I Tried the JBL Live 780NC: Experience Precision Sound and Silky Smoothness

JBL has a longstanding history in sound engineering. This American manufacturer has been in the business for decades, designing everything from room sound systems to high-fidelity home audio and even complete setups for certain venues, but it’s best known to the general public for its portable speakers. In this area, JBL is tough to fault: in nearly every size category, a JBL Bluetooth speaker is the best or close to it.

There’s a JBL sound that is distinct, pleasant, and has matured over time. Just a few years ago, both the speakers and headphones from the brand tended to be a bit overpowering, with a rock concert-like sound that could come off as harsh. But around two years ago, JBL shifted its focus towards more refined, detailed sound quality. The Live 780NC is a prime example of this new direction.

Let’s discuss the positioning, as JBL’s lineup is extensive. The Live series sits in the middle, bridging the entry-level Tune and the high-end Tour series. The Live 780NC is the most advanced model in the Live series, and the latest to be released.

JBL Live 780NCTechnical Specifications

This review was conducted with a headset provided by JBL.

JBL Live 780NCDesign and Comfort: Making a Statement

It’s clear from the start: this headset is designed to be noticed. With its rounded shapes and vibrant colors, it’s as much a fashion accessory as it is an audio product. This is a deliberate choice, targeting a specific customer base. If you’re looking for the understated appeal of a matte black Sennheiser, this isn’t it.

The headband is flexible, the ear pads are well-cushioned, and the clamping force is just right. You can wear it for long sessions without feeling the urge to take it off, which is exactly the point of a product designed for extended listening.

Weighing just 260 grams, the Live 780NC is light on the head and well-balanced, staying securely in place even if you shake your head.

The build quality is reassuring. The hinges are made of metal, the headphones fold, and they can be tucked into a bag without taking up much space (a carrying pouch is included). They feel robust enough to handle rough treatment like being dropped or squeezed.

JBL Live 780NCButtons and Comprehensive App

JBL opts for physical buttons distributed across both ear cups, with a touch-sensitive area on the right ear cup mainly used for play/pause, track skipping, and handling incoming calls.

For other functions like volume or active noise cancellation, you’ll need to use the buttons. Volume controls are on the left ear cup, easily distinguishable as they are the only buttons there. On the right, you’ll find the power and Bluetooth pairing button, as well as the noise cancellation function button.

A Wealth of Features

The JBL Headphones app continues to evolve slowly, maintaining the layout of previous versions. This is a good thing, as the app remains user-friendly.

It includes three tabs:

• General, for managing active noise cancellation, transparency mode or Talkthru (transparency mode with music pause for conversation), personal sound amplification (adjusting left-right balance for those who hear better from one ear) which allows for adjusting the intensity of transparency mode, reprogramming of buttons and touch area, and activating Bluetooth LE Audio or Auracast.
• Audio, for activating the higher quality LDAC codec on compatible smartphones, adjusting sound through 10 frequency keys and presets, Spatial Audio, adaptive equalization (for enhancing bass at low volume) and various settings for phone calls.
• Others, for playing soothing sounds (sea, campfire, forest, etc.).

Codecs and Multipoint

The technologies for wireless compression SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 (LE Audio) are all included. LDAC ensures high-quality transmission on compatible sources, mainly Android. If you’re using an iPhone, you won’t have LE Audio or LDAC, but it’s hardly a disadvantage: AAC offers excellent quality, and the difference in listening is very hard to discern.

For easily connecting to public music sources, Auracast technology is supported.

The multipoint connection works well, allowing simultaneous pairing with two devices. You can switch from watching a movie on a tablet to taking a call on a phone without any hassle.

Personi-Fi 3.0 and Spatial Audio

As is often the case with JBL headphones and earphones, you’ll find the Personi-Fi 3.0 option, an interactive assistant that quickly adjusts the response curve to your preferences. As for JBL Spatial Sound, which transforms any stereo content into enveloping sound, it’s best reserved for movies and series… music doesn’t benefit much from it.

JBL Live 780NCActive Noise Cancellation: A True Bubble of Calm

Active noise cancellation has made significant progress in the past two years, to the point where most headphones in this price range are quite close in performance. The level of quiet achieved is very good, effectively eradicating low-frequency sounds around you while reasonably reducing higher-frequency noises. To get better, you would have to look at headphones from Bose or Apple, with only a modest improvement.

The adaptive mode adjusts the intensity depending on the environment, and you can switch to manual in the app to maximize ANC. Honestly, it’s better to go manual and max out the ANC, as the impact on battery life is negligible compared to the listening benefits.

The transparency mode is not bad either. It doesn’t match Apple’s level, where it feels like you’re not wearing headphones at all, but it serves its purpose: remaining aware of your surroundings when walking on the street, thus keeping you safe. Moreover, you can adjust its intensity and even amplify your environment.

JBL Live 780NCAudio: Softness as a Signature

If there’s one word to describe these headphones, it’s this: softness. The sound signature of the Live 780NC is especially smooth, and that’s really its hallmark. It’s comfortable to listen to for hours, which is fortunate given its battery life.

The 40 mm composite diaphragm drivers are of very high quality, and this is apparent in their dynamic behavior. This is where the headphones surprise the most. Usually, when the sound is soft, it tends to be sluggish, somewhat lazy. Not so here. There’s responsiveness, sharp attacks, real energy when the track demands it. Softness does not mean lack of vigor.

But let’s put things in perspective. We’re not talking about the level of detail you’d find in high-end headphones. The balance is more physiological, more flattering, and the midrange is less prominent, less intricate than it would be in a headphone from the Tour series or a Sennheiser priced at 400 euros. It’s not a flaw; it’s a deliberate choice within this product range.

Response Curve

The frequency response curve reveals a surprise. There’s a peak of presence between 2,000 and 3,000 Hz, precisely where our ear is most sensitive, and generally, this would lead to a harsh listening experience, the type that becomes grating after twenty minutes.

But that’s not always the case. When sound in this zone is delivered with precision and clarity, the ear is far less bothered. That’s exactly what happens here. The peak is there, measurable, yet the listening experience remains silky smooth.

Lower down, there’s a slight boost around 300 to 400 Hz. This gives the voices body, presence, and emphasis. The effect is very apparent when listening: voices have presence and texture. This is great news for podcasts, series, films, and of course, sung music.

In the higher frequencies, the curve is somewhat uneven, but that’s normal in this spectrum region, and it’s not a cause for concern. There’s a spike that adds airiness to the overall sound and brings out the finesse in cymbals.

Soundstage

The spatialization is good, the soundstage is wide, with decent depth. There’s really no need to activate the Spatial Audio mode; it distorts the sound, and stereo listening is more convincing. You’re well immersed in the sound, never feeling smothered. Sometimes, you might be surprised by sounds strongly localized to the left or right, very detached. That’s a good sign. The stage varies depending on what you’re listening to, expanding or contracting based on the recording of the track.

Listening Impressions

Norah Jones, “Don’t Know Why”

This track is perfect for these headphones, almost a textbook case. The piano is warm, the double bass is rich, and the voice comes through clearly in front, with body. This is where the boost in the lower midrange does its work. You can hear the breath, the texture. Nothing is harsh, no sibilance on the consonants, yet everything is clear. The kind of track you might play three times over without noticing.

Fleetwood Mac, “Dreams”

For the soundstage. The 1977 production is a showcase of lateralization: guitar on one side, keyboard pads on the other, the hi-hat snapping in the center. The Live 780NC spreads all these elements wide, and it’s precisely on this track that you’re surprised by elements that are very spread apart, very detached. Stevie Nicks’ voice retains its gravelly texture without ever becoming harsh. The bass is well controlled, not lingering too long.

Billie Eilish, “bad guy”

A good test for bass and sub-bass. The synthetic bass line dips very low, and many headphones in this range get lost in it. Here, it remains articulated: you hear the note, not just the boom. The bass is generous, it’s JBL, but it doesn’t smear the rest of the spectrum. And the whisper in the foreground remains intelligible at all times. It’s also on this track that you verify that the softness hasn’t eaten into the dynamics: the break at the end hits just right.

JBL Live 780NCCall Quality: Adequate, Nothing Spectacular

The system is typical: microphones paired with an algorithm trained by machine learning to recognize the user’s voice and isolate it from surrounding noise. The challenge is to eliminate this noise without causing pumping, an unpleasant phenomenon where the sound level fluctuates with the rhythm of your speech.

It works adequately. The voice is intelligible, pumping is minimal, and if you receive a call while on a busy street, you can respond with the headset without causing discomfort to your caller. It’s not phenomenal in terms of pure quality; it’s below what a Sennheiser Momentum 5 with its eight microphones can achieve, but it’s sufficient for daily use.

JBL Live 780NCBattery Life: 80 Hours, No Exaggeration

This is a compelling argument. JBL claims up to 80 hours of listening with noise cancellation turned off, and 50 hours with active noise cancellation. At a reasonable volume, around 50%, these figures are achievable, even exceeded.

50 hours with ANC means a full week of eight-hour days without needing a charger. That’s significantly more than a Sony WH-1000XM6 or a Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, and nearly triple an AirPods Max 2.

Rapid charging is effective: five minutes of charging provides four hours of music, more than enough for a day’s commute. The 870 mAh battery is fully charged in two hours. Reminder: the USB-C cable is not included.

JBL Live 780NCPrice and Competition

The JBL Live 780NC is available for 180 euros, offered in seven colors. That’s twenty euros more than the Live 770NC from 2023, and the difference is easily justified by the inclusion of Bluetooth 6.0, Auracast, and the improved noise cancellation.

The Nothing Headphone (a) is the most direct competitor, priced at 160 euros. It plays a different tune: its midrange is a bit more detailed, leaning closer to the standards of high-fidelity. The JBL, on the other hand, emphasizes voices and smoothness more distinctly.

The Nothing CMF Headphone Pro is much cheaper, around 100 euros, and performs very well acoustically. Its sound is a bit clearer, a bit less smooth than the JBL’s. It’s an excellent purchase if you’re on a tight budget, but the JBL still has an edge in terms of sound quality and comfort during extended listening sessions.

The Fresh ‘n Rebel Clam Ace 2 is also priced around 100 euros, with a very rounded and colorful design in the same spirit. Its sound signature leans more towards the high frequencies, with the upper spectrum more pronounced, therefore offering a different balance. In terms of noise cancellation, these two 100-euro headphones are on par with the Live 780NC. It’s in pure sound quality that the JBL pulls ahead.