Review of JBL Tune 510BT Over-Ear Headphones

Introduction

The JBL Tube 510BT device was introduced quite some time ago, but it will remain relevant for at least another year. Before you are the affordable over-ear headphones that feature a simple foldable design.

The main advantage of this model is its long battery life of up to 40 hours, and when connected to a power source for a few minutes via the USB-C cable, it provides about two hours of audio playback.

Another interesting feature is the automatic switching between devices; for example, you are watching a video on your laptop, and at that moment, you receive a call on your smartphone; in such a case, the Tune 510BT switches to the smartphone, and after the call, it reconnects to the laptop.

The headphones have a microphone, so they can be used as a headset.

Technical Specifications

• Headphone type: over-ear
• Construction type: foldable
• Acoustic design: closed
• Speaker diameter: 32 mm
• Frequency: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Active noise cancellation: no
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• Bluetooth version: 5.0
• Headphone battery: 450 mAh
• Charging: USB-C, in 2 hours
• Weight: 160 grams

Package Contents

• Tune 510BT
• USB-C charging cable
• Warranty certificate
• Quick start guide

Appearance

It is worth starting with the fact that, as usual, the JBL brand delights with a variety of color solutions for its products. In this case, you get headphones in white, pink, blue, and black colors. As they say, for every taste and color.

I had the pink “ears” for review. A very nice shade: soft, light, matte, reminiscent of strawberries in milk. Perfect for the female gender. I would choose either the white or the blue option for myself.

The entire construction is made of plastic. The material looks and feels high-quality and durable. My daughter runs around the cottage with these headphones. Of course, she occasionally got them dirty. But just a couple of swipes with a damp microfiber cloth – and the headphones are as good as new.

The earpads and the inner side of the headband are made of faux leather. The material is very thin, airy, but not very durable. It seems to me that over the season, the faux leather will gradually wear off. Inside, you can notice the stretched fabric in the color of the casing. It is marked with gray “R” and “L”.

I think the manufacturer did not aim to make such headphones last forever. In front of you is a model designed for exactly one year. And then you buy a new one, which comes with different colors, features, and technologies. But the price remains more or less the same. What can you do – the time of active consumption has come: the manufacturer throws “disposable” gadgets onto the market, and people gladly buy them. We even had a survey in our Telegram channel.

Almost 20% of respondents change devices whenever they want, and about 15% use their devices “until they wear out”.

I can’t highlight any special design features in the Tune 510BT. In front of you are the familiar headphones of the JBL brand in the low price category.

This model has an over-ear type of design. This means that the headphones do not completely cover the ears; the ear cushions simply rest on them. Perfect for summer – the areas around the ears will sweat less. However, the cushions are not made of genuine leather, so the issue of the “greenhouse effect” remains open. Especially now, when it is very hot. In such moments, it is better to use TWS earbuds.

The headphones are equipped with hinges, allowing them to fold inward. This way, the device takes up slightly less space. When folded, the Tune 510BT even fits in the pockets of roomy summer shorts. The construction itself is reliable, and the elements are made with high quality.

Fit

I did not experience any discomfort or inconvenience. The headphones are very light (160 grams), they fit well on the head but do not press too hard. Overall, this is enough to prevent them from falling off, for example, during a casual run.

For a week, I used these headphones at the computer for about two hours a day and can say that I hardly felt them.

I would like to reiterate that using this type of “earphones” in the heat is not the best idea. In the subway, it’s tolerable, but riding in a stuffy train from the country to work is just torture.

Elements on the body

Unlike the older version 660NC, the 510BT is a bit simpler:

• There are no elements on the left cup;
• On the right – three separate large buttons (volume and play/pause), a microphone, an indicator of operation, and a power button; the USB-C port is located on the top and is hidden under the holder.

Additionally, each of the buttons is endowed with separate functions. For example, double pressing the play/pause button activates the voice assistant. There are Siri, Google, and even Bixby. More detailed information about the commands can be found in the brief instructions for the gadget.

About sound

The JBL Tune 510BT headphones are equipped with a 32-millimeter driver (1.26 inches), with a passport frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz, and an impedance of 32 Ohms. Passive isolation here is of high quality. It just lacks active isolation, but JBL has another model for that.

From a sound perspective, I didn’t hear much difference compared to the 660NC. The manufacturer does not provide the amplitude-frequency response, but it seems to me that it is quite flat, albeit with a slight bias towards mid and high frequencies without distortion. The characteristic slightly “pop” sound typical for JBL. The headphones sound clear, neat, and pleasant. There are low frequencies in moderation.

Classical melodies are played very well on the JBL Tune 510BT: each string instrument reveals its details, while brass and keyboard instruments sound excellent! Moreover, the headphones accurately convey the soundstage, resulting in a panoramic sound. With your eyes closed, you can tell exactly where the sound of a particular instrument is coming from.

Battery Life

The device is equipped with a 450 mAh battery. This allows the device to function for at least 40 hours. I took the 510BT on work trips. In the end, the battery lasted me for 6 days. It’s worth understanding that the journey takes about 6 hours round trip.

The headphones charge via USB-C in 2 hours. About 5-10 minutes of charging provides the user with approximately 2-3 hours of music playback.

As a Headset

The interlocutor hears you loud enough, clearly, distinctly. The sound is slightly muffled. The speakerphone effect is present, but at a very low level. Overall, this model can confidently be recommended as a headset.

Unfortunately, I did not have a smartphone capable of recording a phone conversation.

Impressions

The JBL Tune 510BT headphones turned out to be decent for their 3,000 rubles. However, by paying just 700-900 rubles more, one can purchase the 660NC model with active noise cancellation. In terms of sound, there is no difference between them.

Pros of the purchase:

• Lightweight, comfortable;
• Long battery life;
• Quality sound when playing music;
• Perfect as a headset.

Cons of the purchase:

• Using them in the summer is not very comfortable due to quick ear sweating under the ear pads.

Adult men will likely look at some headphones from the Audio-Technica brand, while young people will happily buy JBL for its bright design.