I am a huge (self-proclaimed) audiophile with a love for headphones, so I was totally ecstatic when a big, square box was placed on my table – one that had JBL written on it in bold and bright lettering. A brand notable for its sound quality, I couldn’t wait to get going with the review of the recently launched JBL Everest Elite 700. I was pumped up initially, but I guess I let my emotions get a little ahead of myself. Read on to find out why.
Professionally Designed
The Everest Elite 700 was really designed to impress, and boy it did just that. I quickly unboxed it, but I soon discovered a major flaw in packaging design. Trying to get into (yes, into) the main compartment where the headphone is nestled in feels like I’m trying to break free from Guantanamo Bay. It was the toughest unboxing ever attempted. We (a few of use tried) managed to wrestle it out after a good 15 minutes or so. It better be worth it, I said.
Taking a short breather, I sat on my desk to admire its design. Smooth curves with thick cushion padding, topped off with a professional finishing – it looked and felt like what a high-end headphone should feel in hand.
The saying of don’t judge a book by its cover resonates all too well here. The top padding of the headphones dug into my scalp after a long period of time, which left it slightly sore. Not quite how I envisioned my time with this JBL headphone, though that was the only issue I had with its design.
Not All About The Bass, Just Treble
This is the part where I started weeping from the inside. I plugged it in, and I couldn’t believe my ears. I thought I had my phone’s sound settings all wrong but the sound emitting from the Everest Elite 700 was severely lacking some bass.
I am at loss for words, seeing as I expected more from JBL. I was really expecting an exciting music experience but it turned the other way around.
From my personal experience, high-end headphones especially like JBL usually comes with a punch when it comes to sound quality. I was needless to say underwhelmed. I thought it would be remedied by JBL recommended app, My JBL Headphones, which features an equaliser. While the sound didn’t seem like I was listening through a hollow tube anymore, it certainly felt like the Everest Elite 700 was just an average performer.
Sure it has Bluetooth connection, its own equaliser application, its fantastic noise cancelling but the lack in bass on the get-go irked me. Okay well, I can slightly feel the bass with the right song on. For its price point, however, I feel that there are other headphones that’ll give you a good balance in sound.
The headphone doesn’t come with a volume controller as well – a feature that some may not miss if you’re wirelessly wearing it on the go. Its noise cancelling feature was near perfect. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in your (bass-less) music, the Everest Elite 700 may be the one for you.
Price: RM1,499
Weight: 305g
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 (wireless), Stereo 3.5mm (wired)
Frequency Range: 10Hz-22kHz
Value: 5/10
Features: 5/10
Performance: 7/10
Design: 9/10
Usability: 7/10
Total Score: 6.6/10
Verdict: An average performer with a steep price tag
