TL;DR
JBL announced the JBL Live 780NC (over-ear) and JBL Live 680NC (on-ear) headphones with LDAC support, spatial audio, and adaptive noise canceling.
Both models feature 40mm drivers and up to 80 hours of battery life (around 50 hours with ANC enabled).
The headphones launch March 12 for preorder and ship March 15, priced at $249.95 for the 780NC and $159.95 for the 680NC.
JBL has announced two new additions to its headphone lineup: the JBL Live 780NC over-ear headphones and the JBL Live 680NC on-ear model. The company revealed the new Live series at South by Southwest inside the JBL Livebrary installation at 3TEN at Austin City Limits Live, a listening-focused demo space built around headphone demos.
Both headphones use 40mm dynamic drivers and support LDAC for high-bitrate Bluetooth audio streaming on compatible devices. LDAC can transmit audio at higher bitrates than standard Bluetooth codecs like SBC or AAC, which may preserve more audio detail when paired with supported phones or players. JBL also includes JBL Spatial Sound 3.0, a virtual spatial audio feature designed to enhance immersion when watching movies or listening to compatible content.
Noise canceling is handled by True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0. The over-ear JBL Live 780NC uses six microphones to monitor and reduce ambient noise, while the on-ear JBL Live 680NC uses four microphones for the same purpose. Both models also include two beamforming microphones for voice pickup during calls, paired with an AI-trained noise-reduction system, along with call EQ and sound-level optimization.
JBL says the Live series has been redesigned with a slimmer, lighter build, metallic accents, and foldable frames with soft-touch ear cushions. Features such as customizable touch controls, the JBL Headphones app, and Personi-Fi 3.0 let listeners tailor settings and sound preferences.
Battery life is rated at up to 80 hours without active noise cancelation enabled, or about 50 hours with ANC enabled. A quick five-minute charge can provide up to four hours of playback.
The JBL Live 780NC will cost $249.95, while the JBL Live 680NC is priced at $159.95. Orders open March 12 at JBL.com, with shipping expected to begin March 15. As always, we’ll need to test both headphones in the SoundGuys lab before we know how well they actually perform.
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