If the Jabra Elite 65e is beyond the budget, here’s an affordable neckband earphones from Jabra, one that I personally prefer over the Elite 65e, not because of the features, but because of the value. Here’s the Jabra Elite 45e review.
Design
The Elite 45e is a lightweight neckband made of thin flexible memory wire, making it easy to store in small bags, unlike the Elite 65e. The power and volume buttons are located on the right side, as well as a dedicated voice button to activate your favourite voice assistant or mute during voice call. The 2-microphone sits along the cable closer to the mouth to ensure higher voice quality.
The earbud design is chunky but holds the large 12.4mm drivers. The oval EarGels offer great comfort but like the 65e, you need to fit carefully to ensure noise isolation. For my case, I need to adjust whenever I pop into my ears to get the seal, unlike other earbuds. The Earwings ensure the earbuds remain secure on your ears.
Despite appearing similar, the Elite 45e and Elite 65e uses different EarGels and Earwings that cannot be interchanged. The earbuds do stick together via magnets, and when they do, the music stops playing.
Operations
The Elite 45e does not have active noise cancelling nor HearThrough. It also does not have vibration for incoming calls. And it’s half the price. Battery life is 8 hours, and a full charge takes 2 hours. The Elite 45e is IP54 water resistant and enjoys 2-year local warranty.
Just like Elite 65e, the Elite 45e works with the Jabra Sound+ smartphone app, where you can personalise the EQ, turn on soundscape – background sounds like ocean waves or rain – and update firmware, to name a few.
Audio Quality
On the contrary to Elite 65e, the Elite 45e has a warmer sound. Its bass is more lush while the treble is less forward, though still clear and defined. In fact, I prefer the sound balance of the 45e, because the bass fills the ears more fully while the treble is subdued yet retains clarity. If you prefer strong treble presence, just boost the higher frequency using the Jabra Sound+ app or your preferred music app.
Verdict
The Elite 65e may be a little pricey that necessitates some careful consideration, but the Elite 45e is a bargain that offers great value at a retail price of S$168. At this year-end season, Jabra is having an offer price of S$98, which is an even better deal. A few months back, I was singing the praises of Fischer Audio Alpha X (FE-611BT) neckband earphones which sells below S$100. Comparatively, the Elite 45e has a slightly better treble response, a better mic quality, and a dedicated smartphone app with additional features. For that, I would recommend the Elite 45e over the FE-611BT.