The JBL Live 400BT are decent closed-back on-ear headphones for most uses. They have a neutral frequency response which makes them sound good straight out-of-the-box but are also highly customizable thanks to the parametric EQ available in their companion app. Their customizable sound makes them versatile for a wide range of music genres, from rap to classical. Their 30-hour battery life is outstanding, so you won’t have to worry about charging them often, and they also have an auto-off timer which is convenient if you forget to turn them off. Unfortunately, they don’t have the best build quality and they can be somewhat uncomfortable since they have a pretty tight fit, but they’re breathable, easy-to-use, and can even pair to two devices simultaneously. They provide pretty decent value for their price and are a worthwhile consideration for fans of on-ear headphones.
Pros
+ Good audio reproduction
+ Great battery life
+ Very customizable sound
Cons
- On-ear design not as comfortable
- Poor isolation in noisy environments
- Bass and treble delivery vary significantly across users
Design
Type: On-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
The JBL Live 400BT share a design language common to JBL’s E-Series and Live line-up of headphones. They’re very similar to the JBL E45BT, but have a slightly more premium look thanks to the more polished stitching on the headband and two-tone finish on the ear cups. They feel cheaper than they look, though, and they’re not the most comfortable on-ear headphones we’ve tested. They have a rather tight fit and their small ear cups tend to feel like they’re slightly pinching the top of your ears. That said, they’re very breathable, so they’ll be alright if you want to wear them while jogging. Their tight fit also helps ensure they’ll stay on your head even if you need to sprint to catch your bus from time to time. Their controls are simple and reasonably easy-to-use, which is helpful when you’re on-the-go, and they can fold up into a more compact format, so they take up less space in your bag.
Sound
The Live 400BT sound very good overall, especially for on-ear headphones. They have a remarkably balanced audio reproduction, with great bass, an excellent mid-range, and outstanding treble. Their frequency response is very flat across the range, especially in the mid and treble ranges, which is quite exceptional and makes them suitable for a very wide range of music genres. They have a small dip at the beginning of the high-bass region, which gives them a slight lack of warmth, but they still sound deep and punchy since the rest of the bass range is a touch overemphasized. However, it’s worth noting that these headphones have poor frequency response consistency. Your friend may experience lots of very deep, heavy bass, while you may find they sound thin and lacking in kick and rumble, especially if you wear glasses or have long har. That said, their companion app features a great parametric EQ, so you can easily customize the way they sound to better suit your needs.
Isolation
Noise Cancelling: No
These headphones are okay at isolating you from your surroundings. They don’t isolate any noise in the bass range, but they do a good job at blocking out sounds in the mid and treble ranges. This means that they won’t do much against the low rumble of bus or plane engines, but they’ll help mask out ambient chatter as well as the noises produced by A/C systems. They won’t be ideal for use while commuting, but they’re fairly well-suited for office work, especially since they don’t leak very much sound. You’ll be able to raise your listening volume to block out more sound without having to worry too much about bothering your colleagues, which is nice if you work in a lively office.
Microphone
Mic Type: Integrated
Like most Bluetooth headphones, the JBL Live 400BT have a mediocre integrated microphone. If you make a call in a quiet environment, like an empty meeting room or quiet hallway, the person at the end of the line should be able to understand you fairly well, but your voice will lack detail and presence. However, if you’re on a call in a noisier environment like on a busy street or in a subway station, you’ll be more difficult to understand since the mic struggles to separate speech from background noise. On the upside, these headphones come with an in-line microphone on their provided audio cable. We didn’t test its performance, but in-line mics tend to have a better recording quality, which should help make you sound clearer on the phone.
Active Features
Battery Life: 30.3 hours
Charge Time: 1.8 hours
App Support: Yes
Passive Playback: Yes
The 400BT have great active features, including an excellent battery. These headphones provide over 30 hours of continuous battery life, which is outstanding. You’ll be able to use these headphones for weeks before needing to charge them, especially since they have an auto-off timer. Keep in mind, however, that if you’re on a call and the person on the other end doesn’t say anything for 10 minutes, the headphones will turn off even if you’re still talking. You can toggle their auto-off timer on/off in their app, though, which is helpful. The app also gives you access to a great parametric EQ so you can customize the way the headphones sound.
Connectivity
Bluetooth: Yes
Wired: Yes
Wireless Range: 60ft
Latency: 186ms
The JBL Live 400BT are Bluetooth headphones with an excellent wireless range. Your results may vary depending on your Bluetooth source, but you should be able to leave your device at your desk and walk around your home office without a hitch. The headphones support multi-device pairing, too, which is helpful if you often switch between your laptop and smartphone and don’t like having to re-pair every time. Although their latency is a bit too high for enjoying video content lag-free, certain devices and apps offer some sort of latency compensation, so it may not be as noticeable for you. Also, you can always use these headphones wired with their provided audio cable to eliminate latency issues.
Who Should Buy Them?
If you like the compact, portable design of on-ear headphones and want something that has a good, customizable sound with excellent battery life, then get the JBL Live 400 BT. Commuters will appreciate their lightweight, easy-to-use design but will find they don’t isolate enough noise to block out the hustle and bustle of the outside world. They’re a solid choice for office workers who want a simple, low-profile headset, though, especially since they don’t leak too much sound. If you don’t like wearing in-ear headphones while running, you might like the 400 BT’s breathable design and stable fit. Although they have too much latency to watch movies or play video games wireless from your couch, if you like their design and the way they sound, you can use them wired for a latency-free experience. All things considered, they make for decent jack-of-all-trade headphones and are fairly versatile for different uses, provided you like their on-ear fit.
To see all our measurements and our test results of the JBL Live 400BT, please go here.
