JBL’s Reflect Flow Pro Noise Canceling Genuine Wireless Headphones ($ 179.95) face stiff competition in the $ 200 category. To their advantage, they boast strong sound performance, solid active noise reduction (ANC) and a fully waterproof and dustproof design. We’re also fans of JBL’s companion app, which offers several useful features, including an efficient, adjustable EQ. For just a little more money, we prefer Jabra’s $ 199.99 Elite 7 Pro earphones, which offer slightly better out-of-the-box sound and more customizable ANC settings, though not quite as durable.
Fully protected from the elements
Available in black, blue or white, the Reflect Flow Pro earphones look a bit thick. That said, the earpieces provide a secure fit that is ideal for training. They come with three pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M and L) and four pairs of sleeves (XS, S, M and L) that wrap around the earpiece to add stability.
Internally, 6.8 mm drivers deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz and an impedance of 16 ohms. The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC and SBC codecs, but not AptX.
The earpieces have touch-sensitive, non-mirrored controls. To the left, a single tap goes through the Ambient Aware, ANC On, and ANC Off modes. A double tap puts the headphones in voice mode (volume decreases and the microphones emphasize nearby voices) and handles incoming calls, while a long press calls your mobile device’s voice assistant. A single tap on the right earphone controls playback, a double tap jumps a track forward (and answers or ends calls), and a triple tap jumps a track back.
An IP68 rating is as good as it gets for consumer products. The first number (6) means that the headphones are dustproof. The second number (8) means that they are fully waterproof; you can immerse them beyond depths of 1 meter for more than 30 minutes. Bluetooth connections do not work underwater, so this credential is more indicative of their durability than their usefulness under these conditions. In any case, rain, sweat, swimming pools and taps pose no threat. However, the rating does not extend to the charging case, so be sure to dry the earpieces completely before putting them in the dock for charging.
The charging case is a bit bulky and its exterior is smooth, but we like its sporty, built-in shoelace-like strap. You can charge it either via the USB-C port on the back or wirelessly with a Qi-compatible charger. JBL estimates that the headphones can last between 8 and 10 hours on battery depending on ANC use. The case provides an additional 20 hours of charging, but your results will vary based on your volume levels.
Companion app
The JBL Headphones app (available for Android and iOS) has been significantly improved over time. Here you can use it to change your voice assistant to Alexa (via the Alexa app) and switch between ANC and Ambient modes. You can also choose between different modes targeted at different listening activities; for example, Gaming mode ensures the lowest latency, while Audio mode prioritizes the sound quality.
But the best sound-related feature is an adjustable EQ that includes presets and custom settings. We like JBL’s signature EQ; it increases high-mids and highs, plus adds a little clarity and definition to the mix. That said, you can just as easily design and save a custom EQ curve. As we will note later, the drivers do not reach their full potential unless you dive into these EQ settings.
In the app you can also adjust the on-ear controls, change the auto-off settings and check your fit in the ear. JBL’s low-tech Find My Earbuds feature (it helps you find your earphones by sending high, high tones through them) rounds out the possibilities.
Avoid the typical ANC pitfalls
The Reflect Flow Pro earphones offer quality noise reduction for the price, with no hassle of calling back to the deep, low-frequency rumble you hear in an airplane. Middle and high, however, provide a little more challenge. When we played a recording of a busy restaurant at high volume through near-field monitors, the earphones cut down to low and some midrange, but high-medium and high pass through the ANC circuit without much change in intensity.
Most affordable ANC-enabled in-ears perform similarly across these frequencies, but JBL’s largely avoid adding hiss to the signal, which is not something all competing pairs can claim. The ANC condition also does not affect sound performance, which is another problem we often experience with budget-friendly couples.
Strong sound that takes advantage of EQ tweaks
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout”, the earphones deliver powerful low-frequency depth. At peak, unwise listening levels, the low sounds come clean and without distortion. And at more reasonable listening levels, the bass still sounds robust.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover”, a track with far less deep bass in the mix, better reveals the couple’s audio signature. The drums on this track get some serious bass amplifications and as a result sound louder and more thunderous than usual. The drivers deliver Callahan’s baritone vocals with plenty of low-middle-richness, but perhaps a little less high-middle presence than we typically like to hear on this track. The acoustic strums and percussive hits with higher register are bright enough, but again we could use some extra high frequency presence. The sound is not ideal out of the box, but the EQ is an effective tool for improving the mix.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild”, the kick drum loop gets just enough high-middle presence to maintain its punchy attack, but again, you can use the EQ to bring those frequencies even more forward. The loop also gets some extra thumps, while sub-bass synth hits that put an end to beats collide with power – this is ideal for bass lovers. The vocals on the track sound clean and free of additional noise. If you enable the JBL’s signature EQ setting, the track becomes significantly lighter but retains its bass gain.
On orchestral numbers, such as the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Second Mary, the drivers highlight the low frequencies a bit more than necessary, and as a result, the instrumentation in the lower register sounds forward. It does not drown out the brass winds, strings and vocals with higher register, but it steps a little too far outside its supporting role. Again, EQ can easily remedy this problem.
Each earpiece has two beam-forming microphones and another that suppresses distortion from the wind. We tested the microphones using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone and had no trouble understanding every word we recorded. The signal quality is strong and the microphones also keep Bluetooth artifacts to a minimum.
Top-class durability and solid sound
The JBL Reflect Flow Pro earphones are an excellent value – their sound performance is strong (and stronger with EQ in the app), their ANC is solid, and their companion app unlocks useful functionality. We also like their secure fit and outstanding build quality. For exercise-focused listeners who want both ANC and ambient listening modes, this is an excellent option. That said, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro earphones remain our top choice for ANC-enabled $ 200-class waterproof earphones – they sound better out of the box and work with a companion app that is just as capable as the , JBL offers. In this price range, we’re also fans of Jabra’s $ 179.99 Elite 7 Active headphones, which offer a slightly more workout-friendly fit than the Elite 7 Pro, as well as the audiophile-friendly Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless ($ 179.95).
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