JBL Live 770NC vs Sony WH-1000XM6

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Live 770NC compared with WH-1000XM6
JBLLive 770NCSonyWH-1000XM6
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2023May 2025
Sound
TypeOver-earOver-ear
Noise cancellingYesYes
Transparency modeYesYes
Spatial audio with head tracking–Yes
Driver size40 mm30 mm
BackClosed–
Impedance32 ohms–
Bluetooth codecsSBC and AACSBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3
Lossless over USB-C–No
Chip–QN3
Drivers40 mm dynamic; current UK page lists 20 Hz–20 kHz response; PDF distinguishes Bluetooth 20 Hz–20 kHz from AUX 20 Hz–40 kHz; 100 dB SPL sensitivity at 1 kHz30 mm driver unit with a high-rigidity carbon fibre composite dome and neodymium magnet; 4 Hz to 40,000 Hz (wired, switched on); sensitivity 103 dB/mW switched on, 102 dB/mW switched off; impedance 48 Ω switched on, 16 Ω switched off (1 kHz)
Chip–HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3 (Sony says seven times faster than the WH-1000XM5's) and Integrated Processor V2
Noise cancelling detailTrue Adaptive Noise Cancelling, Ambient Aware and TalkThruTwelve microphones for noise cancelling; Adaptive NC Optimizer tunes noise cancelling to the fit, surroundings and air pressure; Ambient Sound Mode with Auto Ambient Sound; Quick Attention Mode; Speak-to-Chat; Adaptive Sound Control
Audio featuresSpatial Sound and Personi-Fi 2.0; SBC/AAC confirmed by Les Numériques, while maker LE Audio support remains a promised OTA update; no current LC3 support inferredLDAC up to 990 kbps (Hi-Res Audio Wireless); Hi-Res Audio over the headphone cable; DSEE Extreme upscaling; 10-band EQ and Game EQ; 360 Reality Audio; 360 Upmix for Cinema; spatial sound with head tracking; BGM effect; LE Audio with a low-latency mode and Auracast broadcast audio
Hearing healthPersonalised hearing profile and VoiceAware own-voice monitoring–
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)Up to 50 hoursUp to 30 hours
Battery life detailUp to 65 hours with Bluetooth on and ANC off, 50 with both on, or 40 with Bluetooth off and ANC on; calls up to 33 hours without ANC or 28 with it; 850 mAh, 3.7 V battery. Current UK table and PDF give three-hour full charging, despite two hours in marketing proseUp to 40 hours with noise cancelling off (AAC, SBC or LC3); with LDAC, 26 hours with noise cancelling on or 36 hours off; talk time up to 24 hours (28 hours with noise cancelling off); up to 28 hours on the headphone cable with noise cancelling on (38 hours off); can be used while charging
Fast chargingFive minutes supplies up to four hours3 minutes gives about 3 hours of playback with a USB PD adaptor (9 V/2.3 A or more), or about 1 hour with a 5 V/1.5 A adaptor; full charge in about 3.5 hours
Design
Weight256 g254 g (better)
Bluetooth5.35.3
Two devices at onceYesYes
Headphone cableYesYes
ControlsPhysical buttons and customisable touch panel; maker automatic play/pause worked in Les Numériques' firmware 3.2.0 test, while Tom's Guide reports wearing detection failedTouch sensor control panel (double-tap to play, pause or answer calls; swipe forwards or backwards to skip; swipe up or down for volume; hold for the voice assistant; cover with your hand for Quick Attention Mode); power and NC/AMB buttons on the left unit (double-press NC/AMB to mute the microphones during calls, once enabled in the app); nod or shake your head to answer or reject calls; proximity sensor pauses music when the headphones are taken off and switches them off after 15 minutes
MicrophonesTwo beamforming call microphones; maker separately describes four noise-sensing microphonesTwelve microphones for noise cancelling; six-microphone AI-based beamforming for calls; MEMS, omnidirectional
Fit and ear tipsFoldable over-ear design with fabric headband; closed back confirmed by Les NumériquesClosed, over-ear; wider soft-fit headband in synthetic leather; stretchable earpads; folds flat and folds up to fit the supplied carrying case, which has a magnetic closure
Water resistance detail–No water resistance rating; Sony says the headphones are not waterproof
DimensionsOuter cups 9.3 × 7.6 cm; inner 5.8 × 4 cm; depth 2.7 cm–
Works withTwo Bluetooth devices, Google Fast Pair, voice assistants and detachable analogue cable; passive listening confirmed by Les NumériquesSony | Sound Connect app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; LE Audio and Auracast with compatible devices; the headphone cable also works with the headphones switched off, without noise cancelling
ColoursBlack, White, Blue and SandstoneBlack, Platinum Silver, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Sandstone (Sony US; colours vary by region)
In the boxHeadphones, USB-C charging cable, detachable audio cable, warranty and quick-start guide. UK page and maker prose advertise a carrying pouch, but PDF box list and Les Numériques' sample omit it. Maker's end-August UK schedule is corroborated by Les Numériques' actual 31 August 2023 regional releaseHeadphones, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C), headphone cable (about 1.2 m, gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug), carrying case, documents

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