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Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a significant concern and you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the JBL 510BT headphones are less expensive and provide a good wireless experience for casual music listening and air travel. However, if you prefer earbuds that are more suited for exercise, have active noise cancelling, and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, then the JBL Live Free NC+ might be the better investment despite the higher cost. The Live Free NC+ earbuds also offer better call quality, a longer battery life, wireless charging, and an app equalizer for customization, which the 510BT lacks. On the other hand, if you prioritize a more immersive soundstage and comfort for extended use, then you might find the 510BT headphones more fitting despite their poorer performance in calls, meetings, and exercises. 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 JBL 510BT
The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the JBL Live Free NC+.
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
Phone Calls
5.1/10
7.6/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
8.4/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
7.0/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
38.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$60
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL 510BT has a price of $30 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
"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 JBL 510BT 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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