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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Etymotic ER4XR offers excellent noise isolation, a detachable cable, and is acclaimed for sound accuracy, but it comes at a premium price and lacks features like wireless capability, which the JBL Live Free NC+ offers at a budget-friendly cost. The JBLs also have a higher convenience factor, with features like active noise cancelling, wireless charging, and a waterproof build, making them more versatile for everyday use and exercise. If sound quality and isolation are your top priorities, the Etymotic might be worth the investment; however, for more features and better value, the JBL Live Free NC+ could be the better choice. 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 Etymotic ER4XR
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
5.8
The Etymotic ER4XR is very good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
6.2
5.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
4.7
7.6
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER4XR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
8.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
7.4
5.6
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The Etymotic ER4XR does not have a battery. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$234
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Etymotic ER4XR has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 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 | 9.1/10 | 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 | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER4XR
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
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 Etymotic ER4XR or the JBL Live Free NC+
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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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