JBL Live 460NC are lightweight on-ear headphones designed for comfort, with an effective active noise cancelling feature and convenient carrying pouch. Compatible with JBL’s app, they also give access to parametric EQ settings and presets.

These headphones feature incredible dynamics where bass hits hard without drowning out mids and highs. Their touchpad control on the left ear cup lets you play/pause/skip tracks, while holding it activates either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice assistants.

Sound

The JBL Live 460NC headphones are well-built, comfortable headphones that deliver outstanding audio quality. Their neutral sound profile and active noise cancellation feature offer superior noise isolation. Furthermore, these headphones come equipped with an audio cable so you can continue using them even if their battery dies or they are disconnected from a device.

Their sound is full-bodied and well-balanced, with an emphasis on bass frequency range which adds plenty of punch. Their treble response, however, may be too bright at times causing hi-hats or other sibilants (e.g. claps) to sound piercing; their companion app provides parametric EQ settings that can help control these excess frequencies.

The JBL Live 460NC headphones boast remarkable audio consistency across their frequency spectrum, making them standout among wireless headphones. Though their bass response may be overemphasized on some songs, its depth delivers satisfying low-end depth on most songs. Their mid accuracy can accurately reproduce vocals and lead instruments on orchestral tracks while their extremely low latency on Android and iOS make them suitable for watching videos or playing games.

Design

The JBL Live 460NC are on-ear wireless headphones that offer premium sound quality. Equipped with 40mm drivers to deliver immersive JBL Signature Sound and support voice assistants for hands-free listening, these can also be used in noise cancelling mode to ensure an uninterrupted listening experience. Their soft headband, sleek minimalist aesthetics, lightweight portability, and comfortable design makes these an excellent companion.

These headphones boast an excellent frequency response consistency, with balanced bass and impressive highs. Their treble range is slightly overemphasized to increase vocal clarity and lead instrument clarity; its accuracy may depend on fit, seal and positioning of headset.

These headphones have an acceptable noise isolation performance, blocking out many low-frequency sounds like bus and airplane engines while isolating midrange noise as effectively as some competitors do. Furthermore, their latency performance of 50ms on iOS and Android makes them suitable for streaming video content or gaming.

Controls

The JBL Live 460NC headphones feature active noise cancellation (ANC), allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music without external interruptions. Their noise isolation performance is generally considered satisfactory and they can effectively block out ambient sounds like traffic or conversations; however, they may not be adequate for use during commuter train travel as they don’t block bass-range noise such as engine engines from buses and planes.

These headphones boast a strong frequency response consistency, meaning they provide consistent sound across different media and listening conditions. Their low bass frequency has an additional punchy presence for added rumble in audio mixes while their mid range remains neutral and balanced.

These headphones feature excellent high-mid accuracy that brings out vocal detail and instrument articulation with precision, while their treble has a small peak to enhance clarity of sibilants without becoming distracting. Overall, these headphones have a neutral and balanced sound signature suitable for all genres of music and you can further personalize their sound through their companion app, which allows you to adjust equalizer settings.

Battery life

The JBL Live 460NC headphones provide up to 50 hours of music streaming and perfect stereo calls on one charge, along with access to Google Assistant and Alexa via tap-activation on an ear cup.

Active noise cancellation drains your headphones’ battery within five minutes, but you can extend playback by connecting them via USB-C to your phone and disabling ANC. Their lightweight design and pillow-soft ear cups will ensure comfortable listening sessions.

These headphones feature a neutral sound profile that makes them suitable for various audio content, and come equipped with parametric EQ and presets so you can customize the sound according to your tastes. The companion app offers parametric EQ features so you can alter sound according to personal taste.

These headphones may not include a carrying case, but you can fold them up into a compact size that easily fits in most bags. Plus, they swivel inward to reduce their footprint and fit into tight spaces more easily. Furthermore, their good stability can remain secure during physical activities or long listening sessions; though their cord may become loose under intense movements.

Conclusions

JBL is one of the premier audio manufacturers, offering an array of headphones ranging from high to low prices. Their Live 660NC model stands out as being midrange priced while still providing excellent active noise cancellation and voice assistant support along with outstanding sound quality and an ergonomic design.

Frequency response of these speakers is generally consistent, featuring strong bass accuracy and a neutral midrange that delivers vocals and lead instruments well. Although their slightly overemphasized lower bass can sometimes cloud their mix and compromise its clarity, this shouldn’t be too much of a bother.

Headband and ear cups of this pair of over-ear headphones are narrow for an over-ear model, which may not provide comfortable listening for everyone. Furthermore, these heavy headphones don’t include noise cancelling capability to reduce ambient sound when listening without your device nearby.

Control of your headphones can be accomplished through various buttons on the right ear cup and/or with the JBL Headphones App (iOS/Android). The app adds parametric EQ, presets and other tuning options that augment their already excellent default sound quality, as well as switching between audio and video modes to reduce audio-visual latency when watching videos.