We put a lot of water-resistant true wireless earbuds through their paces, but only a tiny fraction make the grade for being truly waterproof. With an IPX7 rating, the JBL Endurance Peak II earphones are one of the few, and given their $99.95 price, overall solid build, and solid audio quality, they're also one of the best values for anyone looking for cable-free, gym-friendly in-ears.
These bass-forward earbuds aren't for you if you're searching for realistic audio, but if you enjoy the notion of adding extra bass, the Endurance Peak II's tight, waterproof fit and simple controls make them a solid pick for a reasonably low price.
Design
The JBL Endurance Peak II earbuds come in black, blue, or white and include a hook design that latches over the top of the ear for improved fit security. Three pairs of silicone eartips, in small, medium, and large sizes, are supplied. I found the fit to be quite secure, thanks to the over-ear hooks. If you wear spectacles as I do, chunkier frames may contend with the hooks for space behind your ear.
The headphones have an IPX7 designation, which means they can resist being immersed for up to a metre. While Bluetooth signals don't work well underwater, the concept is that you should be able to wear them in the rain and wash them off under the tap. However, the grade does not apply to the charging case, so be wary of moist earpieces.
Both earpieces include touch-sensitive screens that are simple to use. A single tap on the left ear skips forward a track, while a double tap on the left ear navigates backward a track. A single tap on the right ear plays or stops audio, while a double tap summons the voice assistant on your device. An incoming call may be ended or answered with a single tap on either ear, and the volume can be adjusted with upward or downward swipes on the right ear's panel.
All of them were simple to use, but we found the volume swipes to be a touch less responsive—or at the very least, more likely to misfire. We tried to reduce the level a few times but instead halted playback, but none of the misfires were anything more than that, and the taps work nicely and are easy to recall in general.
Because of the hooks, the charging case is big, and the earpieces are huge. The case includes a hard, slick surface, a flip-top cover, and a USB-C connector on the back panel for charging with the provided USB-C-to-USB-A connection. The amount of battery life left in the case is indicated by a status LED on the front. The Endurance Peak II's battery life is estimated to be around 6 hours with 24 hours in the charging case by JBL, although your mileage may vary depending on your volume settings.
10mm dynamic speakers produce a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz internally. The earbuds are Bluetooth 5.0 compliant, and they support the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. What's missing in this picture? It would have been nice to have EQ controls in the app, but at this price, it isn't a deal breaker.
Performance
The earbuds produce a noticeable thud on tunes with heavy sub-bass content, such as The Knife's "Silent Shout." The bass does not distort at high, unsafe volume levels, and the low-frequency response is still strong at moderate settings, but it is balanced out with sculpting in the highs.
Conclusions
JBL's true wireless portfolio continues to feature high-quality, weatherproof, gym-friendly designs. Anyone looking for bass-forward music and an IPX7 rating would like the Endurance Peak II earbuds. We recommend the $200 Sennheiser CX 400BT earbuds if you want precise audio and an app with customizable EQ, but they're significantly more expensive and not meant for the gym. Another great waterproof choice is the $170 JBL True Wireless Flash X earphones, which include an Ambient Aware mode that lets you to hear your surroundings, among other things.
If you truly simply want the IPX7 rating and don't mind spending a lot of money, the $35 Tribit FlyBuds 3 are waterproof and sound good for the price. JBL Endurance Peak II earbuds, on the other hand, are a great deal in the gym-focused true wireless category at $100.
F.A.Q
Can I swim with JBL Endurance Peak 2?
Athletes are JBL's target audience with the Endurance Peak 2. While not for swimming, the earbuds can withstand submersion for up to 30 minutes. The stabilizing ear hooks work hard to keep the buds in place during all movement.
Does JBL Endurance Peak have noise Cancelling?
The JBL Endurance Peak do a good job at isolating noise. While they don't have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, their in-ear fit helps physically block out background noise.
How do you skip songs on JBL Endurance Peak 2?
A single tap on the left ear skips forward a track, while a double track navigates back a track.
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