The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and a more immersive experience with music, the AKG K361 headphones offer very good overall sound quality with the added bonus of being suitable for air travel. However, they are wired, lack active noise cancelling, and do not have a microphone. In contrast, the JBL Live 670NC headphones have good mic quality and active noise cancelling, making them a better choice for calls, meetings, and noisy environments. They also offer wireless connectivity, app controls customization, and are foldable for better portability. The JBL's provide significantly longer battery life but score lower in sound quality for music. Choose the AKG K361 for dedicated music listening and the JBL Live 670NC for a versatile, feature-rich headset for everyday use, especially in noisier settings or when you need wireless freedom and battery life. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
Good for music
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Live 670NC
Good for phone calls
Very good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
6.5/10
The AKG K361 is good for music, while the JBL Live 670NC is only fair.
Gaming
6.3/10
5.4/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live 670NC is poor.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
7.4/10
The JBL Live 670NC is good for phone calls, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
8.6/10
The JBL Live 670NC is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
5.5/10
The AKG K361 is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live 670NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
6.7/10
The JBL Live 670NC and AKG K361 are both only fair for noise reduction, though the JBL Live 670NC is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
65.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The JBL Live 670NC has 65 hours of battery life.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the JBL Live 670NC
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.