Three years after creating the touchscreen earphone case, JBL remains unmatched in this innovative field. The Live Beam 4 takes the concept further with an enlarged OLED screen and a more expansive sound than its predecessor. The signature JBL punch and style are still very much present.
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JBL has been manufacturing transducers since 1946 and equips cinemas, studios, stages, and stadiums, translating this expertise to consumer products like speakers, headphones, and earbuds. This commitment is evident as the JBL sound signature is bold, deliberate, and consistent across their product range.
This signature sound is also a feature of the Live Beam 4, which not only delivers quality audio but also offers a charging case with a control screen. JBL introduced the Smart Charging Case with the Tour Pro 2 in 2023, a simple yet revolutionary idea: a touchscreen on the charging case allows users to control their earbuds without needing to use their phone.
Surprisingly, even three years later, no major manufacturer has followed suit. Neither Apple, Sony, Bose, nor Samsung has offered a case with a screen, leaving JBL almost alone in this niche market.
JBL Live Beam 4: Technical Specifications
The Live Beam 4 features in-ear design earbuds that maintain the classic stem format, nearly identical to the Live Beam 3 but with a striped chrome trim that carries the JBL logo. This design is more noticeable and stylish compared to the AirPods Pro 3. The tested black version minimizes the effect, but the range is available in seven colors, including bold orange and purple options.
The comfort of these earbuds is exceptional; they fit snugly in the ear without pressing too hard, and the silicone tips provide a good seal without discomfort. They remain secure during light jogging, unless one sweats excessively (in which case, ear-hook type earbuds might be more suitable). Paired with an IP55 rating, they are well-suited for daily commutes and moderate exercise.
Each earbud features a touch-sensitive area on the stem that responds to taps and long presses. Users can customize controls up to three taps to manage their listening experience.
The storage case fits in the palm and is slightly larger than the one for Live Beam 3, also featuring a larger OLED screen. The screen lights up when the lid is opened or can be activated by pressing a button on the back. The earbuds magnetically snap back into their slots for charging, which can be done via USB-C or wirelessly. Like the earbuds, the case is IP55 certified, making it resistant to dust and water splashes.
JBL Live Beam 4: A Wealth of Features
The JBL Headphones app is among the most comprehensive on the market, offering numerous settings. For sound, it includes an equalizer, preset profiles, a Low Volume EQ to compensate for perception loss at lower volumes, a volume limiter, a left-right balance, JBL Spatial Sound, and notably, Personi-Fi 3.0. This feature conducts a hearing test to create a personalized audio curve, usually enhancing higher frequencies, though users can adjust the default signature using the equalizer.
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For noise management, the app allows users to adjust noise cancellation levels with a manual slider or an adaptive mode that dynamically changes the ANC strength. There’s also an adjustable ambient mode to hear surrounding sounds while listening to audio, and a Smart Talk mode that automatically switches to ambient mode when the user starts talking.
The app also offers ambient sounds like moonlight, campfire, or ocean waves for relaxation, which can be set to play for a specified duration.
Controls and Case
Each earbud can be configured independently with four gesture options: single tap, double tap, triple tap, and long press—all customizable. The case settings include volume adjustment, track changes, toggling between noise cancellation, ambient mode, and off, selecting an equalization mode, and checking notifications. Gestures are made by swiping up, down, or sideways, and frequently used functions can be pinned to the home screen.
The case’s wallpaper is customizable, allowing users to select from various clocks or upload a personal photo.
In practice, there’s little need to reopen the app once the initial setup is complete. Most daily interactions can be managed directly from the case, without unlocking the phone.
JBL Live Beam 4: Noise Reduction—Excellent, Though Not the Best
JBL has enhanced its True Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology to version 2.0 with four dedicated microphones. While the difference from the Live Beam 3 is subtle, the comfort provided by the ANC is excellent, although slightly below the AirPods Pro 3, which remain the benchmark.
For lower frequencies, such as those in subways, trains, or cars, the attenuation is significant and on par with the best. Higher-pitched sounds are less attenuated but should still provide ample quiet in most scenarios.
The adaptive mode operates smoothly, without noticeable shifts as the environmental noise changes. Automatic compensation, which recalibrates based on actual fit, ensures consistent performance even if an earbud shifts slightly.
JBL Live Beam 4: Audio—A Bold, Well-Managed Signature
From the outset, the tonal balance is appealing—subjective, but honestly notable: the sound works instantly. It’s slightly different from the Live Beam 3, with less aggressive bass and more pronounced treble, giving the Live Beam 4 a clearer sound without deviating from JBL’s DNA of robust bass and organic mids. This evolution makes the sound more universally appealing.
Tonal Balance with Emphasis on Bass and Treble
The sound signature is intentionally non-neutral but thoughtfully crafted to be flattering. The bass is extensive and robust, with a boost around 30-40 Hz that enhances kick drums and adds density to action-packed movies or music. A dip in the lower mids slightly reduces vocal fullness. The upper mids (1-2 kHz) are present but controlled, clean, and fast, preventing ear fatigue at the most sensitive frequency range. The treble is pronounced on the curve but, due to less sensitivity to higher frequencies, it adds brightness without excess—well-balanced overall.
Dynamic Range and Soundstage
The dynamic performance is strong. Numerous subtle details are audible and well-organized; elements don’t overlap even in complex passages. However, the soundstage is somewhat narrow, which is perhaps the only significant criticism. The stereo field lacks width, and there isn’t much breathing room between layers. While the result is still pleasing, this is where the Live Beam 4 is least impressive.
Listening Impressions
On Massive Attack’s “Angel,” the bass line hits just right: deep, sustained, and never muddying the texture above. This track showcases these earbuds at their best, as it lives in the frequencies where they excel.
On Daft Punk’s “Giorgio by Moroder,” the progressive layering is perfectly clear. Each layer maintains its place, the drums stay crisp, and the synths don’t blend together, demonstrating the organizational prowess mentioned earlier.
On Agnes Obel’s “Riverside,” the piano is crystalline, and the harmonics are well-represented thanks to the generous treble. The vocals, however, lean slightly higher and lose a bit of body due to the recessed lower mids. It’s not bothersome, just a consequence of the chosen sound profile.
On Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” the sub-bass is handled effortlessly, and the contrast with the whispers at the higher end of the spectrum is striking. This track is a perfect match for the earbuds’ intended sound signature.
A final note on JBL Spatial Sound: it adds little, and the soundstage it creates isn’t natural. It might find some use in movies, TV series, or gaming to enhance the experience. In music, however, it’s best left disabled.
JBL Live Beam 4: Calls—Six Well-Utilized Microphones
JBL has incorporated six microphones, beamforming, and a noise-reduction algorithm trained through machine learning. On the street, callers reported clear voices with natural timbre and no excessive compression.
Wind remains the usual adversary, and the algorithm handles it adequately without eliminating it entirely. Near the ocean against the wind, the voice remains audible but becomes somewhat harsher.
JBL includes two helpful features by default. The sound level optimizer adjusts the call volume according to ambient noise and performs well. VoiceAware allows users to control the level of their own voice in the earbuds across three settings, solving the common issue of talking too loudly with in-ear devices.
Overall, the JBL Live Beam 4 is well-suited for regular audio calls, performing admirably in this regard.
JBL Live Beam 4: Battery Life—As Advertised
JBL claims up to 48 hours of total battery life, with 12 hours from the earbuds and an additional 36 hours from the case (three full charges of the earbuds), with noise cancellation turned off. With active noise cancellation, expect about 20% less.
These figures hold up in testing. At medium volume with noise cancellation active, the earbuds lasted nearly 10 hours.
As for charging time: ten minutes on USB-C provides four hours of listening, and a full charge takes about two hours. Wireless Qi charging is also an option, allowing the case to be placed on the same pad as a phone, and a full charge takes roughly two hours.
JBL Live Beam 4: Price and Competition—JBL Versus JBL
The Live Beam 4 is priced at 199 euros and available in seven different colors.
Its main competitors are the JBL Live Beam 3, still on the market for around 130 euros. Their sound profile is slightly different, with fewer high frequencies but just as much impact.
A step up, the JBL Tour Pro 3 at 249 euros offers superior sound quality with dual drivers per earbud: finer mids and highs, a broader and more open soundstage.
In conclusion, the JBL Live Beam 4 stands out with its unique charging case with touchscreen controls, comprehensive app features, and robust sound signature, making them a strong contender in their price range and beyond.
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.