JBL Reference 510

Pros: Low cost, decent sound response without noise reduction, good noise reduction

Cons: Not as capable as Bose or Steinhouser headphones, heavy and bulky

The Bottom Line: For $50 buck, they are pretty good. They ain't Bose good, but they ain't $300.

Review: I got the JBL Reference 510 Active Noise reduction headphones at Costco using a $50 off coupon which made the final cost $49. To compare these headphones with Bose or Stienhouser noise reduction headphones would be unfair since those headphones would be ...

Pros: Cheap. Very good sound quality and noise cancellation.

Cons: Tight fitting phones. Ridiculous Y-corded battery/circuit pack, annoying.

Review: Unlike other reviewers, I found these to be reasonably comfortable. They do sit firmly on the ears, the only way to get acoustic audio isolation from not-fully-over-the-ear type phones, but I wore them for a 2 1/2 flight with no bother. The sound is ...

Pros: Better than regular headphones.

Cons: Painful to wear for long periods, way too much noise leaking in.

The Bottom Line: Get earplug headphones. These are not worth the bother.

Review: I got these from Costco for $50 off. My earplug/headphones are 100 times better and a fraction of the cost at Walmart. Much more mobile too. I don't know why anyone would use these over earplug headphones. These JBLs really hurt after a while. Maybe it's ...

Pros: Good sound. Lightweight.

Cons: Uncomfortable; useless noise cancellation; separate noise cancellation unit is inconvenient

Review: I bought the JBL Reference 510 Headphones because they were on sale (half-price) at Costco. I will describe the headphones as very disappointing. They aren't comfortable. The noise cancelling circuitry is in a separate unit that clips to a belt (or other ...