Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 evaluation: Going out in type

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 constantly 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 title, these earbuds keep it up from their predecessors and add just a few new enhancements to the combo. Nonetheless, a stable pair of ruggedized earbuds will get overshadowed by Jabra’s resolution to maneuver on from its earbuds enterprise, however that also does not actually change how viable these are.

Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: Value and availability

Jabra launched the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 in June 2024, and they are going to be simple 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 shopper enterprise and can not make earbuds. Jabra confirms it can preserve supporting its present 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 thing their Elite 10 Gen 2 siblings do, however they often is the extra interesting of the 2 for a few causes. First is sturdiness. Whereas the Elite 10 Gen 2 boast a powerful IP57 ranking 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, however it’s one other to discover a pair that does so many issues nicely. You would be mountain climbing 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 cause 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 system that merely works. A rubberized matte end handles water so nicely that it slides off the coating. 

I want Jabra utilized 100% protection with this materials however it mainly took the identical method because it did with the first-gen Elite 8 Lively and left a sizeable inside portion extra uncovered. Granted, that does not essentially pose a hazard as a result of mud and water resistance apply equally right here, however it nonetheless would’ve been good to see right here.

Sticking with a well-known design bodes nicely for match and luxury. These are a few of the most snug and secure earbuds obtainable, for my part, having worn and examined lots of of wi-fi earbuds at this level. You get three ear tip sizes to select from to seek out the perfect, snuggest match on your ears. Yet one more measurement would’ve been good, like an extra-large or extra-small, although.

A tighter seal is essential to getting essentially 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 should you’re seeking to put on these throughout a run or exercise and wish to entice in as a lot bass as doable. 

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 more durable to play the identical tunes. Nonetheless, the tuning is not completely different, and you’ll at all times tweak the EQ in Jabra’s Sound+ app to ship a balanced sound. 

Fact be informed, there is not any main distinction in how music typically sounds by way 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 pretty much as good as Jabra claims, however it’s extra refined this time. It does higher with avenue noise and wind, although cellphone calls in windy circumstances nonetheless pose a problem typically. I used to be extra impressed with HearThrough, the place ambient sounds come by way 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 actual fact the charging case additionally acts as a Bluetooth LE good case. It really works with the LC3 codec, so as soon as you utilize the included cable and plug in by way of USB-C or 3.5mm to a playback machine, 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 holding quiet might imply the distinction between happiness and distress. It is also gold with laptops or tablets the place latency and audio/video sync may be a priority. It does not even want any setup; simply plug in, maintain the button on the case till a white gentle seems, and also you’re good. 

As at all times, Jabra affords a major stage of granular management within the Sound+ app, letting you alter the controls (which nonetheless work nicely as bodily buttons), arrange Spotify Faucet, and replace the firmware, amongst different issues. You simply should dig slightly to see the place every thing is should you’re new to Jabra’s earbuds.

Spatial sound is extra entrance and middle as a function, and it is OK. Not nice, nor horrible. One cause is that it is Dolby Audio fairly than Atmos, supplying you with Dolby’s extra basic spatial audio tech. As such, there is not any head monitoring because the Elite 10 Gen 2 have, and the impact feels much less substantial right here, anyway. I selected to go away 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 units concurrently, making the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 buds simply as helpful in an workplace scenario.

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 mechanically activates HearThrough. Multipoint connections additionally allow you to pair with two units concurrently, making the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 buds simply as helpful in an workplace scenario. 

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 primarily based on default quantity ranges, so should you crank these up, you are by no means hitting these numbers. I simply bought above seven hours at about 60% quantity—and spatial audio off—so the batteries in each buds maintain up nicely. The case affords 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 would argue hi-res tracks are much less related for extra active-focused earbuds, however I do not see why working or understanding abruptly negates such a function. 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 shopper enterprise behind. The surprising exit comes at a time when it appeared Jabra was nonetheless top-class within the class. Its listening to help and enterprise companies make more cash, so in a tighter and tighter shopper marketplace for wi-fi earbuds, Jabra’s decision-makers made what was very doubtless a pure enterprise resolution. 

It is simply odd for a model to launch a key product after which step away from your complete enterprise altogether. On the brilliant aspect, Jabra will proceed to help its shopper audio merchandise for “years” to come back with updates and warranties, and given its observe file that manner, I am inclined to consider it.

Jabra Elite 8 Lively Gen 2: Competitors

Regardless of Jabra’s shocking transfer, the Elite 8 Lively Gen 2 should be talked about together with the greatest wi-fi earbuds. Actually, should you had been the perfect earbuds for exercises, they’d be on the high of the listing. When you really feel you possibly can do with out the improved ANC and HearThrough, you will discover comparable consolation and sturdiness with the earlier Elite 8 Lively. When you needed good sturdiness with further options and the identical match, the Elite 10 Gen 2 are a superb alternative. 

On the subject of 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 possibly can have 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 can purchase this if…

• You need rugged sturdiness.
• You need good sound with ANC help.
• You desire a snug match with bodily buttons.
• You need an EQ to work with.

You should not purchase this if…

• You actually need hi-res audio codecs.
• You do not want spatial audio.
• You are on a tighter finances.

As I already identified, it is unusual for a model to launch a key product and switch away from your complete 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 scenario, I would not hesitate to advocate these earbuds just because they do not have many rugged rivals. And undoubtedly not of this high quality. Plus, Jabra continues to be manufacturing them to accommodate retail demand. 

They’re a really iterative improve over their predecessors, although. Until you are actually explicit about noise cancelation, HearThrough, and actually need the Bluetooth LE function within the case, you will not go fallacious with the earlier pair, both.