JBL Roxy Reference 230 earphones review (Blue)

Still, the design is far from perfect. While the rubber ring around each earpiece is likely designed to help the wearer achieve a more secure and comfortable fit, we found that it failed at the latter. As with most standard earbuds, the Reference 230s put an uncomfortable pressure on the cartilage of our ears after about an hour of wear. To their credit, however, they did stay in place despite plenty of tugging and movement. As for the cord, it's not very tangle-prone, which is nice, but the Y portion is quite thin and it seems fragile where it attaches to the earpieces. Also, the pink rubberized cable coating dirties easily, picking up dye from our much-washed jeans in no time flat.

Further, audio quality is nothing to write home about, though we didn't expect much different from a set that costs just $20. That being said, the Roxy Reference 230 earphones do not sound terrible by any means and are a step up from stock 'buds, though the difference is not as noticeable as with many in-ear sets we've tested. Specifically, bass is lacking with the 230s, which is a typical problem with earbud-style headphones. Also, music in general sounds slightly tinny and digital. Still, audio is clear with no background hiss or distortion, so you could do worse. If you're searching mostly for Cali style on a tight budget, the Reference 230 earphones fit the bill.