Jabra’s top-of-the-line TWS device scores on performance and quality
Rs. 15,999, jabra.in
TWS is the hottest category right now for audio accessory makers and while we have seen some affordable ones in the last few months, Jabra is aiming for the premium experience with the Elite Active 75t. But does it have enough to warrant a price tag of around Rs. 15,000? Let’s find out.
The Elite Active 75t has a simple low-key design, inspired by its predecessor and betters it with an almost no-stem design and super lightweight with each bud weighing about 5.5g. One of the biggest gripes with TWS devices is the fit and while it varies from person-to-person, the Elite Active 75t seem to offer one of the best fits. The soft plastic exterior coupled with silicon EarGels are not only comfortable but also helps to seal the ears that keeps the ambient noise out. In addition to this, the buds boast a dry film soft-touch grip coating, allowing the earbuds to stay in its original position, even during an intense workout and are IP57-rated, giving an added assurance of resistance to water and sweat. The compact case complements the earbuds’ rubberised texture and features a small LED at the back along with a USB Type-C port. The strong magnets inside the charging area helps to keep the earphones in place.
In terms of on-device controls, Jabra has gone with physical buttons that are soft enough to not push the earphones deep in the ear canal. The controls can be used to play/pause a track, adjust volume, accept or reject calls and more. Jabra also allows customising the buttons with the Sound+ app.
The Sound+ app needs a special mention because it’s not just ‘an’ app but allows to extract more from the Elite Active 75t. It enables users to upgrade the device’s firmware or show an approximate location of the earphones’ last location but the shiniest feature is the personalisation that helps elevate the Elite Active 75t.
The default sound signature of the Elite Active 75t is bassy which also tends to take over the midrange but with the MySound feature and a few taps, the Sound+ app creates a personalised hearing profile based on the age, gender and the frequencies you hear to improve the overall audio quality. After the personalisation, I found the audio to be much better with a punchier bass, boosted mids, treble, and excellent imaging. The app also offers an equalizer to further tweak the frequencies with pre-set settings or create a custom one. In short, depending on the songs, you may like the out-of-the-box bassy sound but the personalised profile certainly brings you closer to the one you prefer.
The Elite Active 75t is equipped with four built-in microphones and the call quality is excellent allowing the listener to hear you sans the background noise. Like most earphones, the Elite Active 75t also supports voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. There’s no active noise-cancellation (Update: Jabra has promised to add ANC via a firmware update next month) but the tight fit helps to keep the ambient noise out, which is why the device also packs in a feature called HearThrough. Turning it on lets the ambient noise in and is adjustable via the app.
A full charge gives the buds a play time of up to 7.5 hours. Place it back in the charging case again and it can last to up to 28 hours, which is impressive.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t competes against the likes from Apple, Sony and Samsung but the thing that works for Jabra is its durability, thanks to the IP rated body and secure fit. The free companion app also improves the overall audio quality with its nifty features like audio customisation, controls and more.
RATING 4/5
WE’RE IMPRESSED Build quality, companion app
WE’D IMPROVE Bassy sound out-of-the-box, codec support
THE LAST WORD The Jabra Elite Active 75t delivers good sound, longer battery life and durable body, making it the perfect companion for runs and workouts.