Looking for affordable gifts that still offer good quality. If you’re searching for budget-friendly Bluetooth headphones, the JBL Tune 520BT might be a great choice. Priced under £40 (or about $50), these on-ear headphones deliver excellent sound, long battery life, and reliable features. They’re perfect for casual listeners, commuters, or anyone who needs a dependable audio companion.
After using these headphones for a month, here’s a detailed review to help you decide if they’re right for you.
Design and Comfort
The JBL Tune 520BT is an on-ear headphone, which means the ear cups sit on your ears rather than covering them completely like over-ear headphones. This design makes the headphones smaller and easier to carry, but it might be less comfortable for people with larger ears or those who don’t like having their ears pressed for too long.
The headphones are mostly made of plastic, which is common for budget models. They’re lightweight but still feel sturdy. While they aren’t high-end, they’re not flimsy either. The headband can be adjusted for a better fit, and the ear cups swivel and tilt to suit different head shapes and sizes.
Comfort is different for everyone when it comes to on-ear headphones. I’m not a big fan of this style because it presses on the ears. However, the soft padding on the ear cups and headband makes it more comfortable. For short to medium listening sessions, the headphones felt fine, but I can see how longer use might cause discomfort if you’re sensitive to pressure on your ears.
If you like on-ear headphones, you might find these quite comfortable.
One great feature of the Tune 520BT is how lightweight and foldable it is, making it easy to pack in a bag or take with you. If you need headphones that don’t take up much space while traveling, this is a big advantage.
Sound Quality
For a budget headphone, I was really impressed with the sound quality of the JBL Tune 520BT. The 33mm drivers produce clear vocals and surprisingly deep bass. While the soundstage is a bit narrow, as expected from on-ear headphones, the sound is well-balanced and doesn’t rattle or distort, even at higher volumes.
The bass is deeper and stronger than I expected for headphones at this price. It gives music and movies a nice warmth without covering up the vocals or higher sounds. The voices are clear and sharp, making these headphones great for podcasts, music, or movies. Overall, the sound is well-balanced, with a clear distinction between the lows, mids, and highs.
The noise-canceling microphone works great for calls. I tested it with a friend, and they said my voice sounded clear, and I could hear them clearly too. If you plan to use these headphones for calls often, you’ll be happy with how they perform.
Battery Life
One of the most impressive aspects of the JBL Tune 520BT is its battery life. JBL promises up to 57 hours of playback on a full charge, which is impressive for budget headphones. During my tests, the battery lasted well, and even when it was running low, a quick 5-minute charge gave me up to 3 more hours of use. For casual users, this is more than enough, and you won’t have to worry about recharging often.
The headphones take about 2 hours to fully charge with a USB-C charger, which is typical for wireless headphones.
JBL Headphones App
If you want to personalize your sound, the JBL Headphones app is a great tool. It lets you adjust the equalizer to boost bass or change the sound to fit your preferences. The app also lets you customize voice prompts, set a volume limit, and adjust settings like the auto-shutdown timer.
Controls and Features
The Tune 520BT has simple controls on the right ear cup. The power button turns the headphones on and off, with a small LED light that shows the battery level. If the light is red, the battery is low. Below the power button are the volume controls: the plus button raises the volume and skips to the next track, while the minus button lowers the volume and goes back to the previous track.
In the center of the right ear cup is the play/pause button. It controls music playback and lets you answer or decline calls. If you hold it down for a few seconds, it activates your voice assistant, like Siri or Bixby.
The headphones have a built-in noise-canceling microphone in the right ear cup, so your voice will be clear during calls. There’s also a USB-C charging port on the bottom of the ear cup for fast charging. The JBL Tune 520BT connects easily to your devices with Bluetooth 5.3, making pairing simple. The controls are easy to use, so you can manage music and calls without needing to pick up your phone.
Bluetooth
The JBL Tune 520BT uses Bluetooth 5.3 for fast and stable connections. When I tested them, I was impressed by how quickly they paired with my devices. The Bluetooth range was also strong, letting me move around the house without any dropouts. This is a big plus, as many budget headphones don’t always have reliable Bluetooth.
Pairing is easy. Just turn on the headphones, and they automatically go into pairing mode. I connected them to my phone in seconds without any problems. Bluetooth 5.3 provides a strong connection, which is especially important for budget-friendly wireless headphones.
Pros
- Sound quality
- Battery life
- Lightweight and foldable design
- affordable
- Easy-to-use controls
Cons
- Plastic build may feel less premium.
Final Verdict
The JBL Tune 520BT headphones are a great choice if you’re looking for budget-friendly options. They provide good sound, long battery life, and a simple Bluetooth connection. While the on-ear design might not be the most comfortable for everyone, they perform well in most areas. If you want affordable Bluetooth headphones that offer great value, the JBL Tune 520BT is a solid option.
These headphones are a great choice for anyone who enjoys music, movies, or needs dependable sound while on the go, whether as a gift or for yourself.
If you’re interested, check them out on Amazon or JBL’s website for the latest deals. Or you can check out my review of the JBL 710 BT headphones.