outside of the right earcup will activate play/pause or hang up or answer a call, while a double tap skips to the next track. On the left, it switches into Talk Thru mode (a setting in which you hear your environment clearly but music volume is greatly lowered). Single taps double-tap to the Ambient Awareness mode (this mode also lets the ambient noises pass; the music volume is, however, slightly lowered). Single tapping the right earcup may also answer incoming calls and end active calls. Hold the right earcup for about two seconds to activate your mobile device’s voice assistant.
When you use a single headset in mono, these controls are condensed — you lose the Ambient Aware / Talk Thru controls, but the others remain. There’s no volume control on either headset and perhaps more annoyingly, there’s no backward track navigation. All of this is to add controls for ambient listening features to be a worthwhile sacrifice for some.
Aluminum charging case with sliding tray, built-in lanyard, and USB-C port (with rubber cap) for the included charging cable. The case is on the bulky side, but there’s a catch there — so the battery life is pretty impressive. JBL estimates the headphones last around 10 hours on a single charge, which is virtually unheard of in this category, while the carrying case adds an extra 40 hours of power. These are some of the best numbers we’ve seen in true wireless earbuds, but your results will vary with your volume level.
Aside from access to MapMyRun, there’s no app here for the headset itself, which is a bit silly. JBL’s Headphones app isn’t exactly a game-changer, but it does have a user-adjustable EQ, which is always a welcome feature. Too bad it’s not supported here.
The headset is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and supports the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs but does not support AptX. Inside, the 5.8mm drivers provide a frequency range of 20Hz to 22kHz.
where can you get a JBL UA True Wireless Flash X online
JBL UA True Wireless Flash X Waterproof Bluetooth Earbuds Bundle with Anker PowerPort Elite 2 Port USB Wall Charger – Black: Buy it now
JBL UA True Wireless FLASH X In-Ear Sport Headphones – Black (Renewed): Buy it now
JBL UA Flash True Wireless Bluetooth in-Ear Headphones Bundle with Plugable USB-BT4LE USB 2.0 Bluetooth Adapter – Black: Buy it now
Performance
On tracks with intense bass content, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones deliver strong low-frequency responses. At the highest listening levels, unsophisticated, the bass is a bit weaker, but it’s always strong, and at more reasonable volumes, the deep bass is delightfully presented.
How we test headphones
Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the overall sonic character of the UA True Wireless Flash X. The drums on this track sounded almost as good thunder — there’s some serious bass-boosting sound going on here, but drivers try to avoid going into unnatural wild territory. Callahan’s baritone also gets a decent amount of extra mid-bass, but fortunately, there’s plenty of high-frequency and mid-high sculpting added. The result is a bright, clear sound anchored by some really powerful bass depth.
In Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop gets enough of a high-mid presence for its attack to keep the mix interesting. Sub-bass synth hits that help break the beat delivered with solid depth — we heard some forward-facing bass boosted the lows even further, but JBL stopped in a severely unbalanced important. The highs are all equally sculpted, making the vinyl crackle and hiss in the mix. The vocals on this track are delivered with clarity and perhaps a bit of bass.
Orchestral tracks, such as the opening scene in John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, certainly get more of a low-frequency response than the purist would want, but it doesn’t outstanding. The lower register instruments on this track are pushed forward with a stronger presence, but the focus remains on the brass, strings, and higher register vocals.
A note on in-ear fit and audio performance: A secure fit can be achieved with the UA True Wireless Flash X, but optimal audio output is not achieved. If you feel like you do not hear the powerful bass depth described above, it’s a good idea to reattach your headphones, twist them, or try different ear tips until you find the one that works best for your ears.
Microphone for above-average clarity. Using the Voice Memos app on the iPhone 8, we understood every word we recorded, and there was very little Bluetooth distortion in the mix. The recording seemed a bit thin, but the mic signal was still relatively strong, and the callers could hear clearly.
Conclusion
The $170 JBL UA True Wireless Flash X Headphones include the most important basics for a workout-friendly headset, including a fully waterproof design and a solid fit. A free year of MapMyRun subscriptions and some of the best battery life we’ve seen in this category is just icing on the cake. The audio performance is deep and powerful, which will likely appeal to those who are motivated by strong bass during workouts. The lack of an app with EQ is a pity.
Advantages
Powerful bass-forward performance
Good battery
Waterproof design
Ambient Aware Listening Mode
Includes 12-month MapMyRun membership
Defect
The charging box on the side is bulky
No app has EQ or adjusts settings