Jaybird BlueBuds X Headphones Review

For years I have been on a quest to find the perfect wireless headset. I have reviewed a number of very good products that came close to my high standards yet none of them have had long-term staying power. Whether it's their weight, battery life, or sound quality, there's always something that falters. So when I receivedJaybird Gear's BlueBuds X Wireless Headphones for review, I had some doubts. How would these compare to past attempts? More importantly, would this be the headset that would finally satisfy my demanding expectations and bring my quest to an end? Read on to find out.

A lot can be said about the quality of a product by its packaging.  BlueBuds X are contained in an attractive, sturdy package that shows the company cares deeply about the product inside. The headphones and accompanying cables are strapped tightly within the plastic molding and it takes a few minutes to cautiously remove all the tape supports. Once free, it is striking is how light these headphones are. Considering that it houses a battery and all the Bluetooth wireless communication electronics within the headset itself (no dangling pendants or attached pack-of-gum-sized controllers here), Jaybird has pulled off an incredible feat of hardware engineering.

With the headset paired and the earbuds attached and positioned in my ears, I cranked up the audio, and listened to everything from podcasts and audio books to rock, classical, and electronic musics. How did the BlueBuds X perform?  In a word, remarkably. I don't know how the Jaybird audio engineers pulled this off, but the BlueBuds X headset doesn't sound like a Bluetooth headset at all. Indeed, they sounded better than many of the premium wired headsets I have tested. This feat has something to do with Jaybird's Shift Premium Bluetooth Audio technology. Combined with the iPhone's equalizer, these headphones are unstoppable.