JBL Tour Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds Review

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About the JBL Tour Pro 2

Here’s a look at the earbuds we tested:

• Price: $250
• Battery life: Up to 10 hours, up to 40 hours total with case
• Drivers: two 10mm drivers
• Wireless charging: Yes, Qi-compatible case
• Colors: Black, Champagne
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Water-resistance: IPX5
• Ear tips: Small, medium, large
• Weight: Earbuds, 12.2 grams (0.42 ounces), case, 73 grams (2.6 ounces)

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What we like

They are surprisingly comfortable

You wouldn’t necessarily peg the JBL Tour Pro 2 as comfortable earbuds just by looking at them. They have an obnoxiously large footprint with a hefty weight to them—similar to the Bose QuietComfort II. With that in mind, it would have made more sense if the Tour Pro 2 were prone to causing ear fatigue after using them for too long.

The reality is quite the opposite. The Tour Pro 2 fit nicely in my ears, bolstered by a feature in the JBL Headphones app that tests the seal of each earbud to help determine optimal positioning and placement. Beyond the pleasantly snug fit (they held up well in both the gym and during jogs around my neighborhood), the Tour Pro 2 stayed comfy for as long as I wore them. Ear fatigue was not a factor whatsoever, which is an expected, but vital perk of this price range of true wireless earbuds.

They feature a unique charging case

There isn’t a lot of variation in charging cases these days, but JBL aims to lead the charge in changing that trend. The case is adorned with a 1.45-inch LED display on the front that offers all kinds of control features. You can accept or decline incoming calls, adjust active noise cancellation or spatial sound, enable a Find my Buds feature, access messages, and more. The goal, JBL suggests, is to be able to control earbud settings without having to reach for your phone.

Inherently, I had concerns about how useful this case would actually be. After all, I don’t often carry charging cases with me once I pop in earbuds. Plus, I figured I would instinctively grab my phone to swap a track or tinker with a setting before even pondering the idea of pulling out the charging case. All that said, it was apparent that this case isn’t meant to be a complete replacement for your phone and the JBL Headphones app. Rather, it shines as a nifty second option for accessing the earbuds’ settings, especially when you’re first pulling the buds out of there case and need to quickly toggle something on or off.

They offer solid utility overall

For being high-end earbuds, the Tour Pro 2 are remarkably versatile for everyday use. To start, they have the coveted true wireless trifecta: comfort, good battery life (up to 10 hours per charge, though it’s closer to 7 or 8 with ANC turned on), and great water resistance (IPX5). Earbuds that can nail all three of those features tend to be incredibly functional in tons of different settings, and the Tour Pro 2 are no different.

The JBL Headphones app adds an additional layer to the versatility of it all. On top of the usual headphones features such as Ambient Sound Control options and an adjustable 10-band equalizer, the app has plenty of options for optimizing the Tour Pro 2 to your lifestyle. For instance, the app’s Person-fi feature analyzes information about you and data from sound tests to create a sound profile meant precisely for your ears. There’s also tabs for Spatial Sound settings, choosing which gestures correlate to which controls on the earbuds, separate audio and video modes for further optimizing sound, and even a SilentNow feature that JBL says is meant to help create the ideal setting for catching some sleep on a plane or during travel.

In all, it’s a wonderfully handy app that, when packaged with a pair of earbuds that feel great, last for long periods of time and are water-resistant, you’re met with a final product that excels in a wide variety of situations. The JBL Tour Pro 2 are those earbuds, a stark contrast from expensive earbuds of the past that were predominantly one-trick ponies and relied on their sound quality alone.

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What we don’t like

Their sound is good, but the competition sounds better

Historically, Sennheiser may have been susceptible to falling into that previously mentioned, audio quality-heavy category. That was, until the Momentum True Wireless 3 came out and shored up some of the shortcomings of their ancestors. That development, and perhaps that development alone, is a problem for JBL.

Let me be as clear as I can: the Tour Pro 2 sound good, and oftentimes lean towards exceptional. They feature healthy amounts of bass when needed (“White Walls” by Macklemore comes to mind), and are undoubtedly detailed. I spent a lot of time listening to instrumental music while reviewing these buds (wedding stuff), and I was impressed with the clarity that the Tour Pro 2 displayed. They’re even solid on the call quality side of things, thanks to a 6-microphone setup that sets the stage for solid audio on both ends of the call.

The issue here is that, for an identical price, the Momentum True Wireless 3 are an audio revelation. They helped redefine what the bar should be for sound quality in this price range. So, while the Tour Pro 2 sound good, they don’t live in isolation. When they have to compete with Sennheiser, or two of our other favorites—the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM4—it’s a much harder sell.

Noise cancellation is effective, but not outstanding

The Tour Pro 2 find themselves in a similar boat when it comes to active noise cancellation. They are effective in what they do, blocking out a reasonable amount of noise in loud settings like the gym or the grocery store. Plus, in the JBL Headphones app, you can customize your ANC experience by toggling on things like Leakage Compensation, which monitors the seal the buds have in your ears and adjusts ANC in real time to make up for any noise that is getting through.

The moral of the story is, the Tour Pro 2 don’t do a bad job when it comes to noise cancellation. They just bear the unfortunate burden of living in the same price range as the best noise-canceling earbuds in the game. For $50 more, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver unrivaled levels of ANC. Even at a more even cost, earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 simply block out more noise.

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Should you buy the JBL Tour Pro 2?

Yes, if you value well-rounded buds over sound and ANC

The JBL Tour Pro 2 are some of the more well-rounded, high-end earbuds on the market. In fact, they have better battery life and water resistance than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. And they accomplish that feat while also sporting solid comfort levels, good sound and effective noise cancellation.

The glaring hiccup is that, compared to those three adversaries, the Tour Pro 2 don’t match up when it comes to audio quality and ANC. The Momentum True Wireless 3 are some of the best sounding earbuds you can buy. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy. It's a harsh competition. But if you’re spending a lot on true wireless earbuds and are after the best in either sound or ANC, the Tour Pro 2 aren’t the move.

The good news is, if the total package is more of a factor to you than world-class sound or ANC, then you’re in luck. The JBL Tour Pro 2 (and their quirky, smart charging case) have a plethora of perks waiting for you to explore.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.