JBL Tune 780NC - Pretty Damn Premium

You've seen them. Those cool people with their cool headphones. Whatever they're listening to, it doesn't matter, because they're flexing so hard, having spent many hundreds of dollars on a set of cans they could easily leave on the bus by mistake.

Who has that kind of cash?

Luckily, thanks to JBL, you don't even need to spend TWO hundreds to wear something that sounds almost that good.

The Tune 780NC wireless over-ear headset is one of JBL's latest offerings and is available right now for just NZ$179.95.

To get it down to that price, JBL has definitely cut a few corners - but maybe not any particularly important corners - so you won't be making too many compromises to get premium sound quality in your head and the JBL logo on your ears.

The first concession is the size. Technically, these are over-ear headphones - but only just. There's also a Tune 680NC that's even smaller and is described as ON-ear. To be fair, the 780's do fit over my wildly asymmetrical ears but I have to say after a few hours non-stop use monitoring the breakfast show on Newstalk ZB, I do start to feel ever so slightly claustrophobic.

That's not only due to the smallish size of the ear-cups, the headband is also very narrow and perhaps not as padded as some other headsets. In fact, there's no denying there's a slightly plasticky feeling to the whole design. I haven't had any breakages or other issues but I'm not sure I'd trust them to survive a fall onto hard steps or being accidentally sat on.

This is exacerbated by the lack of any carry case, hard or soft, included in the box. On the other hand, the Tune 780NC does fold quite flat so you can slide it fairly easily into  a bag or backpack when not in use.

Unlike just about any other JBL product I've ever reviewed, there's no charging cable in the box either. This doesn't concern me at all - after all, I have approximately 7,463 USB-C cables lying around that'll do the job - but it's certainly more evidence JBL is making a concerted effort to keep these cans affordable.

Despite that, I was relieved to discover an AUX-to-USB-C audio cable IS included. Interestingly, although JBL has moved away from a 3.5mm audio jack on the headphones themselves, they've realised many of their users still like to plug into more analogue devices. I wish the cable was a bit longer but at least it's one of those tangle-resistant flat ribbons.

If you prefer to connect via hardwire to reduce lag - using the Tune 780NC to game with, for instance - that may no longer be an issue, as they're Bluetooth 6.0-enabled with LE Audio - some of the lowest-latency wireless tech around - as long as whatever you're pairing with is compatible of course.  Regardless, you can use Fast Pair (with Google/Android devices), Swift Pair (by Microsoft) or just do it through your plain old bluetooth settings menu - connect to two devices at once and switch between them easily.

The JBL Headphones app does all the stuff you expect it to; firmware updates, preset and customisable EQs, onboard control tweaks - the latter including the Adaptive Noise Cancelling toggle that lets you adjust how much of the outside world you let in.

The ANC is excellent and works for both wired and wireless connections. This is great for me at work because it means I can tune out my boss and my producer yelling at each other so I can focus on editing audio for the show.

However, it was the most essential requirement of a pair of headphones that really impressed me with these; plain old sound quality.

JBL lists both Hi-Res Pure Bass and Spatial Sound as headline features and from my testing, it's hard to argue. "xanny" by Billie Eilish is a classic example. As usual for her (and her brother), the production standard is exquisite. The extra-low and deliberately distorted synth bass punches through like a slow-motion sledgehammer. Meanwhile, the lead vocal and solo piano are both stripped bare, left hanging on their own in crystal clarity at various points throughout the song.

The Lawrence track, "Freckles" is another bouncy, bassy tune that makes the most of the Tune 780NC's ability to create a sonic space inside your head plenty big enough for every quirky sample, sound and instrument in the mix.

Same with "Avengers - LOCK IN" by Fat Freddy's Drop. One of their many perfect tracks; a lot of instruments, each not-playing at just the right times. It really does sound like you're right there with them as they recorded it.

If you're considering laying down four or five-hundred dollars on a really decent headset, maybe have a listen to a pair of these before you do. From the speed-charging, to the 76 hour battery life (50 with ANC on) to the very full and clear vocal quality produced by the dual beam-forming mics, this is a set of headphones - okay, OVER-ear headphones - that brings a lot to the table at a very reasonable price.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Tune 780NC.