Personalized sound, surprising battery life, and tracking capability all add huge value to Jaybird’s truly wireless Vista headphones. But they come with a steep price and have a few shortcomings.
Whether you’re leaping into wireless headphones for the first time or looking for an upgrade, finding a pair that meets your needs is crucial. Fit, battery life, activity compatibility, and sound quality should all play into your decision.
This fall, Jaybird launched the Vista wireless headphones — the brand’s “lightest, most compact, and most advanced headphones [it’s] ever made.”
A stubborn holdout from the corded era, I gave the Vista a try. Specifically, I wanted to know whether these “truly wireless” headphones — an important distinction over the wraparound style — worked well for active-lifestyle users. I tested the Vista headphones on runs, bike rides, indoor climbing, and fitness use around the gym.
In short: At $180, the Jaybird Vista falls on the steep end of the price spectrum for the category. But for that price, the brand offers up some impressive performance in terms of audio quality, fit, and software features.
The Vista presents a great buy, but it does fall short of its big competitor, Apple AirPods, when it comes to the clarity and quality of the wearer’s voice on phone calls and video chats.
Jaybird Vista Wireless Headphones Review
Fit: Great for Activity
The primary concern with any pair of headphones, wireless or not, is fit. Even headphones with amazing audio quality are effectively useless if they won’t stay in your ears. This is doubly true when using headphones for activity — running, climbing, or other cardio work.
The Jaybird ships with three different-sized silicone inserts to accommodate a range of users. And the Vista utilizes the bud-and-fin design to anchor into the ear. I’ve used this system in other styles with mixed results.
But in the Vista, I found the out-of-the-box setup (medium-size inserts) worked perfectly. During activities like running, rowing, climbing, and plyometrics, the Vista never fell out or slid around.
Sound: Great on One End, Not the Other
Connectivity
Extras: Lost & Found, Spotify Playlists
Charging & Specs
Jaybird Vista Wireless Headphones
- Weight: 0.5 oz./pair
- Waterproof: Yes (IPX7)
- Fit: In-ear w/fin, multiple size adapters
- Playback time: 6 hours (+10 hours extra charge w/case)
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Price: $180