JBL E55BT Review: Pros & Cons and Final Verdict

The modern-day audio equipment industry has evolved and advanced in some big ways in recent years, gradually moving away from bulky, heavy, awkward items of the past to sleeker, slimmer, and more sophisticated alternatives, offering better audio experiences and more comfortable, convenient listening to the user.

From portable Bluetooth speakers to wireless headphones, modern day music lovers have all kinds of useful devices and accessories to turn to when they want to load up their favorite tracks while traveling from place to place, working out in the gym, roaming around town, or simply chilling out at home.

These devices offer a lot of advantages, but it’s important to choose them with care and attention to detail. There are a lot of brands vying for your attention and dozens of different products to choose from in every category and price range. JBL is one of the big brands leading the way for the audio industry, offering a lot of popular products, including the JBL E55BT.

We’ve seen a lot of great innovations and developments from JBL over the years, and the JBL E55BT wireless over-ear headphones are just another excellent example of what this company can be capable of. Stylish, sophisticated, powerful, and affordable too, there’s a lot to love about this headset, but how does it compare to other products and how does it stand up to close inspection?

Well, our in-depth JBL E55BT review will aim to answer those questions, providing you with all the information you need regarding these headphones, covering everything from their design to the level of sound quality they’re able to provide. If you’re looking to learn more about the E55BT headset and want to find out if it’s the right product for you, read on.

How We Started 

We’ve reviewed a lot of high quality audio equipment from leading brands around the globe, as well as communicating with plenty of members of the general public to find out more about what they look for when buying headphones, speakers, and so on.

What we’ve found is that people tend to have their own unique views and preferences when it comes to shopping for these kinds of products. Some people will focus purely on sound quality, for example, while others will look at other factors such as value, design, and color options.

In order to cater to the widest possible audience and help the largest number of people, this review will aim to cover every key aspect of the JBL E55BT headphones. We’ll look at them from every angle, investigating all of the key features and functions so you know absolutely all the essentials before making a purchase decision.

This in-depth, unbiased look at the JBL E55BT over-ear headphones will cover their design, build quality, audio performance, unique features, controls, connectivity, ease of use, price, and more. No stone will be left unturned, giving you a full, frank assessment of the headset from every possible angle.

We put these headphones to the test in a lot of different ways, testing them out to see how they feel in different conditions, evaluating their performance when playing musical tracks from varying genres, and investigating the tech and features hidden under the hood to figure out how they compare to rival models too. 

Overview

Further down the page, we’ll take a closer look at the JBL E55BT’s key features and functions, evaluating the headset’s performance levels, design, and so on, but to start off the review, let’s first focus on what this product actually is, how it was put together, what it has to offer, and who it was created for.

We’re living in an age of wireless technology. Across many industries, big brands are all looking for ways to get rid of cables and cords, making their products and devices more seamless, simple to use, and convenient for the general public. This is particularly prevalent in the audio industry, which was once dominated by bulky speakers and reams of wires.

Nowadays, wireless headphones are hugely popular, and JBL has been leading the way in this field, offering a wide range of wireless earphones from small, subtle in-ear devices to more traditional headset-style alternatives. The JBL E55BT falls into the latter category; to look at, it resembles many of the classic headsets of the past, but with a much more modern design and no cables to worry about.

It’s fully wireless, with a strong battery that offers up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge, and the whole thing is powered with JBL’s Signature Sound technology, along with powerful 50mm drivers that provide high quality audio experiences for the user.

However, despite offering wireless functionality, the JBL E55BT does come with a bundled tangle-resistant cable and the option to make use of ‘wired mode’, letting you hook up the headset to a range of different devices and control your music or calls via the cable buttons. In wireless mode, meanwhile, buttons on the earcups let you control tracks and sound on the fly.

Suitable for use while working, traveling, or even exercising too, the JBL E55BT over-ear headphones feature a great design, versatile functionality, solid audio performance, and some interesting advanced features too.

Design

Aesthetics are becoming increasingly important in the modern era, and people like the idea of buying devices that look attractive and eye-catching, as well as being able to offer proven performance and high quality user experiences.

JBL has developed something of a reputation for offering a lot of variety in terms of the looks and feels of its product lineup, and we can really see the brand’s dedication to aesthetics on display in the JBL E55BT headset.

Put simply, this is an attractive set of headphones. JBL isn’t doing anything groundbreaking with the design, but the company has still managed to provide a really classy, pleasing product here, building on the foundations of traditional headsets and taking the concept further in some fun ways.

The JBL E55BT headphones are available in five distinct colors in total: black, white, blue, red, and teal. This is a solid selection of colors, and each one brings something new and fresh to the table; some will appreciate the classic subtlety of black or white, while others might favor the pop and flair of teal and red.

Whatever option you choose, you’ll be getting a great-looking set of headphones. The exterior is made from hard, resistant plastic, with PU leather ear cushions that hug the ears nicely and a tangle-free fabric cord for use in wired mode if you want it. 

The JBL logo decorates the sides of the headset nicely, with a comfort fit fabric headband on top and simple, clearly-marked buttons along the sides of the earcups for total control, as and when you need it.

Comfort 

Another absolutely essential aspect to take into account when evaluating the overall quality and appeal of any set of headphones is its comfort factor; some headphones can be really comfortable to wear and viable for all-day use without causing any irritation or discomfort, while others can be a little more awkward and uncomfortable in their designs.

It’s important to remember that this is quite a subjective matter, and the level of comfort you feel with any pair of headphones will be dependent on your own preferences, as well as your head size and shape, plus your ear size and shape too. However, we can offer a general overview of the comfort provided by these headphones.

Fortunately, the JBL E55BT headphones really deliver in this department. As stated above, the ear cushions feature a soft PU leather coating that fits nice and snugly over the ears for maximum comfort, and the fabric headband on top is a nice touch, much more comfortable than firm, plastic alternatives that can get quite irritating with extended use.

Since the headset is quite large compared to simple in-ear earphones, it might not be the best choice for wearing while working out and it could make you quite hot if you’re wearing it on a warm day, but in any other conditions or situations, it works really well, providing premium comfort all around the ears.

Controls

Another key aspect to take into account when looking at wireless headphones like the JBL E55BT is the controls. In the past, headphones came with very limited control options or no controls whatsoever, and you’d have to rely on your music playing device to adjust volume, change tracks, and so on.

Modern wireless headphones, however, are typically fitted with buttons and controls of their own, and the JBL E55BT is no different. In fact, it has some of the best button integration we’ve seen on a device of this kind. 

When you’re using the headphones in wireless mode, there are buttons along the side of the right earcup. These buttons include a power switch to turn the headset on and off, a pairing button for Bluetooth connections, and controls for adjusting volume, playing tracks, pausing tracks, and either fast-forwarding or rewinding too by holding the volume buttons down.

When you switch over to wired mode, you can use the control system on the cable to adjust volume, changes tracks, and so on. Either way, controlling the JBL E55BT is really simple and straightforward for the most part, although it can take a little time for you to get used to how the different earcup buttons feel and figure out which one is which.

Features

Since many of the best wireless headphones can be quite similar in terms of design and performance, one way to tell them apart and find the best value option to meet your needs is to take a look at their unique features. Some sets of headphones can be quite simple in this regard, but others offer long feature lists. How does the JBL E55BT headset fare when it comes to features? 

Well, there are actually quite a lot of unique and interesting features and functions on these headphones when you look closely. For example, they come with a built-in microphone, which is a nice bonus and allows you to make calls while listening to your music and not have to worry about taking the headset off and switching back to your phone in order to chat to a friend or family member. It’s compatible with both Siri and Google Now voice assistants too.

The JBL E55BT also features a flat-fold design, meaning that the earcups can actually twist around and allow the whole unit to fold flat when not in use, perfect for portability and packing into travel bags. There are little L and R labels printed on the inside of the cups too, which is a small but useful bonus, and the headset supports multi-device pairing if you want to connect more than one device at a time for playback.   

Battery 

Wireless devices rely on rechargeable batteries to work correctly, but the efficiency and power rating of those batteries can vary from one device to the next. Some wireless headphones are able to run for hours on end per charge, for instance, while others wear out quite quickly and take a long time to get back up to 100% power.

How do the JBL E55BT headphones cope in this category? Well, once more, we’re pleased to report another key advantage of these headphones here. While some headsets struggle to run for four or five hours at a time, the E55BT headphones can last for a whopping 20 hours on a single charge, letting you listen to almost a full day’s worth of music without even needing to plug the device in.

This is a major advantage of this elite E-series headset from JBL. Many rival brands can’t offer such lengthy battery times, but JBL has done a hugely impressive job of squeezing incredible power levels out of these headphones, helping to make them highly suitable to busy, active people who spend long hours at a time listening to music while traveling, working, or walking around.

Perhaps even more impressively, the JBL E55BT don’t take too long to charge back up either. Once they run out of power, you can connect them to a charging source via USB cable and you’ll only have to wait about two hours to get a full charge refresh. Unfortunately, there’s no quick charge feature with this headset, but two hours is a very impressive time for a full charge. 

Sound Quality

Of course, sound quality is one of the most important factors to think about when you’re looking at how good a set of headphones really is. The best headphones can really appeal to audiophiles, delivering crisp notes, thumping bass, clear tracks, and almost no traces of distortion whatsoever. Weaker headsets, meanwhile, may struggle on certain frequencies or volumes.

So how does the sound quality stand up to scrutiny on the JBL E55BT headset? Well, once more, we’re happy to say that this device delivers. Music of many different genres plays wonderfully well on these headphones, and they actually feel quite atmospheric on certain tracks, as though a live band is performing right there in front of you.

The soundstage feels bigger and wider with the JBL E55BT when compared to other headphones, delivering more power and performance overall, and these headphones manage to handle very low and very high frequencies with impressive ease.

The 50mm drivers, in conjunction with JBL Signature Sound technology, help to ensure that almost any kind of music sounds fantastic, and even the most attuned audiophile will be pleasantly surprised, for the most part, with this headset.

Ultimately, the JBL E55BT headphones aren’t the absolute pinnacle of wireless audio technology, and you might notice one or two little issues here and there on certain tracks or when pumping the volume up, but they’re certainly among the best options on the market right now, delivering premium audio experiences across the board.

Connectivity and Ease of Use

One issue that can sometimes arise with wireless Bluetooth headphones is that they can be tricky to connect or confusing to set-up. Many people buy these headsets hoping to enjoy seamless, simple experiences without any delays or difficulties, but are the JBL E55BT wireless headphones able to meet these expectations?

Thankfully, they are. This headset is fitted with Bluetooth 4.0 technology, which is a little outdated nowadays, but is still more than good enough for general use. You can press the Bluetooth pairing button on the side of the right ear cup to place the headphones into pairing mode and then hook them up via your device’s Bluetooth menu.

Connections are usually established very quickly and easily, without any issues, and even if you do lose connection, it’s easy enough to get it set back up. What’s more, the range offered by this headset is pretty impressive, so you don’t absolutely need to keep your phone or tablet on your person at all times in order to carry on listening to your tunes.

The headphones can be used for making calls and using voice assistants too, and we found that the microphone is perfectly functional and reliable in most situations. So whether you’re relaxing and listening to your favorite artists or chatting with your friends over the phone, you shouldn’t experience any technical issues or limitations with the JBL E55BT.

Price 

Along with other key factors like sound quality, design, aesthetics, and durability, we also have to take the price tag into account when looking at the overall quality of any set of headphones or other piece of audio equipment. Many people have set budgets in mind for these kinds of items and don’t want to pay too much when they could get the same or better experience for a lower price elsewhere. 

At launch, the JBL E55BT headphones had an MSRP of $149.95. However, it’s been some time now since this headset was released and prices have changed accordingly. These days, you can pick up these headphones much more cheaply, and the price is very fair and reasonable in our view, taking into account the quality of this headset.

Value

Price is one thing, but value is another. Even a low price might not offer that much value if the product doesn’t really meet your needs, or if better alternatives are available. With this in mind, do the JBL E55BT headphones truly offer great value to buyers? 

In our view, yes they do. These headphones, despite being a little older and somewhat surpassed by more recent models, still stand up well in all of the key areas like design, build quality, durability, and audio performance too.

For general users and audiophiles alike, they offer a ton of value and can work well as your go-to pair of headphones for day to day usage while commuting to work or relaxing at home.

Who Should Get This?

The JBL E55BT headphones can be wholeheartedly recommended to many different people, from audio enthusiasts who want to enjoy high quality sounds in every track they play to seasoned travelers looking for some comfortable, convenient headphones to share their journeys with.

This headset is affordable, well-designed, and surprisingly functional, with a long list of impressive features that allows the JBL E55BT to appeal to so many different people. Whether you’re using them on the way to the office or while studying at college, you’ll get a great experience.

The huge battery life allows them to work well for busy and active people too, especially those who spend plenty of time moving around from place to place and don’t always have the ability to stop and wait around for lengthy recharge processes.

Our View 

Are the JBL E55BT wireless headphones worth the money? In our view, they are. After closely investigating and testing these headphones, we can walk away with a very positive impression, and it’s easy to see why JBL is so proud of this particular piece of audio equipment. Excelling in all of the areas that matter the most, from design to performance, the JBL E55BT headset gives you all you need to enjoy music like never before.