The Jaybird Freedom is a great pair of wireless sports headphones designed and manufactured by Jaybird Sport Audio company. This company is well known for their laser-like focus on recreational and sports headphones. If at any point you have ever searched for sport, running, biking and gym headphones, then it is very likely that you have stumbled up raving review of Jaybird products. Their headphones are designed to withstand and perform well even during those vigorous sport sessions. These bad boys will deal with rigorous exercise and sweat!
Jaybird Freedom’s ear buds are a perfect upgrade between previous Jaybird X2 buds which were deemed to be too large and Jaybird Bluebuds X which were said to be too small. Let us take a more in depth look into what makes Freedom such a hit amongst past users.
Incredible, Versatile Design
This model comes in a sleek and conventional neckband-style. You can opt to let your cable dangle under your chin (not advisable as you will have to endure its remote knocking against your jaw when you move) or you can loop the cable behind your head so that it rests on your neck. Freedom head-phones are available in four different colors: Black (Carbon), gold/white, red (Blaze), and blue (Ocean).
The earpiece does not stick out at all – instead they have designed a finishing that comprises of a downward curve. This design allows your device to sit flush against the lower part of your earlobe. You no longer have to worry about being unable to put on a helmet. What Jaybird has done is move much of the electronics out of its ear buds and into Freedom’s nub-like remote that is located below the right earpiece. Buds and inline remote are now made of metal and not plastic, making them stronger and durable.
Outstanding Bluetooth Audio Performance
Freedom’s remote is relatively bigger than X2’s – not by much but still big enough to notice. On older designs, charging took place via a USB port located in one of its earpieces. This is not the case anymore – Freedom has a tiny USB cradle that connects to its remote for charging. This tiny cradle has a rechargeable battery inside. This means that you will be able to boost your headset’s battery performance beyond its usual playtime by simply attaching them together.
This model is sweat proof meaning that they can be used as an everyday headset – do note that they are not waterproof! There is a Jaybird MySound companion app available on iOS and Android. Here, you will be able to adjust your sound – any sound adjustments you make will be transferred to headpiece. You are able to choose from a range of pre-adjusted EQs or adjust one to your preferred sounds by using the very simple EQ adjustment sliders. Overall, Freedom’s sound and call quality is simply divine. With a bit of tuning to suit your personal preferences, you will simply be amazed and wonder how you survived without them before.
Freedom will provide you with really loud volume that is just what you need when your feet are thumping on the ground as you run or exercise on a treadmill. Even with flat EQ profile, your device will still provide you with a good bass. Many other gadgets are unable to provide this, especially when they are put on flat EQ profile. However, your Freedom’s bass is still as impressive. They are just perfect for fitness. Once you switch from low to medium EQ levels, this is where things get pretty interesting. You will immediately notice how loud vocals and instruments sound. Your bass will now be at a high (when compared to other models, Freedom’s medium is their high profile setting). From the moment your song start to play till finish, you will be greatly impressed by overall sound quality.
Want to take it a notch high? High EQ profile is incredibly high. It is perfect for fitness though (however we would recommend you only use it while you are jogging or running and not for exercise activities that require stationary positions). If you are not a huge fan of extremely loud sounds and high bass, then steer clear of this profile setting. Here, a user might even experience somewhat piercing music experience. Actually, if you are past a certain age, then leave this setting for the younger individuals as you will have an almost painful and uncomfortable high volume experience.
Long Battery Life
Battery life is rated at 8 hours – which is pretty good. If you haven’t read its manual, note that you get 4 hours from buds and an additional 4 hours when you use the included charging chip (that as mentioned earlier has a secondary rechargeable battery inside) - It is great to have access to extra charge when you need it.
When you need to juice up your device, you will charge both headset’s internal battery and external battery clip at the same time via above mentioned micro-USB port. You will be able to leave charging unit attached and listen to music while you recharge. A good 20 minutes of uninterrupted charge time will provide you with approximately 1 hour of constant music. Take good care of your battery clip because if you lose it, you will not be able to charge your headsets.
Impressive Wireless Connectivity
This product has an incredibly strong Bluetooth connection. Regardless of where your phone is while you are exercising; be it in your back pocket, in your hands, etc, you will experience no music pause or skips. Even when you are in your home, your device will still have a pretty strong connection even at approximately 30 feet.
One thing though, we would recommend that you configure your headsets to preferred sound quality. As mentioned earlier, using the Jaybird MySound app, you will be able to fine tune your EQ settings to your unique liking and preference. You will also be able to browse through what sound quality is already preset by athletes and preview how they sound. Presets will then get synched to your headsets and nor to your phone.
This way, if you ever switch phones or perhaps your laptop, (regardless of what source device you use) you can always count on your Freedom’s to provide you with music that is being played using your chosen EQ settings. Also, Jaybird MySound app will keep you up to date with how much battery life you have left. One great thing about using Bluetooth devices is that their controls are not switched or disabled depending on your operation system, unlike wired headphones. Playback controls will remain constant regardless of whether you are using an Android or iOS playback controls; you will still be able to play, pause, stop, and skip at your heart’s desires.
Snug and comfortable fit
When it comes to sports headphones, there is nothing worse than purchasing a product that requires constant adjustment – this will interfere with your exercise and overall device’s performance. But as you look for a secure fit, you also want a device that is not too tight. You also want comfort. Jaybird Freedom provides a perfect balance between fit and comfort.
Firstly, there are multiple ways one can choose to wear them (mentioned earlier). Next, Jaybird Freedom comes inclusive of three pairs if different-sized silicone tips along with three pairs of compressible Comply foam tips. You will also be provided with four different-sized wingtips that are used to lock device to your outer ear.
Other Features
Once you purchase them, you will get a soft carrying pouch, an instructional manual, the headset, 3 set of wing tips (large, small medium), and 6 pairs of ear tips as well as either silicone or comply memory available in S, M, L. There are 2 cord shorteners included. These items can be used to take in extra cable slack to ensure that your cable does not bounce around while you exercise. This product also comes inclusive of a collar clip that you can use to secure it to your shirt. Finally, you will have a charging cradle that is very important as it is what you will be using to recharge headphones.
Pros
- Comes with adjustable EQ through app
- Has a fantastic construction quality
- Provides good sound quality that is natural and rich
- Has a slimmer design that offers a more comfortable fit
- This model is sweat proof
- Offers good battery life
- You can continue to listen to music as your device juices up
- Relatively affordable for the features and performance provided
- Highly durable when well cared for
- Thanks to its upgraded design, you will be able to put on a helmet or a snug hat without your ears being uncomfortable
Cons
- Inline remote is a bit on the heavy side
- You will not be able to charge headphones if you lose its battery clip
- Wingtips can be a bit uncomfortable
Accessories
This model comes with:
- Carrying pouch
- Three pairs if different-sized silicone
- Three pairs of compressible Comply foam tips
- Four different-sized wingtips
- A set of cord-management clips
- A collar clip
Final Verdict
Overall, we rate this model at a 9/10. You will be able to listen to high-quality sounds as you work out or take a run around town. Jaybird Freedom set is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their listening experience. They come inclusive of many accessories that are designed to provide different users with a more comfortable and better listening experience. All in all, if you do not have a set already, then you do not know what you are missing out.
From an audio perspective, we're confident that with all Jaybird products, you will not be able to ply them from your ears. We would recommend that you use your collar clip when jogging / running. This will prevent them from sliding out of your ears at every turn. One key drawback that many past users have had an issue with is the wingtips. Some people have complained of their outer ear slightly bruising after prolonged use. Perhaps Jaybird can look into this and figure out what material can work better to eradicate this problem completely. Overall, aside from a few setbacks, Jaybird’s Freedom headphones are simply exceptional. They will provide you with incredible sound quality like never before. All in all, a product worthy of your money as it will provide you with great value.