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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Live Free NC+ is a wireless earbud with active noise cancelling which is great for air travel and noisy environments, it's also sweatproof which makes it suitable for exercise, and it offers wireless charging for convenience. However, the KZ ZSN Pro, while wired and without noise cancelling, provides better soundstage and higher fidelity which is significant for immersive music and gaming experiences. The KZ also has a detachable cable and is recognized for its build quality. If budget is a concern, the KZ ZSN Pro offers a solid experience at a lower cost, yet if wireless functionality and noise cancelling are priorities, the JBL Live Free NC+ might justify the higher price. 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 KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic)
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
7.7
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.0
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
5.1
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.9
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.4
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
5.3
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) does not have a battery.
Cost
$60
$24
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) costs $24.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $24 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | KZ | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 4.3/10 | |
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 | 5.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 7 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."
KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic)
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Dig into reviews and images
PrimeAudio
David Becker | 2019
"Undoubtedly the focus and the star of the show, the ZSN Pro’s bass is big, bold and bangin’. The amount of gusto in the low end should satisfy anyone who likes a large lick of bass and even certified bassheads will probably get a kick out of this."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the KZ ZSN 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.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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