'Everything you want in headphones at this level': I tested JBL's new over-ears and if you're all about that bass, these cans go on and on (and on)

Date:
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Description:
The JBL Live 780NC offer great if somewhat bass-heavy sound, a vast array of features including Dolby Atmos support, and an impressive battery life.

FULL STORY ======================================================================JBL
Live 780NC: Two-minute review I was not expecting to be as impressed by the JBL Live 780NC as I ended up being. Even out of the box, it looked like another good but not great $200-range pair of headphones that excel in
certain areas but end up making compromises elsewhere. But really the only compromises are the lack of a charging cable and the fact you cant remove the ear pads. But dig a little deeper and the JBL Live 780NC start to shine. The feature set rivals that of the best wireless headphones out there like the Sony WH-1000XM6 . Sure, most wireless headphones now come with active noise cancellation and an ambient mode, but many dont come with Auracast, as powerful of an EQ (and personalized EQ), or Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res support.
At least, not at this price.

Ill throw in the obligatory these-arent-perfect counterpoints and there are
a few. The bass can sometimes get a little out of control to the point where
I usually had the bass cut through the EQ when listening. And the Dolby Atmos feature is a bit underwhelming for music, not to mention that only a handful of streaming services provide Dolby Atmos content. Still, the JBL Live 780NC get high marks from me. And if you give them a chance, youll probably feel
the same. (Image credit: Future / James Holland) JBL Live 780NC: Price and release date Priced $249.95 (about 190 / AU$360, but currently launched in US only) Launch date March 12, 2026 With a March 2026 launch date in the US, the JBL Live 780NC are the newest addition to JBLs lineup of over-ear headphones, having landed alongside their 680NC on-ear counterparts . And despite being among the more expensive of JBLs offerings (only out priced by the JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx and the JBL Quantum One ), theyre firmly in the mid-tier
price range for over-ear wireless cans in general, coming in at $249.95
(about 190 / AU$360). Theyre also available in five colors: black, green, blue, white, and champagne.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the JBL Live 780NC are only available in the US. However, considering their predecessor, the 2023-issue JBL Live 770NC , can be purchased in the UK and Australia, my guess is that its only a matter of time before these headphones will become available in those regions as well. JBL Live 780NC: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Drivers

40mm drivers

Active noise cancellation

Adaptive

Battery life

Up to 50 hours with ANC On, 80 without

Weight

260g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Frequency range

10Hz - 40kHz

Waterproofing

N/A

Other features

Multipoint connectivity, App Support, Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, Hi-Res, Spatial Audio, Fast Charging, Auracast, Voice Assistant JBL Live 780NC: Features Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / James Holland) (Image credit: Future / James Holland) (Image credit: Future / James Holland) (Image credit: Future / James Holland) Multipoint and Auracast available Personalizable EQ according to what you can hear Deep EQ manipulation The JBL Live 780NC may be as feature-filled as any other pair of headphones on the market. Not only do they come with multipoint connectivity, but allow for use with Auracast where you can connect multiple headphones to one source, as well as Bluetooth with LE Audio (something Apple doesnt currently support). They even do that thing where they stop playing when you take them off your head.

The active noise cancellation and Ambient (sometimes referred to as transparency) mode are fairly deep. You can set levels of both using a
slider, as well as turn on an adaptive mode for the ANC. TalkThru, basically an ambient mode hyperaware of human voices, is also an option here. And they work pretty well too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
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The ANC was able to completely block out ambient noise with music playing at 50%, while the ambient mode was able to still allow me to fully understand a conversation on TV while listening to music at 60%.

Of course, while you can cycle through the types of Ambient Sound Control as JBL calls it with a press of a button on the headphones, the real fine tuning happens in the JBL headphone app. The app has a number of additional features and ways of customizing your experience.

For instance, Personi-fi 3.0 is a cool feature that tests how well you can hear a series of frequencies on both ears and then adjusts the EQ to offset any hearing loss you have. I also appreciated that I could toggle it on and off after going through the process.

Speaking of EQ, there are six presets available through the included
Equalizer function with the ability to add more. More importantly, however,
is the fact that I can create a completely custom EQ with a seemingly
infinite amount of points (I stopped at 17) where you can boost or cut up to
6 dB.

Spatial sound gets its own set of three presets Movie, Music, and Game though there isnt any more control other than selecting between them. Theres also a left / right balance, and a Low Volume Dynamic EQ setting so that
audio still sounds present even when turned down.

I also appreciate the number of settings for better sounding calls, even allowing you to hear your own voice if you want.

Lastly, it also comes with a relax mode that allows you to play any combination of up to five relaxing sounds from one to sixty minutes (selectable along a slider). Its a nice if slightly gimmicky feature.
Features score: 5/5 JBL Live 780NC: Design No charging cable included Comfortable, (if slightly tight) fit Plenty of on-unit controls When unboxing the JBL Live 780NC, a couple things popped out to me. I was a little disheartened to see that JBL didnt include a charging cable, though not too much, since it uses USB-C and anyone with a modern smartphone can use the
same cable to charge these headphones. More appreciated was the inclusion of
a carrying pouch, albeit a fairly thin one, as well as the USB-C to aux cable for more analog listening.

Mostly though, I liked the fact that the JBL Live 780NC, while not
reinventing the wheel, dont look like every other pair of over-ear wireless headphones out there. Not only do they come in the five different colors mentioned above (my test unit is black), but the earcups have a rounded almost-retro-but-not-quite shape to them that with oversize earpads give it
an accessible yet slightly elevated look. (Image credit: Future / James Holland) The earpads might not be removable but they are plush as is the headband, while the rest of the Live 780NC are a combination of durable plastic and sturdy metal most notably the hinge. JBL doesnt give an exact measurements, but each earcup looks to have an adjustment range of about an inch and a half giving these headphones the flexibility to fit on just about any head. Plus, the earcups can swivel flat as well as fold, which make them easier to carry.

The headphones sit tight on the head without too much pressure for a secure and comfortable fit. And if you try these on and find them too tight, adjusting the ear cups will alleviate the pressure. At 260 grams, theyre not light. But I didnt find them fatiguing to wear for long listening sessions. Though theyre not really meant for active wear, I even tried them on while going for a run and found them comfortable the entire time.

I also like the fact that cloth covering the 40mm drivers has a sizable L and R etched into them to indicate sides. Ive experienced more than one pair of headphones that hide the left and right indicators in some forgotten crevice, making me spend a few extra seconds figuring out the proper headphone orientation (first world problems).

Typically, many wireless headphones have all the controls on one side. Thats not the case with the JBL Live 780NC. The right side does have more on it, containing the power / bluetooth slider and ANC / AmbientAware button along with the USB-C port. You can also tap the outside of the ear cup for various additional controls like play / pause, mic mute, call answer, and voice assistant cycling. The left side is a little more minimal but does have the all important volume controls. Design score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future / James Holland) JBL Live 780NC: Sound Really impressive sound, except for overly pronounced bass Spatial audio is a treat, if a bit underwhelming Ridiculously long battery life Having spent quite some time testing the JBL Live 780NC, listening to all sorts of genres through Apple Music with Dolby Atmos and lossless on (and therefore able to listen to music in Hi-Res and with spatial audio on), Ive come away quite impressed.

The sound quality here is better than I was expecting it to be considering
the more mid-range price tag. Regardless of what I listened to, the mids and high end came through very clearly.

The mids have a good amount of body so rock and more mid-forward music
retains its edge, while the high end has the kind of clarity to keep sounds like cymbals coming through with a crispness they deserve.

The one place that the audio quality lines up more closely with my experience of headphones in this price range is the bass. For instance, Ive never listened to U2 and thought there was too much bass. (Image credit: Future / James Holland) That is until I tested these headphones and put on Until The End of the World in an effort to find some kind of rock in Dolby Atmos. I
also tested with some hip hop, like Duckwrth and J. Cole, where that big bass worked better, but as soon as I turned on the bass boost EQ preset, it completely overwhelmed the rest of the audio. If youre a bass head and
welcome hearing damage, you might like that.

I did appreciate the ability to play Dolby Atmos through these headphones, though the availability of this content is limited to only a handful of streaming services. Yet, the spatial audio effect is more limited than it is with a physical atmos system. On the bright side, it is more impactful when watching shows or movies (or gaming), giving content a more three dimensional experience.

Still, everything does have more clarity to it with more separation between aural elements like instruments and backing vocals. Part of that is listening in Hi-Res lossless audio but some of it is also the Dolby Atmos since it allows for a bigger sense of space in the soundstage. It is a virtual approximation since these headphones rock just one 40mm driver per side. That said, this is still incredible audio for $250.

Using the headphones for calls is almost as impressive. As the wearer, I was able to hear calls clearly. And due to the dual beamforming mics there are four mics total coupled with an AI-trained algorithm, the caller on the
other end could hear me just as clearly, stating that they wouldnt have even known I was speaking through the 780NC if I hadnt told them.

What probably blows me away the most at least in terms of how far headphones have come in a few years is the ridiculously long battery life. A five
minute fast charge garners four hours use. And though it takes two hours to fully charge from empty, once charged, the JBL Live 780NC can last up to 80 hours, 50 if youre always using ANC. Ive charged these headphones once since
I got them and thats only because they arrived with a 50% battery life out of the box. Performance: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future / James Holland) JBL Live 780NC: Value JBL Live 780NC sound better than their price Similar features in other headphones cost more Only a few headphones come with better battery
life Aesthetically and design-wise, the JBL Live 780NC look like the mid-tier headphones that they are. But, the amount of features on hand as well as the superb sound quality (as long as youre okay with a big low end) and
impressive battery life feel like they belong in a more expensive pair.

If we look at other wireless headphones out there, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are
one of the first ones to pop up on any best of list. While their ANC is probably the best out there (along with Boses top options), they also go for
a much heftier $449 / 399 / AU$699. They also have a more limited battery life, lasting 30 hours with ANC on. And theyre a bit more limited when it comes to other features. They would get a little bit of a pass regarding the limited features since theyve been out since 2024, but the prices havent really come down much since their release. You might find them at around
$400, but not really any less than that outside of a sales event.

You can find some headphones with better battery life like the Cambridge
Audio Melomania P100 , which provide up to 100 hours of battery life. But those are more expensive, at $299 / 249 (AU$510 approx.), and dont offer spatial audio support. On top of that, the ANC is not as good on the
Cambridge as it is on the JBL. Value: 4.5/5 Should I buy the JBL Live 780NC? Swipe to scroll horizontally Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Just about every feature from ANC to personalized EQ and spatial audio are on hand here.

5/5

Design

The JBL Live 780NC have a comfortable fit and are available in a number of colors. I do wish they came with a charging cable.

4.5/5

Performance

The spatial audio might be too subtle and the bass too big, but make no mistake these headphones sound very good. Plus, the battery life is amazing.

4.5/5

Value

These headphones punch above their weight when it comes to features, battery life, and sound quality.

4.5/5 Buy them if You want great sounding headphones The sound quality here
is very impressive considering the price point. Theres a clarity and separation that I dont expect to hear in headphones at this price point. You want all the features From multipoint connectivity and Auracast to spatial audio, ANC, and more, the amount of features here seem almost limitless. Dont buy them if You dont want big bass As good as these headphones sound, the sound signature is not quite neutral thanks to that big bass. If youre expecting audiophile-type sound, youre going to have to fiddle quite a bit with the EQ. Youre expecting spatial audio to be transformative The spatial audio is a nice addition to these headphones and does improve the sound in intangible ways, but its not a game changer. If youre expecting it to change your listening experience, youll be disappointed. JBL Live 780NC: Also consider Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 You might have to pay a little more for the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, but its hundred hours of battery life have yet to be beaten. Plus, they sound pretty darn good. ANC is good but not great here though, and it doesnt come with any spatial audio support. Read
our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 The Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 are just a little cheaper while still providing a good looking (and feeling) pair of headphones that travel well and come with an almost as impressive battery life. Theyre more limited in features though, and dont wow in the audio department (they do still sound good). Read our
full Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 review (Image credit: Future / James Holland) How I tested the JBL Live 780NC Tested over a two-week period Tested with different music as well as video streaming and gaming Tested the various features I spent two weeks using the JBL Live 780NC as my daily headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip hop to rock and acoustic music to compare the frequency range and soundstage. I also tested them with streaming video, video games, and used the various settings such as ANC, transparency mode, EQ, and multipoint.

Ive spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesnt sound good. First reviewed in April 2026 Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee JBL Live 780NC: Price Comparison No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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