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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you are on a strict budget and need something portable for music listening on-the-go without active noise cancelling, the JBL 510BT might suit you, but their on-ear design may be less comfortable over long periods. However, if you prioritize comfort, better sound isolation, and active noise cancelling for travel or noisy environments, and don't mind spending more, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC over-ear headphones would be a better option. Both are wireless and have built-in controls, but keep in mind the Skullcandy also offers a cable for wired use, which the JBL does not. 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 Skullcandy Hesh ANC.
Advantages of the Skullcandy Hesh ANC
Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.2/10
6.7/10
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC and JBL 510BT are both only fair for music, though the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
8.7/10
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
38.0 Hours
23.0 Hours
The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC has 23 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$135
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL 510BT has a price of $30 and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC costs $135.
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC and JBL 510BT are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
5.3/10
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC and JBL 510BT are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Skullcandy Hesh ANC to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
5.5/10
5.8/10
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC and JBL 510BT are both poor for TV and video.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Skullcandy Hesh ANC to have good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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How the JBL 510BT and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC compare to other earbuds and headphones
"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."
"Skullcandy’s Hesh ANC are compact, wireless over-ears for everyday use that are tuned for bass and designed to suppress or amplify ambient noise as required. In addition to Bluetooth 5.0, optional tracking via the Tile app is supported so that these headphones can be found if they get lost."
Get a great deal on the JBL 510BT or the Skullcandy Hesh ANC
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.
About Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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