The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a tight budget, the JBL 510BT could be suitable; however, it has limitations in sound quality, comfort, and usability for activities such as calls, meetings, and watching TV. Meanwhile, the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) offers superior overall sound, call quality, and is excellent for a variety of activities, including gaming and air travel, thanks to features like active noise canceling, sweatproof certification, and a better build quality. It's also more portable, provides good noise isolation, and has a handy app equalizer for customization. However, all these premium features come at a higher price. If these added benefits align with your needs and you can invest more, the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) may 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 JBL 510BT
The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2).
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
Good for music
Good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.2/10
7.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Gaming
5.4/10
8.5/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for gaming, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
7.9/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good for phone calls, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
9.1/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
5.5/10
8.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
8.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
38.0 Hours
6.7 Hours
The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$149
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL 510BT has a price of $30 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) costs $149.
Build Quality
6.5/10
9.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has excellent build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
"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."
"For the price the Nothing Ear (2) is pretty good. It fits well, and the IP54 rating (and IP55 with case) is durable enough for daily life. Most of its unique features are found in the Nothing X app, such as personalized frequency responses, and personalized, adjustable ANC."
Get a great deal on the JBL 510BT or the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.