JBL UA Sport Wireless REACT

The UA Sport Wireless REACT Bluetooth headphones are ergonomically shaped, angled and equipped with ear hooks that provide a comfortable fit and a secure hold when making quick movements during intense workouts and activities. Aesthetically speaking, the in-ears have a high-quality look due to their attractively designed aluminium housing and are a fashionable accent both in sports and in everyday use. In fact, one of the many practical advantages of these headphones is that the housing ends serve as a chain lock thanks to integrated magnets, allowing the headphones to be worn around the neck when not in use. Also beneficial are their water-repellent properties that help protect against weather-related moisture, light water spray and body sweat, which make them especially easy to care for and clean.

However, the overall positive impression of the headphones is unfortunately affected by cable noise; though it can be minimised with the help of the integrated clip, it is still distracting even at low volumes. The use of the clip also prevents the cable from bouncing around during sports and activity and helps to balance the headphones, which would otherwise hang unevenly due to the difference in weight caused by the built-in remote on the right side, which is used to power the Bluetooth in-ears via a lithium-ion battery. This battery has a capacity of 170 mAh and is capable of powering the headphones for a duration of up to eight hours. In conjunction with iOS devices, the remaining battery capacity can be viewed next to the Bluetooth symbol. The charging time via the supplied USB cable is up to two hours.

Device Control

The in-ears support the Bluetooth 4.2 standard and in a field test with various iOS and Android devices, offered ranges of over twelve metres with high stability, which is a very respectable result. Pairing is done by holding down the centre button, which turns the system on and immediately puts it into pairing mode. Additionally, the haptic touch of the plus and minus buttons mean device control is completely intuitive. In addition to volume controls, track navigation is done by holding the plus and minus buttons down. Start and Stop, as well as phone call acceptance and termination, however, take place via the central button. By holding the button down, incoming calls can also be rejected.

Pick up outside sounds at the push of a button

The fourth button on the remote is located on the side and allows you to hear ambient noise. Simply press the key to activate the TalkThru mode, which lowers volume playback and boosts voices, allowing you to communicate or listen to announcements without having to remove the in-ears. The AmbientAware mode, however, can be raised. This very helpful feature, which can be used while jogging in order to be able to better hear the traffic, is available with just a double-click. However, the technology appears to be more suitable for short-term use rather than for long-term use, since quiet background noise is noticeable and the playback quality is impaired by the function.

Sound Quality

The Bluetooth in-ears offer good sound quality with bass-driven tuning that also reaches into the low frequencies. The sound is clear, the midrange and treble have presence without dropping in the upper frequencies, and the in-ears have a compact, well-structured stereo image. Although a fairly high output is available, the system is able to provide listening pleasure even at a lower level. Despite the existing, well-defined bass foundation, the sound appears round and harmonious, which is why these sports headphones are ideal for everyday use.