There are tons of wi-fi earbuds obtainable available on the market, however you will not often discover a pair that gives a excessive stage of sturdiness. A couple of manufacturers do it, besides Jabra is the one one on the upper finish that persistently does so. Its Lively earbuds proceed to supply glorious outcomes, and that is very a lot the case with the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2.
By their identify, these earbuds keep on from their predecessors and add a couple of new enhancements to the combination. Nonetheless, a strong pair of ruggedized earbuds will get overshadowed by Jabra’s choice to maneuver on from its earbuds enterprise, however that also does not actually change how viable these are.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: Worth and availability
Jabra launched the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 in June 2024, and they are going to be straightforward to seek out in retail and on-line shops for a while. They begin at $230, although reductions aren’t out of the query down the road now that Jabra is pulling out of its client enterprise and can now not make earbuds. Jabra confirms it would preserve supporting its current lineup of Elite earbuds with updates and guarantee commitments for years to come back. They arrive in black, navy, coral, and olive.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: What’s good
The Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 might not have every little thing their Elite 10 Gen 2 siblings do, however they could be the extra interesting of the 2 for a few causes. First is sturdiness. Whereas the Elite 10 Gen 2 boast a formidable IP57 score for any pair of flagship earbuds, the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 take each mud and water resistance additional with IP68 safety. It is uncommon sufficient to seek out rugged earbuds, nevertheless it’s one other to discover a pair that does so many issues properly. You could possibly be mountaineering up a mountain or splashing right into a pool, and there would not be an issue. Coping with sweat is simply a part of the deal right here.
That is the place the second purpose is available in: the sturdiness makes the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 extra compelling as exercise earbuds. Very like their predecessors, the first-gen Elite 8 Lively, Jabra correctly selected to stay with a design components that merely works. A rubberized matte end handles water so properly that it slides off the coating.
I want Jabra utilized 100% protection with this materials nevertheless it principally took the identical strategy because it did with the first-gen Elite 8 Lively and left a sizeable internal portion extra uncovered. Granted, that does not essentially pose a hazard as a result of mud and water resistance apply equally right here, nevertheless it nonetheless would’ve been good to see right here.
Sticking with a well-known design bodes properly for match and luxury. These are among the most comfy and steady earbuds obtainable, for my part, having worn and examined tons of of wi-fi earbuds at this level. You get three ear tip sizes to select from to seek out one of the best, snuggest match in your ears. Yet one more dimension would’ve been good, like an extra-large or extra-small, although.
A tighter seal is essential to getting probably the most out of the onboard lively noise cancelation (ANC), and that is no completely different right here. It is also essential to the sound, particularly in case you’re seeking to put on these throughout a run or exercise and wish to entice in as a lot bass as potential.
The Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 have smaller 6mm drivers in comparison with the 10mm ones within the Elite 10 Gen 2, so that they work tougher to play the identical tunes. Nonetheless, the tuning is not completely different, and you may all the time tweak the EQ in Jabra’s Sound+ app to ship a balanced sound.
Reality be instructed, there isn’t any main distinction in how music usually sounds by means of these buds, although modifications do happen underneath sure circumstances. Improved ANC, significantly in decrease and mid-range frequencies, helps drown out extra background noise to let audio playback really feel extra resonant.
It largely works effectively. I am unable to inform you the ANC is twice nearly as good as Jabra claims, however it’s extra refined this time. It does higher with road noise and wind, although cellphone calls in windy situations nonetheless pose a problem generally. I used to be extra impressed with HearThrough, the place ambient sounds come by means of a lot clearer than earlier than, making it extra pure to listen to an announcement or chat with somebody with out eradicating the buds.
The larger deal is the very fact the charging case additionally acts as a Bluetooth LE sensible case. It really works with the LC3 codec, so as soon as you employ the included cable and plug in by way of USB-C or 3.5mm to a playback gadget, it streams the audio to the earbuds. On a airplane, this seems like magic, even when Jabra is hardly the primary to ever do it. Identical with a TV, the place conserving quiet might imply the distinction between happiness and distress. It is also gold with laptops or tablets the place latency and audio/video sync is likely to be a priority. It does not even want any setup; simply plug in, maintain the button on the case till a white mild seems, and also you’re good.
As all the time, Jabra provides a big stage of granular management within the Sound+ app, letting you regulate the controls (which nonetheless work properly as bodily buttons), arrange Spotify Faucet, and replace the firmware, amongst different issues. You simply must dig a bit of to see the place every little thing is in case you’re new to Jabra’s earbuds.
Spatial sound is extra entrance and heart as a characteristic, and it is OK. Not nice, nor horrible. One purpose is that it is Dolby Audio reasonably than Atmos, supplying you with Dolby’s extra normal spatial audio tech. As such, there isn’t any head monitoring because the Elite 10 Gen 2 have, and the impact feels much less substantial right here, anyway. I selected to depart it off more often than not, significantly for music, and I solely tried it once more when watching a present or film.
Multipoint connections additionally allow you to pair with two gadgets concurrently, making the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 buds simply as helpful in an workplace state of affairs.
Jabra will get different issues proper, like the wear and tear sensors, the place taking an earbud off pauses playback or mutes a name, or utilizing just one earbud robotically activates HearThrough. Multipoint connections additionally allow you to pair with two gadgets concurrently, making the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 buds simply as helpful in an workplace state of affairs.
On paper, battery life is rated at as much as eight hours per cost with ANC on or as much as 14 hours with it off. That is all based mostly on default quantity ranges, so in case you crank these up, you are by no means hitting these numbers. I simply obtained above seven hours at about 60% quantity—and spatial audio off—so the batteries in each buds maintain up properly. The case provides an additional three full prices, and because it additionally helps wi-fi charging and a five-minute fast cost, the conveniences add up.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: What’s not good
I nonetheless do not perceive Jabra’s motivation for not supporting hi-res audio codecs. Right here, you solely get SBC and AAC. Nonetheless no aptX, LDAC, or LHDC, to call a key few. You could possibly argue hi-res tracks are much less related for extra active-focused earbuds, however I do not see why operating or figuring out all of a sudden negates such a characteristic. Jabra did the identical with the Elite 10 Gen 2—a missed alternative for each pairs.
Maybe it is a moot level anyway, contemplating the firm is leaving its client enterprise behind. The stunning exit comes at a time when it appeared Jabra was nonetheless top-class within the class. Its listening to assist and enterprise companies make more cash, so in a tighter and tighter client marketplace for wi-fi earbuds, Jabra’s decision-makers made what was very seemingly a pure enterprise choice.
It is simply odd for a model to launch a key product after which step away from the whole enterprise altogether. On the brilliant aspect, Jabra will proceed to help its client audio merchandise for “years” to come back with updates and warranties, and given its monitor document that manner, I am inclined to imagine it.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: Competitors
Regardless of Jabra’s stunning transfer, the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 need to be talked about together with the finest wi-fi earbuds. Definitely, in case you had been taking a look at one of the best earbuds for exercises, they might be on the prime of the listing. For those who really feel you would do with out the improved ANC and HearThrough, you will discover related consolation and sturdiness with the earlier Elite 8 Lively. For those who needed good sturdiness with extra options and the identical match, the Elite 10 Gen 2 are a superb selection.
In relation to different manufacturers, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional do not have mud resistance however their IPX7 safety is fairly rugged for sweat and water. For a pair with ear hooks and less expensive value, you would take a look at the Treblab X3 Professional or JBL Endurance Peak 3.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: Do you have to purchase them?
You should purchase this if…
- You need rugged sturdiness.
- You need good sound with ANC help.
- You need a comfy match with bodily buttons.
- You need an EQ to work with.
You should not purchase this if…
- You really need hi-res audio codecs.
- You do not want spatial audio.
- You are on a tighter price range.
As I already identified, it is unusual for a model to launch a key product and switch away from the whole enterprise on the identical time. That is the place we’re with the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2—placing shoppers in a troublesome spot. However regardless of the weird state of affairs, I would not hesitate to suggest these earbuds just because they do not have many rugged rivals. And undoubtedly not of this high quality. Plus, Jabra remains to be manufacturing them to accommodate retail demand.
They’re a really iterative improve over their predecessors, although. Until you are actually specific about noise cancelation, HearThrough, and really need the Bluetooth LE characteristic within the case, you will not go mistaken with the earlier pair, both.
Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2
The ultimate type
The Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 retain their pole place as one of the best rugged earbuds you purchase, but additionally add higher ANC, HearThrough, and LE Audio playback from the case.