Headphones — JBL TUNE FLEX

The Tune Flex from JBL is a true wireless earphone with active noise cancelling that can be worn two ways - with an open ear tip for a light, unsealed fit or with sealing tips for isolation. It belongs to the Tune series and appeared on a 2022 Harman specification sheet, and a translucent Ghost Edition was sold alongside it.

Key specs that matter

Inside each stem-shaped earpiece is a 12 mm dynamic driver, rated from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 32 ohm with a sensitivity of 110 dB SPL at 1 kHz and a maximum output of 95 dB SPL. An earbud weighs 4.8 g, or 9.6 g for the pair, and measures 34.9 x 20.5 x 20.2 mm. The case weighs 38.6 g and is 47.0 x 51.5 x 29.3 mm. JBL's 32 hour total is 8 hours in the earbuds plus 24 from the case with ANC off, and 6 plus 18 hours with noise cancelling engaged. Talk time is 4.5 hours. Each earpiece has a 55 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery at 3.85 V, while the case uses a 570 mAh cell at the same voltage. Recharging from flat takes less than 2 hours, and a 10 minute Speed Charge restores 2 hours of music. The rating is IPX4, meaning resistance to splashes and sweat but no dust rating.

Engineering and use context

In its default open configuration the stick design avoids ear-canal pressure and leaves the wearer aware of surroundings. Three sizes of sealing tips, combined with a Sealing Ear tip mode in the JBL Headphones app, turn it into an isolating in-ear model when noise needs to be shut out. Noise cancelling relies on two of the microphones, and all four are used for stereo hands-free calls, with a microphone sensitivity of -38 dBV/Pa. Smart Ambient includes Ambient Aware for letting outside sound through and TalkThru for short conversations, and VoiceAware adjusts how loudly the user hears their own voice on a call. The radio follows Bluetooth 5.2, transmitting under 11 dBm across 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz with GFSK, pi/4-DQPSK and 8DPSK modulation. Other app functions cover changing the touch gestures, locating a missing earbud and selecting Smart Audio or Smart Video mode. The rated ceiling for operating temperature is 45 C.

Pairing

A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6 and HFP V1.7 are supported, so any Bluetooth smartphone, tablet or computer can stream music, control playback and route calls to the Tune Flex. The case is charged via USB Type-C from a 5 V 1 A adapter, and the box contains one open ear tip plus the sealing set.

Alternatives

The JBL Tune Flex 2 is the later stem-type noise cancelling earbud of the Tune range.