The JBL Live 670NC Wireless are wallet-friendly on-ear headphones equipped with active noise cancelling (ANC) technology. They come with some useful features that belie their relatively affordable price point, like an impressive 65 hours of advertised battery life with the ANC off (and even more when we tested it). There's also voice assistant integration and a spatial audio feature that's accessible via the companion app.
Our Verdict
The JBL 670NC are okay for sports and fitness use. They have a comprehensive control system and voice assistant integration, which can be great for performing functions while on a run. They also have a solid, reasonably sturdy build quality, and we tested an outstanding 88 hours of battery life with the ANC enabled. Sadly, their on-ear design and slippery ear pad material mean they're not the most stable headphones, and they're also not particularly portable.
- Outstanding 88-hour battery life.
Great control scheme.
- Disappointing mic recording quality.
- ANC struggles to isolate your audio from noisy environments.
The JBL 670NC are adequate for commute and travel use. They're reasonably comfortable and feature an outstanding 88 hours of continuous battery life, ensuring they'll last even for the longest journeys. That said, they're not the most portable, despite being able to fold up their ear cups. While their ANC does help block out some ambient sound, it's not a huge improvement on the passive isolation provided by their on-ear design. Sounds like engine rumble and street noise will still find their way into your audio.
- Outstanding 88-hour battery life.
Great control scheme.
- Disappointing mic recording quality.
- ANC struggles to isolate your audio from noisy environments.
The JBL 670NC are passable for office use. They have an extremely long 88-hour battery life that'll get you through the workweek with battery to spare, plus they're comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. While they do leak a bit of audio, it's unlikely to disturb anyone unless you're in a very quiet office environment. While they are equipped with ANC technology, it doesn't do much to block out common sounds you'd hear in an office environment, so they're not ideal for distraction-free productivity.
- Outstanding 88-hour battery life.
Great control scheme.
- Disappointing mic recording quality.
- ANC struggles to isolate your audio from noisy environments.
The JBL 670NC aren't suitable for wireless gaming. While they're equipped with Bluetooth, even with the lowest latency mode enabled, latency is too high for most games when using the default SBC codec.
The JBL Live 670NC are satisfactory for wired gaming. You can use them via an analog connection, and they come with a 1/8" TRS cable for this purpose. Latency is minimal via this connection type, so you won't experience much lag between your audio and visuals. They're also comfortable enough for long gaming sessions. While their overemphasized bass response will certainly add some boom to in-game audio cues, like explosions, it muddies the rest of the frequency range. It's worth noting that you won't be able to use the microphone if you're using these headphones with a wired connection.
- Outstanding 88-hour battery life.
Great control scheme.
- Disappointing mic recording quality.
- ANC struggles to isolate your audio from noisy environments.
The JBL Live 670NC have decent audio reproduction accuracy. They don't deviate much from their booming, bass-heavy sound, although a couple of big peaks and dips in the treble range can render sibilants either dull or piercing, depending on their pitch. That said, the extra bass can overwhelm the mids, so many listeners may appreciate the EQ offered in the companion app. Still, well-matched left and right drivers mean kick drums sound punchy, and objects are correctly located in the stereo field. Your audio also sounds like it's coming from inside your head, which is to be expected for on-ear headphones.
The JBL Live 670NC have mediocre noise isolation. In use, they don't block out much real-world noise, especially bass-range sound like the rumble of a passing train engine. They fare better with mid-range sounds like street noise, but you'll still hear people chatting and car doors slamming. On the plus side, these cans have good leakage performance. Unless you're listening very loudly in a quiet space, people around you won't be disturbed by your audio.
The JBL Live 670NC have a disappointing microphone. The mic makes your voice sound both thin and dull, and doesn't do a good job of separating your voice from any surrounding noise. While you'll be understandable in quiet environments, if you take calls in a noisy place like a bus station, the person at the other end of the line may have trouble understanding you.
The JBL Live 670NC have mediocre frequency response consistency. Individuals with larger heads or those who wear glasses are likely to experience deviations in bass response. It's essential to take the time to seat these headphones correctly on your head with every wear if you want consistent audio between uses.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Jun 23, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.3, which removes the Virtual Soundstage, Base/Dock, and some comparisons from Bluetooth Connection. Have a look at our changelog for more info.
-
Updated May 06, 2026:
We referenced the JBL Live 680NC in the Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios box.
-
Updated May 01, 2026:
We referenced the TOZO HT3 in the Wired Connection box.
- Updated Apr 20, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.2, which removes the Cumulative Spectral Decay (CSD) test, retiring its waterfall plot visualization from our reviews. You can read more about this change in the changelog.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Live 670NC are available in four color variants: 'Black,' 'White,' 'Blue,' and 'Sandstone.' We tested the 'Blue' variant, but we expect the other colorways to perform similarly. If you encounter a different variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphone Comparisons
The JBL Live 670NC are a pair of on-ear headphones within JBL's 'Live' line of mid-range headphones. They follow in the footsteps of the JBL Live 460NC Wireless, which share a similar build quality and on-ear design. While the two have a similar noise isolation performance, the JBL Live 460NC have a more balanced sound profile that follows our target curve much more closely. That said, the older generation lacks the newer model's amazing 88-hour battery life. The Live 670NC's overpowering bass response brings it more in line with DJ headphones, like the Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT Wireless, where the prominent bass can be an ally when beat-matching.
If you're looking for more headphone options, check out our recommendations for the best on-ear headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, and the best headphones.
The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless and the JBL Live 670NC are both on-ear headphones, though the Tune have a retail price that's a little over half that of the Live. Despite their lower price tag, the Tune are superior in a surprising number of aspects: they have a more balanced sound profile with a prominent bass that's not as bloated and overwhelming as the Live's. They also have a better mic recording quality and better mic noise handling. That said, the Live have a slightly better performing ANC system and a much longer continuous battery life at 88 hours. They're also better built and more comfortable to wear during extended listening sessions.
The JBL Live 680NC are a clear upgrade over the JBL Live 670NC. Both are on-ear wireless headphones in JBL's Live lineup, but the 680NC have much better noise isolation, stronger Bluetooth codec support, and a more accurate mid-range that keeps vocals sounding true-to-life despite their boosted bass. The older 670NC do have some advantages: they have a longer battery life, passive playback (and thus a much lower latency analog connection), and a parametric EQ in the companion app. Still, the 680NC feel like the more modern and travel-friendly pair, especially if ANC performance is a priority.
The JBL Live 670NC and the JBL Live 460NC Wireless both share an on-ear design. They're both equipped with ANC systems, too. While neither will fully insulate you from the roar of a bus engine or the cacophony of a busy street, the Live 460NC do a slightly better job of isolating you. When it comes to sound profile, the Live 460NC have a much more balanced default sound profile, lacking the overpowering bass response of the Live 670NC. The Live 460NC have a better mic recording quality, too, making them a better fit for phone calls, but their battery life falls short of the outstanding 88 hours offered by the Live 670NC.
The JBL Live 660NC and the JBL Live 670NC have different designs. The former is an over-ear design, while the latter has an on-ear design that sits directly on your ear. That said, their distinctions go beyond simple design differences. While both headphones have a boosted bass response, the Live 670NC have an overwhelming amount of bass that can muddy the rest of the mix. By contrast, the Live 660NC follow our target curve more closely, with a balanced sound that leans towards being bass-heavy. The Live 660NC have a better-performing ANC system and better mic recording quality, making them a better fit for calls, but they lack the Live 670NC's monumental 88-hour battery life.
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.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
