Christmas Day may have passed, but for me, it’s time to get into some Christmas presents. This season is always flush with competitions, and as someone who never turns down a chance to get their hands on something new, I usually end up with something – this year is no exception. Unfortunately, with the supply chain disruptions, not all of the winnings have arrived in time for Christmas, but the one from JBL did!

Thanks to JBL’s 12 days of Giveaways promotion, I was the lucky winner of a set of JBL Wave 100TWS earbuds and a $100 Betty’s Burgers (and Concrete Co.) experience. This generous offer was not be refused – in fact, it has been reciprocated with a review as is the custom around here. Will this satisfy both my ears and my belly? Only one way to find out …

JBL Wave 100TWS

The JBL brand has been around for a while, but I have rarely ever paid any serious attention to them. Only after receiving the product, did I realise that JBL is part of the Harman International group of companies, which includes other well-recognised names such as AKG and Harman Kardon. They themselves were acquired by Samsung, which seems to be in line with an ongoing trend of technology companies acquiring audio companies – Logitech and Ultimate Ears, Beat and Apple for example. The Wave 100TWS seems to be their entry-level true-wireless stereo earbuds which lists for AU$79.95 on their website, but can be found for about AU$59 from retailers and online sellers.

Unboxing

The unit arrived packed in a retail hanging colour cardboard box, prominently featuring an image of the charging case and earbuds. The corners of the package are occupied by logos including the Bluetooth logo (indicating it is certified), the model name and the advertised combined 20 hour play time comprising of five hours in the earbuds and 15 hours from the charging case. The included leaflet reminds us to register the product for a one year warranty.

The rear of the box makes reference to four key features – the JBL deep bass sound, comfort fit, hands-free calls and dual-connect. As this is a wireless headset, zero-cables is pretty much a given … but there is a charging cable involved and provided. The items inside are packaged in a clear molded plastic tray which can be slid out from the bottom of the box after breaking the seal.

The slogan that JBL uses is “dare to listen,” with their trademark exclamation point – I will be listening closely for sure. The other side of the box makes it clear that dual connect just means that the earbuds can be used together in stereo or just one-sided in all functions. The pictogram indicates some specifications – the “standard” 20Hz-20kHz frequency range, 8mm drivers, USB Type-C charging (which is a nice touch). Inclusions are listed as the earbuds themselves, three sets of tips with the medium pre-installed, a charging cable, charging case and product literature. The Australian regulatory compliance mark can be seen towards the bottom.

The underside has details about Harman International, a variety of product barcodes (UPC 050036382434, EAN 6925281987328, JAN 4968929213146, SAP JBLW100TWSBLK) and a serial number label.

The promised inclusions are provided – in the case of the product literature, this comprises a quick start guide (which serves as the entire manual), a thick safety information and warranty card booklet, a Chinese RoHS statement and a cover-over wrap that lets users know how to release the earbuds from the magnetic case by pushing them apart from the centre.

The black colour unit was sent to me, although it is available in several colours including ivory and blue. The case is of a curved, simple design with the JBL logo on the front and the USB-C charging port on