JBL Synchros E30 Quick Review

We have a pair of headphones right here coming from JBL, and it’s called the Synchros E30 which is supposed to look great and sound great with the price tag that comes with it. It may be worth your attention, but is it worth buying?

Out of the box, the E30 doesn’t come with much. It has your usual guides, a detachable cable and the headphones. The cord is enough in length – enough to listen to music from your pocket with a little more allowance. It’s not flat sadly, but to brighten things up, one end is L-shaped and it doesn’t tangle easily. Lastly, the cable has a built-in remote / microphone, which works, falls where it should be, and has a nice click to it, but it’s nothing mind-blowing.

Panning the attention to the E30, we can easily say it’s made to be compact and easy to carry – the cups fold inward and upward, and the neck can extend a good distance. Also, despite its light construction, the build quality is solid & stunning indeed. We only have one gripe though, and it might break it for some (literally): the headband joint feels flimsy when extended and it gives out the impression that it can easily snap off. However, as long as you take good care of it, we think no problems will arise.

Once you wear the E30, you will begin to realize that in exchange for its compact size, JBL had to sacrifice comfort. Yes, the headphones fit, but not so perfectly because of its shape that’s less fitted towards the curvature of your face. I had to adjust it very often to make myself comfortable, and after long periods of having it on, I felt really irritated. To avoid this, all you have to do is adjust it from time to time, and you may get around the problem.

So how’s the sound of the Synchros E30? Well, the first thing I noticed about it was that it offers great distinction between left & right audio as I continuously played through several versions of Bohemian Rhapsody this week, but then once you start noticing the overshadowed snares & cymbals, it’s hard to ignore. I didn’t appreciate any of the drum sounds except the bass for all the songs that I’ve listened to; almost the same thing could be said with the high-pitched piano sounds in songs like Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock, and the guitars much in Maroon 5’s This Love, but for The 1975’s Pressure, it was decent at best – just like the voices.

To be honest, I didn’t notice the negative side immediately, and I think it’s due to to how well executed the lows are. Like I’ve said, I have been listening to a lot of Bohemian Rhapsody this week, and as you’d all know, after the intro, the music thickens with the entry of deep pianos that blew me away through the E30.

For the price of Php3,690, I think the JBL Synchros E30 is worth a look at because it’s compact, stylish and bassy (it’s also available in different colors). However, if you need highs & comfort, you may have to look somewhere else, but for the most part, the JBL Synchros E30 will do.

What we liked about it:

• Light, compact & elegant design
• Deep lows
• Great distinction of left & right audio
• L-shaped 3.5mm jack
• Cable doesn’t tangle easily

What we didn’t like about it:

• Highs are hard to appreciate
• Flimsy neck
• Uncomfortable to wear