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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The EPOS PC38X offers exceptional sound quality for music and gaming, with an open design that enhances soundstage but is poor for noise isolation, making it less ideal for travel. It has a boom microphone providing superb voice clarity for calls and gaming, and it's wired, so there's no battery life concern, but this also limits portability. In contrast, the JBL Live Free NC+ are more compact wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, making them suitable for use during exercise and travel. However, their sound quality and microphone are less impressive, affecting immersive experiences and call clarity. The JBL earbuds also provide the convenience of portability and wireless charging, which the EPOS lacks. If budget is a concern and you need versatility for travel and casual use, the JBL might suffice; if you prioritize superior sound and microphone quality for home use, consider investing in the EPOS. 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 EPOS PC38X
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for phone calls
- Best in class for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
9.5
5.8
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
10.0
5.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
10.0
7.6
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
8.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the EPOS PC38X is good.
TV and Video
9.0
5.6
The EPOS PC38X is excellent for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the EPOS PC38X is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The EPOS PC38X does not have a battery. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$139
$60
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The EPOS PC38X has a price of $139 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The EPOS PC38X and JBL Live Free NC+ both have very good build quality.
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How the EPOS PC38X and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| EPOS PC38X | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$139 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | EPOS | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.6/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 10/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 249.4 Grams | 7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Shopping
EPOS PC38X
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Dig into reviews and images
Everyday Listening
Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."
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 EPOS PC38X or the JBL Live Free NC+
About EPOS
EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.
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
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