Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable ear-insert model provides very good sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. The Live Free 2 has an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include that either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to add an additional 28 hours of play time for a total of 35 hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX5). The headphone noise cancellation touch control setting switches between ANC on, ANC off, and ambient sound monitor (Pass-through) modes by button control on Left earbud; these settings can be customized using the JBL Headphones app. Has two different ambient listening modes, Ambient Aware and TalkThru. Has touch controls for music player transport, call connect/disconnect, noise cancellation on/off, digital voice assistant activation, and Bluetooth volume controls. Has Bluetooth pairing alert tones. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of charging will provide 2 hr. of playtime. Supports multi-point connection. Supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth devices that have those capabilities and that, if needed, have the appropriate apps installed. JBL headphones app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to show battery level, turn on/off ANC and ambient sound modes, enable and disable the auto pause feature, adjust the headphone's tonal balance, create custom or use pre-made EQ presets, and update the headphones firmware. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. The Live Free 2 comes with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Warranty Booklet, Quick Start Guide.
Sound quality:We found the Live Free 2 delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise canceling mode engaged and set to maximum and the Equalizer set to off using the JBL Headphone app (as received state of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, somewhat grainy and a bit hazy and congested (think sonic traffic jam).The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is somewhat prominent, a bit sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying), and a touch smeared. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Mixed character - warm bass with neutral midrange and treble. The overall sound can best be summarized as somewhat bassy, grainy, and a bit sizzly. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the front more high-frequency noise can be heard. A faint rushing noise can be heard when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort and Fit:As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some.
Small
Users with small earbowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their earbowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place, but that they will stay in place during casual use and some users may find they are stable even during fairly vigorous head movement.
Medium/Large
Users with medium and larger sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are stable during fairly vigorous head movement.
Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional playing, pausing, or ambient sound monitoring.
