I’ll come clean. I’ve never really got on-ear headphones. I understand that some people don’t like the isolating effects, bulkier feel, or heating quality of over-ear cans. But still, on-ears have regularly sounded, looked, and felt like an awkward in-betweener to me – so if I want something more lightweight, I’ll just stick with a pair of the best earbuds.
Regardless, when the JBL Tune 510BT arrived on my desk, I tried to go in with an open mind. These on-ear headphones are regularly available for less than $30 / £30 / AU$40, and promise “JBL pure bass”, as well as a comfortable, foldable design.
So, with that in mind, I paired the Tune 510BT to my phone, fired up Tidal, and got listening. And luckily, there were plenty of positives waiting to be uncovered across a week of testing. However, these headphones also left me feeling that on-ears still aren’t for me – but not for the reason I’d perhaps expected. Want to hear more? Well, here’s what I took away from my time with the Tune 510BT.
Not bad for less than $30 / £30
I want to start with some positives, and there certainly are some significant ones here. First of all, these are outrageously cheap for a pair of headphones. At the time of writing, these are available for just $29.95 / £23 / AU$39.95 via Amazon – that’s a pretty low price.
On top of that, these are small-sized and foldable, which is incredibly useful if you’re out and about. Simply curl them up and throw them in a small bag, or even a larger sized pocket, and you’re good to go!
Also, when considering their low price and on-ear design, these aren’t the worst sounding. I tuned into Sakura by Chris Stussy and Locklead, and the rippling bass sounded impactful without totally obscuring other instrumental elements. Sure, it wasn’t the cleanest bass I’ve heard – it could sound a little muddy at higher volumes, for instance, but that may not be a dealbreaker for those seeking out a cheap and cheerful option.
Meanwhile, in Black Eye by Allie X, vocals were decently clear, even if they weren’t beautifully separated or detailed. Low-end sounds – like a pumping drum machine – hit with intent, although higher-pitched percussion was overly forward, resulting in a slightly harsh sound.
In addition, the Tune 510BT have multi-point connectivity, voice assistant integration, and hands-free calling. Sure, none of this is ground-breaking in 2025, but it’s all nice to have on a mega-cheap pair of headphones.
Of course, there are a few issues worth noting. They’re far from pretty, with the earcups coated in an almost bin liner-looking material. The plastic exterior, button controls, and headband are extremely cheap-looking too, because, well… they are extremely cheap. And the 40 hour battery life, while enough for most, is nothing special given the lack of ANC.
Then again, none of these cons truly explain why I wouldn’t recommend these headphones. It was something else entirely that made me say “I’m out” quicker than an investor on Shark Tank.
But here’s the thing…
I’m talking, unfortunately, about comfort. I have to say, these headphones were highly uncomfortable for me, especially as someone who doesn’t have a small head or indeed, small ears. In use, these applied a lot of pressure onto my ears, to the point that my colleague pointed out that they’d turned red after a short listening session.
I also have a piercing on my left ear, and I found that the high pressure was pushing it against my neck, which wasn’t the most welcome feeling I have to say. This made me pretty reluctant to use the Tune 510BT, and I found myself breathing a real sigh of relief after returning to my trusty Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear cans.
If you’ve got a small-sized head and ears, and if you don’t have piercings, then this may not be an issue for you. Perhaps you’ve also used on-ears for some time, and you don’t mind the pressure they apply in-use. Well, if so, the Tune 510BT aren’t bad for less than $30 / £25 / AU$40. But I won’t be rushing out to buy them anytime soon, unfortunately.
Maybe a pair of the best on-ear headphones can convert me? I guess you’ll have to stay tuned to find out. Until then, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are you a fan of on-ear headphones? Are you interested in the JBL Tune 510BT? Whatever the case, make sure to get chatting in the comments!
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
