The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent Bluetooth over-ear ANC headphones. They look and feel quite well-built and durable, and are comfortable enough to wear for longer listening sessions. They have a well-balanced and versatile sound profile that's suitable for a wide variety of genres and content, from country to hip-hop. If you like to fine-tune the way your headphones sound, you can also change their audio reproduction via a parametric EQ or presets in their dedicated companion app. Unfortunately, despite having ANC, their noise isolation performance is only okay and they don't help give any peace and quiet on a bus or plane. Their integrated microphone is also very disappointing and your voice sounds distorted, unnatural, and difficult to understand.
Our Verdict
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent over-ear headphones for mixed usage. They look and feel well-built and durable, and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods without fatigue or discomfort. Their sound profile is well-balanced and versatile enough for a wide range of genres and content, from hip-hop to podcasts, and their companion app gives you access to a parametric EQ and presets to customize the way they sound. Unfortunately, their ANC doesn't help very much, and even with it turned on, they only do an alright job at blocking out background noise. Overall, while they aren't exceptionally good for any certain usage, these headphones are versatile enough to be decent for most uses.
- Durable and comfortable look and feel.
- Well-balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Companion app gives access to parametric EQ and presets.
- Excellent battery performance.
- Test unit has issues with stereo imaging.
- ANC is only slightly better than passive noise isolation.
- Poor overall integrated microphone performance.
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent over-ear headphones for neutral sound listening. Their default sound profile is very well-balanced and accurate, and you can easily customize the way they sound through a fully parametric EQ or presets within their companion app. Their soundstage isn't great, though this is to be expected of closed-back over-ear headphones. Unfortunately, our testing revealed some issues with their stereo imaging, though it wasn't too noticeable in real-world usage and your unit may perform differently. Their weighted harmonic distortion is also only okay, and more critical listeners may notice some artifacts in their sound reproductions. On the bright side, their frequency response consistency is fairly decent, and you may only have to adjust them slightly to experience the same sound every time you wear them.
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent over-ear headphones for commuting and travel. They're comfortable enough to wear for long periods without fatigue, and their 25-hour battery life should easily last most travel days. Unfortunately, while they have ANC, it doesn't do much to help with blocking out background noise, especially in the bass range, where the low rumble of bus and plane engines sit. On the bright side, their well-balanced sound profile is suitable for most content from music to podcasts, and their control scheme is robust. They also don't look too much audio, so you can turn them up without bothering the person sitting next to you on the bus.
If you prefer the fit of over-ears to in-ears or earbuds while at the gym, the JBL CLUB 950NC are a decent choice. They feel stable enough for most moderate exercising, though they may slide around during more intense workouts. They're comfortable enough to wear for extended periods, and they look and feel quite durable and well-built. Unfortunately, they don't have an IP rating for dust or water resistance so you may not want to wear them while running in the rain. Their bulky over-ear design also causes your ears to warm up after a bit of use, though this is to be expected.
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent over-ear headphones for the office. They're comfortable enough to wear for an entire day without any fatigue, and their 25-hour battery life should last the majority of an entire workweek. Unfortunately, their ANC doesn't help with blocking much background noise, though overall, they do a good job at cancelling out workplace noises, like chatty coworkers and AC units. They also have good leakage performance, so you should be able to turn up your music without bothering colleagues sitting nearby.
The JBL CLUB 950NC can only be used via Bluetooth or with a wire. Therefore, they can't be used wirelessly with an Xbox One or PS4. While they work with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their high latency and poor integrated microphone make them a poor choice.
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent headphones for wired gaming thanks to their included 1/8" TRRS audio cable with in-line microphone. They can easily be plugged into the controller of a PS4 or Xbox One for full audio and microphone compatibility, making them suitable for online gaming. They're fairly comfortable, though they may cause your ears to get warm during longer gaming marathons due to their over-ear design. It's worth noting that we only test the integrated microphone, so we aren't sure how the in-line mic performs while using these headphones wired.
The JBL CLUB 950NC aren't recommended for phone calls. The integrated microphone is poor overall, and your voice sounds very distorted and difficult to understand, especially in even moderately loud environments. On the bright side, their audio cable also features an in-line mic, so you can continue to make phone calls while using the headphones wired. It's worth noting that we only test the integrated microphone, so we aren't sure how the in-line mic performs.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL CLUB 950NC are decent overall Bluetooth over-ears with ANC, though unfortunately, they don't stand out much from some other options, and perform much worse in many regards. Their ANC doesn't add much and is easily outperformed by other options like the very popular Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 or Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless, or even budget options like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. On the bright side, these headphones have a very well-balanced sound profile, and their companion app includes a parametric EQ, which is great. If you're looking for a better pair of headphones, check out our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, or the best closed-back headphones.
The Jabra Elite 85h Wireless and the JBL CLUB 950NC Wireless are both decent Bluetooth over-ears that perform similarly for certain uses. The Jabra are more comfortable and have a better control scheme, as well as a significantly better-sounding integrated microphone. They also have a longer battery, and a slightly better-balanced default sound profile, though both are quite well-balanced out-of-the-box. On the other hand, while the Jabra have a graphic EQ in their companion app, the JBL's EQ is fully parametric, allowing you to finetune their sound profile more precisely.
The JBL CLUB 950NC Wireless are slightly better over-ear headphones than the JBL Live 650 BTNC. The 950NC have a better-balanced and more accurate sound profile out of the box, though they don't have nearly as much low-bass. Their battery also lasts a little bit longer, and they now charge via USB-C, which is more convenient for most people than the micro-USB found on the 650. On the other hand, the 650 have a better integrated microphone, slightly better noise isolation, and much better stereo imaging.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better Bluetooth over-ears than the JBL CLUB 950NC Wireless. The Bose are much more comfortable thanks to their lightweight design that doesn't clamp nearly as tightly on the head, and their integrated microphone sounds much better overall. They also have a much better ANC feature, that does an outstanding job of blocking out background noises. While both headphones have well-balanced default sound profiles, the JBL have a better app that gives you a parametric EQ and presets to adjust the way they sound. The JBL also have a longer battery life, leak less audio, and come with an audio cable with an in-line mic, so you can make phone calls even while using the headphones wired.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better Bluetooth over-ears than the JBL CLUB 950NC Wireless. The Sony are a bit more comfortable, feel more durable and well-built, and have a better integrated microphone. They also have a slightly more bass-heavy sound profile which adds extra kick and thump without being overpowering. While both headphones have ANC, the Sony's is one of the best we've ever tested and works drastically better, especially at blocking out the low rumble of bus or plane engines. On the other hand, the JBL come with an audio cable with an in-line mic so you can take phone calls while using your headphones wired. The JBL also have physical buttons, as opposed to the touch-sensitive ones found on the Sony that don't work properly in cold climates.
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