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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value sound quality and an expansive soundstage for a more immersive listening experience, the Focal Elex would be a better fit, though it lacks a built-in microphone for calls. The JBL Live Free NC+, while less expensive, offers good portability, active noise cancelling for noisy environments, and features such as a sweatproof design and wireless charging, making it suitable for exercise and on-the-go use, but it may not match the Elex in overall sound quality. Consider the JBL for convenience and features, and the Elex for audio fidelity in quieter settings. 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 Focal Elex
- Good for music
- Very 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
7.7
5.8
The Focal Elex is good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
6.9
5.0
The Focal Elex is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
4.3
7.6
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
8.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Elex is good.
TV and Video
8.3
5.6
The Focal Elex is very good 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 Focal Elex is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The Focal Elex does not have a battery. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$749
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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How the Focal Elex and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 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 | No | 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 | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
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 Focal Elex or the JBL Live Free NC+
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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