JBL Live Beam 3 Review

The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones are an impressive addition to the JBL lineup, showcasing a blend of innovative features, premium build quality, and excellent audio performance. In this detailed review, we’ll delve into every aspect of these earphones, from their design and build to their sound quality and functionality, providing you with all the information you need to decide if they’re the right fit for you.

Design and Build Quality

Case and Earphones

The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones come in a meticulously designed smart case that is both stylish and functional. The case features a matte finish with a metallic sheen, giving it a sleek, modern look. The capacitive touchscreen on the lid is rich in color, responsive, and carries the JBL branding at the lower end. The rear side of the case includes a USB-C charging port, an LED indicator for charging status, a button to control the case’s screen, and a lanyard attachment point.

The earphones themselves boast a unique design compared to other JBL models. They have a matte finish on the inner stem and housing, with a chrome finish on the outer parts of the stem. The ear tips are made from soft silicone, ensuring comfort even during prolonged use. Notably, the ear tips include a mesh to prevent dirt and debris from entering, which helps maintain the earphones’ performance over time.

Comfort and Durability

The earphones are designed for long-term comfort. The soft silicone ear tips create a good seal, and the earphones have an IP55 water and dust resistance rating, making them suitable for use in various environments, including light rain.

Features and Functionality

Smart Case

The smart case is a standout feature, offering quick access to essential controls such as music volume, ambient sound control, spatial sound, equalizer settings, and more. It even allows you to answer and end calls, view battery life, and set a lock screen wallpaper. The case essentially functions as a mini smartphone, enhancing the overall user experience.

JBL Headphones App

For more intricate control, the JBL Headphones app provides a comprehensive suite of options. Users can adjust ambient sound settings, customize the equalizer, check ear tip fit, and manage smart automation features like autoplay and pause. The app also supports high-resolution audio, personal sound amplification, and various sound modes tailored for different activities.

Connectivity and Controls

The earphones support Bluetooth 5.3, wireless charging, and multi-point connectivity, allowing seamless switching between devices. Touch controls on the earphones and the smart case provide flexible control options, with the smart case being particularly user-friendly.

JBL Live Beam 3 Review – Audio Quality

Sound Performance

The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones are equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers, offering a frequency response of 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz. They support SBC, AAC, and high-resolution LDAC codecs, ensuring high-quality audio playback.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)

The active noise cancelling feature performs exceptionally well, especially against low-frequency droning noises like fan motors and engines. The adaptive ANC mode adjusts in real-time to different noise environments, providing a comfortable listening experience without the uncomfortable suction feeling some ANC earphones produce.

Sound Signature

• High Frequencies: Elevated but not aggressive, avoiding listener fatigue. Instruments like cymbals and percussive sounds are clear and well-detailed.
• Mid Frequencies: Slightly recessed but with sufficient energy in the lower mids to ensure vocals are full and natural.
• Low Frequencies: Well-tuned with a focus on sub-bass. Suitable for genres with strong bass lines and for cinematic experiences.

Customization

The JBL Headphones app allows users to customize the sound profile with a manual equalizer or preset modes such as Jazz, Vocal, Bass, Club, Studio, and Extreme Bass. Each mode tweaks the audio output to suit different listening preferences.

Call Quality and Microphones

The earphones feature six microphones (three per earphone) that enhance both ANC and call quality. Environmental noise cancelling ensures clear voice transmission during calls, even in noisy environments. Features like voice aware and private call mode provide additional control over call settings.

Battery Life and Performance

The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones offer robust battery life, with comfortable listening volumes between 40-50% ensuring balanced and rounded sound. The max volume limiter feature helps protect hearing by capping the volume at 85 dB.

JBL Live Beam 3 Review – Conclusion

The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones are a premium offering that combines cutting-edge technology with user-friendly features. The smart case and comprehensive app controls make them highly versatile, while the impressive sound quality and effective ANC make them a joy to use. Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile, these earphones are worth considering for their exceptional build quality, feature set, and performance.