The JBL Tune Beam 2 is a recent addition to JBL’s lineup. These are a pair of TWS offering ANC in the affordable segment. In this review, I will take a close look at its design, comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation, call performance, and battery life to help you understand what to expect.
JBL Tune Beam 2 Review
Unboxing
In the retail box, you get:
- JBL Tune Beam 2
- 2 pair of ear tips
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- User Guide
- Warranty card
Buy Here: Amazon
Design and Comfort
The JBL Tune Beam 2 earbuds have a stem-style design, which is familiar and practical. The earbuds are made from semi-matte plastic that feels solid in the hand and looks neat without being flashy. Because the finish is matte, they don’t attract fingerprints easily, which helps keep them looking clean. The earbuds have subtle JBL branding on the stem, which looks clean and adds a touch of identity without being too flashy. There’s also an LED notification light on each.
These earbuds are quite small and lightweight, which makes them comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. They don’t feel heavy or bulky in the ears. JBL includes three different sizes of soft silicone ear tips: small, medium, and large. So you can pick the best fit for your ears. I tried the default medium tips, and they sealed well in my ears. This good seal not only keeps the earbuds secure but also helps with passive noise isolation by blocking outside sound naturally.
Thanks to their shape and the right ear tips, the Tune Beam 2 earbuds stay firmly in place even during light activities like walking or working out. They don’t cause discomfort or ear fatigue after a few hours of use, which is important for daily wear.
The touch controls on these earbuds are easy to use and responsive. The left earbud has controls for Noise cancellation, Ambient aware mode, and Voice assistant. The right earbud has controls for music playback. Call controls are available on each bud when you receive a call. The touch area is large enough to find without looking, and you don’t need to press hard—just a gentle tap works. This makes controlling music and calls convenient without reaching for your phone.
The charging case is compact and has a smooth matte finish that matches the earbuds. It fits easily in pockets or small bags, making it portable and travel-friendly. The lid uses magnets to snap shut securely, and it feels sturdy enough for everyday use without worrying about accidental openings. The case has a USB-C charging port at the base, which is good to see since USB-C is now the standard for faster and more reliable charging.
The charging case also has JBL branding on the front. It also has three LEDs on the front of the case to show the battery status for the case. This helps you know when it’s time to recharge.
One important feature is the IP54 rating, which means the earbuds are resistant to dust and splashes of water. This makes them suitable for workouts, jogging, or use in light rain without worrying about damage. However, they are not fully waterproof, so submerging them in water or heavy rain should be avoided.
Sound Quality
The JBL Tune Beam 2 delivers a sound signature that reflects JBL’s well-known style — punchy bass with clear mids and smooth highs. The bass is powerful and deep without overpowering the rest of the music. This makes it enjoyable for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, EDM, and even Bollywood songs, where the low end adds energy and impact.
When I listened to vocals and acoustic tracks, the mids were natural and well-balanced. Singers’ voices sounded clear and detailed, and instruments like guitars and pianos came through with good clarity. The earbuds do not exaggerate or distort the mids, which helps keep the music sounding clean and pleasant.
High frequencies are smooth and not harsh, even at higher volumes. This means you can listen for long periods without ear fatigue. The treble has enough sparkle to make songs feel lively but stays controlled to avoid any sharp or piercing sounds.
One standout feature is the support for spatial sound. This technology creates a wider and more immersive soundstage. When spatial sound is enabled, certain tracks and movies feel like the sound is coming from around you, rather than just inside your ears. It adds a 3D effect, making the listening experience more engaging. While it is not as advanced as some premium spatial audio technologies, it is a nice addition in this price range.
Across all genres, from pop and rock to classical and jazz, the JBL Tune Beam 2 handles music well, providing a balanced and enjoyable listening experience.
Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode
The JBL Tune Beam 2 comes with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation. This means it uses multiple microphones, both inside and outside the earbuds, to detect ambient noise and create sound waves that cancel it out.
In my testing, the ANC works best at reducing low-frequency noises. For example, sounds like air conditioners, fans, and engine rumble from traffic become much quieter. This helps when you are commuting or working in a noisy environment, allowing you to focus better on your music or calls.
However, ANC does not completely block out all noises. Mid and high-frequency sounds, such as human voices or sudden loud noises, can still be heard. So while ANC improves your listening environment, it does not create total silence like some higher-end earbuds.
The earbuds also offer an ambient sound mode. This lets outside noise in, so you stay aware of your surroundings when needed. This is useful when walking on busy streets or talking to someone without taking the earbuds out. You can adjust the level of ambient sound through the JBL app, making it more or less transparent.
The ANC and ambient modes switch quickly and smoothly, and the touch controls make toggling between them simple while on the go.
The JBL Headphones app lets you customize the EQ, change touch controls, update firmware, and toggle ANC and ambient sound levels. The app is simple and user-friendly and has lots of customization options to improve the music and calling experince.
Calling and Gaming
For calls, the earbuds use four microphones with noise reduction. Indoors, call quality is clear, and background noise is handled well. Outdoors, wind noise affects call clarity a little, but overall, voices come through clearly. By using the JBL Headphones app, you can also control how you sound to other people on call and how other people’s calls sound to you.
There is a low-latency mode for gaming. It reduces audio delay so sound syncs better with on-screen action. I tried it on a mobile shooter game, and the delay was less noticeable, improving the gaming experience.
Connectivity and Features
The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable connection. Pairing is fast, and they support Google Fast Pair. Multipoint connectivity allows you to connect to two devices at once, like your phone and laptop, and switch easily between them.
Battery Life
According to JBL, the earbuds can deliver up to 12 hours of playback time on a single charge when Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is turned off. With ANC enabled, this drops to around 8 hours. In real-world use, I found the battery life quite close to these numbers. When listening at medium volume with ANC on, the earbuds lasted around 7.5 hours on a single charge. This is impressive and means you can easily use them for a full day of work or travel without worrying about charging.
The charging case provides additional power and can extend the total playback time by about 32 hours with multiple charges. This means the combined battery life of earbuds plus case is around 40 hours with ANC off, and around 37 hours with ANC on.
The case uses a USB-C port for charging, which is convenient and supports faster charging compared to older micro-USB ports. JBL includes a fast charging feature: just 15 minutes of charging in the case can give you about 4 hours of playback time. This is very useful when you are in a hurry and need quick juice before heading out. Charging the case itself from empty to full takes about 2 hours, which is reasonable.
Wrap Up
The JBL Tune Beam 2 earbuds offer a solid package with good design, comfortable fit, and reliable performance. The sound quality is balanced with punchy bass, clear mids, and smooth highs, making them suitable for a variety of music genres. The spatial sound feature adds a nice touch for more immersive listening. Their Active Noise Cancellation works well for everyday noise like traffic and fans, though it is not perfect for all environments. Battery life is strong, especially with fast charging.
Overall, the Tune Beam 2 is a competent set of earbuds that will suit users looking for a balanced feature set without expecting top-tier ANC or audio performance. They are functional and reliable, but don’t offer anything exceptional compared to other options in this segment.
Pros:
- Comfortable fit with multiple ear tip options
- Balanced sound with emphasis on bass
- Spatial sound adds some immersion
- ANC reduces steady background noises effectively
- Good battery life with fast charging
Cons:
- Ambient sound mode feels somewhat artificial
- Call quality is affected by the wind outdoors
Buy Here: Amazon
