CES 2016: Jaybird announces new Bluetooth sweat-proof earbuds; Freedom and X3
I've been running outside with Jaybird Bluetooth earbuds for more than four years and was pleased to hear that two new models were announced this week at CES.
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The first pair of wireless headphones I tested back in 2011 was called the Jaybird Freedom and now we see that name being used again with the 2015 Jaybird Freedom. The new Jaybird Freedom headset is the company's most advanced Bluetooth earbuds ever made with a small size, enhanced comfort ear fins, passive noise isolation, and sweat-proof design.
It's the first time I have seen metal used in one of Jaybird's headsets, giving the Freedom a more premium look and feel. It's also a smaller sized earbud, perfect for those who find other wireless headsets bulky or of poor fit.
The Jaybird Freedom has a reported eight hour play time, four hours with the earbuds alone and an additional four hours with the included charging clip. It has an inline remote for volume and a mic for phone calls. The Freedom earbuds will be available for $199.95 in five colors -- Carbon (black on black metal), Blaze (red on silver metal), Ocean (blue on silver metal), Gold (white on gold metal), and Blush (white on rose gold metal).
Last year, I checked out the Jaybird X2 headset and found it to be improved over the Jaybird X. I was very pleased with the fit, battery life, and volume, but a bit disappointed in the lack of bass. There may be a fix for the bass, as detailed below.
The new Jaybird X3 has a seven hour battery life with Jaybird's SignalPlus antenna architecture to provide for a strong signal for music playback on the run. The X3 has a smaller hardware profile than the X2 with an enhanced earfin system. The X3 will be available for $149.95 in five colors --Blackout (black), Alpha (military green), Road Rash (red), Dune (tan), and Surf (blue).
One of the more significant new features of both of these headsets is the Jaybird MySound app available for iOS and Android devices. With the MySound app, users will be able to customize the sound profile of the headset. That means you can crank up the bass if that's your preference. The app lets you customize the sound regardless of the device you are using for your music.