REASONS TO BUY
Robust app
Lots of features
Transparency mode
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacking strong bass
No ANC
JBL Vibe Beam Review
These come with a solid app, but have questionable sound quality and other quirks
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Graham Faulknor ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ November 25, 2025
Contributions From: Genaveve Bradshaw & Alex Hocevar-Smith
RELATED: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025
Our Verdict
JBL is synonymous with quality audio, so we were excited to test out the JBL Vibe Beam. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. These are not the greatest earbuds, receiving one of the worst sound quality scores in our lineup. Even for the price, they aren't what we expected or on par with others. Every other metric was run-of-the-mill (albeit battery life was decent), making these even more of a letdown. With just a little bit better execution of sound quality, these would have been stellar entry-level earbuds. Even if they'd performed better at calling, or soundstage, it would be an easier pill to swallow, as a reliable pair of earbuds for meetings, calling mom, or listening to podcasts has value.
Our JBL Vibe Beam Experience
The JBL Vibe Beam is a shoot-and-miss, entry-level pair of wireless earbuds that sound mediocre at best. The price is intriguing, and we were excited to find a pair of JBLs for a more than reasonable price, but the final execution wasn't a standout, and we weren't impressed.
Although not the best-sounding, the Vibe Beam has app features that many earbuds lack, especially at this price point. Credit: Natalie Kafader
We didn't have any trouble pairing the earbuds or randomly losing connection mid-song, nor did we experience any variability in sound quality while listening to music. They performed valiantly, even if the final sound quality was lackluster.
We had some difficulty with the stems getting caught and pulling out of our ears because they protrude farther than most. They wouldn't be our choice for physical activity or any use where significant movement is a factor, and you'll need to pay closer attention when removing clothing over your head to avoid pulling them free.
Overall, the performance feels a bit on par with the price, or maybe something a little cheaper. While not super impressive, they weren't the lowest performers in their price range, but it's close.
If you're on a strict budget and sound quality is your top priority, the JBL Vibe Beam buds are not the best option. However, if you don't care too much about sound quality and just want a comfortable pair of affordable wireless earbuds with great battery life, these are a decent option.
With that strict budget in mind and an ear for more quality sound, the options still aren't amazing. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the JLab Go Pop+ has much better listening experiences and a slew of improved features over the Beams. The TOZO T10 also performs better in most metrics and has the same list price. They also boast a higher water resistance rating and stay in our ears more securely. If you can stretch your budget or find a great sale, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are our favorite budget pair with impressive performance for most test metrics.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The JBL Vibe Beam in our Bruel and Kjaer 5128-B head testing rig. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sound Quality
The JBL Vibe Beam are consistently subpar across all genres. While the sound may feel muted across all frequencies, the midrange is clear enough to pick up on subtle details, such as the distinctive shift in harmonies at the 3:51 mark of “Emotional Detachment Demo” by Jessie Reyez.
The bass and treble frequencies struggle. The bass is present but faint in most tracks. Thankfully, if you turn the volume up to increase its power, it never distorts or blows out. At the same time, the mid and treble tones can sound piercing, especially in the higher frequencies. For example, the cymbals in “Supercut” by Lorde, starting at 0:16, are flinchingly sharp at high volumes, leaving you to choose between a weak bass line at low volumes or shrill high notes.
We measured the frequency response of the JBLs against our GearLab House Curve. These earbuds deviated from our curve in the bass and treble ranges more than most buds. Surprisingly, it managed to align with our preference curve in the upper mid-range but was otherwise overshadowed by its poor overall performance.
Soundstage
While these earbuds create a limited and confined soundstage, they have a large enough sonic landscape to pick out individual sounds and textures. There is enough clarity to identify and locate instruments in space.
When listening to “Worth It” by RAYE, we were pleasantly surprised by how good the song sounds. The world it builds is compact, but we could still enjoy the tones of each instrument and appreciate the way they blend. While these earbuds can't create a mind-expanding experience, they can be enjoyable.
All told, the Vibe Beams can't be recommended if sound quality is a priority. Even at this entry-level price point, there are better options if sound quality is your primary concern.
Though generally secure, be careful with how far the JBL stems stick out. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort and Fit
The Vibe Beams fit quite well. From small to large ears, you can expect these buds to fit comfortably.
Compared to many competitors, they manage to offer a more comfortable fit, even if stability isn't a standout.
Here you can see and hear what the Vibe Beam buds sound like with noise cancelling on and off. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Noise Cancellation
Although the JBL Vibe Beam earbuds do not feature active noise cancellation (ANC), they still block some background noise passively.
Due to their secure fit, they do a decent job of blocking some ambient sounds. The passive seal performs best in the treble and high-mid ranges, but low frequencies still manage to find their way in. These are not isolation levels on par with active noise cancellation, but they are better than many competitors.
Once the Vibe Beam are seated in your ears, you can use the various tap functions to change modes, skip songs, etc. Credit: Abriah Wofford
App Features
These buds offer decent app functionality, are compatible with both Android and Apple devices, and offer EQ adjustability. They have an “Ambient Aware” mode, which allows you to hear your environment more clearly if you choose to, and they also feature location tracking. Many competitors fail to offer similar features, and while not perfectly executed by JBL, it is refreshing to see them in this price range.
10 minutes in the JBL case nets you another 2 hours of playback. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Battery Life
The Vibe Beams performed very well here, with a whopping 9 hours and 10 minutes of playback, 1 hour and 10 minutes longer than the manufacturer claims.
You can charge them another three times using the charging case. A 10-minute quick charge will also provide an additional 2 hours of battery life. Overall, this was one of the best performances at this price point, outperforming many of its premium competitors.
We are able to have a coherent conversation on the Subway, but sounds like the overhead speaker bleed through easily. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Call Quality
The Vibe is a mixed bag of meh when it comes to phone calls. While we could generally make out the voices no matter how busy the background, it wasn't the best, and the background was never totally dampened in favor of the speaker.
We were impressed by the good call quality clarity of the JBL's in an office setting. Not bad for a budget set of earbuds. Credit: Natalie Kafader
These buds sound great at baseline, with voices audible when speaking in a quiet room.
Phone calls with zero noise pollution are crystal clear.
In the Subway, the background is most noticeable, and lower voices remain clear while higher-pitched voices become harder to hear. In an office environment, background noise is evident, but voices are still clear.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare JBL Vibe Beam versus top competing products:
—Graham Faulknor, Genaveve Bradshaw, and Alex Hocevar-Smith
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