Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The truly wireless earbud industry is exploding, although the price for a pair remains somewhat intimidating. So far I have tried Samsung Icon X (the 1.5 hours of battery life was a deal breaker), the Skypods ( these were nearly perfect except for the lack of bass and the app's incompatibility with Android) and the Earin (intermittent connection issues). Truly wireless earbuds are the height of convenience and avoid the entanglements that wired ones invariably have, particularly for long distance runners like myself who find that a minor annoyance can turn into a major inconvenience. In the box: The Jabra Elite Sport arrives with 3 different sets of foam tips and ear gels, as well as 2 different sets of ear wings. Mixing and matching the combinations is a bit tedious, but should give most users a nearly perfect match. I did not get a flawless fit, but the ear wing that tucks underneath the ear ridge keeps them securely in place. Pairing with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was fast and easy. Although the pamphlets that came with the device touted compatibility with Apple only, the device is fully compatible with Android through the Jabba Sport app. There is a small six-inch USB cable for charging the case, which can in turn charge the buds for a combined 9 hours of use. The case is nicely made, and glows red when charging and green when fully charged. The buds feel substantial and not cheap, and I like their discreet black color. Impressions: Like every other truly wireless earbud that I have tried, the device is lacking a bit in bass. The features that set the Jabar Elite Sport apart are: 1) This is one of the few truly wireless earbuds that has controls for everything, including for increasing/decreasing the volume, playing, pausing, skipping forward and skipping back on music tracks. This also includes a button for the "hear-through feature" that allows ambient environmental noises to seep in for a safety-conscious runner/biker through the mic. 2) It comes with an array of individualized tips; 3) The right bud can be used solo. 4) Heart rate analyzer and a respectable integrated sports/fitness app; 4) Relatively clear phone calls; 5) Waterproof/sweat resistant. Conclusion: Anyone preparing to embrace the truly wireless technology should be prepared to make sacrifices because it is relatively new. However this should not mean that the user should have to endure seriously subpar audio quality. The Jabra Elite Sport suffers from an industry-wide malady; it lacks somewhat in bass. And clean bass is the mark of a premium device. It is also bulky - and perhaps for that reason - starts to feel uncomfortable in the ears for extended running. The controls are stiff and require hard pressure. Its battery capacity is of middling rating. Because of Jabra's credentials in the hands-free phone calling arena, it is better than any other truly wireless earbud in that respect. I already have a Fitbit and do not plan to use the fitness software, but this is an added boon.The audio quality will not blow the user away. But it remains among the best when measured against its peers. Update: About 8 months after purchase these earbuds died. Prior to that my discomfort had grown with prolonged usage; depressing the buttons hurt my ears eventually. I have reduced Elite sport from 4 stars to 2 stars. There are lots of better earbuds out there now.