OK, let me come clean, it’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a pair of headphones. My old faithfuls have stood the test of time, albeit taking up a bit too much room when travelling. Only recently have I been able to locate the Bluetooth and ANC/HearThrough switches without taking the headphones off! So, imagine my surprise when a new small box arrives on my desk and turns out to be a neatly folded pair of Jabra Evolve3 85 headphones in a compact oval-shaped box.
Built For The Plane Seat In Front
My first thought was ‘these are so much easier to use and wear on a plane’. Turns out there’s a reason for that: Jabra have slimmed this model down by over a third compared to the last one and got the weight to just 220 grams – apparently the same as an apple, for anyone keeping score – and the whole thing folds flat into a neat little travel pouch. A nice box as well, with a clear diagram of all the controls under a big L and R. Jabra seem to know my problem already. Power on/off and Bluetooth pairing below the ANC/HearThrough switch. It’s Bluetooth 5.3 in there, with dual connectivity so it can keep two devices on the go at once – handy, given how often I forget which one I’m meant to be listening to. Even I might remember that, well, maybe.
The Sound Test: Spanish Harlem At 35,000 Feet
When it comes to sound, I have a couple of old favourites to use as a test bed. Hopefully you might have heard of them. If not, it’s time you did. Take a listen to this version of the iconic Spanish Harlem, co-written by the infamous, and now dead, Phil Spector, by Rebecca Pidgeon. The Jabras didn’t disappoint; the deep bass guitar and range of Pidgeon’s voice are fully realised. You’ll feel fully submersed with the ANC on – totally in your own little world, despite four Rolls-Royce engines, just a stone’s throw away, propelling you through the skies. Which is just as well, because Jabra reckon you’ll get up to 55 hours of music with the ANC working overtime, or 120 hours with it off, and a five-minute splash of charge at the gate buys you another five hours in the air.
Let’s move on. Nothing can compare to the live version of Sympathy for the Devil, my favourite being the Stones in Cuba, Havana Moon. Close your eyes and the crowd, conga drums and maracas can all be heard like you’re in the mosh pit. Then Keith brings in his great jazz-Latin samba groove and Jagger’s voice finally arrives with Charlie Watts’ unmistakable restrained samba-inspired beat. Fantastic.
The Verdict on Jabra Evolve3 85
These headphones are great. Comfortable, cosy and snug around the ears. If there has to be one criticism, it is probably that after an hour’s wear your ears need a little breather – it can get a little hot in there! Having said that, the benefits of the immersive sound outweigh the downside, especially when flying or in environments where there is a lot of unwanted noise that needs to be cut out. And with a battery you can swap out yourself rather than binning the whole headset, plus a warranty running out to five years, these feel built to go the distance. All in all, great headphones. I’ll be moving on from my old slippers.
Price and availability: The Jabra Evolve3 85 retails from $979 in Australia, available at jabra.com/en-au
