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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value high comfort, excellent noise cancellation, and overall sound quality for a variety of audio content, especially while traveling or exercising, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a superior choice, though they come at a higher price. Conversely, if you are on a tight budget but still want good quality sound, comfortable fit, active noise cancelling, and you also prefer a longer battery life with the convenience of wireless charging, the JBL Live Free NC+ would be a worthy consideration despite a slightly lower performance in sound quality and noise isolation compared to the Bose. Both options have similar control customization through their respective apps, but keep in mind the JBLs may not be the best for tasks requiring low latency, like gaming or watching TV. 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
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
5.8
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.5
5.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and JBL Live Free NC+ are both poor for gaming, though the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.1
7.6
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
5.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
9.2
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
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 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 7 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."
JBL Live Free NC+
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Dig into reviews and images
HeadphoneCheck
Maike Paeßens | 2020
"JBL has added great-sounding, rock-solid all-rounders with a pleasant, warm sound character to their range. They are equipped with a high level of functionality that can be customised via the app. Some compromises have to be made with the active noise cancellation, which has a discreet effect, while the ambient mode and the Talkthru function proved to be powerful despite a perceptible background noise."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the JBL Live Free NC+
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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