The JBL TUNE 225TWS strives to embody the fashion-friendly, user-friendly, all-wireless earphones. It can be commissioned in seconds, works carefree individually or in pairs, and can be purchased in many trendy colors.
The JBL TUNE 225TWS is an improved version of the previous TUNE 220TWS. The TUNE 220 was JBL’s first such AirPods-type headset, so it’s perhaps not surprising that design malfunctions in the first series. Knowing the above, it is also easier to understand why the next generation arrived relatively quickly, barely a year later.
Announced in 2021, the JBL Live Pro + headphones are true wireless, in in-ear format. They benefit from adaptive noise reduction, maximum battery life of 21 hours, including case charging, Qi wireless charging compatibility, and fast charging (10 minutes for 1 hour of instant playback).
According to the manufacturer’s description, they wanted to create a small but powerful headset. Still, the design and the unfiltered microphone greatly narrowed down the situations suitable for cloudless use in the long run. The Live Pro + TWS on the price is a much more demanding headset.
Pros and Cons
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS |
| Comfortable wearing experience | Comfortable and stable fit |
| Refined bass, enjoyable sound | Effective noise reduction |
| Decent battery life | Parametric EQ and presets available |
| No support for AAC and aptX codec | Fluctuating stereo balance |
| Bluetooth 5.0 for Connectivity | Quite weak ANC mode |
General
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS | |
| Brand | JBL | JBL |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | Black, White |
| Battery life | 20 Hours | 21 Hours |
| Weight | 57 g | 49.5 g |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Bluetooth | Wireless, Bluetooth |
Design
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS | |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB at 1 kHz / 1 mW | 102 dB SPL at 1 kHz / 1 mW |
| Dimensions | 160 x 100 x 44 mm | 167 x 101 x 45 mm |
| Foldable Design | No | No |
JBL Tune 225 TWS
Like the previous model, the JBL Tune 225TWS are so-called semi-in-ear earphones. This refers to headphones that are equipped without the silicone attachments used by many other in-ear headphones. Thus, the JBL Tune 225TWS are only placed in the ear, which makes for a very airy fit, which is purely a matter of taste, but that this type of wearing is also very bulky, you can see on the Apple AirPods, because they are also and semi -In-ear earbuds.
The in-ear earphones themselves consist of the capsule that sits in the ear and the bridge design that protrudes from the ear. This bar extends a little down to the earlobe and contains the microphone and the control buttons. Because JBL does not do without replaceable silicone attachments here, as usual, one uses a universal size of the bud that sits in the ear.
According to JBL, thanks to the anatomically shaped earbud, the earphones should fit perfectly in each ear without finding the right ear adapters as usual. Here, however, the company has made a compromise because, without the customary ear adapters made of silicone, etc., the isolation properties otherwise given with classic in-ears can, of course, not be achieved.
JBL Live Pro+ TWS
The JBL Live Pro + TWS headphones come in oval shells flanked by a tactile stem. In-ear type, these headphones are inserted into the ear canal. However, this is not the only way they dock to the ear since the shells are designed to fit into the hollow of the ear pin. This system works very well, and the headphones, once in place in the ear, do not move, even when moving quickly. In addition, since the headphones are almost always in the same position in the ear canal, their sound signature does not vary.
Each earpiece incorporates a dynamic transducer 11mm in diameter, a size not common in wireless headphones – it’s more often 6mm – due to the lack of space due to the integration of an amp and a battery in each earpiece. The advantage of large transducers is to achieve a higher sound volume with less distortion and dynamic settling, especially at low frequencies, because the diaphragm moves less.
Features
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS | |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ohms | 16 Ohms |
JBL Tune 225 TWS
How did the JBL TUNE 225TWS work? It is a pleasant companion for making phone calls and listening to music in a calm environment. Still, it can be compromised in other situations because it is not stable enough for sports, it is not the best for movies/games due to lip-sync delay, and it allows all noise. The latter, of course, can be a definite advantage for some.
In our subjective judgment, the TUNE 225TWS is trying to be too much a cheaper, more reasonable alternative to the (overpriced by many) AirPods and nothing more, with its many advantages and disadvantages. Accordingly, the buyer must consider before paying.
JBL Live Pro+ TWS
Completely wireless, JBL Live Pro + TWS is a strong competitor. Its appearance is trendy; its comfort level is one of the best. Extras are plentiful, priced high, but not unattainable. His hidden ability, his voice will almost certainly put a smile on the face of every owner. Not only does the music simply play on it, but it makes the listener part of an uplifted, polished, neon-floating acoustic tour.
It could be objected to from a hi-fi perspective. On the other hand, when you consider what captivating basses spiced up your favorite selection of light music, it’s much harder to hook up.
Battery
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS | |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Capacity | 22 mAh (earphone) | 500 mAh (case) |
| Battery Life | Up to 25 hours | Up to 21 hours |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Qi Wireless Charging | No | Yes |
JBL Tune 225 TWS
Regarding battery life, on the packaging, we see that the earplugs themselves last for 5 hours, and then there is power in the storage box for another 20 hours.
Nevertheless, the battery life is sufficient, especially if you get used to putting the caps back in the charging case as soon as you don’t use them. Charging is speedy, and so you always have enough battery to get through the day.
The charging case is charged via a USB-C cable (included) and is full relatively quickly. You can see this by the white lights you have to shine as soon as you open the box. JBL has placed those indicators well and clearly in both the box and on the earbuds. The earbuds themselves have a subtle red and blue dot, so you know which is left and right.
JBL Live Pro+ TWS
Each JBL Live Pro + TWS earphone is equipped with an amplifier and a 55 mAh battery, which is supposed to give it a battery life of between 6 and 7 hours, depending on whether or not active noise reduction is used. The latter works through four microphones also used to broadcast surrounding noise to the listener (ambient mode) and hands-free voice calls. The Bluetooth 5.0 controller, housed in the right ear cup, is compatible with SBC and AAC audio codecs.
JBL provides a storage case with a built-in battery, which offers three charging cycles for the headphones. The cumulative autonomy can therefore reach 28 hours. This case is compact and magnetic to secure the placement of the headphones. It takes 5 minutes of charge to give 1 hour of battery life to discharged headphones, or about 2 hours for a full charge. When charging is complete, the flashing LEDs on the front go out.
Connectivity
| JBL Tune 225 TWS | JBL Live Pro+ TWS | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Device Connection | No | No |
| Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Range | 10 m | 10 m |
Conclusion!
The JBL Tune 225 TWS are part of the Pure Bass series, and you notice that the emphasis is on that: deep tones are reproduced powerfully. The Tune 225 TWS is also relatively affordable and offers great value for money. The connection is fast, battery life is good, and the fit is simply pleasant. Noise-canceling is (unfortunately) not present but also logical in this price range. With the Tune 225 TWS, you simply buy good earplugs for a good price. Not more, but certainly not less.
JBL Live Pro + headphones don’t keep all of their promises. Sure, noise reduction gets the job done, with three compelling attenuation levels; at the asking price, it is already a lot and perhaps essential if you listen to your music and series only in transport. But some cosmetic bugs such as the absence of vocal announcements (connection, change of noise reduction mode, etc.) or occasional imbalances in the stereo balance tarnish the picture. Above all, the sound performances which could have been of high level, given the experience of JBL, are very perfectible.
