The JBL Live 660NC Wireless are over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). Out of the box, they have a somewhat bass-heavy sound profile, but if you prefer a different sound, the companion app offers a parametric equalizer and presets to help adjust the sound to your liking. However, while ANC performance is decent overall, it struggles to block out noise from bus or airplane engines and performs much like their passive noise isolation capabilities in the midrange and treble range.
ANC life is claimed to be about 40 hours, but we measured just under 26 hours. That said, they offer fairly complete and versatile performance and also have voice assistant support, which can be activated via the app. The JBL Live 660NCs have a simple over-ear design very similar to the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless. They have large plastic earcups with the manufacturer’s logo in the center. The headband, on the other hand, has a mesh fabric cover, but also features the manufacturer’s logo on the top side.
They are available in four colors to best suit your style: black, blue, white and pink. The JBL Live 660NCs are quite comfortable. They feel light on the head, while the earcups and headband are well padded and comfortable. However, after prolonged use, you may start to feel that they are tight on your head. The JBL 660NCs are equipped with good controls. They are located on both earcups and are easy to use. The volume up and down buttons allow you to skip a track forward or backward by holding down the respective buttons. The center button allows you to play or pause audio and answer or end calls.
You can also reject calls by holding down this button. You can tap the JBL logo on the left earcup for two seconds to activate the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice assistant. If you use another voice assistant, you can activate Siri or another voice assistant by holding down the middle button for two seconds. You can also click the ANC button once to enable, disable or activate the “Ambient Aware” feature, which allows you to hear background sounds while listening to audio. You can also double-click this button to activate talk-through, so you can converse with others without taking the headphones off your head.
The JBL Live 660NCs have good breathability. The earcups trap some heat, and their tightness can block airflow. You may notice a temperature difference when wearing them during physical activity, which may make you sweat more. The JBL Live 660NCs have mediocre portability. The earcups can be turned inward to reduce bulk, making them easier to store in a bag. They also come with a soft drawstring case to protect them when traveling. The JBL Live 660NCs come with a soft case that only protects the headphones from light scratches and dust. It also has a drawstring closure.
The material does not seem water-resistant, and the fabric does not protect the headphones from physical damage such as drops. These headphones have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile, which provides an extra punch to your mixes. They are still balanced enough for a variety of audio content. If you prefer a different sound, the companion app has a parametric equalizer and presets that allow you to customize the sound.
