When it comes to audio tech, American audio equipment manufacturer JBL often comes to mind as a powerhouse when it comes to portable speakers, but the company also has an extensive line of wireless headphones, too, and while these aren’t as well-known as its speakers, the JBL Live 780NC continues to prove that quality speaks louder than fame.
At a humble price point of S$299, the 780NC sports a clean look with a minimalistic colour tone that should pair pretty well with most outfits. The headband is clad in soft silicone, while its earpads are plush with a leatherette finish, although the headset’s clamping force is quite prominent, and it doesn’t take long before it starts to feel uncomfortable, especially for those who are used to a more relaxed fit.
Packing in 40mm drivers with a frequency response of 10-40khz, the 780NC sounds good straight out of the box, but its bass can get a little overbearing at times, something that can be adjusted to a user’s liking in the EQ. Treble and mids come in clean and clear, imaging is accurate, and the soundstage is sufficiently wide, making it an impressive feat considering its price point.
When it comes to active noise cancellation, the headset also fares decently, although like many others out there, it won’t completely block out sounds at higher frequencies. What’s truly impressive here, however, is its massive battery life, with the headset able to handle 80 hours of playtime without ANC, and 50 hours with it turned on. This, coupled with an equally impressive charging speed, means that downtime is kept to a minimum, with a full working day’s worth of use barely making a dent in its battery life.
To top it off, the 780NC’s companion app also provides more than just your standard EQ adjustments, as it not only offers nifty extras like a “Relax Mode” which plays ambient sounds like a campfire burning or a stream of water, which, even though not essential, is still a nice touch.
Check out our full review in the video above.
GEEK REVIEW SCORE
Summary
The JBL Live 780NCs are one of the most bang-for-your-buck headphones on the market. With audio quality that punches above its weight and an app that has some nifty features, all they do is impress. However, it may come off way too bassy for some and its clamping force may make or break the experience, especially for people with larger heads, so do tweak the EQ to your liking and try them on before committing to a pair.
Overall
8/10-
Aesthetics - 8/10
8/10
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Build Quality - 8/10
8/10
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Performance - 8/10
8/10
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Value - 9/10
9/10
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Geek Satisfaction - 7/10
7/10
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
HSALS
Sherwin Loh
Yonk
