Bose QuietComfort Ultra
See price on AmazonOverall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
JBL Live 660NC
See price on AmazonOverall Score 5.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Bose QuietComfort Ultra | JBL Live 660NC |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | weight | 254g | 265g |
has a detachable cable | ✓ | ✓ | |
ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | ✗ | |
can be folded | ✗ | ✓ | |
has a tangle free cable | ✓ | ✓ | |
cable length | ✗ | 1.2meters | |
has an over-the-ear foam | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (anc) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 16Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | ✗ | 97dB/mW | |
driver unit size | 35mm | 40mm | |
impedance | 32Ohms | 32Ohms | |
POWER | battery life | 24hours | 50hours |
charge time | 3hours | 2hours | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
has a rechargeable battery | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | can be used wirelessly | ✓ | ✓ |
uses 2.4ghz wireless | ✓ | ✗ | |
bluetooth version | v5.3 | v5 | |
has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
maximum bluetooth range | 30meters | 10meters | |
has a 3.5mm male connector | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 1only | ✗ |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
can be used as a headset | ✓ | ✓ | |
warranty period | 1years | 1years | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra have a weight of 254g, these weigh below 320g, which we consider as the highest average a headphone should weigh for comfort during long use. We prefer a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to move with. The JBL Live 660NC, at 265g weigh more than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra by 11g Detachable cables are cables that have connectors on both ends.
One end goes into your headphone cups, while the other end is inserted into an audio source. Some new headphones, and not just the expensive ones, are coming with detachable cables, Bose QuietComfort Ultra are one of those. With a detachable cable, JBL Live 660NC too can use alternative cables and if the cable is pulled, it will pop out instead of breaking.
Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by an electrical enclosure, against solids and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represent a number The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquid.
Scoring IPX4, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's rating is read as, the first number of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.
Twisted headphone cables can be a great source of annoyance and inconvenience, Bose QuietComfort Ultra's cable is designed to minimize tangling. Constant twisting of the cables can also lead to bends in the copper wires, affecting sound quality, or rendering your headphones defective. JBL Live 660NC too have a cable designed to help prevent tangles.
Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear Bose QuietComfort Ultra have a comfortable full-size form with earcups that fully enclose your ears. This design is loved for its increased sound isolation and the fact that it won't leak sound to your neighbors. JBL Live 660NC with this design offer potential for maximum bass and loudness levels.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra have stereo speakers, what this means is that Bose QuietComfort Ultra's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience. Both JBL Live 660NC and Bose QuietComfort Ultra have stereo speakers Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern of incoming noise and then generates a mirror signal to cancel it out.
In simple terms, it's like taking +1 outside (noise from your surrounding) and adding -1 inside (counter sound within the device) to make 0 resulting in a reduced level of noise.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra allow you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. JBL Live 660NC too have active noise cancellation making both devices ideal for plane rides and morning commutes.
Each may work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the setting, mode, or noise cancellation type that you prefer for commute or that enhances your relaxation time. Passive Noise Cancellation uses well-designed ear cups to seal out unwanted noise. This is used for both in-ear earphones and over-ear headphones where the headphone itself will keep surrounding noise out.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that also the JBL Live 660NC isolates you from ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out. Low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. JBL Live 660NC's lowest frequency is at 16Hz, this implies that Bose QuietComfort Ultra got a juicier bass than the JBL Live 660NC High frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component reproduces high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it. Bose QuietComfort Ultra's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.
JBL Live 660NC's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. Bose QuietComfort Ultra driver unit is 35mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. JBL Live 660NC driver unit is 40mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Bose QuietComfort Ultra by 5mm , many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty reproducing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better sound. Impedance is the device's resistance to the electromagnetic current, as electricity flows through a wire, it faces electrical resistance that counters the flow of current. The resistance of a conductor is measured in ohms.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra's impedance is 32Ohms, the lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power. JBL Live 660NC's impedance is 32Ohms. The impedance of earbuds is the electrical resistance of the driver unit present on the inside.
If your headphones play wirelessly, cancel ambient noise, or enhance your listening experience with active features, their battery life will reduce over time. The device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. Bose QuietComfort Ultra's battery life is 24 hours JBL Live 660NC's battery life is 50 hours.
Each time you recharge your headphones, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first. But over a few years, you may find that your device, no longer plays for long like it used to.
It takes 3 hours to fully charge the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the headphones for the first time or when they have been unused for extended periods. JBL Live 660NC takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery Bose QuietComfort Ultra have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery.
The battery indicator lights indicate the charging status of your headphones. JBL Live 660NC too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you to determine the charging state of your headphones, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low. A rechargeable battery is a type of electrical battery that can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times, as opposed to a disposable or primary battery, which is supplied fully charged and discarded after use.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra's battery can be recharged and used over again. The JBL Live 660NC too have a rechargeable battery. Bose QuietComfort Ultra can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow you more freedom of movement not limited by a cable.
The JBL Live 660NC also can be used wirelessly 2.4GHz wireless is used for devices such as headsets such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, keyboards, and mice similar to Bluetooth but with a proprietary radio frequency. It typically offers better performance than Bluetooth, with low latency and good stability. Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra has a v5.3 JBL Live 660NC has a Bluetooth version of v5. Newer versions provide faster data transfers. Bose QuietComfort Ultra support USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power on a single cable.
The USB-C plug is now part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets, it features reversible plug orientation and cable direction. JBL Live 660NC too have USB TYPE-C Bose QuietComfort Ultra support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
The JBL Live 660NC support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra can connect at a 30meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device. The JBL Live 660NC can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth Being an industry standard audio plug, a standard 3.5mm male connector is suitable for use with all MP3 players and computer sound cards. This means that it is commonly used in stereo headphones to your phone or connecting your phone to an external amplifier, sound bars, your car radio, etc.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra has this connector giving it a wider range of connectivity with most of the sound devices out there. All plugs have at least a tip and sleeve with the number of rings that stand as a differentiating factor. Bose QuietComfort Ultra have only 1 microphones, more microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Especially useful in noisy environments. The JBL Live 660NC too use a noise-canceling type of microphone.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. It’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic. The JBL Live 660NC support ambient sound mode as well allowing you to hear the ambient sound even while wearing them.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life and improving your listening experience while at it. Bose QuietComfort Ultra have a mute function, they have an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.
The JBL Live 660NC too have a mute function. Bose QuietComfort Ultra support multipoint, which allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them. For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
The JBL Live 660NC support multipoint count. Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device. There is a control panel on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to.
The JBL Live 660NC too have a control panel on them. Bose QuietComfort Ultra can be used as a headset. A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone.
Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, games with voice chat, mobile phones, etc. JBL Live 660NC can be used as a headset.
since they have a built-in microphone The period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals. When covered under the manufacturer’s warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Bose QuietComfort Ultra have a warranty period of 1 years The JBL Live 660NC have a warranty period of 1years.
Carrying headphones without a case, or putting them in bags without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra come with their own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. JBL Live 660NC too have a travel bag or case included.