JBL Endurance Peak 2 review

Motivation is among the most common barriers to establishing a regular workout routine, but JBL is trying to grease the gears with its simple and sturdy JBL Endurance Peak 2. This set of IPX7 earphones has a smart ear hook design and touch controls to minimize how often you have to interact with your phone. Now, you can focus all your mental and physical energies on the exercises at hand. We took these workout earbuds for a one-week spin to see if they really are built to endure.

Editor’s note: this JBL Endurance Peak 2 review was updated on May 16, 2023, to address the JBL Endurance Peak 3, expand the Alternatives section, and update the formatting.

What’s it like to use JBL Endurance Peak 2?

Anyone familiar with JBL products will feel at ease with the Endurance Peak 2. Like the Endurance Peak before it, the second-generation earphones uses JBL’s PowerHook technology. The first time you separate the ear hook tails from the housings, the earbuds flip on and enter pairing mode. From then on, separating the PowerHooks automatically reconnects the earbuds to your smartphone.

JBL isn’t shy about reminding you and informing others that you are using a JBL headset: the company logo is embossed onto each earbud and the case. A seam bisects the case, and when you press the button the lid springs open to reveal the earphones. Two large inlets accommodate the buds, which I have to place with precision for the lid to lock. While the case is still more compact than a pair of on-ear or over-ear headphones, it is larger than most true wireless cases, sharing similar dimensions to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds case.

Generally speaking, the JBL Endurance Peak 2 is a great workout buddy. The IPX7 rating will grant relief to even the most profusely sweaty people. Although these lack an official dust-resistance rating, JBL depicts a rock climber on the packaging. For the uninitiated, rock climbers frequently chalk up their hands. Even still, I use these buds at my local climbing gym and they’re no worse for wear. That said, use the buds around dust, dirt, chalk, and sand at your own risk.

Despite the chunky size relative to other workout earbuds, the JBL Endurance Peak 2 fits comfortably for hours at a time. This is wholly dependent on your ability to find the right ear tips, and since there’s no ear tip fit test available, that may take a handful of attempts.

How do you control the JBL Endurance Peak 2?

As any good pair of workout earphones, the JBL Endurance Peak 2 doesn’t require much interaction with your smartphone thanks to the comprehensive, yet immutable, touch controls. Those who exercise plenty outside, or who have hearing impairments, may opt for mono playback, which will limit control functionality a bit.

Stereo controls:

Mono controls:

Should you get the My JBL Headphones app?

The My JBL Headphones app doesn’t support the JBL Endurance Peak 2, so there’s no reason for you to download it. Hopefully JBL adds the Endurance Peak 2 to the list of supported headsets as firmware updates and small features like find my earbuds or EQ presets would add a lot of value. You can read a full rundown of the headset models the app supports here.

Does the JBL Endurance Peak 2 stay connected?

The JBL Endurance Peak 2 boasts a reliable connection over Bluetooth 5.0, even through a few layers of drywall. Whether in the gym, surrounded by Bluetooth audio peripherals, or biking around my neighborhood, the earbuds faithfully stay connected to my smartphone.

Akin to most workout earbuds, these buds support both the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. If you have an iPhone, you can enjoy consistent lag-free, high-quality streaming from the Endurance Peak 2 but Android owners might have better luck forcing SBC. Still, most of us don’t place a great deal of importance on high-quality audio when exercising. Instead, we want loud music with an extra hint of bass.

How long does the battery last on the Endurance Peak 2?

The JBL Endurance Peak 2 lasts 6 hours, 2 minutes on a single charge, a near-perfect match with the official 6-hour playtime. The USB-C case provides an additional 4 charge cycles, totaling 30 hours of playtime before you need to plug it in. There’s no wireless charging or fast charging here—an odd omission given that fast charging is a sought-after feature in this market. It takes 2 hours to fully charge the earbuds, giving you just enough time to microwave some Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, sit back, and enjoy Pan’s Labyrinth.

True wireless earbuds aren’t built for the long haul

While the standalone battery life is above average for the technology, regularly used true wireless earbuds rarely last more than a couple of years. Their tiny battery cells degrade quickly, given the constant charge-deplete cycle they endure. Apple leads the charge in battery optimization and can do so because of its safeguarded ecosystem. However, any die-hard environmentalist should really stay away from wireless earbuds and instead invest in a pair of wired earbuds with replaceable cables.

How well does the JBL Endurance Peak 2 block out noise?

This is above-average isolation performance from the JBL Endurance Peak 2. The earbuds block out unpredictable, high-pitched noises like the clang of a clumsy roommate washing dishes or nearby laughter in a tiny train car, but these aren’t the earphones to use for intercontinental flights or cross-country Amtrak adventures. For those contexts, you’ll want to invest in a pair of noise canceling true wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4, or make room in your luggage for something like the Bose QuietComfort 45.

How does the JBL Endurance Peak 2 sound?

A 10mm dynamic driver pumps out a consumer-friendly frequency response from each earbud. The amplified bass notes sound a bit louder than the midrange, but I can still hear most musical detail around middle-C. Again, JBL doesn’t provide a way to alter the sound profile, but many Android smartphones have integrated EQ modules. Now, if the above looks confusing, check out this guide on reading charts.

Lows, mids, and highs

Bass notes sound very good in Brett Eldredge’s Beat of the Music as the thump and thud of the kick drum can be felt throughout the song’s entirety. Eldredge’s lower vocal register comes through nice and clear, thanks to the mild bump in the upper bass frequencies. However, during the song’s choruses, it’s hard to hear high-pitched sounds like cymbal hits compared to the din of louder sounds in tandem.

Ryann’s song JFK sounds very good through the JBL Endurance Peak 2 too. A chord progression of D-G-Bm-A on guitar rings clearly during the intro, though the finger slides up and down the fretboard are difficult to hear. High-pitched tones reverberate during the chorus at 1:59, when Ryann sings, “… and the magnets ’round my waist that pull to your door.” The first couple of tones come through clearly between the breaks of Ryann’s vocalizations, but become difficult to distinguish as she echos the phrase, “to your door.”

Can you use the JBL Endurance Peak 2 for phone calls?

Each JBL Endurance Peak 2 earbud houses its own microphone system, so you can take calls in mono and stereo mode. Sound quality is fine, but it won’t impress your friends on the other end of the call. Take a listen to the demo below and decide for yourself!

JBL Endurance Peak 2 microphone demo (Non-standardized):

Should you buy the JBL Endurance Peak 2?

The JBL Endurance Peak 2 is a solid contender among the bevy of workout earbuds available, and if you don’t care for software features, this is a smart buy. The PowerHook design is great and streamlines the reconnecting process while providing a reliable fit. Sure, the earbuds remain fairly clunky, but many athletes usually prioritize fit and stability over svelte designs and aesthetics.

That said, the JBL Endurance Peak 2 may not be your flavor of energy drink: the lack of fast charging is a poor omission, and the microphone is unimpressive, to put it kindly. While the large charging case won’t take up too much real estate in a gym bag, it isn’t the most portable option for daily use.

That said, with the release of the JBL Endurance Peak 3 ($99 at Amazon), the Endurance Peak 2 is less appealing. The newer set of buds has a more durable IP68 dust- and water-resistant build, compared to the IPX7 rating of the Endurance Peak 2. The third-generation earbuds also come with mobile app support. With the JBL Headphones app, you can equalize the Endurance Peak 3 to make it sound just how you want. The app also has a video mode that reduces audio-visual lag (at the expense of battery life). The standalone battery is also longer with the Endurance Peak 3, lasting almost 9 hours in our testing. This is about two hours, 30 minutes longer than the Endurance Peak 2.

What should you get instead of the JBL Endurance Peak 2?

The JBL Endurance Peak 2 is a great option for athletes and the physically inclined, but it’s not your only option. For $149 at Amazon, you might want to consider the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2. This is an IP68-rated pair of true wireless workout earbuds that mimic JBL’s ear hook design. There’s also the Jabra Elite 4 Active, an excellent pair of workout earbuds that doesn’t use ear hooks. With the Elite 4 Active, you get an IP57 rating, SBC and aptX support, and pretty good active noise canceling — all for $89.99 at Jabra.

If you’re willing to stretch your budget quite a bit, we recommend the Bose Sport Earbuds ($165 at Amazon). Bose’s earphones have an IPX4 rating and extra-secure fit with its StayHear Max ear wings that latch to your ear’s concha, similar to the Beats Fit Pro. Bose’s earbuds sound very good, though you can’t EQ the sound from the Bose Music app.

Lastly, the Beats Powerbeats Pro ($159 at Amazon) shares a similar design to the Endurance Peak 2, since Beats’ earbuds also have ear hooks. Unlike the Endurance Peak 2, which performs equally well on Android as iOS, the Powerbeats Pro is optimized for iPhone users because of the H1 chip. With Apple’s proprietary chip set, iPhone owners can access Siri hands-free, enjoy audio sharing among compatible devices, and use the Find My app to locate the earphones. These are just a few features that Android owners miss out on with the Powerbeats Pro.

Frequently asked questions about the JBL Endurance Peak 2