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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize portability and use during exercise, the JBL Live Free NC+ earbuds with their sweatproof design and compact size would be preferable. They also have active noise cancelling, making them a good option for noisy environments and air travel. However, if your focus is on sound quality, especially for music and video content, the Sennheiser HD 250BT headphones would be a better fit due to their superior soundstage and audio reproduction. They are also more comfortable for long listening sessions and have longer battery life, but they lack the JBL's sweat and water resistance and are bulkier, which may not suit an active lifestyle as well. 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 exercise
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 250BT
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
6.5
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.8
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.4
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
25.0 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 250BT has 25 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$64
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT costs $64.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Sennheiser HD 250BT has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
7.6
7.2
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Sennheiser HD 250BT are both good for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
8.1
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Sennheiser HD 250BT are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Sennheiser HD 250BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Sennheiser HD 250BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $64 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 25 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | 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 | 9/10 | |
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 | 125 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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 HD 250BT
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Pete Scholßnagel | 2020
"As a lightweight, robust audio provider with a long battery life, the Sennheiser HD 250BT offer a lot for their price: very good Bluetooth codecs, an app connection and an extremely understated design. These headphones may not be among the most comfortable, but they deliver adequate sound – without overdriving or distortion."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Sennheiser HD 250BT
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
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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