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Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Live Free NC+ earbuds offer active noise cancelling, which is great for air travel and noisy environments, and they come with a wireless charging case, but they are more expensive and have a shorter battery life with 5 hours of typical use plus 18 hours from the case. Meanwhile, the Skullcandy Dime 2 are less costly, have a longer battery life with 3.5 hours plus 8.5 hours from their case, and are highly portable, but they lack active noise cancelling and wireless charging. Consider your budget and whether noise cancellation and wireless charging are essential features for you. 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 podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Skullcandy Dime 2
- The Skullcandy Dime 2 has no clear advantages over the JBL Live Free NC+.
Key differences
Phone Calls
7.6
4.8
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
5.2
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Skullcandy Dime 2 has 3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$30
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Skullcandy Dime 2 costs $30.
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Key similarities
Music
5.8
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Skullcandy Dime 2 to be only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
4.7
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Skullcandy Dime 2 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.1
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Skullcandy Dime 2 are both poor for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers JBL Live Free NC+ to be good for noise reduction, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is only fair.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Skullcandy Dime 2 both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Skullcandy Dime 2 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Skullcandy Dime 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Skullcandy | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 4.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | 1 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 8.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 4.5 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."
Skullcandy Dime 2
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | March 2022
"With the low price, it’s a low-risk investment. The Dime 2 is a decent set of backup buds for those times when you don’t want to risk your more upscale buds. If it weren’t for the lackluster battery life, I’d say everyone should have a pair as a spare for music."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Skullcandy Dime 2
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 Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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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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