The Jabra Elite 8 Active are advanced sports earbuds, an upgrade from the Elite 7 Active.
They have a soft silicone coating for a secure fit, and a robust design, and are IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, making them great for running and workouts.
They feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a customizing app, and a new virtual surround sound feature.
Pros
- Advanced Sports Earbuds: Upgraded from the Elite 7 Active, making them suitable for active users.
- Secure and Comfortable Fit: Soft silicone coating and ShakeGrip rubber coating ensure a secure fit during activities.
- Robust Design: IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, making them durable for running and workouts.
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Features adaptive noise cancellation for improved audio experience.
- Customizable App: Allows for sound adjustments and personalization.
- Virtual Surround Sound: Dolby Spatial Sound creates a wider soundstage.
- Tough Build: Marketed as the “world’s toughest,” waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof to 1 meter.
- Improved Microphone Quality: Six microphones with enhanced noise-canceling and wind-reduction technology.
- Physical Control Buttons: Easy to control while on the move.
- Simultaneous Bluetooth Connection: Can connect to two devices at once.
- Mono Usage Support: Automatically pauses music when removed.
- Find My Jabra Function: Helps locate lost earbuds.
Cons
- Sound Quality: Good but not exceptional, less refined compared to more expensive models like Elite 10s or Sony WF-1000XM5s.
- Larger Charging Case: Bulkier than some competitors, though it offers wireless charging.
- Lacks AptX Support: Moved away from Qualcomm chips, does not support AptX.
- Limited Noise Cancellation: Not as advanced as Jabra’s Elite 10 or competitors like AirPods Pro 2, Bose, and Sony.
- Transparency Mode: HearThru mode is less natural-sounding compared to AirPods Pro 2’s transparency mode.
- Inconsistent Voice Quality in Noise: Voice-calling performance falls short in noisy environments, not reducing background noise as effectively.
- Lacks Head-Tracking Feature: Unlike the Elite 10 model.
Robust Design for the Ultimate Durability and Comfort
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds are a durable upgrade from previous models like the Elite 7 Pro and Active.
They feature six microphones, improved noise-canceling and wind-reduction technology, and a high durability rating.
With a noise-isolating design, they fit snugly in the ears and have physical buttons for easy control.
These earbuds are marketed as the “world’s toughest,” being fully waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof to 1 meter, passing military spec standards.
They survived tests like drops on pavement and submersion in water without damage. The charging case is larger than some competitors but offers wireless charging and comes in four colors.
The earbuds are lightweight, compact, and have a ShakeGrip rubber coating for a secure fit, making them ideal for active use, especially running.
Features On The Jabra Elite 8 Active
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds feature adaptive noise cancellation and a HearThru mode for environmental awareness.
They automatically pause music when removed and support mono usage. These earbuds, along with the Elite 10 model, have moved away from Qualcomm chips, foregoing AptX support but including AAC and new LE Audio codecs.
Jabra Elite 8’s offers simultaneous Bluetooth connection to two devices and hands-free Google Assistant for Android.
Available in four colors, these earbuds have Dolby Spatial Sound, though they lack the Elite 10’s head-tracking feature.
Additionally, a Find My Jabra function helps locate lost earbuds, although it’s less precise than similar features in competitors like AirPods Pro 2.
How Is The Sound Quality of The Elite 8?
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds have 6mm drivers, which offer decent clarity and punchy bass but are less refined than more expensive models like the Elite 10s or Sony WF-1000XM5s.
They deliver good, but not exceptional, sound quality, comparable to other sports earbuds in the same price range, like the Beats Fit Pros.
The Jabra app provides options to adjust the sound with preset or custom EQ settings.
A key feature is the Dolby Spatial Sound, which, when activated, creates a wider soundstage, making the audio feel more open and less confined to the listener’s head.
Balancing Noise Cancelation with Safety in Transparency Mode
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds feature Adaptive Hybrid Noise Canceling, which is slightly better than the Elite 7 Pro but not as advanced as Jabra’s Elite 10 or competitors like AirPods Pro 2, Bose, and Sony.
The Elite 8 Actives have a noise-isolating design that passively blocks more noise than the semi-open designed Elite 10s.
The Elite 8’s HearThru (transparency) mode is useful for runners to stay aware of their surroundings, but it’s not as natural-sounding as the AirPods Pro 2’s transparency mode.
Solid Voice-Calling Performance With Room For Improvement
The Jabra Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 have decent voice-calling performance in quiet environments, with clear audio for callers.
However, in noisy conditions, like busy streets, they don’t reduce background noise as effectively as competitors like the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5s, and voice quality can be inconsistent.
A test call in a companion video review demonstrates the call quality in a challenging environment, but overall, while the performance is good, it falls short of being great, especially considering their advanced six-microphone setup and wind noise reduction technology.
Final Verdict on Jabra Elite 8 Active
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds are a solid choice for sports and fitness enthusiasts, offering a robust and water-resistant design suitable for outdoor activities.
While they provide good sound quality and effective noise cancellation, they don’t match the audio refinement of more expensive models.
Their secure fit and durable build make them a reliable option for active users, but those seeking top-tier sound and noise cancellation might consider higher-end alternatives.
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