JBL Live 680NC: Long Battery and Deep Feature Set, Tempered by Sound and Fit Trade-offs

TechRadar has published a review of the JBL Live 680NC, a wireless headphone positioned in the mid-range at $159.95 / £129.99 / AU$199.95. According to the review, written by James Holland, the model's strongest arguments are its battery endurance and the breadth of features it packs in, while its main compromises involve sound tuning, spatial audio, fit, and the lack of a charging cable in the box.

Battery and charging

The review states that the Live 680NC delivers up to 80 hours of playback per charge with active noise cancellation off, and roughly 50 hours with ANC on. A five-minute fast charge is reported to add about four hours of listening. These figures are presented as the headphone's most impressive attribute relative to its price. The review also notes that no USB-C charging cable is included, so buyers are expected to supply their own.

Features and app controls

TechRadar describes a wide feature list: multipoint connectivity, Auracast support, Bluetooth with LE Audio (which the review says is unavailable to Apple users), customizable on-ear controls, wear detection, and spatial audio upmixing. Adaptive ANC, Ambient Aware, and TalkThru modes are available, with additional tuning for the first two via JBL's app. The review says these modes work well but do not match the best from Sony or Bose.

The app also offers EQ presets and a parametric EQ capable of boosting or cutting up to 6 dB between 32 Hz and 16 kHz, which the review characterizes as more capable than many competing implementations. JBL's Personi-Fi 3.0 builds a personalized EQ curve from a per-ear hearing test. Call-related features and relaxation sound options are also included, with the latter described as somewhat gimmicky but a reasonable extra.

Sound quality

The review describes the sound as good for the price but bass-heavy, with a low end that can feel uncontrolled even when a flatter EQ preset is applied. The high end is described as slightly rolled off, giving a warmer overall character, and mids are said to be somewhat forward. Dense rock mixes can sound bloated, according to the review, and instrument separation is not as strong as on the more expensive JBL Live 780NC. The 40 mm drivers and a 10 Hz to 40 kHz claimed range are noted, though the review argues the high-resolution specification does not translate into audiophile-grade clarity. Spatial audio is characterized as a virtual upmix of stereo rather than a fully immersive effect, and subtle enough that listeners may not notice it is active.

Design and comfort

The Live 680NC weighs around 231 grams and uses a mix of plastic, metal hinges, and leatherette-covered foam. Because the pads sit on the ear rather than around it, the review reports added pressure on top of the head during long sessions, noting that it lingers afterward without rising to outright discomfort. The review says the design, colors, controls, ports, folding mechanism, and included accessories match the Live 780NC aside from the fit and ear pads. A soft case and a USB-C to aux cable are included.

Who it suits

The review positions the Live 680NC as strong value for buyers who prioritize battery life and features over the last degree of sound refinement. It suggests the JBL Live 780NC sounds better and fits more comfortably for about $100 more, and mentions the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 as a costlier alternative with fewer features. Buyers with a sensitive head or audiophile expectations are advised to weigh those trade-offs.