Jabra - Elite 85h Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Black

Normally Jabra hasn’t been a key player in a headphone market recently dominated by Bose and Sony. Jabra’s recent wireless 65t earbuds though put them in contention for a new player in the headphones space. As far as wireless earbuds go, I think the 65t’s are one of the best all-around earbuds on the market currently. So, when these 85h over-the-ear headphones came out, I figured it was definitely something to check out, especially since these were being classed in the category as the Sony MX3s and Bose QC35s. Jabra says they’re better than the others but are they really? To start, I own both the Sony MX3s and QC35s. Of the two, the MX3s are my favorite, overall, as they have better noise cancelling, sound and slightly better battery life; the added earcup controls are a nice little bonus as well. So, now it’s time to see how the 85h’s compare to the other two headphones. IN THE BOX: You get the headphones in a very nice carrying case with a velvety interior, airplane adapter, 3.5mm cable (really short) and a USB-C charging cable (also really short). FIT: Of the three headphones, the QC35 fit the best. While the 85h do fit well, they are a tad on the snug side for my tastes. That said, I’ve been wearing them for the past 3-4 hours and no discomfort at all. Also to note, I have a big head so pretty much all over-the-ear headphones are going to feel snug. With the other headphones, I usually have to extend the arms most of the way to get it fit well. These 85h’s I have to pull the arms out all the way just to get it to fit. NOISE CANCELLING: The MX3’s win here. They do a fantastic job with ANC and block out a lot of exterior noise. The 85h’s, however, are a close second. With the snug fit of the headphones, the ANC does a pretty good job at blocking out external noises better than the Bose but not quite good as the Sony’s. I’d put the noise cancelling feature a very close second to MX3’s. SOUND: MX3’s win here. The extra bass the Sony’s have add that stiff punch to bass notes that the Bose and Jabra just doesn’t have. Even with the EQ pumped up, there isn’t that oomph you want when listening to EDM, Hip-Hop, Metal, etc. However, if you listen to other types of music like vocal, instrumental, classical then the 85h are probably a better fit regarding sound. Aside from deep bass notes, the mids/highs are crisp and clear. Really depends on what type of music you listen to so it’s kind of a draw across the board in my opinion. Since I listen to more bass heavy music, the MX3 do it for me. With the Jabra app, you can fine tune the EQ to your liking and save presets as needed for your headphones. There is also an AI component to the sound where 4 of the 8 mics on the headphone pick up and analyze where you are and how noisy it is and switches the headphone setting to optimize sound and battery life. For example, if you’re at home and it’s quiet, it’ll shut off the noise cancelling. Or if you’re in a subway and it’s super noisy, it’ll switch the ANC on. There is also a hear-through setting where you can hear outside noises while playing your music. There is a similar feature on the MX3’s so it’s interesting and a nice feature. BATTERY: Honestly, this really isn’t a huge factor for me. I believe the QC35’s have the lowest battery life and the MX3/85h tout 32+ hour battery life. I’ve never gotten any headphone down to more than 20% battery so, for me, this really isn’t an issue since all three are relatively the same in this aspect. VOICE ASSISTANT: I don’t really use this feature on any device I have so it’s not a huge concern for me. However, with most headphones, you’ll either get compatibility with Alexa OR Google OR Siri but never all of them. The 85h allows you to use any of them depending on what device you’re paired to. You’re only able to setup the headphones with one assistant at a time however you’re not limited to having headphones only being compatible with Google Assistant or just Amazon Alexa. I’ve tested this with my iPhone XS Max and it works as expected. There are 8 mics on these headphones, 2 of which (I think) are dedicated to for the voice assistant feature. Just say Hey Alexa/Google/Siri and it works. No issues here so far. ODDITIES: There’s no power button on these. Had to read the manual to find this out. Basically, you turn the earcups flat to turn them off. Not sure if I like this feature honestly. If you accidentally take your headphones off and hang them around your neck, the cups will kind of turn flat and you may shut off your headphones inadvertently. And if you’re like me and put your headphones on stands, the headphones will stay on. There are three buttons on outside of the right earcup; volume up/down and play/pause button. The MX3 has a feature like this but are touch/swipe and that I do like. The 85h controls don’t seem quite as refined and seem like they were put there as an afterthought. I might get used to them over time however, for this feature, I prefer the MX3 implementation. OVERALL: The 85h are a great set of cans for anyone looking to get an upgraded/higher end set of headphones. With the MX3/QC35 being in the $350 range, that might be a damper for most people looking to pick up new headphones. The 85h come in at $300 which might be a little easier to swallow. You can find the other two headphones slightly lower than retail however, the price point for the 85h should be a nice selling point. Considering that, the features and performance of the 85h are on par with the other two headphones. Might not be as good in one area compared to the others but I think they perform really well and are worth the buy if you’re in the market for a nice pair of higher end headphones.

Pros: good design, sound quality, bass, noise cancellation. Similar comparison to razor opus or boss quite comfort ii. Cons: fit a little tight, may be loosen over a period. Ears sweat very fast. If they are on deal for < $150, they are worth it.

I have used these both on a couple of plane trips and on my commute home on the bus - they do greatly reduce background noise. Pros: - Battery life is super long. - The auto pause when you take them off and auto off/on when you flip them flat works great. - Storage case is great quality and even holds the included airplane adapter, aux wire for wired use, and charging cable. - Decent Bluetooth headset for taking phone calls while listening to music. - Controls for pausing, next/back, volume and calls. Cons: - The pass through noise cancelling mode is far worse than just pulling one side off your ear to listen. The background noise is louder than normal and distorted. - I don't think I would wear these while doing physical activity or expose them to any real dirt/water. They are partially covered with fabric (top and sides) and have a double hinge (to fit in their case). - Sound quality is mid-range. Bass is flat and max volume is still a little too low for my taste. - They are big and have some weight. - No USB charger - only cable. They are not for harsh use, but quality packaging / materials, solid call quality, effective noise cancelation and smart features are why I would consider these.

When I selected the Jabra Elite 85h BT Over-The-Ear Headphones for a comprehensive review in exchange for the headphones, I was very curious to explore the newer technological features. I consider myself an audiophile since I started building stereo sound systems in the early 60's for family and friends. I was totally fascinated with sound reproduction and to this day I love listening to music over the highest quality audio equipment I can afford. As an 'Old-School' music lover I have an extensive record collection and enjoy listening to them several times a week through my turntable connected to my amp-receiver and high-end speakers. However, sound technology, especially wireless, has opened up a whole new world for me and offers me freedom from connected audio cables. While devouring the technology specs of this Jabra 85H I immediately found the AI (Artificial Intelligence) engineered into these headphones with Jabra SmartSound. A outstanding feature from audEERING goes over and above any other active noise cancellation (ANC) solutions available. SmartSound includes environmental adjustments, which automatically aligns to my ever-changing surroundings from street sounds, yard noise, office noises, crowds, and even weather. I love it! Normally I would start my review with sound quality. However, because of the spectacular, advanced, technology features, this is where I am going to begin. *** Technology *** > Passive Noise Cancellation - The Passive NC is actually the fit of the over-the-ear earphones. They are snug and comfortable and have a padded top and two large ear cups covered with soft leatherette material that rest comfortably against my ears. WooHoo! The headphones slide on a band over my head and are easily adjustable. They weigh approximately ten and a half ounces – very light. > Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) - The Jabra Elite has eight microphones, four of them are used by the digital ANC to filter out background noises. SmartSound, when activated in the Free Jabra App, or, the headphone mics will gather information from your surroundings and switch between different 'Moments' automatically. However, I have discovered that this may take up to ten seconds to change environments. 'Moments' are categorized as Commute, Public, and Private. Be aware: If you wear glasses like I do, have long hair covering your ears, or any clothing, covering your ears – these may affect the quality of your ANC. > Voice Assistant – Connection to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant is available by pressing the 'Voice Button' on the RIGHT earphone. I can use voice commands to make calls, send or receive messages. How cool is that? > Phone Calls - When I use this phone feature six of the eight mics give me spectacular wireless call quality. Jabra is the industry leader in high quality, professional headsets. For incoming and outgoing phone calls this set is superior to anything else I have ever used. > Auto ON & OFF - There is no ON or OFF button. When I take this headphone set out of its carrying case, and twist to place on my ears, they turn ON automatically, and like wise, when I return it back to the case, folding it inwards, they turn OFF. > Ear Detection - There is a sensor system inside each earcup that automatically pauses or plays when you take OFF or put ON the headphones. WoW! > Bluetooth Version – Jabra 85h uses the latest BT version, 5.0. My I-Phone quickly connected to the Jabra, and remembers its registry. My wife's Samsung did the same. In fact the Jabra H85 can connect to two different devices at the same time and up to eight devices in its registry. > Intuitive Controls – Easy learning curve. After three weeks of using these cans daily I love how easy it is to just pick them up, twist, and place over my ears. Presto, they are ON and ready to pair, or immediately connect to the last mobile device they were 'paired' with. If someone needs my attention, I simply take the cans off and they automatically pause. They resume when I put them back on. Love it! The RIGHT headphone has the Voice Button to activate your Voice Assistant. A USB-C charging port and an RCA 3.5 mm Audio Jack for connection to outside audio devices. On the outside of the earphone is a Multi-function Button for pairing and phone calls. On the top side of the Multi-function Button is the Volume Up Button, and the Volume Down Button is beneath it. The LEFT earphone only has one button, Sounds Mode. I can turn the ANC ON or OFF, engage 'Hear-Through', and cycle through Moments. > Jabra Sound App – The Jabra Sound App is FREE and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is a multi-functional App, which allows me to set many music and listening settings. Impressive! Important – If you register your Jabra 85H through the Java Sound App your warranty is good for Two Years. Otherwise, you will be limited to a one year warranty. This App has so many User-Friendly settings, it really allows you to take full control of your entire musical experience while using these fantastic headphones. NOTE – The Jabra Sound App was designed for Mobile Devices. Laptops, desktops, tablets may not have the ability for you to really enjoy using these headphones to the fullest. > Water & Dust Resistant – Although Jabra does not specify a specific IP rating, I believe it is IP 52. This Jabra 85h has a nano-coating on the internal components and are advertised as being rain resistant. I use them out at my pool and on the patio. In any case, Jabra offers a two years' warranty for these headphones against water and dust. YooHoo! *** Sound Quality *** > Speakers & Sound – The Jabra speakers are 40mm and deliver crisp, clear, in-depth sound. They are targeted for the mid-ranges, frequency from 10Hz to 20kHz, with exceptional clear voice and channel separation. Impressive! The nuance sounds come clearly to the forefront and 'tickle' my ears with their refinements. These headphones are 'Ear-Candy' to my ears – not to much bass to overpower general music genres, but enough to appreciate when it needs to be emphasized. The bass can be boosted using the Jabra Sound app, but, it is never overpowering. There are six music presets: Default, Bass Boost, Smooth, Speech, Treble Boost, and Energize. I personally like the Energize preset since it reverts back to the classic 'Smile' in the EQ for most music genres. > Versatility - Headphones feature a 3.5mm RCA Audio Jack. This jack allows me to play my vinyls through my turntable connected to my amp-receiver. I can also play my CDs or DVDs through my amp to these headphones. Fantastic! I love my vinyls. My amp has eighteen EQ frequency settings. These Jabra 85h headphones responded way beyond my expectations using my amp EQ. I organize and play my vinyls according to the music genre that strikes my mood. I adjust my amp-receiver EQ accordingly, which keeps me from having to go back and re-align the EQ playing mixed genres. When I use these headphones in wireless, BT mode through Internet Music Services, like Pandora, I do the same thing. The EQs are also impressive using the Jabra Sound App presets. *** Other Features *** > Battery Life - Up to thirty-six hours of battery life on a single charge. It takes me approximately two hours to fully charge these headphones. After three weeks of use I get approximately thirty hours on each charge. This unit includes a USB-C cable for charging, which is the latest tech for expediency. I can also get an additional five hours of playing time from fifteen minutes of charging time. Great! > Carrying/Storage Case - The included zippered hard case is ideal for trips and provides protection for storage. It also has compartments for the USB-C charging cable, and flight adapter. When the headphones are placed in this case they automatically turn OFF. Cool! *** Wish It Had *** > High Resolution Audio (HRA) – Surprisingly, the Jabra 85h Elite does not have the Qualcom' aptX or Sony' LDAC, the latest HRA codecs designed to deliver CD quality sound over Bluetooth. However, without these codecs I was surprised at the depth of the sound field and the excellent, stereo, channel separation. No matter what genre of music playing I can hear all of the subtle background nuances to include raindrops falling and hitting roofs. Amazing! *** Conclusion *** > For me the most fascinating feature of this Jabra 85h Elite Headphone is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) built in to analyze the background noises of my current audio environment. If my neighbor is outside trimming his hedges, the AI will adjust the ANC to match my surroundings accordingly, and tell me what 'Moment' I am in when it changes. I am not aware of any headphones on the market today beside Jabra that features this technology. I also love that I can take these cans outside because they can take a little moisture. Again, I am not aware of any other over-the-ear headphones that are rainproof and dustproof. I highly recommend these Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Over-The-Ear Headphones – Five Stars.

I tried the Sony 1000XM3s in store for about 15 seconds, and marked them off my list - way too much loose, muddy, boomy bass, and horrible presence in the midrange. They might sound good to untrained, non-audiophile ears. I bought the Bose QC35-IIs, and returned them after a week due to Bluetooth glitches that occurred every twelve minutes, and also because of Bose's horrifically bad customer service. Their customer service representatives are in the Philippines, have no technical knowledge, and can only parrot the same troubleshooting steps you can find on their website. Worse yet, they have no tech savvy representatives, and they ignore emails. They are headquartered in Massachusetts, but you can't reach them there. Obviously, they go to great lengths to avoid their customers. This was my first Bose purchase - and my last. Regarding the Elite 85h's... ANC on both the Bose and Sony is superior, especially at very low frequencies - the rumble of traffic and engines, for example - but, it works fine in office scenarios, and the like. The sound signature is basically neutral and accurate - no really noticeable dips or peaks anywhere in the frequency band. After the latest firmware update, they get as loud as anyone who prizes their hearing will care to listen. They are heavier than the Bose or Sony, but I find them comfortable for hours on end. They are very well designed, and constructed of quality materials - but I don't care for the fabric covering. I don't care for the AI stuff. It's just a gimmick that will have you going down a rabbit hole, wondering what the headphones are going to do next. I prefer to choose my own settings, so I turned the AI off. Battery life is as advertised - much better than that of the competition. The battery is Lithium-Ion. If you want it to last longer, charge it to only 60 to 80 percent most of the time. Most lithium battery wear occurs when charging beyond 80%. Yes, your phone has the same battery, and would benefit from not being "over" charged. Bluetooth range is better than most - mainly due to the use of Bluetooth 5.0. You'll only get that kind of range if your device is also Bluetooth 5.0 capable, though. USB-C charging is a welcome feature, too. The Elite 85h headphones do not support high resolution codecs, but they sound as good on Bluetooth as they do wired. I'd like to have the codecs, just for the peace of mind, but frankly, I'm not sure that I, or anyone else could really tell the difference. This topic is hotly debated, but I've yet to see a scientifically controlled study that proves me wrong. All things considered, of all the wireless headphones I tried, this was the best fit for me.