JBL Club 950NC Wireless Headphones Review

You may not know a lot about headphones.  If that’s the case, buying a JBL headphone is a safe bet, getting you that JBL sound. Up for review is their JBL Club 950NC. Not only is it a quality wireless headphone, but you also get active noise cancelling. There’s even a cool app to control it.

 

Features and Specs:

Frequency response (Passive): 16 Hz - 40 kHz

Frequency response (Active): 16 Hz - 22 kHz

Sensitivity: 91 dB SPL @ 1 kHz / 1 mW

Maximum SPL: 105 dB

Maximum input power (Passive): 2000 mW

Microphone sensitivity: -24 dBV @ 1 kHz / Pa

Impedance: 32 ohm

Driver size: 40 mm dynamic driver

Weight: 372 g

Bluetooth transmitted power: <6 dBm

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, _x001F_/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth frequency: 2.402 GHz - 2.480 GHz

Bluetooth profile version: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6

Bluetooth version: V5.0

Battery type: LITHIUM ION POLYMER BATTERY (3.7 V / 730 mAh)

Power supply: 5 V 1 A

Charging time: <2 hrs

Music play time with BT on: Up to 55 hrs

Music play time with BT & ANC on: Up to 22 hrs

Music play time with Aux-in & ANC on: Up to 30 hrs

The JBL Club 950NC came in a nice looking color printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone held in place by custom molded plastic. And they were secured in a quality hard zipper case. Opening the zipper case revealed a quality headphone made mostly of plastic, but with some metal in places it mattered most, like on the hinges. Quality of materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish. Also included was the charging cord, audio cord, and manual.

 

I liked the design of the JBL Club 950 NC. Like DJ headphones, the earcups flip up for monitoring like a DJ. But it also works great for easier storage in the zipper case. And as stated before, I really like the metal hinges for increased durability. The app is also really cool, allowing you to control not only the active noise cancelling modes, but to also control the EQ settings and DSP, for your personal preference. Now let’s see how they sound.

Toto: Africa- Kick drum had very good tight clean impact with very good low-end extension. Congas also had a nice full sound with good resolution of the pad. Cowbell had very nice crisp metallic tone. Vocals were very smooth with very good resolution and texture of the timbre. Drums had very good dynamics and extension. Cymbals were crisp and clean. Recorder had very good air. Piano also sounded pleasantly natural. Soundstage was very wide.

 

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody- the soundstage was huge, making you feel like you are right in the studio. Vocals were very smooth with very good harmonics of the texture of the timbre. The piano sounded very natural. Cymbals were really crisp and clean. Drums were very dynamic with a full deep sound.

 

The HU: Sugaan Essana- The thunder at the beginning was very lifelike, showing a huge soundstage. There was enough resolution to be able to hear the bows slide across the strings of the lute. Vocals were pleasantly raw and portrayed very well. The bass played very deep and with good authority.

 

Bluetooth performance and ANC performance:

 

Before we get into the Bluetooth performance, let us tell you about the testing.  It’s a torture test, designed to be too much for just about any headphone.  Few go unscathed.  But that’s ok, because I know of no manufacturer who has headphones designed to go this distance. Most are rated somewhere between 50 – 100ft.  For indoor testing, using my LG V40 Thinq smartphone, I place my phone in one corner of the basement, walk all around and to the other end of the basement which is about 50ft away.  I then walk up to the main floor and walk all around the main floor. I then walk up to the second floor and walk all around the second floor.  And for outside testing, I set my smartphone on our front porch, and walk out to the corner of the street, which is around 250 ft.  It’s a test designed to get the headphone to fail, but see just how far it’ll go before it does.

 

This JBL was good for 50 feet same floor through multiple walls with no glitches. Got occasionally glitchy in-between floors, but made it from basement to 2nd floor with only occasional glitches. Outside it was a little glitchy at around 200 feet, but made it to 250.  ANC worked very well, removing about 90%.

 

JBL knows music, and it shows. The JBL Club 950NC provided great performance and great build quality including some metal.  And they even provide an app so you can do your own sound customizations, as well as control the ANC modes.  If you are looking for a quality pair of headphones, these deserve to be on your short list.  Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the JBL Club 950NC has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.jbl.com.