A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation and tend to travel by air, JBL Live 770NC headphones come with Active Noise Cancelling which is excellent for these situations, they are also comfortable for extended wearing and have a feature for wired listening. On the other hand, Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds are optimized for high-quality music listening with support for LDAC codec and have a longer battery life, making them suitable for those who prefer premium sound and less frequent charging. They also offer wireless charging and are optimized for both Android and Apple, which could be convenient. However, the Sony earbuds may be less suited for exercise as they are not sweatproof certified and have a larger earbud size. Both have a foldable design for portability and both offer app-based customization. Consider the Sony WF1000XM4 for an all-around premium audio experience with high portability and if budget is less of a factor, or go for the JBL Live 770NC if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with strong active noise cancelling and don't need the latest wireless technologies. 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 Live 770NC
- Excellent for air travel
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the JBL Live 770NC is good.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Live 770NC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live 770NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Live 770NC is good.
Battery
76.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The JBL Live 770NC has 76 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$130
$220
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The JBL Live 770NC has a price of $130 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
Build Quality
8.0
8.9
The Sony WF1000XM4 and JBL Live 770NC both have very good build quality, though the Sony WF1000XM4 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.6
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and JBL Live 770NC are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.8
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WF1000XM4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live 770NC is poor.
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How the JBL Live 770NC and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live 770NC | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$130 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2024 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.1/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 76 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 220 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live 770NC or the Sony WF1000XM4
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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