The JBL Live 500BT are fairly versatile headphones that have a decent sound profile. These headphones are quite similar to the JBL E55BT, which seem to be the previous lineup before the Live series. The Live 500BT will be suitable for most music genres and have amazing battery life. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t have active noise cancelling (ANC), which means they won’t be ideal for commuting. For similar noise cancelling headphones, look at the higher-end JBL Live 650BTNC. On the upside, the Live 500BT have a good companion app that gives you access to a full parametric EQ, which allows you to customize their sound to your liking.
Our Verdict
The JBL Live 500BT are good for neutral listening. They have a powerful bass that sounds a bit thumpy, which some fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and dubstep may prefer. Their reproduction of vocals and lead instruments in the mid-range is nearly flawless, but some may find they sound a bit thin. Their treble is a bit uneven and most of the range is over our target, which means some may find them overly sharp. However, they have a full parametric EQ available inside their app that allows you to add as many points as you want to customize their sound profile to your liking, which is great.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
The JBL Live 500BT are alright for commuting. These headphones don’t have an ANC feature, which means they don’t do that great against low-end noises like the rumbling of a plane or bus engine. On the upside, they don’t leak too much so you can listen to your music at fairly high volumes, which masks a bit more ambient noise. They also have a remarkable battery life with over 30 hours of continuous playback, which will last you long enough for the longest trips, although they might get a bit uncomfortable after a while since they're very tight headphones.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
The JBL Live 500BT are decent for sports. These headphones are tight and have a secure fit for over-ears, especially since they're fairly lightweight. However, they won’t be the most portable option even if they fold and swivel. They don’t come with a case, so they won’t be protected if you want to put them in your gym bag. Also, they won’t be very breathable, and you will feel a noticeable temperature difference when working out with these.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
The JBL Live 500BT are fair for office use. While they don’t isolate low-end noises for commuting, they do a pretty good job at blocking work environment noises such as ambient chatter and A/C noise. You’ll also be able to play your music at high volumes without distracting surrounding colleagues. Their battery life will last you a few workdays without having to charge them and they’ll be comfortable to wear for a while, but you might need to take some breaks here and there due to their tightness.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
The JBL Live 500BT are sub-par for gaming. These headphones’ Bluetooth latency will be too high for gaming and their integrated microphone won’t have the best recording quality for online multiplayer games. You can improve their performance by using them wired, which gets rid of the latency, and use their in-line mic, which we expect to perform slightly better. However, it won’t rival the voice recording quality of a gaming headset’s boom microphone.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- Amazing battery life.
- Great full parametric EQ for audio customization.
- Sub-par noise isolation.
- Tight fit, can get uncomfortable after a while.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 11, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 07, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Live 500BT are decent over-ear headphones that perform fairly well in most of our tests but don’t necessarily excel in anything in particular. For their intended use and value, they're a decent and versatile option. However, they do lack an ANC feature for commuting, which is available on other similar models.
See our recommendations for the best headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, and the best headphones under $200.
The JBL Live 500BT are sort of a newer version of the JBL E55BT Wireless and perform better. They feel better built, and the folding joints are now metal, which don't feel like they might break. They also have noticeably better battery life, with about twice the life of the E55BT. They are also compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which gives you access to a great parametric EQ, while the E55BT don’t have any customization options. The wireless range also improved on the Live 500BT.
Even if the JBL E65BTNC Wireless are from an older lineup, they are still better-performing headphones than the JBL Live 500BT Wireless. They have a decent ANC feature that is suitable for commuting. While the headphones look fairly the same and also have similar sound profiles, the better isolation performance of the E65BTNC make them a better choice. However, if you don't use your headphones while commuting, the longer battery life of the Live 500 might be worth it for some, especially since you can also have access to the JBL Headphones app and a great parametric EQ, which the E65BT lack.
The JBL Live 650 BTNC are a slightly high-end pair of headphones that are very similar to the JBL Live 500BT Wireless, but they have an ANC feature, which makes them more suitable for public transit. Design-wise, the 650 BTNC are also a bit more comfortable thanks to their padding. They have similar sound profiles, and both have access to the same great parametric EQ. On the other hand, since the Live 500BT don’t have an ANC, they require less power and have noticeably better battery life than the 650BTNC.
The JBL Live 500BT have a very small edge over the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT Wireless. They feel slightly better-built and less plasticky, and their sound quality is slightly better as it doesn’t lack as much detail in the treble range as the Sennheiser. You also get about 10 extra hours of battery life with the JBL. Their audio cable also features an in-line microphone, which the Sennheiser are lacking. However, the Sennheiser support NFC pairing and have lower latency, which is better suited for watching video content without any delay.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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