Is the JBL Live 780NC worth the upgrade from the Nothing Headphone (a)?
Verdict
Downgrade
The JBL Live 780NC actually scores 9.4 points below the Nothing Headphone (a), so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on value (9.1 to 7.5) and battery (10.0 to 9.0). On paper: weight 310 g to 260 g and bluetooth 5.4 to 6.0. Worth checking: battery life goes 135 h to 80 h and water resistance goes IP52 to Not rated. And it costs $38 more for a lower score, which is hard to justify on the data alone. 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.
- Sound7.47.5
- Noise cancelling7.97.0
- Battery10.09.0
- Calls6.56.5
- Value9.17.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Headphone (a) | Live 780NC | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 135 h | 80 h | |
| Weight | 310 g | 260 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.0 | |
| Water resistance | IP52 | Not rated | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 75 h | 50 h | |
| Controls | buttons | touch | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Headphone (a) to Live 780NC". 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.