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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall sound quality and are willing to invest in a premium product, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX may be better for you as they offer excellent sound and active noise canceling, suitable for air travel and noisy environments. However, if cost is a concern and you're looking for features like a smart charging case with an LED touch display and longer battery life, the JBL Live Beam 3 should be your choice, though you would compromise on sound quality for calls and meetings as well as TV and gaming use. Both earbuds are stem-styled, closed enclosure, and support a low latency codec, but JBL offers LDAC support which is ideal for Android users seeking high-resolution audio wireless streaming. 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 Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Live Beam 3
- The JBL Live Beam 3 has no clear advantages over the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX.
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
5.4
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.6
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life.
Cost
$399
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has a price of $399 and the JBL Live Beam 3 costs $216.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.9
7.8
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and JBL Live Beam 3 are both good for music.
Phone Calls
5.3
5.2
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and JBL Live Beam 3 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.1
5.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
8.3
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and JBL Live Beam 3 are both very good for noise reduction.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and the JBL Live Beam 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX | JBL Live Beam 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
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Dig into reviews and images
Leaf and Core
Danielle | January 2023
"If you’ve wanted truly wireless headphones, but couldn’t pick them up because they sound terrible, these will be the headphones that win you over. If you’re the kind of person who would consider spending $400 on headphones, these are the right truly wireless headphones for you."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX or the JBL Live Beam 3
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
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.
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Why trust us
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.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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