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The JBL Endurance Race 2 are nearly indestructible workout tanks with a rock-solid fit and good ANC, but they sound like a subwoofer in a tin can. Get them for the gym, not for enjoying music.

The fit is what surprised us most. The Twistlock wing enhancer isn't just marketing fluff. These things lock into your ear and don't budge, which is a bigger deal than any spec on a sheet. On the flip side, the sound profile was a shock for the wrong reasons. In our database, the audio quality sits in the 6th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen. It's all bloated bass with no texture, and the mids are so recessed that guitars and vocals get lost in the mix. The ANC is a standout, though, effectively silencing gym noise and the hum of a treadmill.

The Sony WF-C700N are the obvious alternative if sound matters at all. They sound significantly better and have a more balanced feature set, though they can't touch the JBL's rugged build. The Soundcore P31i is another direct competitor that also focuses on a secure fit for sports, often with better battery life. The JBL wins on pure durability and ANC strength, but it loses badly on music enjoyment. If you're a runner who only listens to podcasts, the JBL is perfect. If you love music, get the Sonys.

The price is all over the map, with a wild spread from $40 to over $20,000 from different vendors, which is clearly a data glitch on the high end. If you can snag these for under $50, they're a steal for a beater gym pair. At their typical street price, the poor sound quality makes them a tougher sell. You're paying for durability, not audio fidelity.

The JBL Endurance Race 2 is the workout bud you buy when you're tired of your earbuds dying in the rain or falling out mid-sprint. Its IP68 rating is the real deal, making it basically indestructible for any sweaty, dusty, or wet adventure. But you're paying for that toughness with sound quality that's frankly a letdown. If you want a bass-heavy thump to power through a workout, these deliver, but anyone looking for detail and clarity should look elsewhere.

If you care even a little about sound quality, these aren't for you. The audio is a weak spot that no amount of EQ tweaking can fully fix. Go get the Sony WF-C700N instead. You'll lose the extreme durability, but you'll actually enjoy what you're listening to.

Buy the JBL Endurance Race 2 if your number one priority is a pair of earbuds that can survive a mud run and won't fall out. They're a specialized tool for athletes and outdoor adventurers. For everyone else, the subpar sound quality is a dealbreaker. These are a niche champion, not an all-rounder.