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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If noise isolation and sound quality for music and podcasts are your priority, and you don't mind the higher cost, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are excellent, also offering active noise cancelling and sweatproof certification, making them suitable for exercise and air travel. Conversely, if budget is a concern and you're looking for headphones with long battery life and don't require top-tier sound isolation or audio quality for music, the JBL 510BT would be a solid choice, though they lack active noise cancelling and are less ideal for noisy environments and focused listening sessions. The Bose earbuds also come with integrated ear detection and a more robust build quality but are heavier and provide fewer hours of battery life compared to the JBL headphones. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
- Good for music
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
- The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds.
Key differences
Music
7.1
6.2
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Phone Calls
6.6
5.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
5.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
38.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
8.9
6.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has very good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.6
5.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and JBL 510BT are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
6.0
5.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds to be only fair for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the JBL 510BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | JBL 510BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | February 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 5.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 38 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 158.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
JBL 510BT
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Sam Smart | September 2023
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
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About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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