JBL Tour Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds Review: Compared with Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro

I’ve always held JBL and its parent company harman kardon in high regard. I was impressed by the sound quality of the Onyx Studio when SoftBank distributed it as an accessory for the Aquos Crystal, and the first speaker I bought in NY was Harman’s SoundSticks. I still occasionally use the compact speaker ESQUIRE Mini2, also a harman kardon product.

The sound from the Harman group has a characteristic powerful vocal presence and strength that even sound quality novices can easily appreciate. This characteristic has definitely been inherited by their earbuds.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 delivered the refreshing sound I expected, and compared to the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro, the transparency was different. It felt as if a wall had been removed, with vocals sounding closer, and surprisingly, each instrument’s sound was separated and heard independently.

Though earbuds are tiny devices and sounds should come from the same position, it felt like they were coming from different locations. It was really fascinating.

As a result, the contrast between sounds was distinct and very easy to listen to. This was my first experience of the world of premium earbuds…

The sound quality is completely different compared to the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro. The JBL Tour Pro 2 has a distinct charm that makes listening to music enjoyable.

Therefore, if your budget is around $200 and sound quality is your top priority, the JBL Tour Pro 2 is the optimal choice. Originally priced at around $249.95, the current price is simply too good a deal. Naturally, the sound quality is high-end level.

Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro excels in everything except sound quality

However, as I deliberately wrote “sound quality” above, JBL Tour Pro 2 falls behind in aspects other than sound quality. In other words, as a gadget, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro performs better.

This makes sense considering the JBL Tour Pro 2 was released over a year ago, while the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro is a new product released just last month. There’s a one-year difference in software performance. Here’s a comparison:

Except for ambient sound accuracy, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro was superior in almost all aspects other than sound quality.

Noise cancellation is almost the same

The noise cancellation strength, which many people care about, was a narrow victory for the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro. However, this difference is so minimal that you wouldn’t notice unless directly comparing them, so it’s not something to worry about.

Microphone quality is not bad

The microphone quality for calls on the JBL Tour Pro 2 is not bad at all. It lacks the digital feel typical of wireless earbuds and sounds natural, but there was a noticeable distance from the microphone.

In contrast, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro’s microphone quality is very natural, and the closer distance to the microphone made voices clear even in noisy environments.

Dramatic difference in multipoint switching

However, the multipoint switching speed was 8 seconds for the JBL Tour Pro 2, which is usable but not practical. On the other hand, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro took just 1 second, which was instantaneous. You can clearly feel the evolution of internal technology.

Ambient sound capture is mediocre for both

The ambient sound capture feature is mediocre on both and creates significant discomfort. It seems like they’ll never catch up to AirPods Pro in this aspect.

Detailed specs of the JBL Tour Pro 2

Here’s a detailed specification comparison between the JBL Tour Pro 2 and Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro:

The basic specs are almost identical for both. Ten hours of playback without noise cancellation and 40 hours with the case is sufficient, and both support wireless charging.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are thinner and smaller, which is better, but not by a significant margin.

The control method differs with the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro using a knob and the JBL Tour Pro 2 using touch controls, but again, this isn’t a major difference.

The case sizes are also nearly identical. There’s a weight difference with the JBL Tour Pro 2 at 84g and the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro at 63g, but this isn’t enough to be a concern. Both are high-quality earbuds.

JBL Tour Pro 2’s display is a beautiful waste

A distinctive feature of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is its case with a built-in display. While other manufacturers are now following suit, frankly, it’s an unnecessary feature.

All settings can be done on your smartphone, and there are hardly any urgent situations where you need to operate from the case. If pressed for an example, the timer function might be useful, but that can be easily done on your smartphone too.

The display is cool and uplifting, but it’s also an unnecessary feature. It’s a part that evokes mixed feelings.

JBL Tour Pro 2  True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Smart Charging Case, 6-mic Perfect Calls with Voice Control, Up to 40hrs of Playtime Buy on Amazon

JBL Tour Pro 2 has limited customization

One drawback of the JBL Tour Pro 2 is its customization constraints. You can’t freely change the touch controls. You must choose from one of three patterns provided by the manufacturer, and for example, it’s impossible to set a desired function on the left earbud when using just one earbud.

In contrast, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro allows completely free settings. Anker is strong in terms of software. But this isn’t a major issue either. Since your smartphone is always with you, it’s not a big concern.

JBL for sound quality, Liberty 4 Pro for software

In conclusion, there was a clear distinction with JBL specializing in sound quality and Anker in software. I bought the JBL Tour Pro 2 to check if it was better, but ended up with a result where it’s difficult to determine which is superior.

Of course, for most people, earbuds are a tool for listening to music. And in terms of sound quality, the JBL Tour Pro 2 is overwhelming. I could clearly feel the difference with my own ears, and the joy of listening to music increased.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 is JBL’s high-end earbuds that originally sold for $249.95. Now you can buy them for $199.95, so they offer excellent value for the sound quality. While $400 earbuds might be burdensome, spending an extra $50 to get the JBL Tour Pro 2 instead of choosing ordinary $150 earbuds is a much better choice.

Convenience is where Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro excels

However, as we approach 2025, wireless earbuds are evolving beyond simple earbuds to become gadgets. There are people who look for earbuds even though they barely listen to music. I’m one of those people.

What such consumers want is not sound quality but convenience as a gadget. For example, multipoint switching speed, noise cancellation strength, microphone quality, etc. If you want to comfortably listen to YouTube, desire powerful noise cancellation on the train, and want clear hands-free calls with one earbud in noisy environments, then the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro is definitely better.

I’ll continue using Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro as my main earbuds

Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro by Anker Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, 7-Sensor and Real-Time Adaptive Noise Cancelling, 2× Faster Charging, Studio-Level Hi-Fi Music, Clear Calls with 6 Mics and AI Buy on Amazon

The sound quality of the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro is not bad for $129.99 earbuds. It’s just that the JBL Tour Pro 2, which was originally $249.95, is too overwhelming.

For me, sound quality is a secondary factor. Then there’s no reason to use the JBL Tour Pro 2 while sacrificing multipoint switching speed and microphone quality.

Therefore, I will continue to use the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro as my main earbuds.

JBL Tour Pro 2 will be discontinued once stock is depleted

But this is just my situation. For most people who prioritize sound quality above all, the JBL Tour Pro 2 will be the optimal choice. If you’re interested, you should hurry. The JBL Tour Pro 2 has already ended production.

With the successor model now out, the JBL Tour Pro 2 will be discontinued once the remaining stock in the market is depleted. The current price of $129.99 is a clearance price, and the appropriate price for its sound quality is $249.95. This is your last chance to get high-end sound quality for $129.99.