INTRODUCTION

   Winter is finally here and with it brings strong winds, storms and even snow (in certain areas). So, if you happen to enjoy listening to music while walking or running like i do this effectively means you can't use just any pair of TWS earphones to do that. That actually is something which became painfully clear to me when rain caused one of my expensive Jabra TWS models to stop working a couple of years ago. Since then, I’ve used several waterproof TWS models all of which performed admirably even under heavy rain (and sweat). Unfortunately, waterproof models usually have to make certain sacrifices when it comes to audio performance (clarity, accuracy), battery life and features and although that's usually not an issue for most people I'm always on the lookout for something better. The latest Reflect Flow Pro TWS by JBL seem to deliver on everything that really matters and so i really wanted to check them out.

   The JBL brand epitomizes the amazing sound that shapes life’s most epic moments. From iconic events like Woodstock and concerts at Madison Square Garden, to games at Yankee Stadium and weekend road trips, JBL products elevate listeners’ experiences with award-winning audio that lets them make the most of every moment. With 75 years of unmatched professional credentials and industry leading innovation, the JBL brand expertly blends a bold vision of the future with the passion and talent of engineers and designers around the globe. JBL’s Signature Professional Sound is the leading technology that powers major pop culture events, and the brand has partnered with the world’s top talent across music, sports and esports.

   For the Reflect Flow Pro JBL used IP68 water and dust proof certified enclosures inside which they've placed two 6.8mm dynamic drivers (20Hz-20KHz frequency response with 16Ohm impedance and 100dB sensitivity), 6 digital microphones (4 beamforming and 2 for wind suppression / -38dB sensitivity), Bluetooth v5.0 module (10 meters range/ 2 simultaneously connected devices/ up to 8 paired devices in total / supports A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.7, HSP v1.2 and SPP v1.2), touch buttons, and two 85mA Lithium-Polymer rechargeable batteries (up to 10 hours of music playback with ANC off / 8 with ANC on). JBL also packs a convenient storage/charging case (540mA Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery) and their POWERFIN stabilizers with the Reflect Flow Pro and as for available features they sport ANC (adaptive noise cancelling) and hearthrough modes (Smart Ambient), talkthrough mode, voice assistant compatibility (Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa) and smart bluetooth connectivity (connection can be optimized for calls, music and video). In order to cover most consumers out there JBL also makes the Reflect Flow Pro available in black, white, blue and pink color (pink is not available everywhere) for both the earphones and the charging case. It's been a while since i had a TWS model as interesting as the Reflect Flow Pro by JBL so let's see what they are capable of.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Two product pictures located right under the company logo take most of the front of the box.

The compatibility with voice assistants and the bundle contents are printed on the left side.

Another product picture is placed at the rear of the box right next to the main product features printed in 11 languages.

The front of the box opens up like a book to reveal the default touch controls on one side and the Reflect Flow Pro on the other.

Along with the Reflect Flow Pro and their charging base inside the box you'll also find a USB-C charging cable, 4 sets of POWERFIN stabilizers (1 pre-installed), 3 sets of silicon eartips (1 pre-installed), quick start guide, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa setup guides, product registration paper and a declaration of conformity paper.

THE REFLECT FLOW PRO

The 4 pairs of POWERFIN stabilizers (3 seen above) and the 3 pairs of silicone eartips (2 seen above) should help anyone achieve optimal fit.

By default, the Reflect Flow Pro have the large POWERFIN set installed and with it they do seem somewhat large (at 7.2g each these may look large but they are not especially heavy).

Both earpieces have a touch button at the front and so from the left one you can enable/disable ANC, ambient aware, talkthrough and assistant modes and you can also answer/end calls and mute the microphone. On the other hand, you can use the right one as media navigation (play/pause/next/previous track), answer/end calls, mute the microphone and also enable the voice assistant feature.

Attention to detail has always been my thing so the product name placed on each of the POWERFIN stabilizers is a nice touch.

A port is located at both the top and bottom of each earbud.

3 charging contacts and what seems to be 2 infra-red sensors are located at the rear.

Inside JBL has placed 6.8mm drivers and even though these aren't the largest I've seen used with a TWS model they are above average.

The charging base has the company logo on top and a charging LED at the front (KITT style).

Just the USB-C charging port is located at the rear.

Opening the case reveals the two charging areas and a charging LED placed between them.

JBL HEADPHONES APP

For the best possible control of the Reflect Flow Pro you should download the JBL Headphones App (available for Android and iOS).

First thing the app will do once you install it and choose the headphones model will be to help you achieve the optimal fit (probably via the infra-red sensors).

The main app screen showcases both the battery for each earbud and the case and you can also enable ANC and Ambient Sound Control.

You can switch between two Ambient Sound Controls, Ambient Aware (hearthrough - you can hear everything around you) and TalkThru (allows you to listen to your own voice while talking with someone).

The smart audio/video feature allows you to choose what you'll use the earbuds with, calls, music or movies.

There's also an equalizer function with 3 available presets (Vocal, Jazz and Bass) and of course the ability to create your own.

Inside the settings tab you can check the default gestures and change them with others, set the auto-off timer, enable/disable ANC when on standby mode, use a voice assistant, change the language of the voice prompts, use the find my earbuds function (they produce a high pitched noise), check the firmware version and revert the earbuds to their factory settings and you can also power off the earbuds.

CONCLUSION

   With the Reflect Flow Pro JBL clearly wanted to deliver on everything from audio quality and battery life to superior wearing stability and features like ANC, hearthrough/ambient aware, talkthru and waterproofing. So, did they succeed in doing so? Well partially yes and I’ll explain this in just a bit. Let's begin with audio quality which is actually very good, mids and highs are accurate and clear (soundstage could be wider and more detailed i guess but i can't expect everything from a waterproof set) and as for bass levels they are sufficient without becoming too much. The 6 microphones also work great, not just with noise suppression but with calls as well (this was a surprise, most TWS models don't do well here). Moving to build quality no problems here, these earbuds are built like a tank (always compared to others in the market) and will not have an issue even if you use them in a storm (trust me, i did). Stability is also superb and i can tell because i used them numerous times while running on my treadmill without issue (just make sure you use the ideal POWERFIN stabilizer and eartip). As for ANC, hearthrough (ambient aware) and talkthrough functions this is where the Reflect Flow Pro loses some points. Yes, ANC works fine but not great (for example it didn't block everything out when in the subway or even during the storm) and the same goes for the other two. So, is this a game breaker? Certainly not (especially since 90% of the TWS earbuds out there don't pack them) but the truth of the matter is that if you want the best earbuds at these 3 features the JBL Reflect Flow Pro are not it. Again, i shouldn't be complaining since it’s a plus to even have these features but my job is to point these things out and that's exactly what i do. Last but not least battery life. JBL states that you can hit up to 8 continuous hours with ANC on and 10 with ANC off but I wasn’t able to hit either one. As a matter of fact, with ANC on I hit just under 7 hours and with ANC off just over 8 hours (just like with every other manufacturer out there their numbers were obviously taken with the volume set at around 50% whereas I always use earbuds at around 90%).

   With a current retail price set at USD179.95 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and at 179Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the JBL Reflect Flow Pro TWS Earbuds are priced well for what they bring to the table. Audio performance, build quality and features the Reflect Flow Pro have them all and even though they are not perfect they clearly surpass most TWS models in the market today and for that they deserve the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (IP68 Certified)
- Design / Available Colors (Blue / Black / White / Pink)
- Available Features (Talkthru / Ambient Aware / Find My Buds / Gestures)
- Very Good Audio Quality (For The Size)
- Call Quality (Other End)
- Adaptive Noise Cancelling
- Superior Fit
- Battery Life (Up To 30 Hours Total)
- Bluetooth v5.0
- JBL Headphone App

CONS

- Price Tag (For Some)
- ANC Effectiveness (Could Be Stronger)
- Size (For Some)