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1 / 7JBL
JBL Tune 520BT
Overall Rating & value for money
7.6/ 10
7.6
0.010.0
A 7.6 puts its overall rating in the top quarter of on-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 16 of the 63 we've cataloged.
8/ 10
8
0.010.0
A 8 puts its value for money in the top half of on-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 16 of the 63 we've cataloged.
Key specs
Battery Life Wireless
57 hAbove average57 h
7 h82 h
above average for on-ear headphones — based on 42 of 63 we've cataloged.
Full Charge Minutes
120 minAbove average120 min
2 min240 min
above average for on-ear headphones — based on 34 of 63 we've cataloged.
IP Rating
NoneMost commonNone67%IP548%IP558%IPX48%
None is the most common — on 67% of the 12 on-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 63).
Weight
157 gBelow average157 g
6 g318 g
below average for on-ear headphones — based on 52 of 63 we've cataloged.
Battery
- Battery Life Wireless
- 57 h
- Full Charge Minutes
- 120 min
- Charging Method
- USB-C
- Capacity
- 450 mAh
- Battery
- Yes
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Build
- IP Rating
- None
- Material Chassis Primary
- Plastic
- Material Headband
- Plastic
Design
- Weight
- 157 g
- Clamping Force
- 200-400 g
- Color Options
- Black, White, Blue, Purple
- Ear Pad Type
- Plastic, fabric
- Foldable
- Yes
- Headband Type
- Adjustable
- Wearing Time Max
- 4 h
Connectivity
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth wireless
- Bluetooth Codec
- AAC
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.3
- Cable Type
- None
- USB Charging
- Yes
- Multipoint Devices
- Yes - 2 devices
Microphone
- Microphone
- Yes
- Noise Reduction Type
- Passive noise isolation
- Type
- Single microphone
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Closed-back
- Ambient Mode
- No
- Driver Count
- 1
- Driver Size
- 33 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response Signature
- V-shaped
- Impedance
- 30 Ω
- Noise Cancellation Type
- None
- Sensitivity
- 102 dB/mW
Features
- Companion App
- Yes
- Control Type
- Physical buttons
- Eq Customization
- Yes
Release
- Msrp Usd
- 49.95 USD
SoundGuys review
Read the full review ›Isolation5.5
Battery life9.9
Comfort & fit6.5
Connectivity5.0
Design7.0
Portability7.5
The verdict
If you're looking for barebones on-ears that just work, it's hard to make a case against the JBL Tune 520BT. It sounds decent, is affordable, and does exactly what's on the label. It's just gravy that its modern electronics grant the use of features like Find My, rapid charging, and Fast Pair.
✓What we like
✓Sound quality
✓Price
✓Folds up for easy storage
✓Several colorways
✕What could be better
✕Clamping force
✕No wired listening options
✕App necessary for mobile use
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
JBL Tune 520BTSoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve
Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.
Frequency response — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -4.3 |
| 25 | -1.8 |
| 32 | 1.0 |
| 40 | 3.5 |
| 50 | 5.1 |
| 63 | 4.4 |
| 80 | 4.4 |
| 100 | 3.8 |
| 125 | 1.5 |
| 160 | -2.1 |
| 200 | -3.2 |
| 250 | -2.8 |
| 315 | -3.9 |
| 400 | -4.5 |
| 500 | -4.2 |
| 630 | -2.6 |
| 800 | -0.9 |
| 1000 | 0.0 |
| 1250 | 0.4 |
| 1600 | 1.5 |
| 2000 | 2.9 |
| 2500 | 4.9 |
| 3150 | 7.6 |
| 4000 | 7.5 |
| 5000 | 3.0 |
| 6300 | 4.7 |
| 8000 | 6.3 |
| 10000 | 0.8 |
| 12500 | -11.3 |
| 16000 | -11.0 |
| 20000 | -19.4 |
JBL Tune 520BT
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
Passive isolation — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -3.5 |
| 26 | -10.3 |
| 33 | 0.4 |
| 41 | -0.1 |
| 52 | 0.2 |
| 65 | 0.7 |
| 82 | -0.7 |
| 103 | -0.4 |
| 130 | 0.1 |
| 163 | 0.6 |
| 205 | -0.3 |
| 259 | -0.4 |
| 325 | 0.3 |
| 410 | 1.7 |
| 516 | 3.8 |
| 613 | 5.7 |
| 772 | 8.3 |
| 972 | 8.3 |
| 1220 | 7.7 |
| 1540 | 11.1 |
| 1940 | 13.8 |
| 2440 | 19.2 |
| 3070 | 16.1 |
| 3870 | 20.6 |
| 4870 | 31.9 |
| 6130 | 34.0 |
| 7720 | 37.6 |
| 9720 | 31.2 |
| 12200 | 31.0 |
| 15400 | 32.1 |
| 19400 | 31.9 |
JBL Tune 520BT
4.9
3.4
4.3
4.8
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
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Tom TriggsContributor
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributorMore On-Ear Headphones
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