After a year of not releasing premium TWS, this year Jabra comes with Elite 8 Active which is a set of true wireless earphones that are durable, ANC and high quality audio. More interesting this time, Jabra collaborated with Dolby to bring support for Spatial Sound by Dolby, a more immersive listening experience.
Jabra Elite 8 is the first TWS in Malaysia that has IP68 waterproof and dustproof protection and also has a solid build to target users who are active in extreme sports and outdoor activities. Jabra's audio quality rarely disappoints me and this time they bring more advanced technology, only the price is RM1049?
SPECIFICATIONS
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Type True wireless earphone set
In-ear type
6mm Audio Driver
Microphone 6x MEMS microphone
Sidetone, HearThrough
Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Hybrid Adaptive
Battery Endurance reaches 56 hours
Bluetooth 5.3 tethering
Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair
Codec AAC, SBC
USB-C charging
Wireless charging
Sound+, iOS & Android app support
Physical Button Controls
IP68 waterproof capability (Earphone)
IP54 (Charger Pod)
Sale Price RM1049 (Navy Blue, caramel, or gray)
The Elite 8 Active uses a 6mm audio driver that only supports SBC and AAC codecs. It also supports Spatial Sound by Dolby for an immersive audio experience but without head tracking support. IP68 support is on each earphone, while the charging pod only supports IP54 like most TWS on the market. On the ear bud, Jabra uses EarGel with ShakeGrip technology that ensures the earphones will not fall out of the user's ear regardless of what activity is being done.
As always, Jabra will continue to offer their HearThrough sound-through mode along with Adaptive Hybrid ANC for active noise cancellation that allows users to focus on their activities without any distractions.
Six built-in microphones for ANC and clear phone call quality. An ambient light sensor is also provided for music auto pause support. The Elite 8 Active uses Bluetooth 5.3 LE that can be tethered to two devices as well as Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair support. The Spotify Tap feature can still be used.
DESIGN AND USE
Jabra Elite 8 Active also uses a small and compact design like the Sony WF-1000XM5. It is very light because when it is put in the ear it doesn't feel like anything. This gives me comfort for long-term use.
The finish of the charging pod is kind of dull, while each earbud feels rubbery for extra grip so they don't fall out during exercise. EarGel with ShakeGrip on me is one of the most comfortable ear buds, in fact I now make the Elite 8 Active my daily TWS and the XM5 is now in the bag only.
My main issue is the charging pod which has no docking button as it's all built into the earphones. This causes Google Fast Pair or Microsoft Swift Pair to only detect this TWS after it is released unlike other TWS just open the cover and it will continue to connect to the device.
AUDIO QUALITY
As I expected, the Elite 8 Active doesn't have dull audio, but it's more advanced. I like the Spatial Sound feature which makes the audio more immersive as if you are in a separate room listening to music without any distractions. Even so, it's not spatial audio like what's offered on the AirPods Pro which can track head movements. It simply provides a new and more interesting user experience.
Just like the XM5 I tested recently, the audio on the Elite 8 Active didn't give me any surprising reactions. Instead Jabra took the safe route and kept the audio profile more or less the same as the Elite 7 Pro or Elite 85T which were previously my favorites.
The bass on this TWS is quite balanced and has a booming enough that my feet hit the floor wanting to dance to the beat of the music. Vocals have pretty good clarity and are almost fair between male and female singers. Highs are not too loud and make the rhythm of every music remain melodious.
I also asked for the help of the audiophile in the office which is Li Jin Soh, our videographer and he agreed that the audio elite 8 Active is nothing surprising other than it just keeps giving quiet and comfortable listening..
The quality of ANC on this TWS is also surprising because it uses a hybrid system but it seems like real active noise cancellation. It works great, no pressure effect that makes the ears uncomfortable and still cancels out a lot of noise and really helps me to focus. HearThrough support is again in my opinion one of the best sound pass-through modes on the market as it allows you to hear the conversations of people around you without any static interference.
What disappointed me about this TWS is that it only supports AAC and SBC codecs. It doesn't have LDAC support or the ability to play other files even though the price has reached over RM1000. According to Jabra, they want their TWS to be easy to use by all types of users without worrying about audio settings such as equalizers and so on.
APPLICATION AND CONTROL
The Jabra Elite 8 Active can be fully controlled with physical buttons built into each earphone. Buttons that are soft and pleasant to press. Even when pressed it doesn't cause my ears to hurt from fiddling around to change modes, control music and so on. Sometimes I really appreciate physical buttons over touch controls that aren't sensitive enough with my sweaty fingers.
All Jabra Elite 8 Active controls are on the Sound+ app which can be found on the App Store and Play Store. The application is easy to use and very simple as there is an equaliser that is easy to understand and control, one click for ANC feature, one press for Dolby spatial audio, and also supports TWS tracking if lost.
Jabra is also trying to make it easier for all users to make TWS more personalized such as offering different audio presets with large icons. Then if you don't want to listen to podcasts or music, the Sound+ application already has white noise to help you focus on work and sleep.
BATTERY
The battery life of this TWS is quite satisfactory. Jabra claims to last up to 8 hours with ANC, 14 hours without ANC and up to 56 hours with the charging pod. In my usage, it lasts around 7 hours without inserting the earphones into the charging pod and can reach up to a week for light use. Fast charging support also provides endurance up to 1 hour with 5 minutes of charge. Wireless charging is also still there which is quite good and helpful for me.
IN THE BOX
Here's what's included in the box.
1x Pair of Jabra Elite 8 Active.
1x 2 pairs of extra ear buds.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
CONCLUSION
All I can say about the Jabra Elite 8 Active is that it's a pretty good pair of TWS. Audio quality that does not disappoint, very comfortable ear buds with a good grip and very durable. Get in the water? No problem. Falling on the tar? No problem.
Good audio paired with well-functioning hybrid ANC make the Elite 8 Active TWS suitable for everyone. Only, the price of RM1049 is difficult for me to recommend to the public because it is quite expensive compared to competitors that offer better audio and specifications at a price below RM1000.
Pro
The audio is still good because everything is balanced.
The Spatial Sound by Dolby feature is an interesting bonus.
ANC though the hybrid is among the best.
Comfortable in-ear for long-term use.
There is IP68 and durable.
Cons
There is nothing unique about the audio because it seems to be the same as the old model.
Codecs are limited to AAC and SBC.
The selling price is quite expensive compared to competitors.