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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Live Free NC+ are earbuds with active noise cancelling, sweatproof certification, wireless capabilities with a 5-hour battery life (18 with the case), and wireless charging, which makes them good for exercise and travel. The Koss Porta Pro are on-ear headphones with a wider soundstage, better for gaming and TV, and feature a foldable design with a detachable cable but no noise isolation or wireless functions. If you're frequently on-the-move, value compactness, and prefer a silent background, the JBL earbuds are a better fit. However, for longer, stationary listening with an open, natural sound, the Koss Porta Pro would be more suitable. 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 Free NC+
- Good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
6.1
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
6.8
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
TV and Video
5.6
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
2.5
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery.
Build Quality
8.5
6.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Cost
$60
$60
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) costs $60.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Koss Porta Pro (with mic) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
Shopping
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."
Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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 Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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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