The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need a versatile pair of headphones for air travel or occasional use, consider the JBL Tune 660NC as they offer good noise cancellation and are foldable for portability. However, if you prioritize sound quality, especially for music, and if you want modern features like ear detection and a wireless charging option, the Sony WF1000XM4 could be worth the extra investment. The Sony earbuds also have better noise isolation, an app equalizer for sound customization, and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, which makes them more suitable for a broader range of activities, including exercise, as they're sweatproof. Keep in mind that the JBLs have a longer battery life for extended use and are more suitable for wired connections with their detachable cable. 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 Tune 660NC
The JBL Tune 660NC has no clear advantages over the Sony WF1000XM4.
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
Excellent for music
Very good for air travel
Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.1/10
9.0/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the JBL Tune 660NC is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
6.7/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Tune 660NC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.7/10
10.0/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Tune 660NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
8.3/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Tune 660NC is only fair.
Battery
42.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The JBL Tune 660NC has 42 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$50
$220
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The JBL Tune 660NC has a price of $50 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
Build Quality
8.0/10
8.9/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 and JBL Tune 660NC both have very good build quality, though the Sony WF1000XM4 has somewhat better build quality.
"The JBL Tune 660NC is the best value you can get from a set of on-ear headphones. There's no companion app so you don't get many additional features, but everything the JBL Tune 660NC sets out to do, it does well. At this price, the JBL Tune 660NC is an easy recommendation for on-ear headphone lovers"
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the JBL Tune 660NC or the Sony WF1000XM4
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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
124,400
Recommendations made
18,660
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.