Motivation helps us be more productive in what we do. I think most would agree that music is one of those things that get us amped up. The good people at JBL came up with a new line of true wireless headphones for every lifestyle. One of which is the JBL Live 460NC– wireless on-ear noise cancelling headphones.

For those who dare to multitask on a regular basis, this listening device could be your ideal companion. The brand’s signature sound is ingrained in the JBL Live 460NC with an added benefit of true wireless technology. This allows you to move freely while enjoying your music.

Easy to pair

I have tried several wireless earphones from another reputable brand before. Bluetooth pairing can be a hassle sometimes but JBL took care of that by equipping Live 460NC with Bluetooth V5.0. It pairs up smoothly with phones, tablets and laptops with a range of up to 10 feet. You can also link it to two devices with its multi-point connection feature. Easily switch between your devices for entertainment and answering phone calls.

More music, less charging

Enjoy uninterrupted audio with up to 40 hours of battery life. It comes with a type-C USB charging cable and only takes about an hour and a half to fully charge. It promises four (4) hours of playtime in just 10 mins of charge so you can do it (quickly) before heading out.

Comfortable to wear

On average, I spend more than two hours a day wearing headphones. The lightweight construction of JBL Live 460NC, at 210 grams, makes it perfect for long periods of listening.

Soft faux leather ear cushions provide a secure fit (90 degrees rotatable cups)

Padded mesh fabric headband with adjustable mechanism

However, I find the small ear pads a little uncomfortable for long listening sessions. The clamping force is hard against my ears, more so when I’m lying on bed.

Mute all distractions

Adaptive Noise Cancelling is another great feature that lets you minimize the noise from the outside. But keep in mind that it won’t be able to totally mute everything. When the ANC is on, the sounds that are getting in are muffled and less bassy. And the small ear pads don’t seal as much as the bigger headphones or earbuds would.

If you start playing some songs, it will definitely mask the noise from the outside anyway. The good thing is that the sound quality is not affected by the ANC being turned on or off. Comprehensive button layout controls power, volume, play/pause, BT pair and Ambient Aware

Rock on outside

If you wear headphones while walking on a busy street, you need to be extra cautious. The Ambient Aware technology increases your environmental awareness by boosting ambient sounds while your music is playing.

TalkThru, on the other hand, lowers the music volume and amplifies speech so you can have a conversation while your headphones in on. Sound level on TalkThru mode is very low to the point that I can barely hear the music. But I guess that’s the whole point of it.

Listen the way you want

You can personalize how you listen with the JBL Headphones App. Thru this, you can set the ANC, TalkThru, Ambient Aware, Play & Pause Automation, Voice Assitant(OK Google and/or Alexa) and Custom EQ. You can also activate the Voice Assistant with a tap on the earcup. The Play & Pause function automatically pauses the playback once you remove it and resume playing when you put it back on.

How does it sound?

40mm drivers deliver a balanced tone and well-pronounced mid frequencies, giving emphasis on vocals and other stringed instruments. The bass is satisfying and it delivers smooth treble. If you want to make it “open up”, just add a little more treble on the EQ. That way, the drum cymbals will sound richer.

I like the EQ set to a soft V-shape when listening to rock. Most of the time, I just leave the EQ set on flat for a neutral sound. There are also some presets so you can just choose what suits your taste. Overall, it sounds good and covers a wide range of spectrum.

I listened to IU’s newest album, Lilac, with this headphones. “My Sea”, which is the 8th track, is one of my favorites. The song has a lot of different textures and her singing is very expressive.

The JBL Live460NC turned my room into a concert and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t able to attend IU’s Love, Poem concert in Manila so I hope I don’t miss the chance to see her perform live next time. For now, the closest to the real thing is by listening to her songs through this headphones at max volume.

Comes with convenient detachable audio cable

This feature is an automatic win. If you forgot to charge your headphones, you can just attach the wire and continue rocking on. You can also plug it in to a headphone amp, DAC or digital effects processor for guitar practice. The 1/16” to 1/8” TRS cable can only transmit audio, so you can’t use the built-in mic.

My thoughts

If you want good sounding headphones that you can bring anywhere, you can’t go wrong with the JBL Live460NC. The construction feels sturdy and durable.  It is a big step-up from entry-level earbuds I’ve used.

Pricing and availability

JBL Live460NC retails at P6,999.00 and should be available in any JBL store by this time. It comes in 4 different colors; black, blue, white and pink to match your style.