The JBL CLUB 950NC headphones are excellent for Bluetooth over-ear ANC because they are very sturdy and long-lasting. They also feel comfortable enough to wear for extended listening sessions.
The JBL CLUB 950NC is a good-quality headphones that can be used for a variety of genres and content. However, their ANC is only average, and they do not offer any quiet on a bus or plane. Additionally, their built-in microphone is very disappointing.
JBL CLUB 950NC review: Design
The Club 950NC circumoral (over-ear) headphones are designed with thick earpads and a headband that is covered in a material that resembles leather. The earcups fold up to fit inside the hard-shell case that comes with them and have an eggshell-like finish. Additionally, the headphones come with an audio cable that includes a microphone and a single-button remote control. ..
The JBL AE-1 is a Bluetooth enabled audio device that has three controls on the left ear cup panel. The power button, Bluetooth pairing button, and the button that enables/disables ANC (when held for two seconds) are all located on the left ear’s side panel. Additionally, there is a connection for the supplied audio cable and a status LED. You can ask Alexa or Google Assistant questions by pressing the JBL logo located on the left ear’s outer panel.
The JBL ATH-X930BT headphones come with a number of features, but one of the most important is the ability to control the audio quality. One of the ways to do this is by using a USB port and a charging cable. The headphones also have volume up/down buttons, a central playback/call management button, and a Bass Boost button. However, one downside is that despite having so many buttons, JBL still chose to merge these buttons into one place. This makes it difficult to accidentally increase or decrease the volume without taking your time.
Comfort
The Club 950NC headphones are designed with foldability and portability in mind. The metal hinges built into the earcup stems allow the headphones to fold upward and inwards, toward the back of the headband. The headphones are solid and appear to be long-lasting, much like the case.
The Sony WH-1000XM3s are the lightest in their class, feeling significantly lighter than the JBLs in terms of weight. According to the spec sheet, the JBLs weigh 372g as opposed to 255g for the Sony. The Beats Solo Pros, another competitor with a similar price, weigh 267g. The earpads have a firm but comfortable grip and can pivot and twist to help you get the best fit. The magnetic earpads can actually be peeled away from the earcup body, making replacement easy.
The JBL CLUB 950NC headphones are not as comfortable as some of their competitors, but they do offer a good value for the price. They are also very durable, and we have had no problems with them over the years. However, we would not recommend them to anyone who is looking for a particularly comfortable pair of headphones.
JBL CLUB 950NC review: Connectivity
The free JBL Headphones App allows users to configure voice control, button assignment, and firmware updates, as well as adjust the sound EQ. Customized settings can be saved for future use. ..
Club stars like Tigerlily, Armin van Buuren, Nicky Romero, Sunnery James, and Ryan Marciano’s sets are accessible through the “Stage+” function. However, with multiple presets, overdriving happens similarly to the Bass Booster function, so some adjustments would be preferred. ..
Noise canceling
The Active Noise Cancelling button on the outside of the left earcup turns on and off the active noise cancellation feature. This is useful because you can’t see it when the headphones are on your head.
The ANC is a good noise cancelling device. It does a good job of cancelling out sound, even when sitting in an office. However, it can’t block out all noise, so it may not be ideal if you’re looking for the best noise cancelling device.
Audio performance
The right earcup has a button that can be used to control the Bass Boost feature, but you can add or remove it as you see fit. We leave the boost switched off while using the headphones. Precision and clarity are sacrificed in favor of more power and heavier bass. With it on, the entire presentation sounds murkier and cloudier. In keeping with the DJ theme, you can choose preset EQ modes for each of the aforementioned DJs as well as a few other JBL ambassadors using the “our JBL Headphones” app for Android and iOS devices.
The Club 950NCs’ standard out-of-the-box audio is excellent. The JBL speakers produce a pure, open, and clear sound. They prefer a vivacious, enthusiastic presentation that is enjoyable to hear both wirelessly and through a wired connection to a 3.5mm headphone socket. The Club 950NCs sound great with everything from progressive trance to punk, and there is plenty of room and headroom for tracks from any genre to shine.
Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa will benefit the JBL Club 950NC amplifier. The song’s energetic, funky speed will give the amplifier a boost. Thanks to the large soundstage, the song’s brief, stabby bassline, plucky percussion, and expressive vocal all have plenty of room to breathe. People, we’ve Been Sad by Christine and the Queens moves at a much slower tempo but the JBLs are unfazed. Intricate string instrument fluttering’s and subtle pans across the soundstage continue to astonish us with their level of detail.
The JBL Xtreme has done a fantastic job of conveying the many dynamic variations and focus on the staccato features of Christine’s delivery when the song slows down and she begins singing in French. Although competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Dali iO-4 do a better job of it, they are more dynamically subtle and as a result, even more believable. When we switch to Hans Zimmer’s Inception soundtrack without vocals, the Dalis and Sonys are the ones who make the most of the dynamic shifts at the beginning of the song Time. The JBL Xtreme delivers the pulsing drumbeat and rising and falling strings with great conviction, but the top pairs at the money have more tonal finesse and a deeper sense of emotion. ..
JBL CLUB 950NC review: Call performance
The JBL Xtreme 2 headphones come with a USB-C port, volume rockers, a button to answer calls, activate Siri on Apple devices, and a Bass Boost button to turn on the series’ defining feature. They also have a dual-mic setup to ensure clear voice during calls. ..
Battery and charging
The headphones have an excellent battery life of up to 55 hours when ANC is disabled. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed my daily usage, we could easily go two days without needing to recharge. Since the ANC consistently muffles chatter, even though we don’t use public transportation as frequently and try to avoid rush hours, we see ourselves leaving it on during the commute. Regardless, we could easily anticipate a full day of use, which is more than enough for the majority of customers.
Conclusion
The JBL CLUB 950NC over-ear headphones are good for a variety of uses. They are sturdy and well-built, and they are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time without growing weary or uncomfortable. Their sound profile is well-balanced and adaptable enough for a variety of genres and content, and their companion app gives you access to parametric EQ and presets to alter how they sound. ..
The ANC on these headphones is not very effective, and even when it’s turned on, they only reduce background noise. Overall, these headphones are not exceptional for any particular use.
