Over-Ear Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
8.6/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$239.99at Amazon
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JLab
JLab JBuds Lux
noise cancelling & sound
8.1/ 10
ANCNoise cancelling8.1
0.010.0
At 8.1, its noise cancelling beats 44% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 61 of the 238 we've cataloged.
4.5/ 5
SoundMDAQS Overall4.5
1.05.0
A 4.5 puts its audio quality in the top quarter of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 44 of the 238 we've cataloged.
See the lab data ↓Frequency response · Isolation · Noise cancelling · Audio quality
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Key specs
Battery Life Wireless
44.37 hBelow average44.37 h
11 h100 h
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 156 of 238 we've cataloged.
Charging Method
USB-CMost commonUsb-c89%Micro usb8%Others3%
Usb-c is the most common — on 89% of the 135 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Bluetooth Version
5.35.028%5.325%5.216%5.411%
5.3 appears on 25% of the 147 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Connection Type
Wired-3.5mm48%Bluetooth44%Wired-usb-c7%Others2%
Bluetooth appears on 44% of the 239 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Battery
- Battery Life Wireless
- 44.37 h
- Charging Method
- USB-C
- Full Charge Minutes
- 150 min
- Battery Life Anc On
- 40 h
- Battery
- Yes
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Connectivity
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.3
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth, wired-usb-c
- Bluetooth Codec
- SBC
- Multipoint Devices
- Yes - 2 devices
- Headphone Jack
- No
- USB Charging
- Yes
- Latency
- 200 ms
Design
- Weight
- 235 g
- Clamping Force
- 200-300 g
- Color Options
- Black (Graphite), white (Cloud), green (Sage), mauve (Mauve)
- Ear Pad Type
- Memory foam
- Foldable
- Yes
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head with padded band
Features
- Spatial Audio
- Yes
- Companion App
- Yes
- Control Type
- Physical buttons
- Eq Customization
- Yes
- Auto Pause
- No
Build
- IP Rating
- None
- Material Chassis Primary
- Plastic with aluminum frame and soft foam ear pads
- Sweat Resistance
- No
- Water Resistance
- No
- Material Ear Cups
- Faux leather
- Material Headband
- Protein leather with memory foam padding
Microphone
- Count
- 1
- Microphone
- Yes
- Wind Noise Reduction
- No
- Noise Reduction Type
- Passive noise isolation
- Type
- 6-mic beamforming array
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Closed-back
- Ambient Mode
- Yes - adjustable level
- Anc Modes
- Off,anc,transparency
- Driver Count
- 1
- Driver Size
- 40 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response
- 20-20000 Hz
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 20000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 20 Hz
- Frequency Response Signature
- V-shaped
- Impedance
- 16 Ω
- Max Spl
- 110 dB SPL
- Noise Cancellation Type
- Active
- Passive Isolation
- 46 dB
- Sensitivity
- 98 dB/mW
Identity
- Model Number
- JBuds Lux ANC
Release
- Msrp Usd
- 79.99 USD
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
JLab JBuds LuxSoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 10.1 |
| 25 | 10.0 |
| 32 | 9.5 |
| 40 | 8.2 |
| 50 | 6.4 |
| 63 | 6.1 |
| 80 | 6.1 |
| 100 | 5.3 |
| 125 | 4.0 |
| 160 | 2.2 |
| 200 | 1.6 |
| 250 | 1.5 |
| 315 | 0.6 |
| 400 | -0.8 |
| 500 | -1.5 |
| 630 | -0.9 |
| 800 | 1.2 |
| 1000 | 0.4 |
| 1250 | -0.7 |
| 1600 | 4.9 |
| 2000 | 7.2 |
| 2500 | 7.9 |
| 3150 | 9.8 |
| 4000 | 5.4 |
| 5000 | 5.3 |
| 6300 | 9.9 |
| 8000 | 12.7 |
| 10000 | 8.1 |
| 12500 | 2.2 |
| 16000 | -9.1 |
| 20000 | -22.8 |
JLab JBuds Lux
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -0.5 |
| 26 | -2.8 |
| 33 | 1.2 |
| 41 | 1.3 |
| 52 | 0.7 |
| 65 | -1.6 |
| 82 | -2.5 |
| 103 | -1.2 |
| 130 | 2.3 |
| 163 | 1.4 |
| 205 | 4.6 |
| 259 | 6.9 |
| 325 | 7.5 |
| 410 | 7.0 |
| 516 | 8.0 |
| 613 | 10.0 |
| 772 | 14.9 |
| 972 | 17.8 |
| 1220 | 22.4 |
| 1540 | 33.1 |
| 1940 | 29.5 |
| 2440 | 35.0 |
| 3070 | 32.4 |
| 3870 | 39.5 |
| 4870 | 46.8 |
| 6130 | 41.6 |
| 7720 | 46.1 |
| 9720 | 45.0 |
| 12200 | 32.0 |
| 15400 | 29.2 |
| 19400 | 39.3 |
JLab JBuds Lux
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -7.4 |
| 26 | 3.6 |
| 33 | 11.7 |
| 41 | 17.5 |
| 52 | 14.1 |
| 65 | 9.8 |
| 82 | 12.7 |
| 103 | 17.2 |
| 130 | 17.9 |
| 163 | 17.0 |
| 205 | 15.8 |
| 259 | 14.7 |
| 325 | 14.2 |
| 410 | 13.9 |
| 516 | 14.1 |
| 613 | 17.5 |
| 772 | 25.0 |
| 972 | 24.9 |
| 1220 | 25.8 |
| 1540 | 25.9 |
| 1940 | 34.8 |
| 2440 | 34.8 |
| 3070 | 33.9 |
| 3870 | 39.7 |
| 4870 | 41.8 |
| 6130 | 41.0 |
| 7720 | 37.8 |
| 9720 | 44.6 |
| 12200 | 32.2 |
| 15400 | 29.3 |
| 19400 | 39.5 |
JLab JBuds Lux
4.8
3.4
4.4
4.5
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.
SoundGuys review
Noise cancelling8.1
Isolation7.2
Battery life9.9
Comfort & fit8.5
Connectivity7.5
Design8.0
The verdict
As far as inexpensive ANC headphones go, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC are one of the best of 2024. They focus on the fundamentals, and not fighting the spec wars.
✓Liked: USB-C audio, Sound quality, Comfort, Value
✕Could be better: Limited options, No IP rating
Owners
How we verify ownersNobody who owns the JLab JBuds Lux has written in yet.
Owner notes are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not edited by us. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from notes.
Own the JLab JBuds Lux?
Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying. Shown under a pseudonym.
Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Review0:55Are these the best budget headphones on the market? Check out our JLab JBuds Lux ANC review.SoundGuys
Review5:13GOOD SOUND and ANC for $79! | JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones ReviewSoundGuys
Review0:42Best budget headphones under $100? Meet the JLab JBuds Lux! #JLab #WirelessHeadphones #shortsSoundGuysFeatures & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Don't buy wireless headphones without USB audioIt's way past time.
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian 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 TriggsContributor
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian 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 Over-Ear Headphones
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