Is the JBL Live 770NC worth the upgrade from the ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5?
Verdict
Downgrade
The JBL Live 770NC actually scores 12.9 points below the ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in battery (7.1 to 9.0) and value (7.4 to 8.0). You do give up ground on calls (9.2 to 7.0) and sound (8.2 to 7.0). On paper: battery life 24 h to 50 h, active noise cancelling and weight 363 g to 232 g. Worth checking: wireless range goes 12 m to 10 m and wireless charging goes Yes to No. It is at least $110 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.27.0
- Battery7.19.0
- Calls9.27.0
- Value7.48.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | A50 Gen 5 | Live 770NC | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 h | 50 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 363 g | 232 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Full charge time | 180 min | 120 min | |
| Wireless range | 12 m | 10 m | |
| Microphones | 1 | 4 | |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| Detachable cable | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | none | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 2 h | 5 min → 4 h |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "A50 Gen 5 to Live 770NC". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.