Is the JBL Live 770NC worth the upgrade from the Nothing Headphone (a)?
Verdict
Downgrade
The JBL Live 770NC actually scores 12.8 points below the Nothing Headphone (a), so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in calls (6.5 to 7.0). You do give up ground on value (9.1 to 8.0) and battery (10.0 to 9.0). On paper: weight 310 g to 232 g and wear detection. Worth checking: battery life goes 135 h to 50 h and codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC. It is at least $13 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.
- Sound7.47.0
- Noise cancelling7.97.5
- Battery10.09.0
- Calls6.57.0
- Value9.18.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Headphone (a) | Live 770NC | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 135 h | 50 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC | |
| Weight | 310 g | 232 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP52 | Not rated | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 75 h | 44 h | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| Quick charge | 5 min → 8 h | 5 min → 4 h | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Headphone (a) 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.