Design and features:These are Bluetooth wireless noise-canceling portable ear-insert models. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment.
Additional features:Has integrated volume control, microphone, and call connect/disconnect control. Either earphone can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. JBL Headphones app download for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features and software updates.
Sound quality:We found the Live Buds 3 delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks and excellent active noise reduction. The
bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. The
midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is somewhat grainy and a bit hazy and congested (think sonic traffic jam); the mid and upper midrange is a bit prominent. The
treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is somewhat prominent and a bit sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying) and smeared. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Mixed character - warmish bass with neutral midrange and coolish treble. The overall sound can best be summarized as a bit bassy and sizzly and somewhat grainy. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones. A very faint rushing sound is audible when music is not present at that frequency to mask it.
Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the front a bit more high frequency noise can be heard. A very faint rushing sound is audible when music is not present at that frequency to mask it.
Comfort and Fit:As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some.
Small
Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels bulky in their ear bowl, and will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use, they are stable even during fairly vigorous head movement.
Medium
Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use, they are stable even during vigorous head movement, and they are unobtrusive so it's easy to forget they are being worn.
Large
Users with large sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are fairly stable even during vigorous head movement.
Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional volume level changes, playing, pausing, track skipping, or ambient sound monitoring.
