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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prefer wireless convenience and use earbuds for active lifestyles or travel, the JBL Tune Buds would be a better choice because they are designed to be sweatproof, provide good noise isolation, and are highly portable. They also have a longer battery life, which is beneficial for extended use, and they offer active noise cancelling for quieter listening experiences. However, if you value sound quality for music and don't mind a wired connection, the Koss Porta Pro headphones could be the more suitable option despite their lack of modern features like wireless connectivity and active noise cancelling. They provide very good overall sound quality, especially for their price, and have an open-back design which can deliver a natural soundstage. Keep in mind they may not be as travel-friendly or as versatile for exercise and may not isolate noise as well. The Porta Pros are on the budget side, so you would save money with them, which could be a deciding factor if you're looking for a cost-effective option. 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 Tune Buds
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.2
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro is very good for music, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Gaming
5.4
6.4
The Koss Porta Pro is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Tune Buds is poor.
Phone Calls
4.9
4.3
The JBL Tune Buds and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Tune Buds is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
6.8
The Koss Porta Pro is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Tune Buds is poor.
TV and Video
6.1
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro is good for TV and video, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.7
2.5
The JBL Tune Buds is only fair for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro is poor.
Battery
10.4 Hours
N/A
The JBL Tune Buds has 10.4 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro does not have a battery.
Build Quality
8.5
6.0
The JBL Tune Buds has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Cost
$50
$49
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The JBL Tune Buds has a price of $50 and the Koss Porta Pro costs $49.
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How the JBL Tune Buds and the Koss Porta Pro compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Tune Buds | Koss Porta Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $49 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 4.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 6.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.1/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.6/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10.4 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 30 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.8/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 10.8 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
JBL Tune Buds
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Tim Gideon | September 2023
"JBL’s Tune Buds stick with the company’s signature bass-heavy sound by default, but a quality in-app EQ lets you sculpt the audio to taste. These noise-cancelling true wireless earphones also mitigate environmental distractions fairly well for the price and offer good battery life. If you're specifically seeking bold, bass-tuned audio out of the box, the Tune Buds are worth a listen."
Koss Porta Pro
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Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the JBL Tune Buds or the Koss Porta Pro
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 Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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
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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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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.
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