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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
earbuds offering very good overall sound quality and excellent build quality. If you prioritize active noise cancelling (ANC) and use during exercise or air travel, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is superior with its excellent noise isolation and sweatproof certification. However, for longer battery life and the convenience of wireless charging, consider the JBL Live Beam 3, which also has a unique Smart Charging Case with LED touch display for control. Both are well-suited for music and Android or Apple devices but are not the best for calls, meetings, gaming, or TV, with fair to poor scores in these areas. The Bose offers a virtual surround feature, which the JBL lacks, if immersive audio is important to you. 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 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has no clear advantages over the JBL Live Beam 3.
Advantages of the JBL Live Beam 3
- The JBL Live Beam 3 has no clear advantages over the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Key differences
TV and Video
6.2
5.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is very good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the JBL Live Beam 3 costs $216.
Build Quality
9.2
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.4
7.8
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both good for music.
Gaming
5.5
5.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and JBL Live Beam 3 are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.2
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL Live Beam 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | JBL Live Beam 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the JBL Live Beam 3
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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.
By the numbers
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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.
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