JBL JBL Live 670NC Noise-Cancelling On-Ear Wireless Review

A budget ANC champion on battery life and comfort, but don't expect audiophile sound. For $130, it gets the job done without any fuss.

The JBL Live 670NC is the definition of a solid, no-frills budget ANC headphone. It's not trying to be the best, and that's okay. The one thing to know is this: for around $130, you get a functional, comfortable package with decent noise cancelling and a battery that just won't quit. It's a reliable daily driver for commutes and work, but don't expect it to wow you with sound quality or compete with the big names in pure performance.

Honestly, nothing here was a huge surprise, which is kind of the point. The performance is exactly what you'd expect for the price. The ANC works well enough for a bus or a coffee shop, but it's not going to silence a jet engine. The sound is fine—a bit bass-forward in that classic JBL way, but nothing special. The real standout, if you can call it that, is the sheer battery life. 65 hours is massive, and in our database, that lands it in the 48th percentile, which tells you most headphones at this price are still struggling to hit 30. You'll charge these maybe once a week.

At $130, the value is straightforward. You're not getting a premium experience, but you are getting a very competent one. If your main needs are noise cancellation and battery life for under $150, this is a strong contender. It's worth it if those are your top priorities and you're willing to accept average sound.

This sits in a crowded field. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort are in a different league for ANC and sound, but they cost twice as much. A more direct competitor is the Beats Studio Pro, which often goes on sale for not much more. The Beats have better sound and a more premium feel, but worse battery life. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is another step up in audio quality but again, at a higher price. The Live 670NC's play is undercutting all of them on price while still delivering the core features.

Skip these if you're an audio snob or a frequent flyer who needs the absolute best noise cancellation. The sound profile is basic JBL fun, not nuanced or detailed. And while the ANC works, it's not in the same league as the $350+ options. For those folks, look at the Sony WH-1000XM5 or even a used pair of older Bose models.

We recommend the JBL Live 670NC if you're on a strict budget and your checklist is: noise cancelling, all-day comfort, and a battery that lasts forever. It's a reliable workhorse. But if sound quality is your number one concern, or you want the absolute best noise cancellation for travel, you should save up and look at the Sony or Bose models. This is a good headphone, not a great one, and that's perfectly fine for a lot of people.