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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For immersive music experiences and portability, JBL Live Free NC+ earbuds are a good choice with a high score for use during exercise and active noise canceling that enhances listening in noisy environments. However, their sound quality is not rated as high for gaming and TV. On the other hand, Steelseries TUSQ earbuds, while less expensive, offer better sound quality for gaming, with high scores in gaming and TV/video use cases. They also feature a boom mic for clearer voice capture, making them suitable for calls and gaming. However, they lack wireless capabilities and active noise cancellation, and they're not as highly recommended for exercise or air travel. 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 Steelseries TUSQ
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
7.6
The Steelseries TUSQ is good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.5
The Steelseries TUSQ is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
5.2
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.7
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.3
The Steelseries TUSQ is 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 Steelseries TUSQ is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Steelseries TUSQ does not have a battery.
Cost
$60
$40
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Steelseries TUSQ costs $40.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Steelseries TUSQ both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Steelseries TUSQ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Steelseries TUSQ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Steelseries | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | August 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8.6/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
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 | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 11 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
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."
Steelseries TUSQ
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Dig into reviews and images
Can Buy or Not
Aloysius Low | March 2021
"The SteelSeries Arctis Tusq is a great headset for those on a more modest budget. You can use it for gaming or music, and I daresay it's also great for Zoom meetings when you don't want to be wearing on-ear or over-ear headphones."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Free NC+ or the Steelseries TUSQ
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 Steelseries
Steelseries is a Danish gaming products manufacturer founded in 2001 and owned by GN Store Nord. Beside a large variety of gaming peripherals like mice, keyboards, and mousemats, Steelseries markets the Arctis line of gaming headsets which feature integrated boom microphones and RGB lighting. Steelseries has partnered with several game publishers and studios for limited editions of their products like a line of Cyberpunk 2077 themed headsets in 2020.
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Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,800
Recommendations made
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Consumer hours saved
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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