JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless Headphone [Review]

JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless in-ear headphones include active noise cancellation (ANC). These headphones provide a neutral sound profile that you may adjust using the parametric EQ or presets in the accompanying app. They’re lightweight and breathable, and they’re stable enough for running or working out. Unfortunately, their active noise cancellation (ANC) does a poor job of filtering out ambient noise, and it performs similarly to their passive isolation capabilities. Some users may find the 5.4-hour battery life to be inadequate, however the carrying bag provides approximately two more charges if needed.

JBL Live Free NC+ - True Wireless in-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling, Microphone, Up to 21H Battery, Wireless Charging, Android and Apple iOS Compatible (Black)

$149.95  in stock

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as of December 25, 2024 9:31 am ⓘ

Features

• JBL SIGNATURE SOUND: Make the everyday extraordinary with these earbuds. 6.8mm dynamic drivers power great JBL Signature Sound. These headphones might be small, but they deliver some serious power.
• ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING WITH SMART AMBIENT: No noise and zero distractions with Active Noise Cancelling in these BT earphones, so you can get on with enjoying the groove. If you do need to chat, TalkThru and Ambient Aware allow for natural conversations and total awareness of your surroundings, without taking your earbuds out.
• UP TO 21H BATTERY WITH WIRELESS CHARGING: No-one wants to be without their music. JBL LIVE FREE NC + TWS earphones allows you to charge on the go with Speed Charge and Qi-compatible wireless charging. There’s up to 21 hours of battery, 7 hours in the buds and up to 14 hours in the case. Keep on playing for longer.
• EASY CONTROL FOR CALLS AND VOICE ASSISTANT: Full control of your audio is just a fingertip away. You’ve got all the power in your earbuds. Manage phone calls and music with the tip of your finger and enjoy the perfect calls ensured by the integrated dual-mic solution on each bud. Dedicated touch control also lets you seamlessly talk to Google or activate Amazon Alexa.
• INDEPENDENT EARBUD USE WITH FAST PAIR: Dual Connect + Sync automatically pairs to your device as soon as you flip open the case, no matter which earbud you grab first. Thanks to Fast Pair enabled by Google, connected to your Android device the second you flip the case open.

Check Out: Best Headphones for Workout

Style

The JBL Live Free NC+ has a simple design that resembles that of the JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless. The earbuds are primarily one colour, with the brand’s emblem visible on both. They are, however, hefty and protrude from your ears. Blue, Black, Pink, and White are the four colour options.

Comfort

The JBL Live Free NC+ are a comfy pair of headphones. They don’t put a lot of pressure on your ears and don’t have a particularly tight fit. It doesn’t harm your ear to use the touch controls, and they come with a variety of ear tips and stability fins so you can choose the ideal fit for you. The earbuds themselves, however, are a touch hefty.

Controls

The controls of the JBL Live Free NC+ are adequate. Toggling between ANC on, ANC off, and Ambient Aware, which allows you to hear your surroundings without shutting off your music, tap the left earbud once. You may also double-tap to activate Talkthru, which allows you to communicate with someone without having to remove your headphones. The right earbud has controls for music and calls. You can play or pause your audio by tapping once, twice, or three times to skip ahead or backward in the track. You can answer or end a call by double-tapping either bud. When you’re on a call, holding either bud mutes your mic and engages voice assistant.

The controls are responsive, and the buds emit a chime when you record a certain number of touches. However, distinguishing between ANC/Ambient Aware/Off chimes can be difficult. When you use one earbud while the other charges, you lose some control.

Breathability

The breathability of these headphones is exceptional. They don’t trap much heat because they don’t cover your outer ear, so you shouldn’t sweat any more than usual while wearing them.

Portability

The JBL Live Free NC TWS are extremely lightweight. They’re compact and lightweight, like most fully wireless in-ears, making them easy to stow in most pockets or bags. They also include a little carrying case that should fit in most pockets.

Case

The situation is favourable. It’s built of tough plastic and includes four LED lights that show how much battery is left. On the rear of the casing is a button that resets or reconnects the left and right buds. On the negative, you may need to modify the fins to fit the earphones inside the case.

Build Quality

The build quality of the JBL Live Free NC TWS is excellent. They’re primarily solid plastic, which feels sturdy, and they come with three different styles of ear tips to help you find the right fit. However, they appear to be weaker than the rest of their structure. On the plus side, they feature an IPX7 water resistant rating, something we don’t currently test for.

Stability

The JBL Live Free NC+ are really comfortable to wear. They should stay in place even during moderate physical exercise thanks to their stability fins.

Noise Isolation

The noise isolation on the JBL Live Free NC TWS is poor. The active noise cancellation (ANC) functionality does not outperform the headphones’ passive noise isolation capabilities. They have trouble blocking out low-frequency noise, such as the rumbling of a bus or jet engine. They do, however, perform a better job of reducing office chatter and can block out the high-pitched hum of an air conditioner.

Battery

The battery life of the JBL Live Free NC TWS is adequate. They’re supposed to last six hours with their ANC on, but we found that they lasted a little less. You can use one bud while the other charges in their case, which holds about two additional charges. Please keep in mind that battery life varies depending on usage, thus your actual experience may differ.

Bluetooth

The Bluetooth connectivity on the JBL Live Free NC TWS True Wireless is adequate. They don’t allow multi-device or NFC pairing, however when using their ‘Audio Mode,’ they have reduced latency on iOS and Android devices. However, because their latency is a little greater on PC, they might not be the greatest solution for streaming video. However, because certain programmes and devices adjust for latency, your actual experience may differ.

Wired

A wired connection is not possible with the JBL Live Free NC+. To charge their case, they have a USB-C to USB-A cable.

Pros and Cons

Verdict

The JBL Live Free NC TWS is suitable for a variety of applications. The stability fins on these comfy and well-built headphones keep them from falling out when you’re running or working out. They also include a neutral sound profile that you can customize with the parametric EQ or presets in their companion app. Their ANC, on the other hand, performs poorly overall and does not block out bus or plane engine noise. While it performs a better job of reducing office noise, some users may find the 5.4-hour battery life to be insufficient.