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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're seeking superior sound quality and features for travel and exercise, such as active noise cancelling, sweat and dust resistance, and a comfy fit, you'll find the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 to your liking despite the higher price. They're also ideal if you prefer the less conspicuous stemless earbud form and prioritize call quality. On the other hand, if you're budget-conscious and want a reliable build with longer battery life for extended use, the on-ear JBL Tune 660NC headphones are your go-to, but they lack some advanced features like low latency for gaming and a more compact design for portability. 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 Bowers and Wilkins PI7
Very good for gaming
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL Tune 660NC
The JBL Tune 660NC has no clear advantages over the Bowers and Wilkins PI7.
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
6.1/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and JBL Tune 660NC are both only fair for music, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is somewhat better.
Gaming
8.1/10
5.4/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for gaming, while the JBL Tune 660NC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.8/10
5.7/10
The JBL Tune 660NC and Bowers and Wilkins PI7 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Tune 660NC is somewhat better.
TV and Video
6.8/10
5.6/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Tune 660NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
6.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Tune 660NC is only fair.
Battery
3.0 Hours
42.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has 3 hours of battery life. The JBL Tune 660NC has 42 hours of battery life.
Cost
$399
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has a price of $399 and the JBL Tune 660NC costs $50.
Build Quality
8.9/10
8.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and JBL Tune 660NC both have very good build quality, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has somewhat better build quality.
"The primary selling point of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 is the charging case that can transmit audio from any analog source to the earbuds. If you have a very specific and clear need for that feature, then the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 is for you."
"The JBL Tune 660NC is the best value you can get from a set of on-ear headphones. There's no companion app so you don't get many additional features, but everything the JBL Tune 660NC sets out to do, it does well. At this price, the JBL Tune 660NC is an easy recommendation for on-ear headphone lovers"
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 or the JBL Tune 660NC
About Bowers and Wilkins
Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.
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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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
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
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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.