I purchased the JBL Everest 700 headphones in Gray as my first wireless over-the-ear set on Black Friday, and I could not be happier!
Let me start by saying that I did not know anything about the JBL brand until I found these on the shelf at Best Buy. At first, I was skeptical because I had never heard much about the brand from actual consumers. Names like Beats and Bose were king when talking about audio gear, and headphones in particular. But JBL is simply the consumer headphone naming convention for Harman, a much more recognized and respected audio brand!
And boy do they live up to that name! Sounds produced are accurate, rich, deep, vibrant...never tinny. A full range is represented well in the highest of frequencies down to the lowest of bass. I would highly recommend heading into a Best Buy store and trying them out for yourself. Hearing is believing! The demo setup will even let you play music from your own device to be 100% sure the audio reproduction of what matters most to you is provided in this set.
Beyond the excellent sound quality, this pair of headphones is rated at an incredible 40 hours of wireless playback on a single charge. I listened to an average of 3 hours of music a day for 2.5 weeks and the battery never came close to being depleted (there is a battery status icon on screen when you pair with an iPhone or iPad). Recharging is fast and easy with the included micro-USB to USB cable.
Pairing is simple out of the box with the touch of a button after being powered on. The wireless connection seems to be strong and stable, as I have only once found myself have to reset the connection to eliminate crackling and static after I wandered a bit too far away from the audio source. Range is good. It seems to break out around 45 feet away, or about half that through two standard Sheetrock walks. In my three bedroom apartment, I have no problems keeping the connection while roaming with the source stationed in any one of the rooms.
Build quality is good. They definitely seem durable, but are made almost entirely of plastic (with the exception of the metal bands above the earpieces that say "Everest" and "700". This means they can be a bit squeaky when putting them on and taking them off. They have a nice weight to them, adjust sizes easily, and are foldable.
As far as comfort goes, they could not be better. The ear cups are wrapped in soft and pliable memory foam inside and out, and are covered with a buttery smooth (faux) leather. After wearing these non-stop on a seven hour flight, I was able to take them off without any signs of fatigue or stress to my ears, neck, or head.
If I had to criticize anything about these headphones, it would be the lack of a carrying case and the ability to find a third party case that fits. I have been forced to carry them naked, which is not the end of the world since they do seem very durable. It would have been a nice addition though. And finally, there is a button in between the volume rockers on the left earpiece that if activated will put it into sharing mode, which at this point in time seems to require you to turn the headphones on and off to dismiss...which can be a minor annoyance.
All in all, super happy with my purchase! I just wish I would have opted for the black. It's so much sexier!