The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If wireless convenience and active noise cancelling are priorities, especially for travel or exercise, the JBL Live Pro 2 are suitable as they offer excellent noise isolation and are sweatproof, but they are more expensive. For a budget-friendly option with a wired connection that's appreciated for music listening, the KZ ZSN Pro X performs well, though it lacks the features for exercise, like sweatproof certification, and doesn't have active noise cancelling. The KZ also offers a detachable cable, which could be handy for durability. Both are considered good for general sound quality, but if you prioritize customization, JBL's app features like equalizer settings might sway your choice. 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 KZ ZSN Pro X
Good for music
Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.9/10
7.0/10
The KZ ZSN Pro X is good for music, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Gaming
5.3/10
5.9/10
The KZ ZSN Pro X and JBL Live Pro 2 are both poor for gaming, though the KZ ZSN Pro X is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.2/10
3.1/10
The JBL Live Pro 2 and KZ ZSN Pro X are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Live Pro 2 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8/10
4.7/10
The JBL Live Pro 2 and KZ ZSN Pro X are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live Pro 2 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.5/10
7.3/10
The KZ ZSN Pro X is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
6.0/10
The JBL Live Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the KZ ZSN Pro X is only fair.
Battery
8.3 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Pro 2 has 8.3 hours of battery life. The KZ ZSN Pro X does not have a battery.
Cost
$90
$24
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL Live Pro 2 has a price of $90 and the KZ ZSN Pro X costs $24.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The KZ ZSN Pro X has very good build quality, while the JBL Live Pro 2 has good build quality.
"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."
"The KZ ZSN PRO X offers superb sound for very little money, like under $30 USD. It has some rough edges with a plastic seam on the cable that can rub on your ear, and the bud is a bit large. The tech isn't cutting edge, but new doesn't always equal better. You should try it."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Pro 2 or the KZ ZSN Pro X
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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
124,100
Recommendations made
18,615
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.
Jason Lew
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.