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Jabra Elite Active 75t
Sequels are typically underwhelming, just watch Ocean’s Twelve, but the Jabra Elite Active 75t boasts an attractive redesign and improved functionality over the debut Elite Active 65t, and now they have noise canceling. We spent two weeks with the Elite Active 75t to see what makes it a great accessory for any workout enthusiast.
Editor’s note: this Jabra Elite Active 75t review was updated on May 9, 2023, to update the formatting, address the Elite Active 75t’s discontinuation, and add to the Alternatives section.
Athletes should get the Elite Active 75t because they’re IP57-rated and provide a secure fit. Fast charging is supported which is a necessity for any respectable pair of exercise headphones. Anyone with an active lifestyle should get these. You don’t have to be an athlete to get workout earbuds, and the versatile Jabra Elite Active 75t proves that. Even when casually commuting via bike, having one earphone in was easy to do and I never worried about them falling out, thanks to the housings’ grippy finishes.
General consumers will benefit from the Jabra Elite Active 75t because of the ventilation system that filters out some ambient noise. Moreover, the charging case is svelte, taking up little space in a pocket or purse.
What is it like to use the Jabra Elite Active 75t?
Jabra’s updated workout earphones feature a more slender, chic design compared to the previous generation Elite Active 65t totally wireless earbuds. Everything from the case to the actual earbuds has been redesigned with a smaller footprint.
These earbuds fit well and include three ear tips (small, medium, large) to accommodate most users. This provides a secure fit and optimizes audio quality because external sounds are blocked out. Both earphones are finished with Jabra’s grip coating, ensuring they stay in place during all your workouts. This coating also makes it easy to remove and insert the earbuds without fumbling them onto the floor.
Bassheads will love how the Elite Active 75t sound.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t integrates a pressure relief vent that simultaneously filters ambient noise out while promoting a strong bass response. This sound signature is likely too exaggerated for casual listeners but it can be changed in the Sound+ app. The earbuds house sensors for automatic ear detection: removing one earbud automatically pauses playback, and re-inserting it resumes playback.
Is the Jabra Elite Active 75t good for working out?
Yes, the IP57 rating, comfortable fit, and effective isolation performance are what make the Jabra Elite Active 75t a superb pair of workout headphones.
I go indoor rock climbing a few times a week and dust resistance is a must-have feature. The IP57 rating lets me feel confident that my chalky hands won’t damage the earbuds. Plus the “7” denotes extreme water resistance whereby the earbuds can be fully submerged for up to 30 minutes. Unfortunately, they lack onboard storage and can’t be used for swimming: Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t hold up underwater. On the off chance that dust or water damage does occur, Jabra backs its product with a two-year warranty, so you’re insured no matter what.
The tactile controls are responsive but don’t offer much resistance. Sometimes when I adjusted them, I inadvertently paused the music or skipped the track. It was rarely a problem in the gym but was frustrating when walking about.
How do you control the Jabra Elite Active 75t?
On May 29, 2020, the Sound+ app (version 4.3) rolled out a firmware update to the Jabra Elite 75t and Jabra Elite Active 75t that enabled MySound and MyControls. The optimizes the sound signature based on an integrated hearing test, enabling users to remap the multifunction controls.
Should you download the Jabra Sound+ app?
Jabra Sound+ offers a range of unique, practical features bundled into an attractive interface. First and foremost, the MySound+ app makes it easy to check for and install software updates. Then there are more fun features like the ability to create and save a custom EQ or switch between six presets, including a speech preset which is great for podcasts. You can even choose between three EQ presets for calls: default, treble boost, and bass boost.
There are other practical options like HearThrough mode, which is easy to enable when you want to remain vigilant, something particularly important for outdoor athletes. You can also choose what virtual assistant to use; I prefer Google Assistant, but listeners can opt for Siri or Alexa.
How do you connect the Elite Active 75t?
The Jabra Elite Active 75t uses Bluetooth 5.0 which permits a 10-meter wireless range. Connection stability isn’t exceptional and the connection can hiccup when you use the earbuds outside.
Like other Jabra products, the Elite Active 75t also supports multipoint connectivity, meaning the headset can be connected to two devices simultaneously. Multipoint lets you keep an ear on incoming phone notifications while streaming music from a laptop. The Elite Active 75t remembers up to eight devices at a time, making it easy to switch between sources manually.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t can connect to two devices simultaneously.
AAC is the only high-quality Bluetooth codec supported by the Elite Active 75t, which serves iOS users well. However, this doesn’t provide much benefit to Android users as AAC performance is historically unreliable on Android OS. Seeing how these are billed as workout earbuds, high-quality codec support isn’t a priority. Other features like durability, comfort, and fit typically take precedence for this variety of true wireless earphones.
How long does the battery life last on the Jabra Elite Active 75t?
The Jabra Elite 75t lasted 7 hours, 14 minutes on a single charge in our objective battery test of continuous playback peaking at 75dB(SPL). To conserve battery, the earphones automatically turn off after one hour of inactivity or 15 minutes without connection. Since these buds are intended for exercise, quick charging is more important than longevity: 15 minutes in the case yields an hour of listening. The case supplies a little more than an extra two and a half charges, meaning unexpected battery drainage is a rare occurrence. Once the USB-C charging case is empty, you must set aside 2 hours, and 20 minutes to fully charge it. The case does not support wireless charging.
How well does the Jabra Elite Active 75t cancel noise?
Jabra released a significant software update in the fall of 2020, which enabled active noise canceling (ANC) in the Jabra Elite 75t. The Elite 75t series uses all four of its microphones, two on each earbud, in conjunction with the Qualcomm chipset to block out background noise. While it’s a significant software update, you’ll hardly hear a difference when you toggle ANC on and off. If you like the Jabra brand and want more effective noise canceling, get the Jabra Elite 85t, which has a six-microphone array and all of the mics facilitate feedforward and feedback ANC.
Isolation is quite good, so long as you can get the earbuds to stay in. While I don’t have trouble with the fit, other Elite Active 75t users have reported a fit issue. If you’re unsure about how the earbuds will fit your ears, try and purchase from a place with a generous return policy.
The Beats Fit Pro has active noise canceling and is billed as a pair of workout earbuds. With the Fit Pro, you’ll pay a much higher price tag ($159 at Amazon) but then you can access premium features like automatic device switching on iOS, Apple Spatial Audio, and more. The noise canceling is quite good and gives the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) a good shake.
For iPhone owners who want a pair of earbuds that they can use for exercise every now and then, we recommend the AirPods Pro series, specifically the second-generation model. With the second-gen AirPods Pro you get very good ANC and sound quality right out of the box. The newer model has better ANC than the first-gen AirPods Pro and comes with a case that has a built-in speaker. No, the case’s speaker doesn’t play music, but the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) case does emit a sound when lost (prompted through the Find My app).
Of course, there’s also the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro available for Samsung smartphone owners—though any Android device can access the Galaxy Wearable app. Samsung’s low-frequency noise cancellation is top-notch and the sound quality is very good; most people won’t feel compelled to choose from the variety of in-app EQ presets. You get an IPX7 water-resistance rating with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, making it more durable than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and Beats Fit Pro.
How does the Jabra Elite Active 75t sound?
Compared to our ideal curve, this kind of bass sub-boost can make it hard to hear relatively quiet sounds like the male vocals. This frequency response makes sense for workout earbuds, because most of us prefer bass-heavy music for exercise. Suffice to say, the default sound of the Elite Active 75t isn’t great for analytical listening but served me well during cardio sessions at the gym.
Lows, mids, and highs
Fun’s song Take Your Time (Coming Home) clearly demonstrates the Elite Active 75t’s bass emphasis within the first few beats of the song. Nate Ruess’ vocals are hard to hear above the low impact sound of the kick drum at 0:06. This is especially noticeable at 1:14 when Reuss sings, “Take your time…” This moment lacks any instrumental underscoring, leaving the exposed vocal nuances easy to register. However, at 1:16, the band rejoins and renders the rest of the line, “…coming home,” much quieter.
Again, this sound is fine for exercising and something I prefer when running or using my stationary bike. Regarding casual listening, I take the time to adjust the EQ in Jabra’s mobile app to mitigate the low-end response.
Can you use the Elite Active 75t for phone calls?
One of our favorite features of the Elite 65t was the microphone array, and that remains a shining star of the Elite Active 75t. The four-microphone system works well with Jabra’s DSP and beamforming technology to relay clear voice transmission while rejecting background noise.
Jabra Elite Active 75t microphone demo (Non-standardized):
How does the microphone sample sound to you?
Should you buy the Jabra Elite Active 75t?
The Jabra Elite Active 75t is an excellent pair of earbuds that will withstand almost anything, and we highly recommend it if you can find it. Jabra discontinued the Elite Active 75t, but you can still find it refurbished for less than $100, making it a better value than other options in that range. These earbuds do everything well, and the design doesn’t scream “workout earbuds,” which is a plus for anyone who wants to use this as their go-to headset.
Today, the Jabra Elite 7 Active succeeds the Elite Active 75t and has updated features like Bluetooth 5.2 (rather than Bluetooth 5.0). Unlike the Jabra Elite 75t, the Elite 7 Active case supports wireless charging. A ShakeGrip wrap covers each Elite 7 Active earbud. Interestingly, the Elite Active 75t has better passive isolation and halves the loudness of midrange frequencies, whereas the Elite 7 Active isolation does little to affect any frequency below 400Hz. That said, you’ll notice a more significant difference when you switch the Elite 7 Active ANC on than when you do the same with the 75t. The Elite 7 Active costs $179 at Amazon, which is a bit different from the older 75t.
What should you get instead of the Elite Active 75t?
For aptX support on a pair of Jabra earbuds, you’ll need the Jabra Elite 4, which costs $79 at Amazon. These earbuds also have ANC and fit comfortably. If you don’t need noise canceling, the Elite 3 is an even better value than the Elite 4 at $59 at Amazon. You get a similar design and feature set, including direct Spotify Tap access.
You can expand your search beyond Jabra and consider the Beats Fit Pro. Granted, Beats’ set of buds is a bit pricy at $159 at Amazon. Unlike Jabra’s buds, the Beats Fit Pro buds have wing tips that help stabilize the buds while you exercise. You’ll find a similar design on the Bose Sport Earbuds ($165 at Amazon).
Then you have the Jaybird Vista 2, another great set of workout earbuds for various athletes. When it comes to comfort, though, Jabra has Jaybird beat. However, there are good reasons to get the Vista over the Elite Active 75t: for one, the onboard buttons are sturdier, making accidental playback adjustments a non-issue. You’ll pay $117 at Amazon for the Vista 2.
Frequently asked questions about the Jabra Elite Active 75t
Yes, although you may not be able to use all the buttons on the Elite Active 75t. You must be able to use either hands-free (HFP), headset (HSP) Bluetooth profiles, or advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP) on the laptop. Enter pairing mode the same way you would a smartphone. To troubleshoot try any of these: check that Bluetooth is active on the Surface 3, check firmware is up to date, reset the Elite Active 75t, and check that the software is updated.
Know that you are not alone in this frustration. Jabra and Fitbit appear to both be aware this is a problem.
The workaround that seems effective is to pair the right earbud to one device (like your phone) and the left earbud then to the Fitbit. You’ll leave one earbud in the case at a time in order to pair them separately, and press the outside button of the earbud to initiate pairing. Once you have both buds connected to separate devices (phone and Fitbit) they ought to work in stereo correctly.
Otherwise, you may have to try a factory reset and try again.
The active noise canceling on these earbuds isn’t the highest quality out there, so no, you won’t have complete clarity when listening to music on a plane. If you want the best active noise canceling earbuds, we’d recommend checking out our lists of the best noise canceling true wireless earbuds, and the best noise canceling earbuds.
If you’re looking for improvements in sound quality, build quality, battery life, IP rating, and the inclusion of active noise canceling, then yes.
The marked difference between the Jabra Elite 75t series headsets is durability: the Active model is can be submerged to depths of one meter for 30 minutes. If did the same with the standard Elite 75t, you’d be left with two expensive earplugs. The Jabra Elite Active 75t and Elite 75t true wireless earbuds are indistinguishable from one another. Bluetooth codec support, firmware version, battery life, and now noise canceling are all the same.
Aside from that, the models. are available in different color variants: the Jabra Elite 75t comes in black, titanium black, and beige, while the Elite Active 75t is available in navy, copper black, titanium black, grey, sienna, and mint. If you don’t need the waterproof IP57 rating, then you’re better off saving money and getting the standard Elite 75t over the Active version.
You’ll notice a greater difference between the Jabra Elite 85t when you toggle ANC on/off than you will with the Elite Active 75t. The Elite Active 75t seals to the ear better and blocks out more low-frequency noise than the Elite 85t; in other words, the Elite 75t series has better passive isolation.
When comparing the Jabra Elite Active 75t or Jabra Elite 75t vs the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, it’s important to figure out what you prioritize in a headset.
Both Jabra headsets are more durable than Samsung’s and include dust and water-resistance ratings, making Jabra’s true wireless offerings better for rock climbers and training gymnasts. Samsung’s earbuds work incredibly well with Samsung Galaxy phones, affording an experience comparable to that of the AirPods on an iPhone or the Google Pixel Buds with an Android phone.
Sound quality is more accurate and clearer with the AKG-tuned Galaxy Buds Plus, but the Jabra buds’ sound signatures are better for bassheads. Microphone quality is very good with either headset, but the Jabra Elite 75t microphones do a better job of filtering out background noise. To learn more, check out Android Authority’s Jabra Elite 75t vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus article.
No, the Jabra Elite Active 75t true wireless headset doesn’t have integrated heart-rate monitors. For that, you’ll have to pay a bit more for the Jabra Elite Sport.
These are two completely different headsets: the Jabra Elite Active 75t is for athletes as it merits an IPX7 water-resistant rating that lets listeners submerge the buds for up to 30 minutes. On the other hand, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is a good option for travelers because of its excellent noise canceling and accident-proof IPX4 rating.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t controls are physical buttons that must be pressed in order for a command to register.
Unfortunately, fit is highly variable from one individual to another. For instance, one of our colleagues at Android Authority dislikes how the Sony WF-1000XM3 fit, while Lily finds them to be comfortable. Sound quality is objectively more accurate with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus as the heavy low-end emphasis with the Elite Active 75t causes midrange frequencies to be masked and more difficult to perceive. That said, there are instances where this may be preferred (e.g., working out or commuting).
During our testing periods for each headset, the Jabra Elite Active 75t connection was less stable than the Galaxy Buds Plus. However, both are Bluetooth 5.0 earphones with AAC support. Connection stutters were only apparent when taking the Elite Active 75t outdoors and stability may very well be improved with future updates.