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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality is your top priority, the Koss Porta Pro with a microphone offers superior overall sound and soundstage for an immersive experience. They're wired, open, on-ear headphones and do well for gaming, but the open design means they don't isolate noise well, making them less ideal for loud environments or air travel. However, if you're seeking wireless convenience for exercise, calls, and meetings, and value features like active noise canceling and a portable design, the JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds are a good fit. They have decent sound quality, a stable wireless connection, and a compact form factor suitable for on-the-go use. Keep in mind that while the JBLs perform well for exercise and are sweatproof, they are not optimized for gaming or TV with the same proficiency as the Koss Porta Pro. 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 Pro 2
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.9
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Gaming
5.3
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.1
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
6.8
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
TV and Video
5.5
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The JBL Live Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
8.3 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Pro 2 has 8.3 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery.
Cost
$90
$60
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The JBL Live Pro 2 has a price of $90 and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) costs $60.
Build Quality
7.0
6.0
The JBL Live Pro 2 has good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
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How the JBL Live Pro 2 and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Pro 2 | Koss Porta Pro (with mic) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$90 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 8.3 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.8 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.8 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
Shopping
JBL Live Pro 2
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | February 2023
"The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS occupy an interesting space in the wireless earbuds market. They’re a step up from cheap wireless earbuds and allow you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. They’re an entertaining listen, easy to use and manage to pack in a lot of useful features. We think they’re well worth a listen."
Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Pro 2 or the Koss Porta 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.
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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