This review compares the difference between JBL Club Pro Plus to the Sony WF-1000XM4 based on the technical specifications and design. The Sony WF-1000XM4 was just released in June this year, while JBL Club Pro Plus was released about a year earlier.
Form Factor. [tie_index]Form Factor.[/tie_index]
| Tech Specs | Sony WF-1000XM4 | JBL Club Pro+ |
| Release date | 08-Jun-21 | 25-Oct-20 |
| Form Factor | ||
| Size (each earbud) | 25.4×20.3×20.3mm | 38.1x33x27.9mm |
| Weight (each earbud) | 7.3g | 6.85g |
| Earbuds IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Control Type | Touch | Touch |
Both earbuds have similar IP ratings of IPX4 for protection against water spray and touch control. Both earbuds are not waterproof and cannot withstand submerging in water. The JBL Club Pro Plus is slightly lighter by about 4 grams but the size is a lot bigger, at least based on the numbers shown in the above table.
However, a comparison of the models wearing the earbuds shows that the Sony WF-1000XM4 appears much better when attached to the ear.
Some users prefer earbuds to flush with the ear lobes and dislike any part that is protruding out. As such, a smaller size should be a key consideration of an earbud design. In both cases, they look huge and covers much of the inner ear lobe, unlike the Jabra Elite 7 Pro (see below) with a more discrete hidden profile, that appears slightly recessed into the ear.
One thing we noticed about the JBL Club Pro Plus is the size of the charging contacts below the earbuds.
The electrical contacts of the JBL Club Pro Plus look quite small from the photos, which reminds us of the Klipsch earbuds which have very poor contact.
In the case of Klipsch T5 II Sports earbuds, they do not charge properly because the contacts are not aligned inside the charging case. Jabra’s earbuds do not have such issues as their contact points are huge. This is despite the fact that the earbuds have magnets to aid in the alignment, which we believe is also the same for all earbud casing designs.
As shown in the photo below, Jabra Elite 75t Active (right) has a much larger contact point and a better design than the Klipsch T5 II Sports Wireless (left) which has a very small contact.
We do not have the actual samples of all the earbuds except for the Klipsch and Jabra models above. But based on the photo of the Sony WF-1000XM4, the contact points appear larger than the Klipsch by a visual comparison of the size versus the ear gel. The best way to be sure is to test out the charging with actual samples.
Driver, Mics and Sensors[tie_index]Driver, Mics and Sensors[/tie_index]
| Tech Specs | Sony WF-1000XM4 | JBL Club Pro+ |
| Driver | 6mm | 6.8mm |
| Frequency Response | 20-20kHz (44.1kHz)/ 20-40kHz (LDAC 96kHz) | 20Hz- 20kHz |
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | ANC | Feedback ANC |
| Transparency (Hear Through) | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone per earbud | 2 | 3 (total) |
| Use either earbud independently | Yes | Yes |
| Proximity/Optical/Ear Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Bone Conduction Sensor (VPU) | Yes | No |
For the JBL Club Pro Plus, the specification state that they use a 3-mic beamforming technology which “helps to eliminate” background noises.
It also has the same mono mode where either earbud can be used independently like the Jabra Elite 7 Pro. This could mean that the “3-mic” exist on both earbuds, and so we concluded that the JBL Club Pro Plus should have an even number or a total of 6 mics to work.
On paper, it may appear that JBL Club Pro Plus is better than the Sony WF-1000XM4 because it has additional mics for ANC. However, this is not the case.
The Sony WF-1000XM4’s design comes with a secret weapon in the form of a bone conduction sensor to pick up the voice clearly and accurately for hands-free calls. This sensor and the ANC helps to ensure the clarity of the voice even in noisy situations.
Sony’s sound driver is always one of the best in the market, and it will be challenging for any brand to beat.
Battery Life[tie_index]Battery Life[/tie_index]
| Tech Specs | Sony WF-1000XM4 | JBL Club Pro+ |
| Battery Life | ||
| Music Time (ANC Off) | 12h | 8h |
| Music Time (ANC On) | 8h | 6h |
| Total Time + Charge Case (ANC On) | 24h | 24h |
| Charging Time 0-100% (Buds) | 1.5h | 2 hours |
The battery life for both Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds is much better than the JBL Club Pro Plus, but the overall battery life with the charging case remains the same. It is better for earbuds to last longer before charging, which makes the Sony WF-1000XM4 a better choice by design.
Sony WF-1000XM4 also has a slightly faster charging time of 1.5h. Overall, we feel Sony has a better score in this section even though the overall battery life with the charging case is the same as the JBL.
Charging Case[tie_index]Charging Case[/tie_index]
| Tech Specs | Sony WF-1000XM4 | JBL Club Pro+ |
| Charging Case | ||
| Size | 60×38.1x28mm (2.4×1.5×1.1in) | 55x50x30mm (2.2×2.0x1.2in) |
| Weight | 41g | 55.4g |
| USB-C Connector | Yes | Yes |
| Input Power | 5W | 5W |
| Output Power | 5V/0.14A | 5V 1A |
| Qi-Certified/Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Fast Charge For 1-hour usage | 5mins | 15mins |
| Charging Time 0-100% (Case) | 3h | 2h |
| Charging Case IP Rating | No | No |
Sony WF-1000XM4 charging case is slightly smaller and lighter than the JBL’s charging case, but it also comes with a lesser charge as mentioned earlier. The above comparison should be self-explanatory, and should not be a key deciding factor for purchasing.
Both charging cases do not have any IP rating, unlike the Logitech Zone True Wireless earbuds.
Review Comments[tie_index]Review Comments[/tie_index]
The Sony WF-1000XM4 has better specifications but also costs about 27% more than the JBL Club Pro Plus.
Will we buy either earbud? The answer is no.
We prefer to defer the decision until Logitech Zone True Wireless and Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds are released.
