Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 vs Jaybird X3 Wireless

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20
Jaybird X3 Wireless

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Apr 21, 2025 02:43 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 03, 2021 10:44 PM

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Our Verdict

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

Jaybird X3 Wireless

The Jaybird X3 Wireless are a slightly better and more versatile in-ear/earbud than the Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20. The Bose have excellent isolation which makes them a far better choice for commute and travel than the Jaybirds. They also have a more comfortable earbud fit that you can wear for longer than the Jaybird. On the other hand, the Jaybird are better and more convenient sports headphone thanks to their wireless design. They also have a better default sound quality and come with an EQ so you can customize them to sound the way you like, unlike the Bose.

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Variants

  • QuietComfort 20 (Android, Black)
  • QuietComfort 20 (Android, White)
  • X3 (Alpha Green)
  • X3 (Blackout)

Check Price

Android, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Alpha Green
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Android, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
Blackout
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
Sparta White
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

N/A
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
Show Text 

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
N/A

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
N/A

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
N/A

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
N/A

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
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Breathability 
 

N/A
N/A

Breathability After Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Avg.Temp.Difference  

Lock °C
Lock °C
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Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³

Transmitter Required  

Locked
N/A
Show Text 

Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
N/A

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
N/A

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
N/A

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
N/A
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Side Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Rear Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Top  

Top Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bass Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

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Consistency R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

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Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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Raw FR L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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Raw FR R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

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Raw FR R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Bass  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Mid Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Mid  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Treble Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Treble  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Peaks/Dips Graph  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Imaging 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

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Phase Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Passive Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Distance 
 

N/A
N/A

Openness 
 

0.0
0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

0.0
0.0
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Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

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WHD @ 90 
 

Lock
Lock

WHD @ 100 
 

Lock
Lock

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked

Power 
 

Locked

Connection 
 

Locked

Codec 
 

Locked

EQ 
 

Locked

ANC 
 

Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

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Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
N/A

Mic  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
Lock

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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Jaybird X3 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Gate 
 

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock
Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

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Jaybird X3 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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App Name  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
N/A

Windows  

Locked
N/A

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
N/A

Mic Control  

Locked
N/A

Room Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
N/A

Surround Sound  

N/A

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

NFC Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
Lock ft

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

N/A
Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

N/A

Android Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

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Jaybird X3 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
N/A

USB Audio 
 

Locked
N/A

Detachable  

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
N/A

Connection 
 

Locked
N/A

Wired Latency 
 

N/A

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC / PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
N/A

USB Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Line In 
 

Locked
N/A

Line Out 
 

Locked
N/A

Optical Input 
 

Locked
N/A

RCA Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
N/A

Power Supply 
 

Locked
N/A
Show Text 

Check Price

Android, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Alpha Green
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Android, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
Blackout
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
Sparta White
X3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

Jaybird X3 Wireless

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 vs Jaybird X3 Wireless: Main Discussion

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