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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If noise cancellation is critical to you, the JBL Live Free NC+ would be the preferable option as they have active noise canceling (ANC) for blocking out background sounds, making them excellent for air travel and noisy environments. Also, they are a more recent product with wireless functionality, including a case that provides additional charging, making them suitable for extended use without a tether. Conversely, the Sennheiser CX300S boasts a higher soundstage/imaging score, suggesting a more immersive experience for TV and video if you don't mind a wired connection and lack of ANC. They are slightly more portable due to their smaller size and have a better build quality, which could translate to longer durability. The choice might come down to the balance between the convenience of wireless and noise cancellation with JBL, versus potentially superior sound quality and build with Sennheiser. 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 Sennheiser CX300S
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
6.9
The Sennheiser CX300S is only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
6.1
The Sennheiser CX300S is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
3.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.7
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.3
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser CX300S does not have a battery.
Cost
$60
$50
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Sennheiser CX300S costs $50.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
7.0
7.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Sennheiser CX300S are both good for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Sennheiser CX300S both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Sennheiser CX300S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Sennheiser CX300S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 3.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 6.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 12 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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."
Sennheiser CX300S
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Sennheiser CX300S
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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