JBL Tune 245NC

The JBL Live Buds 3 headphones are outstanding. They connect effortlessly and offer extensive customization through the “JBL Headphones” app. The case also provides easy control over the earbuds and is customizable. The app allows me to adjust the treble and bass to suit my preferences.

These earbuds feature three operating modes: Noise Cancelling, Ambient Aware, and Talk Thru. The Noise Cancelling mode effectively isolates you from the outside world, making it ideal for watching movies in noisy environments. In contrast, the Ambient Aware mode keeps you aware of your surroundings, which is particularly useful when you’re outdoors. The Talk Thru mode is designed for conversations.

The headphones come with three different ear tip sizes to accommodate any ear shape. I am very satisfied with them and use them daily, whether for phone calls, watching movies or series on my computer, or even for some video games.

Could these be the ultimate headphones? That might be a bold claim, as the lifespan of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones often doesn’t exceed that of their batteries; typically, after two or three years, the battery life diminishes significantly—unless you lose one or misplace the case, and then it’s game over. Personally, I have a drawer full of dead wireless earbuds, so I’ve tried many models, generally categorizing them into two types: those with silicone or foam tips that fit into the ear canal, and those without tips that sit more loosely in the ear. I’ll focus on the high-end options.

Typically, the earbuds with tips provide better isolation and, therefore, superior sound quality (thanks to a combination of passive and active noise reduction). However, they require a proper seal; if it fails even slightly, you lose audio quality and most importantly, the bass power. For me, they often become uncomfortable, and the tips accumulate dirt, plus they can lead to allergies and dermatitis over time. Among my collection, the standout are the Sony WF-1000XM5, which deliver excellent quality and noise reduction, but I frequently find them uncomfortable. I’ve had to swap out their foam tips for silicone ones, as I just couldn’t get them to fit comfortably.

On the other hand, the earbuds without tips tend to be much more comfortable; you put them in, and they hardly feel intrusive. However, they usually offer poorer sound quality due to minimal passive isolation, and you can notice a significant drop in audio quality with even slight movement, meaning you’re constantly adjusting them for better sound. In this category, I own the Nothing Ear Stick, which are comfortable but ultimately leave me feeling unsatisfied; they’re practically useless on public transport.

Now, onto the new JBL Live Flex 3… and I have to say, they are absolutely astonishing. They don’t have tips, yet they deliver outstanding sound quality (they easily outperform the Nothing earbuds without tips and I’d argue they surpass the Sony ones with tips). Honestly, why would you want uncomfortable tips when you can have high-quality sound without them?

It’s incredible; you put them on and immediately notice the excellent sound. The technology they incorporate is so advanced that they can adapt to external noise conditions and still sound amazing, whether you’re on the street or on public transport. They self-reconfigure, demonstrating true AI capabilities by adjusting the equalization to maintain audio quality—it’s mind-blowing. You don’t have to touch anything, and even if they shift a bit, they automatically correct any audio leaks. This is simply impossible with the Nothing earbuds.

In terms of phone calls, they perform exceptionally well, allowing for clear conversations without any issues. I truly don’t think I can go back to any previous model; these combine the sound quality of tip-equipped earbuds with the comfort of those that don’t have them. And the bass! The volume and bass response are incredible.

They include multiple settings for noise reduction, equalization, and automatic audio leak correction. This isn’t just a gimmick; you can genuinely perceive the intelligent, automatic adjustments. It takes a few seconds, but when it kicks in, you can really tell. I think this is the first time I’ve left everything on “automatic” with TWS headphones and actually been satisfied with the sound.

Then there’s the case, which is fantastic as it features a color display and its own operating system to control all the parameters. You don’t need your phone to manage it, although having the app is convenient for updates and other features (the earbuds prompted me for a firmware update as soon as I connected them).

In short, it’s going to be tough for me to switch back to any other model, and I hope JBL continues to update this line without tips.