They feature an anti-tangle design and a wide soundstage, and most music sounds great through them.
But I dont think theyre perfect.
They also sound scratchy at high volumes, making for an unpleasant listening experience.
For all the details, read my full JBL Tune 305C wired earbuds review.
At$21 / 16, they cost less than the average takeout.
The Tune 305Cs are the cheapest earbuds weve ever tested at Toms Guide.
The earbuds come in a variety of colors: black, blue, red or white.
So what do the Tune 305Cs compete against?
JBLs offering is a (very) inexpensive way of streaming hi-res audio.
These are simple-looking earbuds that have a very plasticky feel to them.
I love the anti-tangle design, though.
The flat cable doesnt tie itself into knots when thrown into a bag or jeans pocket.
I wish all the wired earbuds I used as a teenager had this feature.
You wouldnt believe how much time Ive spent unknotting wired earbuds in my life.
Youll need to get the JBL Tune 310Cs ($24) if you want eartips.
You get volume buttons that double as EQ buttons.
Theres also a circular button that triplesas a play/pause button and to answer calls or hang up.
And unlike the SoundMagic E80Ds, the buttons on the Tune 305Cs are easy to press too.
They seem small, but I had no problem using them.
They give good tactile feedback as well.
The earbuds have a great frequency response (20Hz-40KHz) so they can reproduce most sounds accurately.
onQobuzwhich is thebest music streaming servicefor hi-res audio.
Lets get into it.
Bass
Bass-heavy tracks sound fantastic through the Tune 305Cs, thanks to JBLs signature Pure Bass technology.
But overall, its great.
The bass line in Porcupine Trees Haridan had solid depth.
It didnt overpower the vocals either.
As opposed to the default standard EQ, the bass EQ provides a lovely warmth to the heavier notes.
But a problem arises due to the Tune 305Cs loose fit.
Vocals
Listening to vocals-first tracks through the Tune 305Cs is enjoyable.
Paris Palomas vocals in Labour sound as powerful as the artist intended.
Her high notes are balanced well against the guitar and subtle bass line.
But thats exactly what happened when I listened to Casualty at a high volume.
I usually listen to music loud enough that my coworkers have to wave frantically to get my attention.
The volume was at 75% when I noticed Emily Armstrongs vocals soundingextremelyscratchy through the Tune 305Cs.
And I experienced the same issue.
These earbuds have surprisingly good bass that impressed me, and vocals sound clean and clear too.
But listening to music at high volumes makes it sound scratchy and unpleasant.
The loose fit also means that they tend to fall out when youre walking.
Having removable eartips would have solved this problem.
Overall, the Tune 305Cs are a decent pair of earbuds that dont break the bank.
