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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

JBL E65BTNC Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.4
Reviewed Jan 11, 2019 at 11:05 am
Latest change: Test bench update Feb 11, 2020 at 08:41 am
JBL E65BTNC Wireless Picture
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

The JBL E65BTNC 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, with noise-canceling 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.

7.4 Commute/Travel

Above-average for commuting and traveling. The E65BTNC have a noise canceling 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.

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.

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.

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
6.8 Phone Calls
  • 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
  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.
  5. Updated Jan 11, 2019: Review published.
  6. Updated Jan 09, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Jan 09, 2019: Early access published.
  8. Updated Jan 07, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Dec 12, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

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-canceling 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 welcomed 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 are better headphones than the JBL E65BTNC. 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. 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 are slightly better headphones than the JBL E65BTNC. 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.

Anker SoundCore Space NC Wireless

The JBL E65BTNC Wireless are better-sounding headphones than the Anker SoundCore Space NC Wireless but don’t isolate noise as well. The JBL sound profile is suitable for many music genres but will still be better suited for bass-heavy genres. You can connect the JBL to two devices simultaneously, and you can use them while charging, which can be very useful at the office. However, the Anker block out more noise, especially in the bass range, making them a better option for commuting.

Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless

The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are better sounding headphones than the JBL E65BTNC. They also have better battery life and have a few customization options inside their companion app. However, they might feel a bit light on bass, which the JBLs aren’t. Also, the E65BTNC have a better noise cancelling feature which makes them more versatile for commuting and at the office. They also feel slightly more comfortable and better-built, and they also have an in-line microphone that should perform better for calls.

JBL Everest 710 Wireless

The JBL Everest 710 Wireless and the JBL E65BTNC Wireless are both decent mixed usage headphones, but the E65BTNC might be a more versatile pair thanks to their active noise cancellation, which makes them a better option for commuting and the office. On the other hand, the Everest 710 have longer battery life and a more neutral sound, but some may prefer the thumpy bass of the E65BTNC. The E65BTNC also have lower latency via Bluetooth. 

JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless

The JBL Live 650BTNC and the JBL E65BTNC Wireless are very similar headphones. They have a similar build and overall look, but the 650BTNC are slightly better. The E65 feel slightly more tight on the head and their ANC is slightly better for commuting. However, the Live are compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which offers an amazing parametric EQ. They have more battery life than the E65, which is convenient. On the other hand, the E65BTNC are better for watching video content thanks to their low default Bluetooth latency.

JBL Live 500BT Wireless

Even if the JBL E65BTNC Wireless are from an older lineup, they are still better performing headphones than the JBL Live 500BT. They have a decent ANC feature that is suitable for commuting. While the headphones look fairly the same and also have similar sound profiles, the better isolation performance of the E65BTNC make them a better choice. However, if you don’t use your headphones while commuting, the longer battery life of the Live 500 might be worth it for some, especially since you can also have access to the JBL Headphones app and a great parametric EQ, which the E65BT are lacking.

JBL TUNE 750BTNC Wireless

The JBL E65BTNC Wireless are slightly better headphones for mixed usage than the JBL TUNE 750BTNC Wireless. The E65BTNC are more comfortable, feel more stable, and look and feel much better-built and durable. Their ANC also works quite a bit better, and their battery lasts longer off a single charge. On the other hand, the TUNE 750BTNC have a slightly better-balanced and more accurate sound profile.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

These over-ear headphones are fairly bulky and look a bit better-made than the JBL E55BT, while still keeping a very similar design. The cups are big and well-padded, while the headband has a mesh finish. They come in 3 color variants: black, blue (our unit) and white.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.6 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 E55BT. 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
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Bluetooth 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 E55BT 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
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.6 °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
Design
Portability
L 6.4"
W 6.3"
H 2.9"
Volume 117 in³
Transmitter Required No

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
Design
Case
Type Pouch
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/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
Design
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, 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
Design
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.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

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

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
3.76 dB
Treble Amount
-2.24 dB
7.1
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
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.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
6.6
Sound
Bass Accuracy
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
Sound
Mid Accuracy
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
Sound
Treble Accuracy
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
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.04 dB
Dips
1.29 dB
8.6
Sound
Imaging
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
Sound
Passive Soundstage
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
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
6.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.346
WHD @ 100
0.688
Sound
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
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-22.23 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
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
Isolation
Leakage
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
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
Yes
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
6.5
Microphone
Recording Quality
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
Microphone
Noise Handling
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
Active Features
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 Port micro-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
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
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
Connectivity
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
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.1 ft
Connection 1/8" 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.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC/PS4 Analog
Audio + Microphone
PC/PS4 Wired USB
No
PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio + Microphone
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
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.