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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

JBL Tune 660NC Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Aug 11, 2023 at 01:41 pm
Latest change: Writing modified May 24, 2024 at 10:56 am
JBL Tune 660NC Wireless Picture
7.5
Neutral Sound
6.9
Commute/Travel
6.9
Sports/Fitness
6.9
Office
5.4
Wireless Gaming
7.0
Wired Gaming
6.6
Phone Calls

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless are on-ear Bluetooth headphones. They have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature to help block out ambient sound and support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected with two devices simultaneously. You can also use them wired with the included audio cable. However, they don't have a companion app and lack sound customization features.

Our Verdict

7.5 Neutral Sound

The JB Tune 660NC are good for neutral sound. They deliver sound consistently and have a slightly v-shaped sound profile, adding a bit of extra rumble, punch, and brightness. Sibilant sounds like cymbals are slightly piercing and harsh, though. Their soundstage doesn't seem very open or spacious, which is typical for closed-back headphones. Unfortunately, they also lack any sound customization features.

Pros
  • Convenient onboard controls.
  • Good frequency response consistency.
Cons
  • No sound customization features.
6.9 Commute/Travel

The JBL Tune 660NC are fair for commuting and traveling. They have an ANC feature, but it does a poor job of isolating you from noise, especially bass-range sounds like rumbling bus and plane engines. Their roughly 42-hour battery life will be long enough for long trips, though, and they have easy-to-use controls. Unfortunately, they don't have the most comfortable fit and don't come with a carrying case or pouch.

Pros
  • Very good battery performance.
  • Convenient onboard controls.
Cons
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • No carrying case or pouch included.
6.9 Sports/Fitness

The JBL Tune 660NC are okay for sports and fitness. Like a lot of on-ear headphones, they aren't very portable. They also do a poor job of staying in place when you move around, so they aren't very well-suited for more intense workouts. On the plus side, they won't make your ears feel too hot and have easy-to-use controls on one ear cup, so you can adjust your music's volume or skip a song without taking out your phone.

Pros
  • Convenient onboard controls.
  • Good breathability.
Cons
  • Mediocre build quality.
  • No IP rating for water resistance.
6.9 Office

The JBL Tune 660NC are alright for office use. Their ANC feature does a sub-par job of blocking background noise, and they aren't the most comfortable. However, they have a long continuous battery life of roughly 42 hours and don't leak very much audio, so you can listen to your music at fairly high volumes without bothering people nearby. You can pair them with multiple devices simultaneously, so you can easily switch between listening to audio on your phone and computer.

Pros
  • Support multi-device pairing.
  • Don't leak too much sound.
Cons
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • May not be comfortable for long sessions.
5.4 Wireless Gaming

The JBL Tune 660NC are Bluetooth headphones you can't use wirelessly with PlayStation or Xbox consoles. They're compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is likely too high to be suitable for wireless gaming.

7.0 Wired Gaming

The JBL Tune 660 are decent for wired gaming. You can plug them into a PlayStation or Xbox controller with the included 1/8" TRS cable to receive audio, but you can't use the integrated microphone. Their sound profile helps emphasize sound effects in action-packed games, but unfortunately, they aren't very comfortable, so they may not be ideal for long gaming sessions.

Pros
  • 1/8" TRS cable included.
Cons
  • May not be comfortable for long sessions.
6.6 Phone Calls

The JBL Tune 660NC are alright for making phone calls. The integrated mic makes your voice sound thin, but it's still clear and easy to understand. They support multi-device pairing and have easy-to-use buttons on one earcup that allow you to answer, end, and decline calls without pulling out your phone. Unfortunately, the ANC system doesn't block out very much ambient sound, and the mic struggles to separate your voice from background noise, so these headphones aren't ideal for taking calls in a loud environment like a subway station.

Pros
  • Convenient onboard controls.
  • Decent mic recording quality.
Cons
  • Disappointing ANC performance.
  • Mic has mediocre noise handling.
  • 7.5 Neutral Sound
  • 6.9 Commute/Travel
  • 6.9 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.9 Office
  • 5.4 Wireless Gaming
  • 7.0 Wired Gaming
  • 6.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated May 24, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the JBL Live 670NC Wireless in Noise Isolation - Full Range.
  2. Updated Aug 11, 2023: Made minor edits to the text to bring it up to date.
  3. Updated Aug 08, 2023: We've retested their imaging performance because of an error that resulted in '0' frequency mismatch between drivers. The score of that test has changed. This resulted in slight changes to the sound profile and the scores of the rest of the sound-related tests.
  4. Updated Nov 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  5. Updated May 05, 2021: Review published.
  6. Updated May 03, 2021: Early access published.
  7. Updated Apr 22, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Apr 21, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Apr 15, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless headphones come in a few different colors: 'Black,' 'White', 'Blue', and 'Pink'. We tested the 'Black' variant but expect our results to be valid for the others too. You can see the label for the unit we tested here.

If you come across another variant or your headphones are different, please let us know in the forums so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The JBL Tune 660NC are Bluetooth on-ear headphones similar to the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless headphones but with an added ANC feature. Unfortunately, it does a sub-par job of isolating you from noise compared with other ANC on-ear headphones, like the Beats Solo Pro Wireless and the JBL Live 460NC Wireless.

If you're looking for other options, check out our lists of the best on-ear headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones.

JBL Live 460NC Wireless

The JBL Live 460NC Wireless are slightly better on-ear headphones than the JBL Tune 660NC Wireless. The Live 460NC are more comfortable and feel better-built.  They have a better performing active noise cancelling (ANC) feature and are compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which allows you to adjust their sound profile using their parametric EQ and presets. However, the Tune 660NC have longer continuous battery life.

Sony WH-CH520 Wireless

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless and Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are on-ear Bluetooth headphones. Of the two, only the JBL have active noise cancelling (ANC), which isn't impressive, but it reduces ambient chatter and traffic noise more effectively than the Sony. They also fold down smaller with more comprehensive controls. Their sound is much more bass-heavy without an app to adjust the EQ. The battery life of the Sony headphones lasts longer. Their sound profile is more balanced with an app for EQ and virtual surround sound. Unfortunately, their passive-only noise isolation only suppresses high-pitched sounds like shrill brakes. However, their headband is better padded and more comfortable to wear.

JBL Live 670NC Wireless

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless and the JBL Live 670NC Wireless 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 across extended listening sessions. 

JBL Tune 510BT Wireless

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless are better than the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless for most purposes. They have longer continuous battery life and leak less audio. They also have an ANC feature that blocks out much more ambient noise than the 510BT can passively, but their noise isolation performance is sub-par overall. On the other hand, the 510BT deliver sound more consistently.

JBL TUNE 750BTNC Wireless

The JBL TUNE 750BTNC Wireless are better for most purposes than the JBL Tune 660NC Wireless. The 750BTNC have a much better ANC feature and a somewhat more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer. They also have a more stable fit and a better build quality. On the other hand, the 660NC have longer continuous battery life, and their integrated mic has a significantly better recording quality.

JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless

The JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless are better headphones than the JBL Tune 660NC Wireless. The Live 650 BTNC are more comfortable, stable, and work with a companion app that gives you access to a parametric EQ so you can customize how they sound. Their ANC feature has a much better performance and blocks out a good amount of mid-range noise like ambient conversations. On the other hand, the Tune 660NC have longer continuous battery life, and their microphone has a better recording quality.

JBL Live 400BT Wireless

The JBL Live 400BT Wireless are better than the JBL Tune 660NC Wireless for most purposes. The Live 400BT have a more stable fit and a better build quality. They also work with a companion app that offers a parametric EQ and presets, so you can customize their sound. The Tune 660NC have onboard controls that offer better feedback and include mic control. They also have longer continuous battery life and an ANC feature, although it doesn't offer much improvement over the headphones' passive noise isolation performance. The Live 400BT do a slightly better job of blocking out mid-range noise like conversations, even without an ANC system.

Beats EP

The JBL Tune 660NC and the Beats EP have different strengths, and which you may prefer depends on your preferences. The JBL are wireless Bluetooth headphones and have better onboard controls. They also do a better job of isolating you from ambient sound, thanks to their ANC, and don't leak as much audio. On the other hand, the Beats are wired headphones and have a slightly more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer. Their mic also has a better recording quality.

Sony WH-XB700 Wireless

The JBL Tune 660NC are better for most purposes than the Sony WH-XB700 Wireless. The JBL have a more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer, a better mic recording quality, and longer continuous battery life. They also have an ANC feature, although it has a disappointing performance. On the other hand, the Sony have a more comfortable, stable fit and a better build quality.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

These are on-ear headphones with a simple, quite nondescript appearance. They have a narrow plastic headband and the manufacturer's logo stamped onto each small round ear cup. They're available in a few different colors, including 'Black', the variant we tested, and 'Blue', 'White', or 'Pink'.

6.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.38 lbs
Clamping Force
0.8 lbs

They're fairly comfortable. They're light and don't put too much pressure on your head. The ear cups' hinges also have a good range of motion. Unfortunately, the headband only has a small amount of padding in the middle, which may make them a little less comfortable if you wear them for long periods.

7.6
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

They have good controls. The buttons are all found on the right ear cup and are easy to distinguish from each other. The buttons are clicky, and you hear audio cues when you reach maximum or minimum volume and when you pair the headphones with a device via Bluetooth.

'+' and '-' buttons:

  • Single press: Raise or lower the volume.
  • Press and hold: Skip the track forward or backward.

Center button:

  • Single press: Play/pause audio or answer/end a call.
  • Press and hold: Decline a call.
  • Double tap: Activate voice assistant.

ANC button:

  • Single press: Turn ANC on/off. When in a call, mutes or unmutes the mic.

7.7
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 2.7 °C

They have good breathability. Their on-ear design doesn't completely cover your ears, which will allow for more airflow than most over-ear headphones. While they trap a bit of heat, you won't sweat more while wearing them.

6.9
Design
Portability
L 4.6" (11.7 cm)
W 6.8" (17.3 cm)
H 1.3" (3.3 cm)
Volume 40.70 in³ (666.95 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

They're reasonably portable. The ear cups swivel to lay flat, making the headphones more compact and easier to store or fit into a bag. However, they don't come with a carrying case or pouch to protect them when you're on the go.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
6.0
Design
Build Quality

They have an unremarkable build quality. They're made of cheap-feeling plastic, and the faux leather padding on the headband isn't very comfortable. While the ear cups have a good range of motion, the headphones' yokes and hinges don't feel particularly solid. They aren't rated for dust or water resistance, but that's the norm for on-ear headphones.

5.5
Design
Stability

They aren't very stable. Like the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless, they aren't intended for workouts and are likely to fall off your head, even during moderate exercise like a jog in the park.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • JBL Tune 660NC headphones
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • 1/8" TRS cable
  • Quick Start guide

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
3.13 dB
Treble Amount
-1.78 dB

JBL Tune 660NC have a slightly V-shaped sound profile. It lends mixes some extra rumble and punch. Voices and instruments sound clear and accurate but are slightly veiled by an underemphasis in the low-treble. Sibilants are also bright and somewhat piercing. Unfortunately, they don't have an EQ or presets to help customize their sound profile.

7.5
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.5 dB

They have good frequency response consistency. Their bass delivery is fairly consistent, but you may experience a drop in bass if you wear glasses or have thick hair. There's also some inconsistency in the mid and treble ranges depending on the headphones' fit and positioning, so you may need to take the time to adjust them each time you wear them to get a consistent sound.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.9
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.07 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
3.63 dB
Mid-Bass
4.11 dB
High-Bass
1.72 dB

The JBL Tune 660NC have very good bass accuracy. The low and mid-bass ranges are overemphasized, which adds thump, rumble, and punch to your music. There's also a bit of extra high-bass, which adds warmth and a bit of boominess.

9.4
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
0.76 dB
Low-Mid
-0.39 dB
Mid-Mid
0.08 dB
High-Mid
-0.88 dB

They have fantastic mid accuracy. The range is even and well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear, present, and accurate.

6.6
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.91 dB
Low-Treble
-2.54 dB
Mid-Treble
2.37 dB
High-Treble
-9.51 dB

The JBL Tune 660NC have okay treble accuracy. There's some underemphasis in the low treble, so voices in songs like the chorus of Homemade Dynamite by Lorde sound veiled instead of clear. The peak in the mid-treble adds brightness but also makes sibilants like cymbals or S and T sounds seem harsh and piercing.

6.7
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.44 dB
Dips
1.12 dB

They have an okay peaks and dips performance. There are peaks and dips across the range, indicating that the headphones struggle somewhat to control their sound profile. A shallow dip in the mid to high-bass adds body and boom, while a dip across the low-treble slightly veils instruments and lead vocals. There's also a dip in the mid-treble followed by a bigger peak in the same range, making sibilants like S and T sounds seem alternately piercing and dull.

8.6
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.21
Weighted Phase Mismatch
5.7
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.74
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.61

They have excellent imaging performance. JBL headphones tend to have well-matched drivers, which results in good imaging and indicates the brand's quality control and ergonomics. Our unit's weighted group delay is almost entirely below the audibility threshold, except for a very small bump in the bass range which loosens their bass ever so slightly. However, it's not very noticeable overall. Also, the L/R drivers of our unit are well-matched in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase response, so objects like voices and footsteps are accurately placed within the stereo image. However, imaging varies from unit to unit.

4.1
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
5.3 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
1.86 dB
PRTF Distance
9.9 dB
Openness
4.4
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.6

The JBL Tune 660NC have a poor passive soundstage. While you'll perceive sound as coming from speakers placed in the room around you rather than from inside your head, the soundstage doesn't seem very natural or wide. It's also not very open or spacious, which is typical of closed-back headphones.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
7.5
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.395
WHD @ 100
0.134

The JBL Tune 660NC have a good weighted harmonic distortion performance. At moderate volumes, there's some distortion in the mid-treble range. A narrow peak also affects a small range of low-bass frequencies in the right driver. However, it's hard for most people to hear with real-life content, and otherwise, all frequencies fall within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
On
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test the JBL Tune 660NC Wireless. Our results are only valid when you use the headphones in this configuration.

Isolation
5.5
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-14.38 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-4.74 dB
Mid
-12.08 dB
Treble
-26.94 dB

The JBL Tune 660NC have sub-par noise isolation. They have an ANC system that doesn't isolate you well from bass-range sounds like rumbling bus or plane engines. It does an okay job of blocking out higher-pitched noises, like a background conversation or humming A/C unit, but it's still not quite on par with other JBL on-ears like the JBL Live 670NC Wireless.

7.7
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
35.6 dB

The JBL Tune 660NC Wireless have a good leakage performance. They leak less audio than the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless, and you can listen to music at high volumes in a moderately quiet environment, like an office, without much risk of bothering people around you.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.2
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
306.43 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
2.19 dB
HFE
6,450.8 Hz
Weighted THD
1.201
Gain
3.14 dB

The integrated mic has a decent performance. Recorded speech sounds thin but fairly clear and easy to understand.

6.0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
15.02 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The integrated mic has a mediocre noise handling performance. In moderately noisy places like an office, background noise is still audible and distracting during calls. It can be difficult to understand or even hear you if you're on the phone somewhere loud, like a subway station.

Active Features
7.9
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
42.3 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
42.3 hrs
Charge Time
1.8 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port USB-C

The JBL Tune 660NC's battery performance is very good. With their ANC on, they last for about 42 hours of continuous use, which is close to the advertised 44-hour battery life with ANC on. The manufacturer also advertises that they last for 55 hours with the ANC off, and they have a five-minute quick-charge feature for two hours of playback. Unfortunately, they don't have any power-saving features like an auto-off timer or standby mode. If you run out of battery life, you can use the headphones passively with the included audio cable. Also, battery performance can vary with real-life use.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No
Connectivity
8.3
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
335.00 ft (102.11 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
176 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
160 ms
Android Latency
237 ms

They have great Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair them with up to two devices simultaneously, allowing you to switch from listening to music on your phone to watching a movie on your computer without re-pairing the headphones. An incoming call always takes priority, no matter what device's audio you're listening to, though. Unfortunately, their latency on PCs and iOS and Android devices is somewhat high, so you're likely to notice some audio lag if you're gaming or watching videos. That said, some apps and devices seem to compensate for latency.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.10 ft (1.25 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

You can use these headphones wired with their included 1/8" TRS to TRRS cable. However, you can only receive audio using this cable as the TRS connector can't simultaneously transmit stereo audio or mic audio. They also come with a USB-C to USB-A cable to charge the headphones.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These on-ears support a wireless connection with PCs via Bluetooth but have high latency when used that way. They can also receive audio via analog connection, eliminating latency, but you can't use the mic.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No

The JBL Tune 660NC can only connect with PlayStation consoles with the included 1/8" TRS cable. You can hear audio but not use the mic.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

The JBL Tune 660NC are compatible with Xbox and Xbox Series X if you plug their 1/8" TRS cable into a controller. However, you can only receive audio.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock