True Score Methodology v1.0

JBL Live 660NC Review

Name: JBL Live 660NC
Brand: JBL

September 17, 2023

True Score

69

Meh

77

4

Experts

86

3.95k

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

4

)

The mid-range JBL Live 660NC headphones offer a long battery life, making them great for extended work sessions or when listening to music on the go. They’re also comfortable thanks to all-around padding, but they won’t work well for wireless gaming.

JBL Live 660NC - Wireless Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Long Lasting Battery and Voice Assistant - Black, Medium

$199.95

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Table of Contents

What Is Not on the Box
Overview
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Learn More About Over Ear Headphone

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

our Verdict

The JBL Live 660NC headphones are ideal for office work, featuring a durable build and neutral sound quality, plus a well-padded headband and ear cups…

The JBL Live 660NC headphones are ideal for office work, featuring a durable build and neutral sound quality, plus a well-padded headband and ear cups that are perfect for extended work sessions.

While the ANC is effective against low background noise, it falls short with loud distractions like plane engine rumbles, but music enthusiasts will enjoy the headphones’ bass-heavy sound profile.

The physical buttons are sturdy and easy to use. They come with a travel pouch and offer a lengthy 25.9-hour battery life, making them great for on-the-go use. Customizing the sound is effortless with the user-friendly JBL headphones app.

Bluetooth connectivity is reliable, with low latency on both Android (22ms) and iOS (45ms) devices. Overall, they minimize sound leakage but may not be ideal for wireless gaming.

True Score

69

Reasons to Buy

Comfortable, even for extended use
Build quality is sturdy and durable
Good sound quality with clear vocals
Spring-loaded power switch provides a smooth user experience
Long battery life, lasting several days with moderate use
Lightweight and comfortable fit with soft ear cups

Reasons to Avoid

ANC could be better, especially in very loud environments
Not ideal for wireless gaming
Uncomfortable for people with larger heads
Some reports of cracking sound during noise cancellation
Poor passive soundstage
Controls can be confusing or have too many features

Specifications

Battery Charge Time
2 hours
Battery Life
50 hours
Built In Microphone
Yes
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Environment/Transparency Mode
Yes
Noise Canceling
Yes
True Wireless
No
Water Resistant
Yes
Weight
0.55 pounds
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth

Overview

The JBL Live 660NC headphones were announced in early 2021 as a pair of basic, over-ear headphones available in black, blue, or white.

The manufacturer says they’re designed for casual listening and can be used for calls. They’re powered by a 50-hour battery, and this is pretty long, even when compared to what the best headphones are capable of.

That said, owners will also be able to customize their sound through the JBL Headphones app and connect to two devices via Bluetooth. There’s also an integrated mic and support for noise canceling.

As is typical with many of the best over-ear headphones, the 660NC’s controls are located on each ear cup, and the headphones also include a pouch for easy carrying.

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Product Comparison

	JBL Live 660NC Review
True Score	69
Market Context	–	The JBL Live 660NC headphones are an over-ear variant that come with noise canceling as a feature. However, this feature is missing on the JBL Live 500BT headphones. Also worth noting is that the 500BT wireless headphones are bulkier than the 660NC wireless headphones, but the 660NC headphones ship with a carrying pouch while the 500BT headphones do not. Go ahead and check out what else the JBL Live 500BT headphones have to offer by reading our JBL Live 500BT review. Read more ↓	The JBL Live 660NC headphones have a noise-canceling feature that is missing on the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless headphones. Still, the 510BT headphones have both mute and unmute controls for its microphone, while the 660NC headphones do not. See our JBL Tune 510BT review for more info. Read more ↓	The JBL Live 660NC headphones ship with a pouch for easy carrying, while the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless headphones come with a hard case that offers more protection in case of a fall. The Sony headphones also have support for virtual surround sound, which is lacking with the JBL Live headphones. Read more ↓
Noise Canceling>
Wireless Connectivity>
True Wireless>
Built-In Microphone>
Battery Life>
Dig Deeper	–

All Stores

$199.95
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
Yes
See Deal
$199.99
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
Yes
See Deal
$199.95
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
No
See Deal

Score Card

E

Expert Score

77

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

86

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

69

Any product with a True Score above 60 is a Meh

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

A
Trust Score
73
The JBL Live 660NC are good for neutral sound. Out-of-the-box, they have a slightly bass-heavy… read more
D
Trust Score
77
The JBL Live 660NC is a reliable, if a little lacklustre pair of noise cancelling… read more
D
Trust Score
80
At $199, the JBL Live 660NC undercuts the competition with strong audio, noise cancellation, and… read more
F
Trust Score
NR
For their low price, the Live 660NC headphones from JBL offer solid construction and connectivity,… read more