Home Headphones Jbl Live 660Nc Vs. Apple Airpods Max

Jbl Live 660Nc Vs. Apple Airpods Max Review

Last updated on Aug 18, 2024   16 minute read
Note: This page may contain affiliate links, we only earn from qualifying purchases!
JBL Live 660NC

JBL Live 660NC

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the JBL Live 660NC

Overall Score 5.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 265 g
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)
  • Battery Life of 50 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods Max

Overall Score 5.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 384.8 g
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)
  • Battery Life of 20 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

Jbl Live 660Nc Vs. Apple Airpods Max Review In Summary

Category Features JBL Live 660NC Apple AirPods Max
DESIGN weight 265g 384.8g
has a detachable cable
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 16Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
sound pressure level 97dB/mW 109dB/mW
driver unit size 40mm 40mm
impedance 32Ohms 47Ohms
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 50hours 20hours
charge time 2hours 2hours
has a battery level indicator
battery power 664mAh
has a rechargeable battery
CONNECTIVITY can be used wirelessly
bluetooth version v5 v5
has usb type-c
has aac
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
MICROPHONE number of microphones 9only
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
has dolby atmos
See price on Amazon See price on Amazon

JBL Live 660NC have a weight of 265g, these weigh below 320g, which we consider as the highest average a headphone should weigh for comfort during long use. We take in account a lower weight best because lighter devices are more comfortable to transport. Apple AirPods Max, at 384.8g weigh more than the JBL Live 660NC by 119.8g 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, JBL Live 660NC are one of those. JBL Live 660NC are foldable, which makes them more portable.

Foldable headphones are easier to transport and take up less storage space. Twisted headphone cables can be a great source of annoyance and inconvenience, JBL Live 660NC's cable is designed to minimize tangling. Constant twisting of the cables can also lead to microfractures in the copper wires, affecting sound quality, or completely damaging your headphones.

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. JBL Live 660NC comes with a 1.2meters cable.

Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear JBL Live 660NC 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. Apple AirPods Max with this design offer potential for maximum bass and loudness levels.

JBL Live 660NC have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience. Both Apple AirPods Max and JBL Live 660NC have stereo speakers Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to actively counter noise. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud 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 zero hence "diluting" the noise.

JBL Live 660NC 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. Apple AirPods Max 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 suits your 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 JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max isolates you from ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out. Low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through.

JBL Live 660NC's lowest frequency is at 16Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. Apple AirPods Max's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that Apple AirPods Max got a juicier bass than the JBL Live 660NC High frequency response measures if and how well an audio device reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. JBL Live 660NC's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.

Apple AirPods Max's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that both devices produce equal treble 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 660NC's measurement is 97dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Apple AirPods Max's sound pressure level measurement is 109dB/mW. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. JBL Live 660NC driver unit is 40mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.

Apple AirPods Max driver unit is 40mm in diameter, making both devices similar in how loud their sound gets , 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 yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better sound. Defined as the device's resistance to the electromagnetic current, when electricity flows through a conductor, it experiences electrical resistance that counters the flow of current.

The resistance of a conductor is measured in ohms. JBL Live 660NC's impedance is 32Ohms, the lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power. Apple AirPods Max's impedance is 47Ohms.

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.

JBL Live 660NC's battery life is 50 hours Apple AirPods Max's battery life is 20 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 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Live 660NC'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.

Apple AirPods Max takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery JBL Live 660NC 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. Apple AirPods Max 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. JBL Live 660NC's battery can be recharged and used over again. The Apple AirPods Max too have a rechargeable battery.

JBL Live 660NC can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow you more freedom of movement. The Apple AirPods Max also can be used wirelessly 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 660NC has a v5 Apple AirPods Max has a Bluetooth version of v5.

Newer versions provide faster data transfers. JBL Live 660NC 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 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 Apple AirPods Max 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 JBL Live 660NC can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device. The Apple AirPods Max can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max too use a noise-canceling type of microphone. JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max support ambient sound mode as well allowing you to hear the ambient sound even while wearing them. JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max too have a mute function. JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max 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 JBL Live 660NC 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 Apple AirPods Max too have a control panel on them. JBL Live 660NC 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. Apple AirPods Max 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. JBL Live 660NC have a warranty period of 1 years The Apple AirPods Max 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 JBL Live 660NC come with their own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. Apple AirPods Max too have a travel bag or case included.

kinsta kinsta