Home Headphones Jbl Live 460Nc Vs. Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Jbl Live 460Nc Vs. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Review

Last updated on Apr 25, 2023   10 minute read
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JBL Live 460NC

JBL Live 460NC

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Live 460NC

Overall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 210 g
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)
  • Battery Life of 50 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Anker Soundcore Life Q20

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Overall Score 6.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 263 g
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)
  • Battery Life of 40 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

Jbl Live 460Nc Vs. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Review In Summary

Category Features JBL Live 460NC Anker Soundcore Life Q20
DESIGN weight 210g 263g
has a detachable cable
can be folded
has a tangle free cable
cable length 1.2meters
has an over-the-ear foam
has an on-ear foam
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (anc)
has passive noise reduction
lowest frequency 20Hz 16Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 40,000Hz
sound pressure level 96dB/mW 95dB/mW
driver unit size 40mm 40mm
impedance 32Ohms 16Ohms
POWER battery life 50hours 40hours
charge time 2hours 2.5hours
has a battery level indicator
has wireless charging
battery power 750mAh 720mAh
has a rechargeable battery
CONNECTIVITY can be used wirelessly
bluetooth version v5 v5
has usb type-c
has aptx hd
has bluetooth aptx
has aac
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has a 3.5mm male connector
supports bluetooth pairing using nfc
MICROPHONE number of microphones 2only 4only
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 1.5years
travel bag is included
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Jbl Live 460Nc Vs. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Review In Detail

Design

Weight

JBL Live 460NC 210g
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 263g

The JBL Live 460NC have a weight of 210g, 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 best for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20, at 263g weigh more than the JBL Live 460NC by 53g

Has A Detachable Cable

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Detachable cables are cables that have connectors on both ends. One end goes into your headphone earpieces, while the other end is inserted into a source device. Some new headphones, and not just the expensive ones, are coming with detachable cables, JBL Live 460NC are one of those.

With a detachable cable, Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too can use alternative cables and if the cable is pulled, it will pop out instead of breaking.

Can Be Folded

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC are foldable, which makes them more portable. Foldable headphones are easier to transport and take up less storage space.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too can fold up, foldable headphones can reduce their size by 60% to 70% when folded.

Has A Tangle Free Cable

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Twisted headphone cables can be a great source of annoyance and inconvenience, JBL Live 460NC'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.

Cable Length

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 1.2meters

A long cable ensures more freedom of movement, but remember that every cable based on the conducting material used has a certain amount of parasitic resistance, inductance, and capacitance. How much depends on the length and construction. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 comes with a 1.2meters cable.

Has An Over-The-Ear Foam

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear Anker Soundcore Life Q20 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.

Has An On-Ear Foam

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

On-ear headphones have smaller earpads that sit on top of your ears, this JBL Live 460NC comfortably rests on top of your outer ears. As it doesn't block out everything from the outside world, it's preferred in places like office environments and recommended for outdoor activities.

Has Stereo Speakers

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 also have stereo speakers

JBL Live 460NC
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then inverts the soundwaves 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 hence "diluting" the noise.

JBL Live 460NC 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.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 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.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

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 JBL Live 460NC sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out.

Lowest Frequency

JBL Live 460NC 20Hz
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 16Hz

Low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. JBL Live 460NC's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's lowest frequency is at 16Hz, this implies that JBL Live 460NC got a juicier bass than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Highest Frequency

JBL Live 460NC 20,000Hz
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 40,000Hz

High frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it. JBL Live 460NC's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this implies that Anker Soundcore Life Q20 got a clearer and crispier treble than the JBL Live 460NC

Sound Pressure Level

JBL Live 460NC 96dB/mW
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 95dB/mW

Sound pressure is the average variation in atmospheric pressure caused by the sound, the sound level .i.e how loud something is can be perceived differently by different people so we need to have a way of getting an objective measurement of sound level expressed in numerical terms.

The sound pressure level, SPL, is the pressure level of a sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Live 460NC's measurement is 96dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's sound pressure level measurement is 95dB/mW.

Driver Unit Size

JBL Live 460NC 40mm
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 40mm

The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. JBL Live 460NC driver unit is 40mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 driver unit is 40mm in diameter, making both Anker Soundcore Life Q20, and JBL Live 460NC similar in how loud their sound gets , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty reproducing high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better sound.

Impedance

JBL Live 460NC 32Ohms
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 16Ohms

Defined as 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. JBL Live 460NC's impedance is 32Ohms, the lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's impedance is 16Ohms. The impedance of earbuds is the electrical resistance of the driver unit present on the inside.

Power

Battery Life

JBL Live 460NC 50hours
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 40hours

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. JBL Live 460NC's battery life is 50 hours

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's battery life is 40 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.

Charge Time

JBL Live 460NC 2hours
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2.5hours

It takes 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Live 460NC'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.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 takes 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery

Has A Battery Level Indicator

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery. The battery indicator lights show the charging status of your headphones.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 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.

Has Wireless Charging

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC, the device supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.

Battery Power

JBL Live 460NC 750mAh
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 720mAh

Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. JBL Live 460NC's battery power is 750mAh, more battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20's battery power is 720mAh.

Has A Rechargeable Battery

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

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. JBL Live 460NC's battery can be recharged and used over again.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too have a rechargeable battery.

JBL Live 460NC
See price on Amazon

Connectivity

Can Be Used Wirelessly

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow you more freedom of movement.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 also can be used wirelessly

Bluetooth Version

JBL Live 460NC v5
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 v5

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. JBL Live 460NC has a v5

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 has a Bluetooth version of v5. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Has Usb Type-C

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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.

Has Aptx Hd

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).

Has Bluetooth Aptx

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 support APTX, a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.

Has Aac

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 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.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

JBL Live 460NC 10meters
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 10meters

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances. The JBL Live 460NC can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth

Has A 3.5Mm Male Connector

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

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. JBL Live 460NC 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.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too have this kind of connector

Supports Bluetooth Pairing Using Nfc

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC support fast Bluetooth pairing using NFC so it can communicate with other devices over Bluetooth. You can fastly pair devices without entering a code by simply holding one device next to the device with which it is to be paired.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

JBL Live 460NC 2only
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 4only

JBL Live 460NC have only 2 microphones, more microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 microphones are only 4.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too use a noise-canceling type of microphone.

JBL Live 460NC
See price on Amazon

Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 support ambient sound mode as well allowing you to hear the ambient sound even while wearing them.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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.

Has A Mute Function

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too have a mute function.

Multipoint Count

JBL Live 460NC 2only
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2only

JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 support multipoint count. Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

There is a control panel on the JBL Live 460NC 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 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 too have a control panel on them.

Can Be Used As A Headset

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

JBL Live 460NC 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.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 can be used as a headset. since they have a built-in microphone

Warranty Period

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 1.5years

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. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 have a warranty period of 1.5 years

Travel Bag Is Included

JBL Live 460NC
Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Carrying headphones without a case, or putting them in bags without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 come with their own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation.