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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation and a comfortable fit for long periods, such as during air travel or exercise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II would be a superior choice. They also have active noise cancelling which is excellent for noisy environments. However, they have a shorter battery life and may be less suitable for voice calls and gaming. On the other hand, the JBL 510BT headphones, while budget-friendly with a very long battery life, offer less effective noise isolation and comfort. They also lack active noise cancelling, making them less effective in noisy situations. Choose the Bose for quiet and comfort or JBL for budget-consciousness and longer listening sessions without the need for a charge. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
- The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Key differences
Music
7.4
6.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
38.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
9.2
6.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and JBL 510BT are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.1
The JBL 510BT and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL 510BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | JBL 510BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | February 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 5.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 38 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 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 | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 158.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
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."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the JBL 510BT
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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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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