We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 5 min read · Independent comparison
If you want wireless freedom with marathon battery life and hands-free calling, choose JBL Tune 510BT; if you need a wired, ultra-portable pair that never needs charging and folds flat into a pocket, choose JVC HAS160A.
• JBL Tune 510BT — biggest strength: up to 40 hours of wireless playback with a 5-minute speed charge that adds 2 more hours, plus Bluetooth 5 and dual-device switching.
• JBL Tune 510BT — biggest trade-off: it's an on-ear wireless headphone that still needs charging, and there's no active noise cancellation.
• JVC HAS160A — biggest strength: a flat-folding, stainless-steel wired design with a 3.5mm slim plug that works instantly with no battery at all.
• JVC HAS160A — biggest trade-off: it's wired only, so you're tethered to your device, and it has no microphone, meaning no calls.
• Pick JBL Tune 510BT if you want wireless listening, long battery life, and call handling on the go.
• Pick JVC HAS160A if you want a lightweight, no-fuss wired backup for travel, commuting, or devices that still use a headphone jack.
The Tune 510BT is built around convenience and endurance. Its headline feature is up to 40 hours of playback, and if you're caught short, a quick 5-minute recharge gives you 2 additional hours. A full charge takes about 2 hours over Type-C. For anyone who hates babysitting a battery, that math is the whole story.
It's also a true wireless headphone. Bluetooth 5 with a 10-meter range means you can leave your phone on a desk and move around. It can switch between two devices, so you can go from a video on a tablet to a call on your phone without missing the call. There's a microphone built into the ear cup, and the multi-function button pulls up Siri or Google Assistant. That makes it a genuinely useful everyday headphone for commuters, remote workers, and anyone who takes calls on the move.
Who should skip it? If you want total silence on a noisy flight, look elsewhere — noise control is listed as none, so isolation comes only from the on-ear fit. And if you'd rather never charge a thing, the wired JVC is the simpler tool.
JVC HAS160A: Who It's For
The JVC HAS160A takes the opposite approach: nothing to charge, nothing to pair, nothing to think about. You plug the 3.5mm slim plug in and it works. That's the appeal for anyone with a laptop, an older phone, a handheld console, or an in-flight entertainment system that still uses a headphone jack.
Its party trick is portability. The flat foldable design collapses into a shape that slips into a bag or a coat pocket, which is why it's such an easy travel companion. The frame is stainless steel rather than plastic, so it's built to take the knocks of daily use, and the adjustable headband adapts to your head size.
Audio-wise, it uses 30mm neodymium dynamic drivers with a frequency range of 12Hz–24,000Hz and 32-ohm impedance. The soft ear pads are there to isolate ambient sound and keep long sessions comfortable — handy in a busy office or on a loud commute. The emphasis on isolation here is passive, achieved by the pad seal rather than electronics.
The obvious limitations: it's wired, and the spec sheet lists no microphone, so it's a listening-only device. If you want to take calls or move around untethered, this isn't the one. But as a cheap, durable, always-ready pair, its design brief is clear and it nails it.
• Best for battery life → JBL Tune 510BT. Up to 40 hours, plus a 5-minute top-up for 2 extra hours.
• Best for wireless freedom → JBL Tune 510BT. Bluetooth 5 with a 10-meter range and dual-device switching.
• Best for calls → JBL Tune 510BT. It has an on-ear-cup microphone and voice-assistant access; the JVC has none.
• Best for travel and packing → JVC HAS160A. The flat foldable design is the more compact of the two.
• Best for no-charge reliability → JVC HAS160A. Wired means it never dies mid-trip.
• Best for older or jack-only devices → JVC HAS160A. The 3.5mm slim plug connects to anything with a headphone port.
• Best for bass-forward listening → JBL Tune 510BT. JBL Pure Bass tuning is the selling point.
• Best for long wired sessions with isolation → JVC HAS160A. Soft ear pads are designed to block ambient noise passively.
• Best for versatility across devices → JBL Tune 510BT. Two-device switching beats being tied to one cable.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the JBL Tune 510BT. In my opinion, the combination of up to 40 hours of wireless playback, dual-device switching, and a built-in call microphone makes it the more capable everyday headphone for most people in 2026. The JVC HAS160A is the better choice only if you specifically want a wired, foldable, no-battery pair — and for that job, it does it well. Neither is a bad buy; they simply solve different problems. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since value depends on what you're paying on the day.
Not universally — they're different products. The JBL is wireless with a 40-hour battery and a microphone; the JVC is wired, foldable, and needs no charging. "Better" depends on whether you want wireless calling or a cable-free-of-charging, jack-based pair.
No. The spec sheet lists no mic and describes the model as a listening device with a 3.5mm jack. If you need to take calls, the JBL Tune 510BT is the one with a microphone on the ear cup.
For packing, the JVC HAS160A wins on the flat foldable design. For a long flight where you want wireless audio and don't want to be tethered, the JBL Tune 510BT's 40-hour battery is the stronger travel companion.
The sheet lists USB for charging and Bluetooth 5 for playback, so it's a wireless headphone. If you specifically need a 3.5mm wired connection, the JVC HAS160A is the right pick.
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