JBL TUNE 510BT vs. 520BT vs. 710BT vs. 720BT – What are the differences?

When a leading brand in a sector launches new models, it is always worth comparing them with previous ones to check what degree of innovation it has implemented. Within the sound technology market, JBL is one of the most important references. Therefore, in this article, we compare four of the brand’s cheapest wireless headphones, to help you choose the most suitable one for you. We are talking about the JBL Tune 510BT, 520BT, 710BT and 720BT headphones.

Before getting into the details, it is important to note that the 500 series models are supra-aural headphones, while the 700 series are circumaural. What does this mean? That circumaurals usually offer a more complete experience because they cover the entire ear, and because covering the entire ear makes the isolation from outside noise more effective. However, none of these four headphones have active noise cancellation, so this difference is even more noticeable.

Autonomy is another aspect where we find the most differences between the four models, although we must recognize that, as they do not have noise cancellation, all of them have great battery life. On the other hand, the JBL Tune 510BT and 710BT have a built-in voice assistant. On the other hand, the JBL Tune 520BT and 720BT are compatible with one. On the other hand, only the JBL Tune 520BT and 720BT include the Voice Aware functionality, which we will explain later.

Do you want to know which of the four headphones is best for you? In that case, we encourage you to read our review to know all the details about each one. Go for it!

JBL TUNE 510BT vs 520BT vs 710BT vs 720BT – Comparison Table

In the following table, we show you the main characteristics of the four JBL wireless headphones, so you can check which one best suits your preferences:

(Swipe the table to see all the content)

What type of headset is each?

This is the first question we must answer to decide which wireless headset we should choose, since, although there are 4 models, we distinguish between 2 types. On the one hand, the JBL Tune 510BT and 520BT are supra-aural headphones, also known as on-ear. That is, the pad does not completely cover the entire ear, and they rest directly on it. In this case, the headband does not act as support, but as a connection between both pads.

On the other hand, the JBL Tune 710BT and 720BT are circumaural or over-ear, which means that the pads do completely cover the ear. And, furthermore, the weight is distributed between the head and the ears, which is why the headband is usually wider, and, therefore, these two models weigh a little more than their rivals. This type of headphones has an advantage, and that is that, as the pad covers the ear completely, the isolation from outside noise is more effective.

They do not have noise cancellation

One of the reasons the four wireless headphones we’ve reviewed are so cheap is that they don’t have active noise cancellation, nor do they have ambient mode or spatial audio. These features raise the price of the headphones, but they also translate into a more sensorial and qualitative experience in terms of immersion in what you are listening to. Additionally, the lack of noise cancellation makes it more important whether the headphones are supra-aural or circumaural. Because? Because the latter are capable of making us more isolated from outside noise, by completely covering the ear.

Sound: quality and technology

Be careful, the fact that they do not have noise cancellation does not mean that the four JBL headphones have poor sound quality. In fact, quite the opposite. All four have JBL Pure Bass technology, the system that JBL began developing and that has more than consolidated. It is not the most advanced or the most technological, but it guarantees good audio quality. Additionally, they have the same frequency response. The only thing that changes is the size of the driver, which is larger on the 700 series headphones.

Do they have the same autonomy?

Battery life is another of the factors that we usually look at when choosing a wireless headset, and it is another of the differences in this comparison. The first thing that catches our attention is that all of them can work for many hours if we compare them with other models; but it must be taken into account that the absence of noise cancellation always increases autonomy. 

That said, the JBL Tune 510BT are the ones that offer the least maximum autonomy, about 40 hours, followed by the JBL 710BT (50 hours), JBL Tune 520BT (57 hours) and the JBL 720BT (76 hours). Of course, all four have the fast charging option, and with 5 minutes of charging you can take advantage of about 2 hours of playback. In addition, they all charge via USB-C in approximately 2 hours.

Multipoint connection

Another of the similarities that the four headphones share is the multipoint connection, a functionality with which you can switch between several Bluetooth devices to listen to, for example, the tablet or the mobile phone interchangeably and with a single touch. This is because all JBL Tune headphones are Bluetooth compatible, although not in the same versions. In addition, all four allow you to make hands-free calls using the controls directly on the headphones.

Voice assistant and Voice Aware, slight differences

We don’t want to finish without telling you about two very interesting features but they are not exactly the same among the four headphones. The JBL Tune 510BT and 710BT integrate a voice assistant in the headset itself, although the JBL Tune 520BT and 720BT can also use it, because they are compatible with it through the JBL app. On the other hand, only the JBL 520BT and 720BT have Voice Aware, a feature with which you can select the amount of your own voice you want to hear when you are calling on the phone.

Foldable, but without cover

Finally, you should know that the four JBL wireless headphones can be folded, but they do not have a case included in their standard equipment, so you will have to purchase it separately.

Which JBL Tune wireless headphones are most interesting?

All the models that we have chosen in this comparison are from a low economic range, and are quite affordable. For this reason, our recommendation is to opt for the JBL Tune 710BT or 720BT, the circumaural ones. Although they do not have active noise cancellation as a feature, the external isolation is much better with these than with the 500 series, which do not cover the ear completely. And, between the two models of the 700 series, our bet is on the JBL Tune 720BT, because their autonomy is greater.

In any case, whichever one you choose, we recommend that you complete your order with a case to transport them, since knowing how to take care of them is key to making them last longer. And, on the other hand, you can rest assured when it comes to sound quality, because all four headphones, although simple, are JBL. And that is always a guarantee. In short, think about which ones can best satisfy your needs, or if there are any benefits that are essential for you, and choose the most appropriate ones.