Details
Brand
JBL
Model
Reflect Mini BT
Battery Life
8 hrs
Latest Version
Yes
Key Features
• Reflective cable adds a measure of safety• Bluetooth connectivity available• Long battery life• Four different pairs of eartips• Great sound quality
Comfort
The Reflect Mini BT is reported by testers to be extremely comfortable. It fits very snugly in your ear—in fact, some users have said the only reason it would come out is if they fell off of a cliff—and it is so comfortable that you will forget it’s there as you exercise.
Style
One nice feature of the JBL Reflect Mini BT is that, as its name suggests, it has a reflective cable to make these headphones the perfect choice for night workouts, you will always be visible if you are jogging or otherwise working out at night. As far as color options, the headphones come in black, blue, pink, or teal—so if you prefer something more understated, you can choose black, or go for a brighter color if you prefer fun workout accessories. The cable is meant to be behind the neck. It has two ergonomic eartip choices: traditional silicone in-canal tips, plus a pair of tips that are equipped with fins to help create a secure fit. There are even two pairs of each type, one small pair, and one medium pair, to ensure you can find your perfect fit.
Activities
Because the Reflect Mini BT fits so securely in your ear, it can be used for just about any kind of workout—jogging/running, biking, or hitting the gym. The four eartip choices should give you such a secure fit that you could use the Reflect Mini BT for intense gym workouts that you’ve had trouble finding headphones for in the past—think bodyweight strength training, plyometrics, or anything involving jumping/pounding. The Mini BT can take it. The reflective cable means that the headphones are fine for night workouts. However, the fact that the headphones have such a tight fit to seal in the sound means that other noises are sealed out—noises such as traffic. So the Mini BT might be better for gym workouts rather than road runs.
Basic Features
Because the Reflect Mini BT fits so securely in your ear, it can be used for just about any kind of workout—jogging/running, biking, or hitting the gym. The four eartip choices should give you such a secure fit that you could use the Reflect Mini BT for intense gym workouts that you’ve had trouble finding headphones for in the past—think bodyweight strength training, plyometrics, or anything involving jumping/pounding. The Mini BT can take it. The reflective cable means that the headphones are fine for night workouts. However, the fact that the headphones have such a tight fit to seal in the sound means that other noises are sealed out—noises such as traffic. So the Mini BT might be better for gym workouts rather than road runs.
Advanced Features
One advanced feature of the Reflect Mini BT is that it can connect to Bluetooth. This Bluetooth wireless option is designed to give you freedom as you exercise. The built-in microphone means that you can take calls even if you’re in the middle of a difficult workout—the only thing that would tip you off to the caller is how out-of-breath you sound.
Connectivity
The JBL Reflect Mini BT can connect to Bluetooth. This Bluetooth connection is not only convenient, it is also very strong, much more so than the Bluetooth connection of its predecessor. Unlike a traditional Bluetooth device, which is big and bulky and announces to everyone in the vicinity that you’re wearing it, these headphones are small, subtle, and not noticeable. These headphones can be instantly connected to your phone or other mobile devices for all of your musical needs while exercising.
Ease of Use
The Reflect Mini BT is easy to clean with water (as long as it is not completely submerged). The controls are very clearly located—the inline mic and remote control are located near the left earpiece. This has three buttons: a centralized button that takes care of playback, a call management button that is capable of tracking navigation if you tap it multiple times, and Plus and Minus buttons for adjusting volume (these work in tandem with the master volume of your mobile device). The headphones are sound reducing. However, to get a good volume level, the volume has to be turned all the way up, some users have had complaints about the lack of volume when using the headphones with an iPhone. As far as adjusting the size, you can choose from four separate pairs of ear tips, simply stick them on and you’ll be good to go.
Power Source
The estimated battery life of the Reflect Mini BT is eight hours, which sounds nice, but there are two things to keep in mind: First, your actual battery life will fluctuate centered around your volume levels. Second, the earphones do not go into “sleep mode” even after a long period of inactivity—so, if you are prone to forgetting to turn them off, you will lose quite a bit of battery life. The battery life is still more than acceptable, however, especially considering that you should get a full hour of battery life with only fifteen minutes of charging.
Sound Quality
The quality of the sound through the Reflect Mini BT is reported to be excellent. It offers crisp highs and a solid—although not too high—bass. Whereas some headphones have a bass response that is too deep, and some have a bass response that is too low, the Mini BT achieves a nearly perfect balance and is the best of both worlds. If you’re listening to music with a dominant sub-bass content, the Reflect Mini BT reproduces the lows with plenty of depth considering the frequency range. If you’re cranking up the music to the top volume, the sound will never be distorted, according to testers. At medium volumes, the bass presence is still there, but it’s not too muddled. The snug fit of the ear tips really helps boost the sound quality to where it ought to be, and the only possible objection is that the Mini BT is not very sensitive as far as the volume controls go. But overall, the sound quality of the JBL Reflect Mini BT is very balanced and should be just what you need.
Durability
By all accounts, the JBL Reflect Mini BT should last quite a long time. No users have had any trouble with the headphones breaking down, they are very good quality and well-made. They are also easy to clean, so they will certainly last longer with proper care. They are far more durable than the last incarnation of headphones from JBL.
Price
Compared to similar products, the price of the Reflect Mini BT seems a little high, but you will certainly get your money’s worth. For one thing, the headphones actually comes with four pairs of ear tips (a small and medium silicone pair that fit in-canal, as well as a small and medium pair that have fins). For another, the headphones are durable and should last a long time. Some reviewers would have preferred a carrying pouch for the headphones to prevent the headphones from banging around in sweaty gym bags all day, it would make it easier to take the headphones with you wherever you go. Overall, though, the price does include several perks—most notably, the way the great sound quality mimics that of studio headphones.
Bottom Line
The JBL Reflect Mini BT is not a perfect set of headphones. The battery drains quickly if you forget to turn everything off, the price is very high considering the somewhat basic features, the volume level has to be turned all the way up to produce good levels, and the headphones might be dangerous as they seal out the noise. But there are multiple good things about them, too—just think about the four ear tip choices, Bluetooth connectivity, reflective cable to give protection while running or walking at night, the perfect sound balance, excellent comfort and security, and so much more. The JBL Reflect Mini BT is a great choice for your upcoming workouts.
