Buzz
Design and Features of JBL Tune 660NC
In general, I lean towards over-ear sound options rather than on-ear for various reasons, primarily comfort. The pressure on the ears can be a bit much, causing discomfort over time. I braced myself for it with these, and it never came.
They aren't heavily padded, but strategically placed cushions make all the difference. The headband offers ample adjustability, minimizing pressure on the ears. So, despite having a fairly large head (physically, not egotistically – be gentle in the comments...), I could tweak this for real comfort. The cup rotation also adds to its functionality.
That said, they can get quite warm after a while. It's not an issue in colder months, but I wouldn't want to sport them during a 35-degree day at work. JBL has struck a good balance here for fit and comfort, even during energetic activities like running or brisk walks, these qualities hold true.
Embracing simplicity, JBL has designed a truly straightforward control setup with just five buttons on the right ear cup. These include power, ANC, play/pause, as well as volume up and down. Adding a bit more to the feature set, a double tap on the play/pause button activates the assistant on your chosen device. No fuss with touch gestures here, it's a refreshingly straightforward execution.
Sound and Battery Life
We've talked about comfort, but if the headphones deliver terrible sound, they won't sell. Fortunately, JBL's 600NC headphones don't disappoint, offering a genuinely robust and well-balanced soundstage.
When we say well-balanced sound, we mean they impress for the price but won't stand toe-to-toe with bigger – and pricier – names in the market. The audio ranges are clear and crisp, but they lean a bit heavy on bass at lower volumes. Of course, this can be balanced through EQ apps or cranking up the volume to discomfort for some listeners.
If I describe the sound of these in simple terms, it means they're versatile but not exceptionally outstanding. We mentioned the slightly heavy bass at lower volumes, the midrange is excellent, and the high range is clean but lacks a bit of punch. If I had to guess, they've been tuned for streaming videos and music.
Even when you're cranking up the volume quite high, you'll notice a fairly impressive battery life. Although I don't keep them near maximum volume most of the time, they're quite sizable, and I've got over 40 hours since one charge, using ANC the entire time, reaching 60 hours of playback without ANC.
Charging for 2 hours gives you a full battery, but if you're running low, a 5-minute charge provides 2 hours of playback – more than enough for your commute to work. Lastly, if push comes to shove, you can actually (provided your device supports it) plug in the 3.5mm cable to kick off your tunes.
The ANC feature does a decent job for commuting and eliminating some ambient white noise. However, it doesn't handle louder noises well, and you'll still get a reasonable amount of ambient noise around you.
What are the downsides of JBL Tune 660NC?
There really aren't any downsides if you're looking for good (not outstanding) sound at a reasonable price. The whole package lacks a bit of polish, and consideration for accessories could – perhaps should – be included. With the Tune 660NC targeting calls, online media playback, and commuting, it seems like a missed opportunity not to include at least a carrying pouch.
For me personally, it's not an issue, but some users might complain about the length of the charging cable. It's short in an impractical way, even if you're charging into a PC, if the USB port is at the top of the machine, your headphones will be dangling in the wind.
Lastly, there are some minor aspects of the design that could be improved. Specifically, where the ear cup folds when stored, the plastic rim is quite angular to the point of being sharp. It's easy to accidentally snag or graze against that edge: JBL could easily round off the edges to minimize potential issues.
These are just minor details but contribute to the overall package feel. Personally, I'd be happy to pay more than the RRP of $149.00 AUD; I might even consider around $230 AUD a reasonable price if these minor issues are addressed.
Should you buy the JBL Tune 660NC?
If you're okay with the $150 price tag, then it's a genuinely good choice. While the sound isn't at Bose or Sennheiser levels, it's solid and reasonably balanced at a moderate volume. They're clearly designed for streaming videos and calls but can adapt to the listener's music preferences, making them quite versatile.
There's a level of comfort with the Tune 660NC that surprised me; they're genuinely comfortable to the point where I forget I'm wearing them. In fact, they have decent noise isolation, even without ANC, causing some minor issues for me when trying to be aware of my surroundings at home.
At the end of the day, I confidently say you can pay more and get much less from other options on the market. The Tune 660NC is a genuinely good choice offering a great price-to-performance ratio, and truth be told, they might be worth more than what you pay for.
