JBL Tune 520BT Review

The JBL Tune 520BT are cheap, bass-heavy on-ears with poor comfort and no noise cancellation. They're fine as a bare-minimum wireless option under $50, but you get what you pay for. Only buy if budget is your #1 concern.

The JBL Tune 520BT are simple, affordable wireless on-ears. You get JBL's signature bass-heavy sound, Bluetooth 5.3, and a battery that's rated for a massive 57 hours. They fold up for travel and have a basic app for EQ tweaks, which is nice for the price.

But that's about it. There's no active noise cancellation, the build feels pretty plasticky, and our data shows comfort is a major weak spot. These are bare-bones headphones for someone who just wants wireless sound without spending much.

The sound is exactly what you'd expect from JBL: lots of bass. It's fun for pop and hip-hop, but it tends to drown out mids and highs, landing it in the bottom third of headphones we've tested for overall sound quality. The mic is just okay for calls, and battery life is surprisingly low in our real-world tests, scoring in the bottom 15th percentile despite the 57-hour claim. The lack of ANC means you'll hear everything around you.

At $40 to $50, they're undeniably cheap. You're paying for the JBL brand name and a wireless connection. If your only requirement is 'headphones that work with Bluetooth,' these technically fit the bill. But you're giving up a lot, especially in comfort and features, to hit that price point. There are better values if you can stretch your budget just a bit.

Stacked against true wireless earbuds in a similar price range, like basic Anker Soundcores, the Tune 520BT offer a different form factor but similar bare-bones features. Compared to other on-ears, they're cheaper than something like a Skullcandy Hesh ANC, but you lose the ANC. They're not in the same league as the listed competitors like Sony XM5s or AirPods Pro—those are premium products with premium prices. The Tune 520BT compete in the budget bin.

Skip these if you need headphones for all-day wear. Our data ranks comfort in the 4th percentile, which is basically dead last. If you have a larger head or wear glasses, they'll likely become painful quickly. Also, avoid if you commute or work in a noisy place, since the lack of ANC means you'll be cranking the volume to hear your music.

Buy these only if your budget is absolutely locked at $50 and you specifically want on-ear headphones. They're a passable beater pair for a kid, a secondary set for a backpack, or for someone who truly doesn't care about sound quality or comfort. For everyone else, saving up for a model with better comfort and ANC is a vastly better investment.