Bose Sport Earbuds vs. Jaybird Vista

Comparison of Bose Sport Earbuds vs. Jaybird Vista

Both Bose Sport Earbuds and Jaybird Vista are premium sports earbuds that keep you entertained during workouts with style. They’re similar in many categories.

They deliver a punchy sound that is fun to listen to, with an equally (decent) battery life of 5-6 hours per charge and 10 hours in the charging case. Neither support wireless charging nor higher quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX.

However, there are also some significant differences when it comes to durability and features. Jaybird Vista brings much more to the table. So much so that it can be difficult to recommend Bose earbuds. At least right now.

Before we jump to any conclusion, let’s dissect the differences between the two and how they impact the overall user experience.

Quick Comparison

Both models:

• Great sound quality with punchy, controlled bass
• Ear gels (tips with fins) to ensure excellent stability
• 10 hours of battery life inside the charging case
• Premium look and feel
• No noticeable video lag on YouTube

Bose Sport Earbuds

Stable and slightly more comfortable

Decent noise isolation

Support for Bluetooth 5.1 and AAC codec

5h / charge – 10h in case

IPX4 – sweatproof

Multipoint support, basic limited app

Better sub-bass extension and detail, more laid-back sound

Bose Sport Earbuds review

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Jaybird Vista

Stable and comfortable for sports

Slightly better passive isolation

Bluetooth 5.0

6h / charge – 10h in case

IPX7 – waterproof

Great app with EQ, mono listening on both sides, ample customization

More exciting sound with cleaner midrange and treble

Jaybird Vista review

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Specifications

What’s in the Box?

Bose Sport Earbuds

Jaybird Vista

With packaging, you’re getting the same things with both:

• True wireless earbuds
• Charging case
• USB-C charging cable
• 3 pairs of silicone ear gels
• User manual

Comfort & Fit

Both earbuds provide a comfortable wearing experience with ear gels (ear tip/ear fin combo) that sit right in front of your ear canal.

Some models only rely on regular ear tips and ergonomic design to ensure stability. However, both Jaybird Vista and Bose Sport Earbuds take a different approach. You get ear gels on each model, which are essentially ear tips and fins combined.

The tip is usually the same size, while fins change in length. The tip’s size is quite big, so you can’t push it into your ear canal. Instead, you place it in front. Consequently, fins are responsible for keeping the earbuds in their place during movement.

Both earbuds excel in comfort and stability, so it’s pretty much a tie. Though, we find the Bose Sport Earbuds slightly comfier, causing no pressure whatsoever. The latter can sometimes occur on the Vista.

Noise Isolation

Because of how you insert earbuds in your ears, neither are particularly great at passive isolation, yet still good enough to block most of the surrounding noise.

Since you have to place the ear tip in front of the ear canal and not in it, they block less noise than full-fledged in-ear solutions. However, the difference is minor, and the noise goes away as soon as you press the “play” button.

Neither of the earbuds have active noise cancellation to compensate for the slightly looser seal. Also, they don’t come with ambient mode to amplify your surroundings.

In our test, we found the Jaybird Vista’s to perform slightly better in terms of isolation, but the difference is minimal.

Bluetooth

You can expect a stable wireless connection and range from both. However, Bose Sport Earbuds have an edge with multipoint support, Bluetooth 5.1, and an additional audio codec.

When it comes to connectivity, Vista and Sport Earbuds offer excellent Bluetooth range and stability. Only when you’re about to pass the second brick wall, audio begins to stutter, making both earbuds unlistenable.

The pairing process is very straightforward. You place each earbud out of the case, and they immediately show in the Bluetooth menu.

Both earbuds also come with a mobile app. We had some problems registering our Bose Sport Earbuds with their app for some reason and only succeed after several attempts.

Regardless, Bose do offer more features in this category. You can connect Sport Earbuds to several different devices, which is something Jaybird’s can’t do. Also, you get Bluetooth 5.1 compared to 5.0 on Vista. A newer version will ensure better stability in the future when devices start supporting it.

Bose Earbuds also come with one additional Bluetooth codec: AAC. The latter is important for Apple users since it’s what iOS prefers. However, in real-world use, you can’t tell the difference between SBC and AAC.

That’s because Vista’s are using a JBS1 chipset, which is responsible for keeping the connection stable and prevent video lag. That means that both earbuds ensure an excellent video watching experience.

Also, Jaybird Vista support mono listening with both earbuds, whereas you can only listen to the right earbud with Bose.

Battery

Neither of these earbuds are exceptional when it comes to battery life. Bose Earbuds can last you around 5 hours, whereas Vista lasts one hour more. You get the same 10-hour battery inside both charging cases, which is a bit underwhelming.

We expected a bit more from premium products, especially from Bose. Their earbuds only play for around 5 hours before needing to recharge, despite their bulky size. Jaybird Vista are a little better, giving you 6 hours of playtime per charge.

However, the most disappointing is the 10 hours of battery life inside both charging cases. When it comes to Vista’s, it’s understandable that you can’t fit too big of a battery cell in a box that small. But Bose’s case is chunkier and takes up more space inside your pockets.

At least you can fast-charge your earbuds if you need to top them off quickly:

• Bose Sport Earbuds give you an additional 2 hours of battery life in 15 minutes.
• Jaybird Vista can boost their playtime by up to 1 hour in just 5 minutes.

Durability

Jaybird Vista are a clear winner in this category, giving you a higher IP rating and military standard of durability.

Both earbuds feel solid in hand, but we prefer a somewhat smooth, rubbery surface on the Vista’s housing.

Both look like they can survive a few accidental drops, with Jaybird explicitly saying their earbuds are shockproof. They designed them by a military-grade standard MIL-STD-810G.

With Vistas, you can also be more confident around water. Their housing is protected with an IPX7 rating, which makes them completely waterproof. They are similar to the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones. It’s not a problem if they fall in water, or you wash them under a tap.

On the other hand, Bose offer a lower IPX4 rating, which is great for sweat but can only survive light splashes of water.

Of course, both will do just fine during your gym or running sessions. But if you’re used to washing your earbuds after every workout, Jaybird Vista are a better pick.

Features

That is another area where Vista wipes away the Sport Earbuds. They offer a much better app with in-depth EQ settings and customizable controls.

While Bose Sport Earbuds come with an app, it’s practically useless in the current state. You can only change a few things like turning off the proximity sensor and enabling a double-tap to skip the song. Apart from giving your earbuds a funny name and firmware updates, that is about it.

In contrast, the Jaybird My Sound app has much more to offer. First, there is an excellent EQ where you can fine-tune your earbud’s sound. You can also choose between various presets or pick one that was made by the community.

Controls are fully customizable, and you can choose which one you prefer. You still have to pick between A or B option, but at least it’s there. You get all the essentials: skipping tracks, raising a volume, calling smart assistants, and answering calls.

Another thing worth mentioning is the “find my earbud” feature, which helps you find your lost Jaybird earbuds. Strangely, that is something that Sport Earbuds don’t have, despite rocking the latest Bluetooth 5.1, which offers precise localization.

We find the microphone quality on Bose Sport Earbuds to be a tad better. Voice is a bit clearer, albeit thin sounding.

In a loud environment, Bose Sport Earbuds are trying to suppress outside noise, whereas Vista’s are not. They’re both acceptable in that scenario, but far from ideal.

Bose Sport Earbuds

Jaybird Vista

Sound

Their sound signatures might be different, but these two earbuds are somewhat equal in quality. Bose buds prefer the bass, while Jaybird’s sound more exciting.

The sound signature depends on your personal preferences. If you prefer a more relaxed tuning with deep, meaty bass, then Bose Sport Earbuds are your best pick.

Their bass is very punchy and controlled, even on more demanding songs. Occasionally, the low-end bleeds into the midrange, but it doesn’t ruin the experience too much. Mainly because the upper mids are elevated to bring out vocals and instrument detail. The treble stays smooth and airy.

Jaybird Vista can also produce a very punchy, controlled bass, but the extension is slightly worse. The midrange is pushed forward just a bit, which can cause some harshness. Similarly, the treble can get a bit sibilant at times.

See best bass earbuds for alternatives.

Thankfully, you can tweak Vista’s sound inside the app quite extensively. We managed to bring them down to a reasonably neutral level, although they always sound energetic, no matter what EQ you apply.

The soundstage is wide on both, but we feel that the one on Bose Earbuds is slightly bigger. That changes with imaging since Vista’s can pinpoint the direction of the sound much better.

Should You Buy Bose Sport Earbuds vs. Jaybird Vista?

From an audiophile standpoint, neither of these are perfect, but you’re probably not searching for sonic perfection.

You simply want an excellent companion to keep you entertained during your workouts. In that case, both can deliver fantastic comfort and stability, decent battery life (on a single charge), robust construction, and a strong connection.

You get a very punchy sound on both, with some key differences in the tuning. To summarize:

If you like deep bass and an overall laid-back sound, pick Bose.

If you like your sound to pack more energy in the midrange and treble, Jaybird is a better option.

However, when it comes to features, Jaybird Vista are a bit more well-rounded. They come with a much better app with lots of customization. Unless Bose decides to update their app, Vista represents an overall better value.

Review of Bose Sport Earbuds

Review of Jaybird Vista review

Peter Susic

From a childhood fascination with sound, Peter’s passion has evolved into a relentless pursuit of the finest headphones. He’s an audio expert with over 5 years of experience in testing both audiophile and consumer-grade headphones. Quote: “After many years, I can confidently tell which headphones are good and which are terrible.” Find his honest opinion in his reviews.