While we rarely review earphones and headphones that cost less than $100 — and never review non-Apple earphones or headphones less than $50 — our new Gear section now gives readers a chance to see some of these inexpensive options. JBL’s Yurbuds brand has introduced a series of new wired sport in-earphones, Inspire 100 ($20), Inspire 200 ($30), and Inspire 300 ($40). There’s also an Inspire 400 set, which we didn’t receive. All of the earphones come with earbuds featuring Yurbuds’ “TwistLock” technology, which the company claims makes the buds comfortable, sweatproof, and allow for ambient sound. They’re also “guaranteed never to fall out.” The Inspire series comes in a black-on-black or black-on-red color scheme.
Inspire 100 is the most basic set of earphones here, with no extra features. Inspire 200 comes with a sport carrying pouch, and the earbuds also use magnets to increase portability and allow for tangle-free storage. On top of those features found in the 200, Inspire 300 includes a mic with music and speakerphone controls, and two different sized sets of earbuds.
