After using these JBL headphones, I'm wondering if we're all too distracted by Sony and Bose

3 days ago 12

pros and cons

Pros

Feature-rich
Comfortable to wear
Auracast and LC3 availability on iOS

Cons

ANC performance can be better
Shallow earcups

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Flagship offerings from Apple, Sony, Bose, and other premium consumer audio giants often dominate the conversation about headphones. JBL tries its hand at winning some of this market share with its premium Tour One M-series headphones, but simply can't compete with the prowess of its competitors' use of higher-quality build materials, more advanced noise cancellation technology, and smoother app user interfaces.

Also: I listened to Sony, Bose, and Apple's flagship headphones - and this pair's ahead of the pack

However, JBL's strength is where its competitors aren't as successful: midrange headphones. JBL has refreshed its Live-series headphones, with the Live 780NC, delivering its conventional suite of "I can't believe these are in a pair of midrange headphones" features in a redesigned frame with slimmer yokes, more minimal branding, and an overall look that most users can get behind.

If premium headphones aren't in your budget or interests, JBL's $250 midrange option might be the right choice for you. Here's why.

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More than what meets the ears

Like their predecessor, the Live 780NC supports hi-res audio via a wired connection, with higher-quality wireless audio streaming via LDAC and more power-efficient streaming via LC3. Typical of JBL, the 780NC have a pronounced bass response, with a full, heavy thump that can mask details but makes high-energy tracks exciting to listen to.

Ne-Yo's "Champagne Life" has clear vocals, with midrange frequencies, and higher frequencies add a touch of shine to the sound profile, still without revealing an exceptional amount of detail.

Also: After trying these boomless headphones in the office, I'm feeling hopeful for the future of work tech

Overall, the JBL Live 780NC have an enjoyable sound profile and a wider-than-expected soundstage. Though not as airy as premium offerings, they offer more stereo imaging than Bose's midrange QuietComfort Headphones and are better suited to less bass-heavy tracks than Sony's Ult Wear. Still, like their counterparts from other brands, JBL's in-house Spatial Sound is a total miss, at least with music.

Foregoing official Dolby licensing, JBL is using proprietary upmixing software to layer on top of your tracks, creating the illusion of additional height and width. Turning this feature on adds some dimension to the music, but it's too artificial-sounding for me to prefer it over stereo.

On top of their surprising sound quality, the Live 780NC headphones offer a host of software and audio features, including adjustable adaptive noise cancellation, several spatial audio modes, JBL Personi-Fi 3.0 for personalized audio, wear detection, Bluetooth multipoint, and TalkThru for having clear in-person conversations without removing your headphones.

Noise cancellation

The Live 780NC's fit is similar to the previous generation, offering a lightweight build with a relaxed clamping force. However, the 780NC sports slightly shallower earcups, which can cause discomfort for those who need roomier earcups.

Noise cancellation is decent; it's stronger than the 770NC thanks to more microphones and improved algorithms, but not as strong as JBL's premium Tour One M3. Despite that, even JBL's best noise cancellation doesn't compare to its competitors from Apple, Sony, or Bose.

Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard fixes audio problems we'd learned to live with

JBL isn't a strong contender in this specific arena, but the Live 780NC's noise-canceling properties can suffice, so long as noise cancellation isn't your number one priority.

In an office setting, you'll hear clicks of a keyboard and office chatter, so I can't imagine that they'd be the highest-performing headphones on a train or plane, either. If you're looking for stronger noise cancellation at a more affordable price, consider Bose or Sony.

An Auracast loophole for iPhone

One of the most interesting things about the Live 780NC is their in-app Auracast and LC3 support, allowing iPhone users to take advantage of an otherwise unavailable feature. I first tried this feature with Sennheiser's RS 275 TV Headphones bundle, which allowed users to join or start an Auracast broadcast within the headphones' companion app. However, Sennheiser's TV headphones aren't as well-rounded for use outside of the house.

I paired the Live 780NC to my iPhone 17 and joined an Auracast broadcast from my nearby Pixel 9 Pro, which was paired with my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. I didn't see an option to start an Auracast broadcast from my iPhone, but I could see where to join others.

Also: I spoke with Bluetooth reps about the future of connected audio, and it's cooler than I expected

Joining an Auracast broadcast from my iPhone was simple, but I had to enable LE Audio on the Live 780NC first. It's typical for headphones to unpair and reboot to switch from traditional Bluetooth radio to LE Audio, but this process is particularly laggy and unreliable with the 780NC.

Still, once you get LE Audio working and enable LC3, it performs well and consumes significantly less power than Apple's default AAC codec. I noticed my 780NC used about 10% of its battery after an hour of listening when connected to my iPhone via AAC, and about 5% when connected via LC3.

ZDNET's buying advice

The JBL Live 780NC are a testament to JBL's strength at making solid midrange headphones, which can be a challenging product category for some of its competitors. Though you can find more premium build materials and stronger noise cancellation in more expensive headphones, JBL's Live 780NC cover the basics -- and cover them well.

If you're eyeing an affordable pair of headphones with great sound, reliable battery life, and useful software features, the Live 780NC won't disappoint.

However, if enhanced comfort and noise cancellation at a sub-$400 price are your priorities, Bose and Sony may be better options. Bose's midrange QuietComfort Headphones are more expensive than JBL's and Sony's midrange options, but they outpace both companies in comfort and noise cancellation.

On the other hand, Sony's Ult Wear headphones offer longer battery life and solid sound and noise-canceling performance for nearly $100 less than Bose's.

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