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JBL Live 770NC vs Nothing Headphone (a): which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Nothing Headphone (a) comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 80. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Nothing Headphone (a) - Great overall at around $162.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Nothing Headphone (a) leads on 5 of 7 measures.

  • JBL Live 770NC
  • Nothing Headphone (a)
HearWiki score
67
80
Sound
7.0
7.4
Noise cancelling
7.5
7.9
Battery
9.0
10.0
Calls
7.0
6.5
Value
8.0
9.1
Price (USD)
$150
$160

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Nothing Headphone (a) (2026) against JBL Live 770NC (2023). The Nothing Headphone (a) is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.3 and Top codec LDAC against SBC.

  • Live 770NC2023
  • Headphone (a)20263 yr newer
What differsLive 770NCHeadphone (a)

Platform

Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Top codec
SBC
LDAC

Everyday features

Wear detection
Yes
No
Water resistance
Not rated
IP52

Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Live 770NCHeadphone (a)
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$150
$160
HearWiki score
67
80
Released
2023
2026
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
40 mm dynamic
40 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
40 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
32 Ω
-
Sensitivity
100 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Codecs
SBC
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Wireless range
10 m
-
Battery life
50 h
135 h
Battery life (ANC on)
44 h
75 h
Full charge time
120 min
-
Quick charge
5 min → 4 h
5 min → 8 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
No
Controls
buttons
buttons
Voice assistant
Alexa, Google Assistant
ChatGPT
Weight
232 g
310 g
Water resistance
none
IP52
Foldable
Yes
-
Detachable cable
No
-
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Connector
USB-C
-
Microphones
4
4
Microphone type
beamforming
-
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
beamforming
AI ENC

What reviewers said

JBL Live 770NC

The JBL Live 770NC are over-ear wireless headphones that combine adaptive noise cancellation with a robust 65-hour battery life (or 50 hours with ANC engaged). They support high-quality LDAC and AAC codecs, feature Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity, and include a 40mm dynamic driver for solid audio performance. While slightly heavier than some rivals, they offer sweat resistance and a customizable EQ via the companion app.

  • Pro:Exceptional battery life, even with ANC on
  • Pro:LDAC support for high-resolution audio
  • Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode
  • Con:Heavier than some competing models
  • Con:No wireless charging option
  • Con:Physical buttons only, no touch controls

Nothing Headphone (a)

The Nothing Headphone (a) is a budget-friendly wireless over-ear option that brings strong core features like adaptive ANC, LDAC support, and excellent battery life for the price. It delivers solid sound quality and everyday usability, though it makes some sacrifices in comfort and premium refinement compared to pricier rivals.

  • Pro:Outstanding battery life of up to 137 hours without ANC
  • Pro:Supports high-res audio codecs like LDAC and LDHC
  • Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode included
  • Con:Slightly heavy at 310 grams, affecting comfort over long sessions
  • Con:Sound detail is not as refined as top competitors
  • Con:No wear detection feature

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonJBL Live 770NCNothing Headphone (a)