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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The EPOS PC38X provides an excellent immersive experience with superior sound quality and soundstage, making it ideal for gaming, calls and meetings, and music. It comes with a boom mic known for high-quality audio capture, though it is wired and specializes in open-back design, which isn't optimal for use in noisy environments. On the other hand, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is more affordable, offers good comfort, has active controls, and is wireless with a significant battery life, which adds to its portability and versatility for exercise, travel, and casual use. It also features a boom mic but with slightly less mic quality compared to the EPOS PC38X. If budget is a concern and you value the flexibility of wireless use, the JLab JBuds may suit your needs, but if you're willing to invest more for top-tier sound quality and you mainly use headphones in a quiet environment, the EPOS PC38X could be the better choice. 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 EPOS PC38X
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for phone calls
- Best in class for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.5
6.8
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
10.0
8.8
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good.
Phone Calls
10.0
7.3
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
TV and Video
9.0
7.9
The EPOS PC38X is excellent for TV and video, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and EPOS PC38X are both poor for noise reduction, though the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
60.0 Hours
The EPOS PC38X does not have a battery. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$139
$79
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The EPOS PC38X has a price of $139 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has excellent build quality, while the EPOS PC38X has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.9
The EPOS PC38X and JLab JBuds Work Wireless are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the EPOS PC38X and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| EPOS PC38X | JLab JBuds Work Wireless |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$139 | $79 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | EPOS | JLab | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | October 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.6/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 10/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 10/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 60 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 249.4 Grams | 158 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
EPOS PC38X
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Dig into reviews and images
Everyday Listening
Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."
JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | February 2022
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
Get a great deal on the EPOS PC38X or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
About EPOS
EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.
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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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