Jaybird Tarah Wireless Sport Headphones hands-on: Entry-level offering with signature features

Jaybird has been staying pretty active for about the last year, introducing several new earbuds that cover the gamut. This time, they’re setting their sights on the entry-level segment of the market with their latest pair of Bluetooth headphones – the Jaybird Tarah.

Distinctively a Jaybird offering, evident in its black and green color scheme, the Jaybird Tarah doesn’t deviate too much from the formula that the company is known for with its line of Bluetooth headphones. One can argue that it looks extremely similar to the just-launched Jaybird X4, which we’ll admit can be mistaken for the Tarah, due in part to the signature winged tips both models are rocking! There’s also a cinch cord that allows for some additional adjustment, so that the cable isn’t flapping around while the earphones are being worn.

Donning an IPX7 rating, the Jaybird Tarah are designed to be water- and sweat-proof, ensuring that they’ll endure the most intensive workouts. And you know what? There’s no worry about the earbuds coming loose thanks to the silicone ear tip and wings. Additionally, there are media playback controls that allow for quick adjustment without having to rely on our smartphone. Due to the earphones' entry-level status, you won’t find additional goodies in the package – like the Comply foam tips traditionally found with Jaybird’s higher-end earbuds.

As for the audio performance, the Jaybird Tarah are a bit lacking in clarity versus the Jaybird X4. Indeed, we can adjust some of the levels through the accompanying Jaybird app, but these earphones never seem to reach the same level of clarity as Jaybird’s other offerings – while the output is no doubt on the bass-heavy side. Then again, that’s sort of expected considering that this is an entry-level model we’re dealing with. The set is rated for about 6 hours of playtime, but its quick-charging technology allows for one hour of playtime with only 10 minutes of charging.

With that in mind, the Jaybird Tarah's retail price of $99.99 is agreeable in the way that they feature a waterproof design and customizable equalizer settings.