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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If portability and workouts are key, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds are a great fit due to their compact size and sweatproof design. However, they're not ideal for critical listening or watching TV due to a lower performance in sound quality and higher latency. The Sennheiser 450BT headphones offer a more immersive experience with better sound quality for music and TV, and their over-ear form provides excellent noise isolation for air travel. The Sennheiser's also have a lower price, making them a more budget-friendly option with the added versatility of a wired connection. If having the latest tech with a smart charging case for touch controls appeals to you, go for the JBL Live Beam 3, otherwise for a reliable all-rounder, the Sennheiser 450BT is a solid 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 JBL Live Beam 3
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sennheiser 450BT
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Excellent for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.8
6.2
The JBL Live Beam 3 is good for music, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
Gaming
5.4
8.8
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.9
The Sennheiser 450BT is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
7.9
The Sennheiser 450BT is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
9.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is very good.
Battery
12.0 Hours
27.5 Hours
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$216
$90
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the Sennheiser 450BT costs $90.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Sennheiser 450BT both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the Sennheiser 450BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | Sennheiser 450BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $90 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | February 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.1/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | 27.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 240.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser 450BT
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2022
"The Sennheiser HD 450BT is a very good pair of headphones for the price, noise canceling is good and sound quality is great—quite rare at this price point. Like any product, this headset isn’t without its faults."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Beam 3 or the Sennheiser 450BT
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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