The Swift Summary
Pros
Cons
- Ultra low latency suitable for gaming
- Up to 6 hour battery life
- Available in white
- Large titanium drivers with great audio performance
- ENC noise cancelling (for listeners during calls only)
- Touch controls
- IPX4 rating – Sweatproof and splashproof
- Solid ear tip design
Features list for the Black Shark JoyBuds Gaming Earphones
- Ultra Fast Bluetooth connection (version 5.2)
- Ultra Low Latency (30ms)
- Dual Modes (Audio Balance) – Gaming and Music
- Touch Controls
- Built-in microphone
- IPX4 waterproof (splashproof and sweatproof)
- ENC Environmental Noise Cancelling
- 14.2mm drivers with titanium plated diaphragms
- Enhanced bass
- Up to 6 hours battery life
- Up to 28 hours playback total with charging case
- Fast charging (1.5hrs)
- In-ear detection (pauses audio when removed)
- Customise preferences and buttons via the app (Shark Arsenal)
- Ergonomic design
- Lightweight
- Auto on feature
- Supports classic versions of Bluetooth (v1.1 v1.2 v2.0 v2.1 v3.0 etc)
- Supports HFP/HSP, A2DP and data protocols (SPP, HID, OPP, PBAP etc)
Swift Thoughts
Design
The design of the Black Shark JoyBuds is simple and functional. The sharp-edged stem contrasts nicely with the ergonomic smoothness of the ear tip. The ear tip section is one piece and solid rather than the soft customisable variety–a small downside, but they fitted my ears well for it not to be an issue.
The branding on the case and the earphones is a little crude and shouty for my taste (too much text), but that becomes pretty irrelevant once you listen to the audio performance.
Audio Performance
The Black Shark JoyBuds may not be cheap compared to other options on the market, but they are totally worth every penny spent on them. The sound quality is exceptional. The large 14.2mm titanium-plated drivers certainly help in this regard. The soundstage is wide, immersive, inviting and beautifully balanced.
With some clever inverted tube engineering the team at Black Shark have managed to add richness, depth and clarity to the low frequency bass notes. So whatever your musical tastes these earphones will surely deliver.
Build Quality
The build quality on the JoyBuds is very good. They have an IPX4 waterproof rating, which means they can handle a bit of water (ie sweatproof and splashproof) but wouldn’t like being submerged in it.
Comfort
The comfort levels are reasonable. Not bad, not great, they should be more than fine for the majority of owners. I personally prefer earphones with the soft ear tips.
Functionality
The Black Shark earphones are packed full of technology–all of which I found worked really well. The low latency mode is very effective, the touch controls are intuitive, and I particularly like the dual-mic ENC noise cancelling feature. ENC unlike ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) works to eliminate sounds for the person who is listening at the other end of the call. This essentially makes calls and gaming conversations much clearer and free from distracting ambient noises.
Furthermore, the Black Shark earbuds also have in-ear detection so they automatically pause your music when you take them off–nice!
Swift Scores
Design
Audio Performance
Comfort
Build Quality
Functionality
Battery Life
FAQs
Q: What’s the Black Shark audio app called?
A: Shark Arsenal.
Q: How long does it take to charge?
A: They can fast charge in as little as 90 minutes.
Q: What does the auto on feature do?
A: The Joybuds automatically try to connect wirelessly as soon as you open the charging case.
Q: Are they suitable for running in?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you perform a factory reset on these earphones?
A: Yes. Place earphones in the charging case. Leave the case lid open and press the setup button to 10 seconds. The light will flash twice.
Q: Are they waterproof?
A: Yes and no. They have a rating of IXP4 which means they can withstand sweat and light splashes but they are not fully airtight so they won’t fair well against lots of rain or submerging them in water.
What’s in the box?
- Black Shark JoyBuds Gaming Earphones
- USB-C Charging and Storage Case
- USB-C Cable
- User Manual
You want it? We’ve found it.
Black Shark JoyBuds Earphones are available in 2 colours: matte black and white gloss.
Tech Talk
Low Latency – what does it mean?
Latency is all about time. Often it describes the time delay between seeing and hearing but can also describe a delay in an action happening in-game and you seeing it. This effect is known as ‘lag’ in the gaming community and specifically describes a delay between an input and the response.
When it comes to wireless audio devices like headphones or earphones, latency can become an important factor in your buying-decision, especially if you intend to watch visual entertainment with them (eg. TV shows, films, YouTube, or gaming).
With poor latency, a time delay between visuals and audio can cause misaligned lip sync when people talk or worse can cause you to lose a crucial game because you heard the enemy too late. Depending on your frustration tolerances, this can cause anything from mild amusement all the way to throwing your controller at the wall and alarming all your neighbours with VERY LOUD expletives.
So, what’s the solution? Low latency.
Low latency is possible when data transfer is fast. One simple way to achieve this is by using ‘wired’ headphones or earphones. However, if you prefer the convenience and comfort afforded by wireless devices then you should look at products that boast a low latency. If a product doesn’t mention specifically that they have low latency features, then look for the version of Bluetooth they use. Lower latency tends to go hand-in-hand with newer versions of Bluetooth. Bluetooth versions of 5.0 or above is a good place to start.
ENC – what does it mean?
ENC stands for Environmental Noise Cancelling and should not be confused with ANC (Active Noise Cancelling). Both systems use a combination of mics and special firmware to minimise unwanted ambient noises but are quite different in their purpose. ANC cancels the audio you can hear, conversely ENC cancels the audio your listener hears (eg. the person at the other end of the call).
So when you make a call or are chatting with friends when gaming, the audio heard at the other end is clearer and (hopefully) distraction free.
HSP, HFP and A2DP – what do they mean?
All these terms refer to the way a Bluetooth-enabled device functions and communicates with another device. More specifically they are Bluetooth profiles with differing capabilities.
HSP, which stands for Headset Profile, is a commonly used profile when connecting headsets (headphones with stalk microphones) to mobile phones and gaming consoles.
HFP stands for Head-free Profile, and is commonly used to connect mobile phones to in car (hands-free) devices.
A2DP stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, and is commonly used when multimedia audio (audio from video) is streamed over a Bluetooth connection. Due to the nature of streaming content, this profile is designed for high-speed, low latency with a one way data/audio transfer.
