Overall Score 7.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 5.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Sony WF 1000XM4 | JBL Live Free 2 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | ipX4 | ipX5 |
weight | 7.1g | 9.8g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has an earbud foam | ✓ | ✗ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 6mm | 11mm | |
lowest frequency | 20hz | 20hz | |
highest frequency | 40,000hz | 20,000hz | |
sound pressure level | 105db/mw | 102db/mw | |
has a neodymium magnet | ✓ | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 8hours | 7hours |
battery life of charging case | 16hours | 28hours | |
charge time | 1.5hours | ✗ | |
battery power | 40mah | ✗ | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✗ | |
has ldac | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aptx hd | ✓ | ✗ | |
audio latency | 40ms | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 4only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✗ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings is the rating of protection offered by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX5, the JBL Live Free 2's rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids that they can withstand medium pressure jet that's 6.3mm diameter, similar to garden hose from any angle for 3 minutes at a distance of 2.5 to 3 metres.
Compared to the JBL Live Free 2, Sony WF 1000XM4 have a rating of IPX4 meaning that
we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust)
and that of liquids is that,
JBL Live Free 2 has a higher liquid rating than Sony WF 1000XM4
JBL Live Free 2 have a weight of 9.8g . We take in account a lower weight best because lighter devices are easier to move with.
The Sony WF 1000XM4, at 7.1g
weigh less than the JBL Live Free 2 with a difference -2.7g
True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, JBL Live Free 2 are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a major difference since wireless earbuds have cables linking the pair of earbuds .
Sony WF 1000XM4 also is true wireless because it doesn't have cables linking the two earbuds .
JBL Live Free 2 are resistant to sweat
Sony WF 1000XM4's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use during long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
The earbud foam is designed to be ultracompact and lightweight, with little interference with earrings, spectacles, hats, or hairstyles. The Sony WF 1000XM4 have an earbud foam to some it is more comfortable than the in-ear foam.
JBL Live Free 2 have stereo speakers, what this means is that JBL Live Free 2's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both Sony WF 1000XM4 and JBL Live Free 2 have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation utilises advanced kind of tech to actively counter noise. ANC works when, it studies the sound pattern of incoming noise and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (inverted noise) to make 0 thus "diluting" the noise.
JBL Live Free 2 have ANC allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have Active Noise Cancellation making either of the devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. Each work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the mode that you prefer for travel or that enhances your chill time.
The JBL Live Free 2 stay tightly in place, creating a sound covering that tones down your environment noise well as preventing the device voice audio from leaking out .
Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this implies that they limit ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
The JBL Live Free 2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
A driver unit is the component that makes sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the earbuds.
Sony WF 1000XM4 driver unit is 6mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of JBL Live Free 2 by 5mm
, many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yes, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better quality sound.
JBL Live Free 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.
Sony WF 1000XM4's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that
both devices can make sound with equal bass
The JBL Live Free 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component makes high audible frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal while at it.
Sony WF 1000XM4's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this means that
Sony WF 1000XM4 generate a clearer and crispier treble than the JBL Live Free 2
The sound pressure level, is the level of pressure of sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Live Free 2's measurement is 102dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
Sony WF 1000XM4's sound pressure level measurement is 105dB/mW. How loud something is can be considered differently by different people, so we need to have a way of getting a standard measurement of sound level expressed in numerical terms.
Sony WF 1000XM4 have neodymium magnets, if used in earbuds produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high SPL, with the use of high magnetic flux.
The JBL Live Free 2's battery life is 7 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.
Sony WF 1000XM4's battery life is
more than that of JBL Live Free 2 by 1 hours
. Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and the JBL Live Free 2's case has a full charge of 28 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.
Sony WF 1000XM4's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours,
less than that of JBL Live Free 2 by 12 hours
It requires 1.5 hours to fully charge the Sony WF 1000XM4's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.
Sony WF 1000XM4's battery power is 40mAh, battery power, shows the amount of electrical energy that a battery can keep.
The Sony WF 1000XM4, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you just place down on a supported charging pad.
The JBL Live Free 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. The battery indicator lights show the charging state of your earbuds and charging case.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you tell the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.
The JBL Live Free 2 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug comes along with most current laptops, phones, and tablets.
The JBL Live Free 2 have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Sony WF 1000XM4 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
equal to that of the JBL Live Free 2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
The JBL Live Free 2 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
Sony WF 1000XM4 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the JBL Live Free 2
Sony WF 1000XM4 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at the same bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony WF 1000XM4 will work well with your iPhone. If you intend on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 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).
Latency refers to the time it takes for the audio signal to be transmitted to your earbuds. Sony WF 1000XM4 have a latency of 40ms, a lower latency reduces audio lag and is particularly important when playing games or watching videos.
The JBL Live Free 2 have 6 microphones.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 microphones are 4,
less than that of JBL Live Free 2 by 2
. More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out background sounds.
JBL Live Free 2 have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are designed to reduce noise from the desired sound.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too use a noise-canceling microphone. This is useful in noisy environments.
The JBL Live Free 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing the earbuds
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, for example when you’re having a run but still want to hear traffic.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
When misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Sony WF 1000XM4 have a find earbuds feature.
JBL Live Free 2 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to charge a device.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery is filling up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
JBL Live Free 2 support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 have a multipoint count of 2,
equal to that of the JBL Live Free 2
. Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call and not miss notifications from another device.
The JBL Live Free 2 have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 also support the mute function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.
With the JBL Live Free 2, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a control panel on them.
JBL Live Free 2 support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have voice prompts .i.e the earbuds will notify you when the battery is low, and it's time to recharge them.
JBL Live Free 2 come with their own special pouch. Carrying earbuds openly, or placing them in your bag without a cover can easily damage them.
Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.