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JBL E65BTNC Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Jan 11, 2019 at 11:05 am
Latest change: Test bench update Feb 11, 2020 at 08:41 am
JBL E65BTNC Wireless
7.0
Mixed Usage 
7.0
Neutral Sound 
7.4
Commute/Travel 
7.1
Sports/Fitness 
7.1
Office 
5.3
Wireless Gaming 
6.9
Wired Gaming 
6.8
Phone Calls 
Tested using methodology v1.4 
 0

The JBL E65BTNC Wireless are above-average mixed usage over-ear headphones that are versatile for everyday casual use. These wireless headphones are an upgrade to the similarly designed JBL E55BT Wireless, with noise cancelling and better build quality. However, their ANC feature is decent but slightly disappointing when compared to other high-end headphones. On the upside, they have good audio reproduction and have an amazing wireless range.

Our Verdict

7.0
Mixed Usage 

Above-average for mixed usage. The JBL E65BTNC have good audio reproduction and have a versatile sound signature that is suitable for a wide variety of music genres. Their ANC feature is decent and blocks out ambient noise, making them a decent choice for commuting or to use at the office. Unfortunately, the bulky design of over-ears isn’t ideal for sports, but they are still stable for physical activity, and some will like their thumpy bass. Their latency is slightly too high for watching TV or gaming, but they perform better than most Bluetooth headphones.

Pros
  • Comfortable and lightweight design.
  • Good sound quality.
  • Excellent wireless range.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Lack of customization options.
7.0
Neutral Sound 

Good for neutral listening. They have a well-balanced audio reproduction that most users will appreciate. They have thumpy bass, well-balanced mid-range, and a good treble. However, their bass is a bit hyped and the treble is slightly veiled, so leads and cymbals might lack detail and presence. On the upside, they are comfortable for long listening sessions.

Pros
None
Cons
None
7.4
Commute/Travel 

Above-average for commuting and traveling. The E65BTNC have a noise cancelling feature that blocks out a decent amount of lower frequencies, like bus engine rumbles, letting you focus on your music. They are a bit bulky and might not be ideal for traveling around with, but their over-ear design is more comfortable for long flights than most in-ears. Their long battery life will also last you and can still be used wired if needed.

Pros
None
Cons
None
7.1
Sports/Fitness 

Decent for sports. Like most over-ears, the JBL E65BTNC are a bit bulky for more intense sports activities, but they are stable enough to run with. They are not very portable, even if they fold in a more compact format. On the upside, some may like their thumpy bass during sports to get pumped.

Pros
None
Cons
None
7.1
Office 

Above-average for office use. They isolate a good amount of mid frequencies, important for blocking out ambient speech, which will let you focus on your tasks. They also don’t leak too much, but you shouldn’t blast your music at very high volumes as you may disturb colleagues sitting close to you. On the upside, their battery life will last you well over a whole work day when fully charged, and they’ll be comfortable enough to wear for multiple hours.

Pros
None
Cons
None
5.3
Wireless Gaming 

Mediocre for gaming. If you use them wirelessly, their integrated mic is not the best for online gaming, but you can expect better performance from the in-line microphone. Also, if you don’t need a microphone, the JBL E65BTNC have good audio reproduction and are comfortable for long gaming. However, 120ms of latency is still a bit too high for gaming, but this can be resolved by using them wired.

6.9
Wired Gaming 

Pros
None
Cons
None
6.8
Phone Calls 

Pros
None
Cons
None
  • 7.0
    Mixed Usage
  • 7.0
    Neutral Sound
  • 7.4
    Commute/Travel
  • 7.1
    Sports/Fitness
  • 7.1
    Office
  • 5.3
    Wireless Gaming
  • 6.9
    Wired Gaming
  • 6.8
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Feb 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
    2.  Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
    3.  Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
    4.  Updated Jun 17, 2019: We've updated the comfort score of this review to better represent how comfortable these headphones are.

    Compared To Other Headphones

    Comparison picture

    The JBL E65BTNC are above-average closed-back over-ears that are versatile for a variety of use cases. These noise cancelling headphones have decent isolation performance but might be a bit disappointing when compared to high-end headphones in the same price range. However, they do everything pretty well and should satisfy most users. When compared to other headphones below, they tend to lack a longer battery life or a compatible app. On the upside, they have better wireless range, and the in-line microphone is a welcome addition. See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.

    Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016

    The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 are better headphones than the JBL E65BTNC Wireless. They have better sound quality than the JBLs, leak less, and have an amazing 30-hour battery life. They also have a great control scheme and come with a nice solid case as well. The JBLs have an in-line microphone when the headphones are used wired, and they are more stable for physical activities. They also have better latency performance and a useful Bluetooth Sync button.

    Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016

    The JBL E65BTNC Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016. The biggest difference between them is that the JBLs have a noise canceling feature while the Crusher Wireless have poor isolation performance. Sound-wise, the E65BTNC sound more neutral while the Skullcandy are more designed for fans of heavy bass. Most users will find the JBLs more versatile for everyday casual use than the Crusher Wireless.

    Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018

    The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the JBL E65BTNC Wireless. The Bose have a more neutral sound profile, and their ANC feature is one of the best we've tested to date. They're also one of the most comfortable headphones we've ever reviewed. On the other hand, the JBL have better wireless range and feel more stable since they have a higher clamping force on the head, which can be useful during physical activity. They also have an in-line microphone that the Bose lack.

    Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless

    The Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the JBL E65BTNC Wireless. They have a great audio reproduction which follows our target curve accurately and will be versatile for a wide variety of music genres. They also have a great 27-hour battery life (but will take 5 hours to charge fully), and they have a great companion app that allows you to customize the sound to your liking. On the other hand, the JBLs have an amazing wireless range and better isolation performance, making them slightly more versatile for everyday casual use such as commuting and for the office.

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    Test Results

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    Design
    Style
    TypeOver-ear
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessYes
    TransducerDynamic

    These over-ear headphones are fairly bulky and look a bit better made than the JBL E55BT Wireless, while still keeping a very similar design. The cups are big and well-padded, while the headband has a mesh finish. They come in three color variants: black, blue (our unit) and white.

    7.0
    Comfort
    Weight0.6 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0.9 lbs

    Update 06/17/2019: We've adjusted the comfort score since we felt these headphones are noticeably tighter than the JBL Live 650BTNC.

    The JBL E65BTNC are comfortable over-ears that feel like the similar JBL E55BT Wireless. The cups are well-padded, but strangely, the ear space is a bit smaller than before, making it feel a bit more cramped for bigger ears. They are still comfortable to wear during long listening sessions but aren't quite on par with some similar high-end headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They are quite tight on the head, and the JBL Live 650 BTNC will be a more comfortable option.

    7.3
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseGood
    FeedbackGood
    Call/Music ControlYes
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlNo
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlOn/Off
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsBluetooth Sync

    The JBL E65BTNC have a decent control scheme that gives you quick access to common functionalities such as call/music management, track skipping forward and backward and volume control. They also offer dedicated ANC and Bluetooth buttons. The physical buttons on the E65BTNC are better-made than the JBL E55BT Wireless and also offer good feedback. Some may find the ANC button in a weird position, but it shouldn't be much of a problem to use. You also get a small audio beeping feedback when you reach maximum volume or when you switch ANC on and off.

    6.2
    Breathability
    Avg.Temp.Difference6.6 °C

    Like most closed-back over-ear headphones, the JBL E65BTNC aren’t very breathable. They trap heat under the ear cups, and their closed design doesn’t help much with airflow. While they are fairly stable, the temperature difference is noticeable, and they won’t be ideal for sports as you can expect to sweat more while wearing them.

    5.9
    Portability
    L6.4"
    W6.3"
    H2.9"
    Volume117 in³
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    By design, they aren’t very portable headphones, but they do fold into a smaller format, which makes them a bit easier to travel with. They also come with a pouch which doesn’t add too much bulk. If you want to travel with them around your neck, the cups swivel to lay flat. This also makes it easier to slide the headphones inside a bag.

    6.0
    Case
    TypePouch
    LN/A
    WN/A
    HN/A
    VolumeN/A

    The JBL E65BTNC come with a soft pouch that should protect the headphones against scratches and small water exposure. However, it won’t protect them against hard impacts. On the upside, the pouch doesn’t add too much bulk to the headphones.

    7.5
    Build Quality

    The JBL E65BTNC are well-built headphones. The headband is reinforced with a thin metal sheet, which makes it sturdier. While they are still very similar to the JBL E55BT Wireless, they do feel better-finished and better built, but not by much. The biggest difference we've found is that the hinges are now made out of metal instead of plastic, which should last longer and suffer less damage over time.

    7.5
    Stability

    The JBL E65BTNC headphones have a decent clamping force and are stable enough for light physical activity. Their bulky design won’t be the best for sports, but being wireless gets rid of a cable that could get hooked on something, which is convenient. However, the protruding ear cups sway a bit when running or doing strenuous exercises.

    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
    Top
    In The Box

    • JBL E65BTNC headphones
    • 1/8” TRRS audio cable
    • Micro-USB charging cable
    • Carrying pouch
    • Manuals

    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    3.76 dB
    Treble Amount
    -2.24 dB
    7.1
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    0.6 dB

    The frequency response consistency is decent. The bass range is susceptible to some inconsistencies depending on the positioning preference. Our human test subjects with glasses or lots of hair seemed to break the seal and get slight loss in low-bass. Also, we seem to have a unit with different ear pads thickness. This resulted in a weird fit over the right ear, which could explain the higher inconsistencies of the right measurements.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    6.6
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    4.81 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    10 Hz
    Low-Bass
    6.23 dB
    Mid-Bass
    5.13 dB
    High-Bass
    4.64 dB

    The bass is quite good. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 10Hz, which is excellent. Also, low-bass, which is responsible for the thump and rumble common to bass-heavy tracks, is overemphasized by about 5dB of our neutral target making the bass a bit thumpy. Mid-bass, responsible for the body of bass guitars and the punch of kick drums, and high-bass, responsible for warmth, are overemphasized by about 3dB and 2dB respectively. Overall, the bass of the E65BTNC is heavy, but without overdoing it, which fans of bass-heavy genres may like.

    8.7
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    1.8 dB
    Low-Mid
    0.22 dB
    Mid-Mid
    0.5 dB
    High-Mid
    2.09 dB

    The mid-range of the E65BTNC is excellent. The response is flat and even across the whole range. Low-mid is very slightly underemphasized by less than 2dB, making the vocals and instruments slightly thick, but this shouldn’t be audible for most users. This results in a clear and well-balanced reproduction of the fundamental and lower harmonics of vocals and lead instruments.

    7.6
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    3.2 dB
    Low-Treble
    -1.04 dB
    Mid-Treble
    1.45 dB
    High-Treble
    -8.98 dB

    The treble is also good. The response is fairly uneven but well-balanced throughout the range. It is a bit underemphasized and veiled which results in a lack of brightness and presence on vocals and lead instruments. There is also a small negative impact on sibilances (S and T sounds) as they lack a bit of detail.

    7.0
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    2.04 dB
    Dips
    1.29 dB
    8.6
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.36
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    0.58
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    1.72
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    4.42

    The imaging performance is great. The weighted group delay is at 0.36, which is very low. The GD graph also shows that the group delay response is almost entirely below the audibility threshold. This ensures a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our test unit were very well-matched, which is important for the accurate placement and localization of objects (instruments, voice, footsteps), in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, and yours may perform differently. Our unit also had different padding on each cup, which resulted in a slight frequency mismatch as the right ear cup wasn’t getting the same seal and bass as the left one.

    4.8
    Passive Soundstage
    See details on graph tool
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    6.78 dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    5.31 dB
    PRTF Distance
    11.62 dB
    Openness
    2.2
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    3.4

    The soundstage is poor. The PRTF graph shows a decent amount of pinna interaction, but it isn’t accurate. Also, there is only a small dip around 10KHz. This could result in a relatively large soundstage, but may be perceived as unnatural and located inside the listener’s head. Additionally, the closed-back design will make them sound less open and spacious compared to open-back headphones.

    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    No
    Speaker Modeling
    No
    Room Ambience
    No
    Head Tracking
    No
    Virtual Surround
    No App
    6.7
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.346
    WHD @ 100
    0.688
    Test Settings
    Firmware
    Unknown
    Power
    On
    Connection
    Unknown
    Codec
    SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
    EQ
    No EQ
    ANC
    On
    Tip/Pad
    Default
    Microphone
    Integrated
    Isolation
    7.9
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -22.23 dB
    Noise CancellingYes
    Bass
    -10.83 dB
    Mid
    -22.76 dB
    Treble
    -34.28 dB

    The noise isolation performance of the E65BTNC is decent. In the bass range, where the rumble of bus and airplane engines sit, they reduce outside sounds by about 11dB, which is about decent. In the mid-range, important for blocking out speech, they achieved an isolation of about 23dB, which is good. In the treble range, occupied by sharp S and T sounds, they reduce noise by about 34dB, which is good.

    7.1
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    39.18 dB

    The leakage performance is decent. The significant portion of the leakage is spread across the upper mid and treble range. With the music at 100dB SPL, the leakage averages at about 39dB SPL, and peaks at 58.5dB SPL, which is slightly above the noise floor of most offices.

    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    Yes
    In-Line
    Yes
    Boom
    No
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes
    6.5
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    269.09 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    3.68 dB
    HFE
    3,466.89 Hz
    Weighted THD
    11.479
    Gain
    42.65 dB

    The mic has a decent recording quality. The LFE of 269Hz results in a recorded or transmitted speech that is relatively thin. The HFE of 3.5KHz suggests a speech that lacks detail and presence, but this is expected on Bluetooth microphones. However, the intelligibility of speech on this microphone will be decent in quiet environments.

    6.3
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    Speech + Pink Noise
    Speech + Subway Noise
    SpNR
    15.84 dB

    The microphone is average at noise handling. In our SpNR test, they achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of about 15.8dB, indicating they are best suited for quiet and moderately loud environments. However, they will struggle to separate speech from ambient noise in louder situations.

    Active Features
    7.9
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Rechargable
    Continuous Battery Life
    19.8 hrs
    Additional Charges
    0.0
    Total Battery Life
    19.8 hrs
    Charge Time
    2 hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    No
    Audio While Charging
    Yes
    Passive Playback
    Yes
    Charging Portmicro-USB

    We measured about 20 hours of battery life when used wirelessly with ANC on, which is a bit disappointing when compared to similar high-end headphones but is more than enough for a full workday. This is more than the 15 hours advertised by JBL. Unfortunately, they don’t have any power saving features unlike the JBL Everest Elite 700. On the upside, you can use them passively with the included audio cable, even if the battery is dead. They also allow you to use them when charging, but you’ll need to use the audio cable as well. According to JBL’s spec sheet, you can expect 24 hours of playback when used wirelessly with ANC off and the ANC feature can be used for about 30 hours when wired. For a better battery life, take a look at the JBL Live 500BT, although they don't have an ANC feature.

    0.0
    App Support
    App NameNo App
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSNo
    WindowsNo
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    Surround Support
    No

    Unfortunately, the JBL E65BTNC headphones are not compatible with the JBL headphones app like the JBL Everest Elite 700 or the Live 650BTNC are.

    Connectivity
    8.4
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    4.1
    Multi-Device Pairing
    2 Devices
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    260 ft
    PC Latency (SBC)
    120 ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    N/A
    iOS Latency
    146 ms
    Android Latency
    126 ms

    The JBL E65BTNC do not support NFC for quicker and easier pairing. But, you can connect to two devices simultaneously, which is convenient if you often switch between two audio sources like a computer and a phone.

    Like most Bluetooth headphones, the JBL E65BTNC have too much latency for video content or gaming. However, the 120ms measured is significantly lower than most Bluetooth headphones we’ve reviewed so far which are usually around 200ms. Also, with the included cable, you can use the headphones passively and get rid of the latency issues.

    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    Non-BT Latency
    N/A
    9.5
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    Yes
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableYes
    Length4.1 ft
    Connection1/8" TRRS
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    0 ms

    You can use the included 1/8” TRRS cable to use these headphones passively, even if the battery is dead, which is convenient. They also support audio and microphone on consoles. When plugged in, the ANC is automatically switched off, but you can still turn it on if there’s battery left.

    PC / PS4 Compatibility
    PC/PS4 Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    PC/PS4 Wired USB
    No
    PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    No
    Xbox One Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    Xbox One Wired USB
    No
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    No
    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    No Base/Dock
    USB Input
    No
    Line In
    No
    Line Out
    No
    Optical Input
    No
    RCA Input
    No
    Dock Charging
    No
    Power Supply
    No Base/Dock

    These headphones do not have a base/dock. If you want a versatile headset with a base that you can also use wired, check out the Astro A50.

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