The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The AKG K361 provides a higher overall sound quality and is wired with a detachable cable, suitable for critical listening and studio work, but it lacks a microphone and built-in controls, making it less convenient for hands-free calls. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless offers lower overall sound quality, but their wireless connectivity, exceptional battery life, a boom mic with excellent quality, and high scores for calls, meetings, and gaming make them versatile for daily use and professional environments. If pristine audio fidelity is your main concern, lean towards the AKG K361, but if you need wireless convenience, a boom mic, and good sound, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless might be a better fit, especially considering they are often less expensive. 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
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
Good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Very good for air travel
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
6.8/10
The AKG K361 is good for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
6.3/10
8.8/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
7.3/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for phone calls, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
7.9/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
5.3/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is poor.
Battery
N/A
60.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$70
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The AKG K361 has a price of $100 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $70.
Build Quality
8.5/10
9.0/10
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has excellent build quality, while the AKG K361 has very good build quality.
"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."
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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
91,100
Recommendations made
13,665
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.