Jabra’s Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active headphones debuted in Augustbut the company is not waiting for the annual update to introduce the second generation model Both of of those sets. Except for some new color options, neither of them will look different, but both have big improvements. The company took advantage of this opportunity to make changes in noise cancellation, audio functions, surround sound and other areas.
First, both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active will come with what Jabra calls “the world’s first LE Audio smart case.” This will allow you to plug the charging case into any USB-C or 3.5mm jack to wirelessly stream audio to your headphones. While in-flight entertainment may be the main use case here, it also includes exercise equipment, televisions, etc. There are many other possibilities, including audio. The updated enclosures are equipped with a new chip to transmit LE Audio with less latency than similar options available in the market, the company says. Jabra also promises better overall sound quality when using the feature, including “Hi-Fi” playback.
Next, Jabra says it has improved active noise cancellation (ANC) performance on both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active. The company promises to block “up to twice as much noise” as previous generations. To do this, Jabra explains that it has fine-tuned the internal feedback microphones to provide better noise blocking for mid- and low-frequency sounds. Plus, the ANC algorithms have been updated to make better use of their adaptive capabilities, so the headphones should handle things like airplane noise and gym noise more effectively.
Jabra also made some tweaks to the HearThrough mode. The surround sound feature on both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active has been tweaked for enhanced outdoor sound with a special Natural HearThrough mode. According to the company, this new setting offers wind noise reduction that is twice as effective as the previous generation. Algorithms extend the frequency range of the regular HearThrough mode to make this possible.
While the Elite 8 Active offers Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos with head tracking on the Elite 10, Jabra says the second-generation models both offer improved tuning for surround sound. The company explains that during testing, 95 percent of an “expert panel” rated the new audio profile better than the previous generation. Finally, Jabra promises improved call quality thanks to noise reduction algorithms in both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active.
All other stats on both sets of headphones are a holdover from the previous generation. This includes an IP68 rating (case IP54) on the Elite 8 Active and an IP57 rating (non-enclosed) on the Elite 10. You can also expect up to six hours of battery life with ANC on for the Elite 10 (27 hours total with the case) and up to eight hours of noise-canceling use on the Elite 8 Active (32 hours total with the Pole). Bluetooth multi-point connectivity is still here, like Fast Pair, Swift Pair and Spotify Tap. The second-generation Elite 10 can still connect directly to smartwatches as long as they support HFP, A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles.
The Elite 10 (2nd gen) will be available in titanium black, glossy black, brown, blue and white for $279. The Elite 8 Active (2nd gen) comes in navy blue, black, coral and olive green for $299. Both of those prices are $29 more than the first versions that debuted last year, and the two upgraded models will go on sale in mid-June.
