If you spend a lot of time with headphones on, battery life is probably the first thing you check. JBL is leaning into that with two new additions to its catalog. The new JBL Live headphones, the Live 680NC and Live 780NC, are on the way, and both are built around the idea of lasting well past a full day on a single charge.
The two share most of the same core specs. Both run on Bluetooth 6.0 with LE Audio support and carry 40mm dynamic drivers. They also pack Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, with microphones that adjust in real time based on your surroundings. Battery life hits up to 80 hours with ANC off, or 50 hours with it on. A quick five-minute charge adds another four hours if you’re running low. Call quality gets a boost too, with a 2-mic AI-trained algorithm that cuts through background noise.
The main difference between the two comes down to fit. The 680NC is an on-ear design, while the 780NC goes over-ear. The 780NC also uses six microphones for its ANC instead of four, giving it a bit more precision when filtering out your surroundings. Both fold flat, come with a carrying pouch, and connect to the JBL Headphones app for EQ adjustments and Personi-Fi 3.0 sound personalization. You also get multipoint connection on both, so switching between your phone and laptop is painless.
What sets these apart from JBL’s other headphones
The Live line sits above JBL’s Tune series in the brand’s lineup. These JBL Live headphones aim at a broader everyday audience. That’s a different target than something like the JBL Tour ONE M3, which leaned into productivity with eight-mic ANC and Smart Tx support. Both new models do still support the JBL Smart Tx accessory if you want wired passthrough without losing your wireless features.
The Live 680NC is priced at $159.95 and the Live 780NC comes in at $249.95. Both are available in a new metallic finish across several color options including green, blue, and champagne.