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

The JBL Live 670NC is the definition of average, with every key metric scoring between the 48th and 50th percentile. Its 65-hour battery is a bright spot, but overall performance can't justify the $130 price tag against stronger competitors. Save your money for a model that excels in at least one area.

The JBL Live 670NC is a $130 on-ear headphone that tries to be a jack-of-all-trades for commutes and travel. Its headline feature is a massive 65-hour battery life, which lands in the 48th percentile compared to other wireless headphones. That's a solid number, but it's also a good summary of the whole package: decent, but not exceptional.

Across our core performance metrics, the 670NC consistently scores right around the middle of the pack. Its sound quality, noise cancellation, microphone, and comfort all hover between the 48th and 50th percentile. This isn't a bad thing, but it means you're getting a very average experience for the price. It's the definition of a competent, no-frills daily driver.

Performance here is all about meeting expectations, not exceeding them. With sound quality in the 49th percentile and ANC in the 48th, these headphones will block out a decent amount of bus or plane noise and deliver JBL's signature bass-forward sound. It's fine for podcasts and pop music, but audiophiles will notice the lack of detail compared to higher-tier models.

The battery life is the standout spec on paper, but its 48th percentile ranking tells the real story. While 65 hours is a big number, many competitors in this price range offer similar or better longevity relative to their overall performance package. The microphone and connectivity also sit at the 48th percentile, meaning calls will be clear enough and Bluetooth 5.3 is reliable, but you won't get any special sauce here.

At $130, the JBL Live 670NC is priced directly against some very strong competition. The problem is its value proposition. You're paying for a set of features that all perform at a median level. There's no single area where it punches above its weight class to justify choosing it over a more specialized option. When you can often find last-gen champions like the Sony WH-1000XM4 on sale for not much more, the 670NC's 'good enough' across the board feels less compelling.

Stacked up against the giants, the 670NC's middling scores become very clear. The Sony WH-1000XM5 dominates it in ANC and sound quality, often scoring in the 80th+ percentiles for those metrics. Even the older XM4 is a generation ahead. The Apple AirPods Max, while more expensive, offers a vastly more cohesive ecosystem experience and superior transparency mode. Against the Beats Studio Pro, you lose out on better integration with Apple's spatial audio. The 670NC's only real advantage is its lower price, but when sales hit, that gap narrows significantly, making the better-performing competitors a smarter buy.

Skip these if you're an audiophile or need top-tier noise cancellation. With sound quality in the 49th percentile and ANC in the 48th, you're paying for median performance. Gamers should also look elsewhere, as this model scored an abysmal 8.7 out of 100 for gaming use. Finally, if you have a larger budget or can catch a sale, you can get a previous-generation flagship from Sony or Bose that will outperform the 670NC in every meaningful way.

We can't strongly recommend the JBL Live 670NC for most buyers. Its perfectly average performance across the board at a $130 price point is a tough sell. If you absolutely need an on-ear design and find these on a steep discount below $100, they become a reasonable beater pair for the gym or travel. But for anyone looking for the best sound, best noise cancellation, or best comfort, there are better-focused options—even at this price—that don't settle for 48th percentile performance.