Jaybird Vista 2 Review: A New Breed Of Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds For Running

The popularity of wireless headphones for running has exploded within the last few years, but up until recently, they came with drawbacks including connectivity issues, excessive weight, no active noise canceling, and short battery life. The release of the original Jaybird Vista really shook things up, and now Jaybird has done it all over again with the Jaybird Vista 2 wireless bluetooth earbuds.

Internally, the Vista 2 has been given some serious tech upgrades, and while these wireless bluetooth earbuds may look similar on the exterior, there are also some subtle design and technology updates that make these true wireless bluetooth earbuds a significant improvement over the originals.

In this Jaybird Vista 2 review I go over the key features, and why they matter in the real world, what these Jaybird wireless earbuds are like for running, how they compare to the original Vista, where to buy them, an image gallery, and my final rating with pros and cons.

Hopefully, this Jaybird Vista 2 review answers any questions that you may have about these earbuds but if not, feel free to ask me any questions in the comments down below. GET 10% Off Jaybird Vista 2 with our limited time code: ‘trailandkale‘.

Jaybird Vista 2 Review: Table of Contents

• Key Features and why they matter
  • Sound quality, active noise canceling, SurroundSense
  • Battery life & charging technology
  • Phone call voice quality
  • Durability and dirt / waterproof rating
  • The Jaybird app and why you need it
• Running with Jaybird Vista 2
• Jaybird Vista 2 VS. Vista
• Where to buy
• Review summary
• Image gallery

Vista 2 key features and why they matter

Sound quality, ANC, and SurroundSense

The sound quality of Jaybird Vista 2 is every bit as rich as the original Vista with increased depth thanks to the internal 6MM milled drivers (which is large for such small earbuds), combined with new active noise canceling.

For those who don’t know, a driver is a raw speaker cone that drives the air to create pressure waves resulting in sound being driven into your ear canal.

It essentially converts electrical energy into acoustic energy, also known as a transducer. This serves the core function of headphones, and it produces the sound you hear tadaa!

Sound quality is further improved and customized by using Jaybird’s in-app equalizer. More on the Jaybird App below.

Active Noise Canceling (ANC) is new to Vista 2, and I’m so happy to see this feature finally arrive because having noise canceling earbuds really improves the sound quality and immerses you in your music.

For me, ANC is a must-have when traveling by plane, train or bus, as I need my own headspace and nobody likes listening to the sound of a screaming baby for 8 hours, haha. If you haven’t tried noise canceling before, you’re in for a real treat when you experience it for the first time with Vista 2.

SurroundSense takes noise-canceling a step further and solves the problem of not being able to hear ambient sounds while running – a safety concern for many when running in urban environments, myself included.

Put simply, Surround Sense uses built-in microphones, which are wind guarded with a special fabric covering (more on that later), to monitor ambient noises which can then be amplified and mixed into your current audio signal – this gives you increased awareness of ambient noise surrounding you.

This feature has been so awesome while running – I instantly feel safer, knowing that I can accurately hear cars, bikes, and other people.

In my opinion, Vista 2 has the best audio quality of all Jaybird wireless headphones to date, including the original Vista, which was already impressive but ANC gives the Vista 2 the edge.

The tips of the buds create a secure and well-sealed fit that allows improved audio precision, and less harmonic distortion, leading to a wonderful balance of great sound and warm bass. In the box, you’ll find 3 different sets of silicone Eargel tips and wings to choose from depending on your ear shape and size, this will ensure the best quality seal for your ear shape and the most immersive experience possible.

Jaybird Vista 2 Battery Life

For true wireless earbuds with active noise canceling, being able to get 24 hours of total use is pretty awesome. A single use of the earbuds will get you 8 hours of play time without ANC on, and 6 hours with ANC.

To get the full 24 hours of use you are required to charge the earbuds in the charging case when the 8/6hr play time is up, or you can of course charge them as and when you need to, simply by placing them back in the charging case when not in use. This ensures that the battery level of the earbuds is always 100% when you come to use them.

The charging case, which you should always keep with you so that you can store your earbuds when not in use, is small and light enough to conveniently stash in your pocket (see image above), hydration pack, or running belt while running or in your daypack while traveling or hiking.

There’s also a quick-charge feature that provides 1 hour of battery life for only 5 minutes of charge time. Useful if you forget to charge your headphones before a run. The case is easily charged using the included USB-C cable or the awesome wireless charing pad pictured below.

Vista 2 Phone Call Quality

The connection strength/quality between the Jaybird Vista 2 earbuds and my phone has been rock solid and these Jaybird Vista earbuds use Clear Voice technology which allows you to make very clear calls and voice assistant commands due to the 4 beamforming microphones (2 on each earbud) and WindDefense fabric technology that comes on each ear bud.

I also noticed during the initial setup process that pairing the Jaybird Vista 2 to my iPhone 12 Pro was much faster than previous generation Jaybird headphones. To pair the Jaybird wireless bluetooth earbuds to your phone, place the earbuds in the charging case and tap the small button inside. This process is so much easier and faster than it used to be.

READ NEXT: Rokform Crystal Case Review: A Phone Protector for Trail Runners

Audio and connection quality for phone calls with these Jaybird headphones is very clear, responsive and also in stereo. I have experienced no lag at all while using these earbuds for phone calls. I know this because I received a rather annoying telemarketing call while out on a run! haha.

Durability and Dirt/Waterproof rating

The last thing you want when running or adventuring in the mountains is to be worrying about the durability of a pair of expensive, and small earbuds, but this is where Jaybird really stands out from the crowd.

They call their durability standard ‘Earthproof’, and what that means in this case is that Vista 2 are IP68 waterproof, sweatproof, and dustproof, with MIL-STD 810G freeze-, shock-, and impact-resistance.

Vista 2 is designed to survive, real-world tested, and guaranteed to perform. Jaybird also says they are crushproof which means you could accidentally stand on an earbud, and it should be able to handle it – I haven’t tested this myself however.

A rating of IP68 means these earbuds are deemed fit enough to withstand dust, dirt and sand, and are resistant to submersion up to a maximum depth of 1.5m underwater for up to thirty minutes.

The charging case itself has a lower rating of IP56 which means it is protected from limited dust ingress, and from high pressure water jets from any direction.

The Jaybird App and 5 reasons why you need it

1. Equalizer presets – The audio is very crisp and immersive right out the box, but what makes Jaybird earbuds extra special is that you can quickly apply customized equalizer presets using the Jaybird App. The preset I use is called “The Perfect Balance”, which gives me an enhanced, well-rounded bass which makes electronic and dance music sound awesome.
2. Create your own custom hearing profile preset – The Jaybird App also allows you to create your very own preset which is highly tuned to your specific hearing profile. When you choose to create your own preset, the app will run you through a test to see how well you hear a variety of tones, bass ranges, presence and brilliance. Once complete, you get your own personalized preset applied, which you can then tweak to further enhance your listening. I created my own preset but still prefer the sound of ‘The perfect balance’ preset – try it for yourself and let me know what you think of your custom preset!
3. Reassign button controls – Within the App you can also reassign the earbud button controls on both left and right earbuds. For example, I double press my right ear bud to skip track and double press the left earbud to go back a track. Another couple assignments I have is ‘long press left earbud’ to turn volume down, and ‘long press right earbud’ to turn the volume up. You can also pause/play music, and switch sound management from ANC to SurroundSense when you need to.
4. Change Sound Management – from Active Noise Canceling to SurroundSense, and vice versa.
5. Activate ‘Find my buds’ – Being able to ping each earbud and the charging case independently is awesome if you ever lose an earbud or the entire charge case and need to find it. Not only can you make the earbuds play a loud noise to help you locate them but you can also see their location on the map within the app.

Running with Jaybird Vista 2

Vista 2 have been designed with outdoor sports in mind, and in my experience of using them on the trails, and in the mountains, they are the best true wireless headphones for running.

Vista 2 wireless earbuds are ultra-lightweight and the shape of the earbuds offer a really secure in-ear fit when you use the correct silicone tip and wing to fit your ear perfectly. You’ll probably never worry about an earbud dropping out while running ever again.

Because Vista 2 is so lightweight and fit so well, they are really comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This is a feature that marathoners, ultra runners, and hikers are going to love about these earbuds. Earbuds that you can comfortably wear for as long as the battery will last (24 hours) is critical for ultra runners and backpackers!

While I’m on the topic of marathon and ultra running, if you’re training for a race, I have the perfect article for you to read next: Trail Marathon / 50K Training Plan + ULTRA RACE GUIDE.

With IP68 durability, there’s no need to worry about getting caught in a storm, accidentally washing an earbud with your sports gear, or even standing on one. This kind of peace of mind is priceless when you like to run in harsh environments or even running on the hard tarmac for extended periods of time – a drop will not be the end of your earbud.

I also really like the simplicity of the button on each of the earbuds, and a cool feature of Vista 2 is that music stops playing when you remove an earbud as they can sense when they are being worn. This is very useful if you bump into a friend and want to have a chat with them but not lose the track you were listing to.

Jaybird Vista 2 VS. Vista (original)

The key differences between the Vista 2 and the Vista are as follows:

• Durability – Vista 2 is now IP68 rated, the original Vista was IPX7.
• Active Noise Cancelling – Vista 2 has it, but Vista does not.
• SurroundSense – Vista 2 has it, but Vista does not.
• Better Microphone quality – 4 Beamforming microphones on the Vista 2 combined with wind-proof guard material allows for better audio quality than the original Vista
• Battery Life – Vista 2 now how less battery life (24 hours) than Vista due to the extra processing of the active noise canceling.
• Wireless Charging – Vista 2 has it, original does not.
• Cost – Vista 2 is priced at $199.99 while the original Vista is $149.99. For 10% OFF Vista 1 or 2, use code ‘trailandkale‘.

Where to buy Jaybird Vista 2

Jaybird Vista 2 is available at Amazon.com for $199.99 and in my opinion, this is great value for money for premium true wireless earbuds with long-lasting durability for running and other outdoor adventure sports.

I hope you enjoyed reading this Jaybird Vista 2 review – If you have a question, drop it in the comments down below.

Jaybird Vista 2 Review Summary

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