JBL to deliver a wide array of new headphones in 2024

JBL revealed its 2024 line of in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear headphones this morning, ahead of the official opening of the annual CES tradeshow.

JBL offers two ranges of over-ear and on-hear headphones. The Live series offers a higher build quality, better noise cancellation, and sound quality that’s a notch above its Tune series, but its Tune models come at a far more affordable price point and with impressive battery life.

There is also third generation of Live-series in-ear headphones: the Live Buds 3, the Live Beam 3, and the Live Flex 3.

JBL’s Live headphone series for 2024

The new Live series include the JBL Live 670NC on-ear headphones ($129.95) and the JBL Live 770NC over-ear headphones ($199.95). Both models will be available in four colors: white, black, blue, and sandstorm.

The rest of the specs are identical. Each features 40mm drivers and 65 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned off, and 50 hours with ANC engaged. Both have auto play and pause when putting on or removing the headphones.

Each headphone will have a Bluetooth 5.3 radio, with support for the LE Audio codec coming as a firmware update slated to arrive shortly after launch. The Live series features JBL’s Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient, a feature that adjusts the ANC based on the user’s environment.

Features exclusive to the Live series include JBL-owner Harman International’s Persona-fi 2.0 tool, which adjusts equalization for each owner via a listening test from the JBL Headphones app. There’s also an auto-play and -pause feature that activates when you put on or remove the headphones respectively.

JBL’s Tune series headphones for 2024

The updated Tune series features headphones with and without ANC. The JBL Tune 520BT on-ear headphones will retail for $49.95, and the JBL Tune 670NC on-ears will list for $99.95. The over-ear models are the JBL Tune 720BT ($79.95) and the JBL Tune 770NC ($129.95).

Not everyone needs—indeed, wants—a headphone with noise-cancellation, and JBL can offer headphones at a substantially lower price point without that feature. The 520BT on-ear has 33mm drivers and delivers 57 hours of battery life, with a five-minute charge offering an additional 3 hours of play time. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 and will be available in black, white, blue, and purple.

The 720BT over-ear has 40mm drivers and delivers up to 76 hours of playback on a single charge. Five minutes gets you an additional three hours of play time. This headphone also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and will be available in black, white, and blue.

If you’re looking for low-priced ANC, the on-ear Tune 670NC and over-ear 770NC deliver the same Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient capabilities found in the Live series. The 670NC has 32mm drivers and the 770NC has 40mm drivers. Both get up to 70 hours of playback on a full charge with ANC off, and 44 hours with ANC activated. Each pair will be available in black, white, and blue.

JBL’s 2024 Live 3 earbud series

JBL announced three new in-ear headphones in its Live 3 series, each of which utilizes its Smart Charging Case, a unit that has its own 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display. Users can control volume and play or pause their music without needing to pull out their smartphone.

All three SKUs support Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the LE Audio codec, Sony’s LDAC codec for high-res audio, and JBL’s Personi-Fi tool to optimize EQ for an individual listener’s hearing capabilities. There’s also support JBL Spatial Sound, and they feature JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling with custom controls to tweak the settings to your liking and support multipoint connections.

Each earbud in the Live 3 series will deliver 10 hours of play time (with an additional 30 hours from the case) with ANC off. Users can get 4 additional hours of playback from a 10-minute charge via USB-C. JBL says they’ll be available this summer in black or silver at a suggested retail price of $199.95 each.

So, why are there three different Live 3 in-ear headphones with nearly identical features? It comes down to the user’s style and fit preferences.

JBL Live Buds 3

The JBL Live Buds 3, pictured above, are pebble-style in-ear headphones for users who want a tight seal but a less-obtrusive profile than stick-style buds. They utilize 10mm drivers and are rated IP55 for protection from the elements, which means ingress of particulate matter won’t cause failure, and they can withstand water jets from any direction, but are not submersible.

JBL says its Live Buds 3 will deliver 40 hours of play time: 10 hours with a fully charged battery in the headphones, and 30 additional hours from the case. A 10-minute quick charge via a USB-C cable will provide 4 hours of listening. Battery life is reduced when ANC is activated.

JBL Live Beam 3

The JBL Live Beam 3 are stick-style in-ears for users who want something to grab onto as they handle their earbuds, but who also want the tight seal of a closed-back in-ear headphone that fits in their ear canal. They utilize 10mm drivers and carry an IP55 weatherization rating.

They have 12 hours of play time (with an additional 36 hours from the case) with ANC off. Users can get 4 additional hours of playback from a 10-minute charge via USB-C.

JBL Live Flex 3

The JBL Live Flex 3 are an open stick-style in-ear for users who want earbuds that rest in their ear canal without a sealed fit. They utilize 12mm drivers and are IP54 certified waterproof. They have 10 hours of play time (with an additional 40 hours from the case) with ANC off. Users can get 4 additional hours of playback from a 10-minute charge via USB-C.