Since the KDF marathon I have had multiple requests for my take on the JayBird Freedom bluetooth wireless headphones. Today JayBird re-tweeted to over three thousand followers a comment from me, during April's testing phase, of how awesome these headphones are (damn, just gave away the ending). So I decided I probably needed to take the time to write the review, considering that I've had these headphones for over a month now and have put them through their paces. I'm not a professional reviewer, but I'll give this my best shot.
You will recall from an earlier blog post that I had spent some energy before the marathon trying to discover ways to disencumber myself from the weight and wiring of the gear that I carry during my long runs or races. When it came to the headphones, I knew I needed something light, practical, and durable. My on-line research led me to the JayBird Gear Freedom JF3 Bluetooth Headphones website. JayBird boasted itself as the "Official Training Headphones of USA Triathlon". They also made some other promises about being "shakeproof" and "sweat proof'ed" with a lifetime warranty against sweat damage. The reviews that I read from other sites were also very positive. So I decided to take the chance and ordered the headphones. I received them with next day shipping and began testing them immediately with only days remaining before the marathon.
If you search on YouTube you will find a few "unboxing" videos of the JF3s (such as this one) that show how pretty the packaging is and go step by step through every piece contained in said packaging. I'll sum it up by saying that the JF3s showed up in a package that looks like this:
I will say this for the packaging: The JayBird people put a lot of thought into the aesthetics of the packaging. Probably more so than Apple, and for anyone who has unboxed an iAnything, you know that is saying a lot.
Inside the box were the JF3 headphones, a magnetic hard clamshell style carrying case with rubberized texture, 3 sizes of ear tips, and 3 sizes of what JayBird calls "secure fit ear cushions".
The package also included these behind the ear hook things. On first sight, and with prior experience with similar hardware, I judged them to be uncomfortable and completely useless and they've never left the box. Forget about them.
The first thing I noticed about the JF3s were they were light weight. I mean really light weight. The JayBird Gear website lists them as 16 grams. JayBird's claim that you can "completely forget about your headphones" is very nearly on the mark. Once they are in and you start moving, you almost forget that they are there. Paring the JF3s with my iPhone was also seamless and followed the same pairing protocols as most every other Bluetooth device.
It took only a few minutes to determine the correct size ear tip and secure fit cushion to comfortably fit my ear. Once I had done so I placed the JF3s snugly in my ears and discovered that my situational awareness was immediately reduced. The JF3s are like wearing hearing protection. Unlike other in-the-ear headphones, the JF3s cut out a lot of ambient sound. I don't know what the decibel reduction rating of these earphones are, but I could probably get away with wearing them the next time I am on the gun range. I would caution anyone who runs on roadways or in environments where auditory exclusion can be a hazard to forgo running with the JF3s. A herd of angry stampeding elephants could most likely sneak up behind you while you are wearing these things.
On my first run, I placed my iPhone in an armband on my right arm (which is also advised by JayBird because the Bluetooth transceiver is in the right earbud), fired up the tunes and proceeded to give it hell on the treadmill. The JF3s sounded great and as I pounded along I was very acutely aware that the headphone cord was missing. I have been so accustomed to dealing with the cord that the absence of it was so noticeable that it was actually mildly disturbing, but in no time you can clearly understand why JayBird named these headphones "Freedom". With the secure fit cushions inside the curve of my ear, the JF3s stayed securely in place; never once even threatening to fall out. The sound was clear and the bass was awesome.
The same week that I received the JF3s I wore them during the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon. 26.2 miles and the JayBirds performed like champs. At no time did they become uncomfortable or irritating, although after some profuse sweating the cord that connects each earbud did stick to my neck and pull against the earbuds when I turned my head from side to side.
My only other gripe was the button operation took some getting used to. The small buttons on the side that are used to change the volume are also used to change the music tracks. Short clicks are used to change the volume and to change tracks you have to hold the buttons down. This can be somewhat awkward when you are running. And really I'm probably being a little picky, since the middle of a marathon was probably not the best place to attempt to acclimate to this feature.
The large center button on the right earbud is also the button that is used for pairing, pausing and playing music, and answering phone calls. This button is a little stiff and pressing it requires that you secure the earbud housing between your thumb and middle finger while depressing the button with your index finger. Not doing results in you feeling as though you are trying to cram the earbud through your ear and into your brain.
In the last month I've had the opportunity to use the JF3s extensively on runs, in the gym, at home, and around the office. I've used them with my iPhone and my iPad and have wandered around the house with them in and the device several feet away and they have not cut out or lost signal (standard Bluetooth range being about 30 feet or so). Conversely I have however had my iPhone on the front of my left hip and bent over to tie my shoes, at which point the headphones did cut out when my body was completely blocking the phone.
I also found the battery life, which JayBird advertises as 6 hours (and notes in their fine print "varies dependent upon usage and device" - whatever the hell that means) lasts me a little less than 5.5 hours. With constant usage I encounter the low battery tones at around 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes. The battery is usually dead within 5 minutes after the tones begin. This really isn't that big of a deal except that I have to make a conscious effort to ensure the earphones are fully charged before heading out on any excessively long run. The JF3s are also charged via USB cable with a mini B connector. The USB cable must be plugged into your computer to charge and charging time is roughly 2 hours. JayBird does offer a North American AC adapter for the charger on their website for $9 USD.
As far as using the JF3s for phone conversations - the integrated microphone didn't perform so well in noisy environments, such as being out on a run with some wind and traffic in the background. Callers had difficulty hearing me in those conditions. In quieter conditions the mic seemed to work just fine. Although having the integrated microphone for calls is a nice feature, I didn't purchase the JF3s as a headset for phone calls.
So the rundown is as follows:
Pros:
In summary, the "cons" listed above are really more than negligible annoyances and the "pros" far outweigh them. I consider the JayBird Freedom JF3s a must have for anyone who is active and spends any time running, hitting the gym, or in any other kind of training where a headphone wire is an annoyance. The $99 US is well worth the price for these headphones and the ability to operate unencumbered by headphone wires is absolutely priceless. Although these headphones are the first pair of wireless headphones that I have owned, I don't believe that I could have made a better choice. So what are you waiting for? Buy a pair. Do it now.
G.
As an end note: I had someone contact me today via Twitter who said that their JF3s were pretty much unusable and that they were not happy at all with them. At first glance it sounds like a bad set and I certainly hope that he can work with JayBird to get a new pair. I really do think these headphones are awesome and I would hope that he gets a decent set so that he can really enjoy them the way that I do.
So, Michael, if you read this blog and have an opportunity to deal with JayBird Gear customer support, I'd like to get an update. I've never had to deal with them and I'd like to know how they treat you. I'd also be interested in your take on the JF3s once you get the issue resolved.
You will recall from an earlier blog post that I had spent some energy before the marathon trying to discover ways to disencumber myself from the weight and wiring of the gear that I carry during my long runs or races. When it came to the headphones, I knew I needed something light, practical, and durable. My on-line research led me to the JayBird Gear Freedom JF3 Bluetooth Headphones website. JayBird boasted itself as the "Official Training Headphones of USA Triathlon". They also made some other promises about being "shakeproof" and "sweat proof'ed" with a lifetime warranty against sweat damage. The reviews that I read from other sites were also very positive. So I decided to take the chance and ordered the headphones. I received them with next day shipping and began testing them immediately with only days remaining before the marathon.
If you search on YouTube you will find a few "unboxing" videos of the JF3s (such as this one) that show how pretty the packaging is and go step by step through every piece contained in said packaging. I'll sum it up by saying that the JF3s showed up in a package that looks like this:
 |
| Nice box with chiseled jaw tough guy on front. |
I will say this for the packaging: The JayBird people put a lot of thought into the aesthetics of the packaging. Probably more so than Apple, and for anyone who has unboxed an iAnything, you know that is saying a lot.
Inside the box were the JF3 headphones, a magnetic hard clamshell style carrying case with rubberized texture, 3 sizes of ear tips, and 3 sizes of what JayBird calls "secure fit ear cushions".
 |
| Useless. |
It took only a few minutes to determine the correct size ear tip and secure fit cushion to comfortably fit my ear. Once I had done so I placed the JF3s snugly in my ears and discovered that my situational awareness was immediately reduced. The JF3s are like wearing hearing protection. Unlike other in-the-ear headphones, the JF3s cut out a lot of ambient sound. I don't know what the decibel reduction rating of these earphones are, but I could probably get away with wearing them the next time I am on the gun range. I would caution anyone who runs on roadways or in environments where auditory exclusion can be a hazard to forgo running with the JF3s. A herd of angry stampeding elephants could most likely sneak up behind you while you are wearing these things.
On my first run, I placed my iPhone in an armband on my right arm (which is also advised by JayBird because the Bluetooth transceiver is in the right earbud), fired up the tunes and proceeded to give it hell on the treadmill. The JF3s sounded great and as I pounded along I was very acutely aware that the headphone cord was missing. I have been so accustomed to dealing with the cord that the absence of it was so noticeable that it was actually mildly disturbing, but in no time you can clearly understand why JayBird named these headphones "Freedom". With the secure fit cushions inside the curve of my ear, the JF3s stayed securely in place; never once even threatening to fall out. The sound was clear and the bass was awesome.
 |
| Mile 20. The One Man and his JF3s still pumping away. |
My only other gripe was the button operation took some getting used to. The small buttons on the side that are used to change the volume are also used to change the music tracks. Short clicks are used to change the volume and to change tracks you have to hold the buttons down. This can be somewhat awkward when you are running. And really I'm probably being a little picky, since the middle of a marathon was probably not the best place to attempt to acclimate to this feature.
The large center button on the right earbud is also the button that is used for pairing, pausing and playing music, and answering phone calls. This button is a little stiff and pressing it requires that you secure the earbud housing between your thumb and middle finger while depressing the button with your index finger. Not doing results in you feeling as though you are trying to cram the earbud through your ear and into your brain.
In the last month I've had the opportunity to use the JF3s extensively on runs, in the gym, at home, and around the office. I've used them with my iPhone and my iPad and have wandered around the house with them in and the device several feet away and they have not cut out or lost signal (standard Bluetooth range being about 30 feet or so). Conversely I have however had my iPhone on the front of my left hip and bent over to tie my shoes, at which point the headphones did cut out when my body was completely blocking the phone.
I also found the battery life, which JayBird advertises as 6 hours (and notes in their fine print "varies dependent upon usage and device" - whatever the hell that means) lasts me a little less than 5.5 hours. With constant usage I encounter the low battery tones at around 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes. The battery is usually dead within 5 minutes after the tones begin. This really isn't that big of a deal except that I have to make a conscious effort to ensure the earphones are fully charged before heading out on any excessively long run. The JF3s are also charged via USB cable with a mini B connector. The USB cable must be plugged into your computer to charge and charging time is roughly 2 hours. JayBird does offer a North American AC adapter for the charger on their website for $9 USD.
As far as using the JF3s for phone conversations - the integrated microphone didn't perform so well in noisy environments, such as being out on a run with some wind and traffic in the background. Callers had difficulty hearing me in those conditions. In quieter conditions the mic seemed to work just fine. Although having the integrated microphone for calls is a nice feature, I didn't purchase the JF3s as a headset for phone calls.
So the rundown is as follows:
Pros:
- Very well made headphones with solid construction.
- Ultra light weight. You really do almost forget that they are there.
- Good sound and awesome bass.
- Simple and easy pairing.
- Multiple sizes of ear tips and secure fit cushions to fit almost any ear.
- A very nice hard clamshell style case to protect your investment.
- A lifetime warranty against sweat damage.
- Aesthetically pleasing packaging (if you care about that kind of thing).
- Earbuds are like wearing hearing protection. Situation awareness is significantly reduced.
- Sweat makes the behind the neck cord stick, pulling on the earbuds when you turn your head.
- Battery life is slightly less than 5.5 hours instead of the advertised 6 hours.
- Must be charged through a computer USB connection.
In summary, the "cons" listed above are really more than negligible annoyances and the "pros" far outweigh them. I consider the JayBird Freedom JF3s a must have for anyone who is active and spends any time running, hitting the gym, or in any other kind of training where a headphone wire is an annoyance. The $99 US is well worth the price for these headphones and the ability to operate unencumbered by headphone wires is absolutely priceless. Although these headphones are the first pair of wireless headphones that I have owned, I don't believe that I could have made a better choice. So what are you waiting for? Buy a pair. Do it now.
G.
As an end note: I had someone contact me today via Twitter who said that their JF3s were pretty much unusable and that they were not happy at all with them. At first glance it sounds like a bad set and I certainly hope that he can work with JayBird to get a new pair. I really do think these headphones are awesome and I would hope that he gets a decent set so that he can really enjoy them the way that I do.
So, Michael, if you read this blog and have an opportunity to deal with JayBird Gear customer support, I'd like to get an update. I've never had to deal with them and I'd like to know how they treat you. I'd also be interested in your take on the JF3s once you get the issue resolved.
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