The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation, sound quality, and features for a premium listening experience, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds would be suitable, especially for use during air travel or exercise, due to active noise cancelling and sweatproof certification. However, if you're on a budget and want a long battery life for extended use, the JBL 510BT headphones may be more appropriate, although they may not offer the same level of sound isolation and overall sound quality. The Bose earbuds also support AptX Adaptive for better synchronization during TV and gaming, whereas the JBL lacks such low latency features. Choose the Bose for a high-end audio experience and advanced features or the JBL for affordability and long battery life without the extras. 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 Ultra Earbuds
Very good for music
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
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 Ultra Earbuds.
Key differences
Music
8.6/10
6.2/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Gaming
8.8/10
5.4/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
8.1/10
5.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.9/10
5.3/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
38.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life.
Cost
$249
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
9.0/10
6.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
The JBL 510BT and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0/10
5.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the JBL 510BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
"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 Ultra Earbuds 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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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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