JBL Live Beam 3 vs JBL Tour Pro 2: Pro-Level Audio Showdown
By Elisabeth Christ
Updated July 2024
Imagine a world where sound quality is not just a feature but an experience. JBL has been pushing the boundaries of audio technology with their Live series, and the Live Beam 3 and Tour Pro 2 are the latest additions to this legacy. Both earbuds boast advanced noise cancellation and high-resolution audio codecs, but which one will leave you with the most immersive listening experience?
Key Takeaways
The JBL Live Beam 3, priced at $200, stands out with its lightweight 5g earbuds, a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen on the charging case, IP55-rated durability, and 10mm dynamic drivers delivering JBL Signature Sound. It offers Adaptive Noise Cancelling that isolates up to 30dB of external noise and boasts a battery life of 12 hours (ANC off) or 10 hours (ANC on), with an additional 36 hours from the case. The JBL Tour Pro 2, at $250, features a slightly bulkier case with a responsive touchscreen display, IPX5 protection, and True Adaptive Noise Cancelling that isolates up to 40dB of noise. It provides 10 hours of playtime (ANC off) or 8 hours (ANC on) with 30 extra hours from the case, and supports high-res audio codecs like LE and LC3.
JBL Live Beam 3
Stronger in Sound Quality
✓ IP55-rated water resistance
✓ Clear highs, well-defined mids, and balanced bass
✓ True Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) and JBL Spatial Sound support
✓ Up to 48 hours of battery life
JBL Tour Pro 2
Stronger in Noise Cancellation
✓ Impressive active noise cancellation
✓ 10mm drivers
✓ LE and LC3 Audio Codecs support
✓ Personal Sound Amplification mode available
#1 Price & Design
JBL Tour Pro 2
The JBL Live Beam 3, unveiled in January 2024 and available for $200, boasts a sleek and innovative design. Each earbud weighs a mere 5 grams, ensuring a lightweight and comfortable fit. The earbuds feature a lollipop-style design with stems that provide intuitive controls on the back. The charging case is equipped with a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display, which allows users to adjust volume, toggle ANC, receive social media notifications, retrieve calls, and view texts. The Live Beam 3 also includes 6 beamforming microphones and 4 noise-sensing microphones for ANC, making it an ideal choice for users seeking a blend of style and functionality. Additionally, the earbuds are IP55-rated, ensuring they are both waterproof and dustproof, making them perfect for active users.
On the other hand, the JBL Tour Pro 2, priced at $250, offers a more premium design with additional features. The earbuds come with a touchscreen LED display on the charging case, similar to the Live Beam 3, but with a slightly bulkier case to accommodate the enhanced functionality. The Tour Pro 2 is equipped with 6 microphones (3 in each bud) and IPX5-rated waterproof and dustproof protection, ensuring durability in various conditions. The earbuds also feature 10mm drivers for powerful, clear, and bassy sound with a wide soundstage. The design is complemented by three sizes of ear tips, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit for every user.
#2 Touchscreeen Display on the Charging Case
JBL Live Beam 3
The JBL Live Beam 3's charging case is a marvel of modern technology, featuring a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display. This display is not just for show—it provides users with the ability to adjust volume, toggle Adaptive Noise Cancelling (ANC), receive social media notifications, retrieve calls, and view text messages. This integration of functionality into the case itself means you can control many aspects of your listening experience without needing to reach for your phone. The case's sleek design and intuitive interface make it a standout feature, perfect for users who demand both style and substance.
Similarly, the JBL Tour Pro 2's charging case also features a touchscreen LED display, but with a slightly bulkier design to accommodate its additional features. The display allows for a wide range of controls, including volume adjustment, ANC toggling, and receiving social media notifications, calls, and texts. The Tour Pro 2's display is noted for its responsiveness—it's not too sensitive but also not sluggish, striking a perfect balance for everyday use. This integration of a touchscreen display into the charging case makes both the Live Beam 3 and Tour Pro 2 highly versatile and user-friendly.
#3 Noise Cancellation
JBL Tour Pro 2
The JBL Live Beam 3 and JBL Tour Pro 2 both feature active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, but they differ in their effectiveness and user experience.
When it comes to noise cancellation, The Live Beam 3 is equipped with a solid ANC system that provides a commendable level of noise reduction, scoring 8.4 out of 10 in noise isolation. It utilizes 4 noise-sensing microphones to provide ANC that can isolate you from 10-30dB of outside noise, depending on the frequency. This makes it a reliable choice for users who want to enjoy their music or podcasts in moderately noisy environments, such as cafes or public transport. The ANC in the Live Beam 3 is designed to adapt to various soundscapes, allowing users to immerse themselves in their audio without significant disturbances from external noise. Additionally, the Live Beam 3 offers a robust design with an IP55 rating, providing extra durability against dust and water, which can be beneficial for users who are active or travel frequently.
On the other hand, the JBL Tour Pro 2 excels in noise cancellation, achieving a higher noise reduction score of 9.1 out of 10 with its True Adaptive Noise Cancelling feature. This superior performance makes it particularly effective in blocking out ambient noise, making it ideal for users who require a quieter listening experience, such as during flights or in busy offices. The Tour Pro 2 can isolate up to 40dB of ambient noise, ensuring that you can focus on your music or calls without any distractions. The Tour Pro 2 also features customizable ANC settings through its companion app, allowing users to tailor the noise cancellation to their specific needs and environments. This flexibility, combined with its advanced features like a touch-sensitive charging case for easy controls, positions the Tour Pro 2 as a more versatile option for users who prioritize noise isolation. Overall, while both models provide effective ANC, the Tour Pro 2 stands out for its superior noise cancellation capabilities and customization options.
#4 Sound Quality
JBL Live Beam 3
The JBL Live Beam 3 and JBL Tour Pro 2 both offer high-quality sound, but they differ in their sound profiles and technologies. The JBL Live Beam 3 features a more dynamic and punchy sound profile, with a frequency response that spans from 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz with its 10mm dynamic drivers powered by JBL Signature Sound. This design emphasizes bass and midrange frequencies, making it particularly suitable for genres like hip-hop and electronic music. The earbuds also have a sensitivity of 98 dB/mW, ensuring that the sound is loud and clear even at lower volumes. Additionally, the Live Beam 3 supports the LDAC high-resolution audio codec along with other SBC, AAC, or LC3, which enhances the overall sound quality and provides a more immersive listening experience.
In contrast, the JBL Tour Pro 2 offers a more balanced sound with a frequency response that ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and its 10mm drivers, delivering powerful, clear, and bassy sound with a wide soundstage. This balanced profile is ideal for a wide range of music genres, from classical to pop, and is appreciated by audiophiles who value clarity and detail. The earbuds also have a sensitivity of 16 Ohms, which provides a clear and detailed sound output. The Tour Pro 2 supports the same LDAC codec as the Live Beam 3, ensuring that the sound is clear and detailed even with active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on. Moreover, The earbuds provide a high-resolution audio experience, supported by LE and LC3 audio codecs, ensuring that every note and beat is heard in stunning detail. However, the Tour Pro 2's balanced sound profile makes it a stronger choice for listeners who prefer a more neutral and detailed sound without the emphasis on bass and midrange frequencies.
#5 Mics and Calls
JBL Tour Pro 2
For crystal-clear calls, the JBL Live Beam 3 is equipped with 6 beamforming microphones and 4 noise-sensing microphones for ANC. This advanced microphone setup ensures that your voice is heard clearly, even in noisy environments. The beamforming technology focuses on your voice while minimizing background noise, making it ideal for both professional and personal calls. Additionally, the Smart Talk feature automatically lowers the volume when someone is talking to you and returns to the original volume 20-30 seconds after the conversation ends.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 also excels in call quality with its 6-microphone setup (3 mics in each bud). These microphones work together to deliver clear and natural-sounding calls, with the added benefit of VoiceAware. This feature allows you to control how much of your voice you hear during calls, ensuring a comfortable and natural conversation experience. The Tour Pro 2's microphones also support advanced noise cancellation, ensuring that your voice is heard clearly even in challenging environments.
#6 Battery Life and Connectivity
JBL Live Beam 3
Battery life is a crucial factor for wireless earbuds, and the JBL Live Beam 3 offers impressive performance in this regard. With 12 hours of playtime with ANC off and 10 hours with ANC on, these earbuds can keep up with your longest days. The charging case provides an additional 36 hours of battery life, ensuring that you have plenty of power for extended use. The fast charging feature also provides 4 hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge, making it easy to top up your battery on the go.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 offers slightly different battery life figures, with 10 hours of playtime with ANC off and 8 hours with ANC on. The charging case provides an additional 30 hours of battery life, ensuring that you have enough power for extended listening sessions. The fast charging feature also provides 4 hours of playback with a 15-minute charge, making it easy to quickly recharge your earbuds when needed. Both the Live Beam 3 and Tour Pro 2 offer impressive battery life, ensuring that you can enjoy your music and calls without interruption.
JBL Tour Pro 2
Connectivity is a vital aspect of wireless earbuds, and the JBL Live Beam 3 excels with its advanced features. The earbuds support USB-C for charging and wireless charging, ensuring that you have flexible and convenient charging options. The multipoint connectivity feature allows you to connect the earbuds to multiple devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between your phone, tablet, and laptop. The Google audio switch provides flexible connection changes, and Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio support ensures a stable and high-quality wireless connection. Additionally, the Personi-Fi 3.1 feature allows for personalized audio settings, ensuring that you get the best possible sound experience.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 also offers advanced connectivity features, including USB-C for charging and wireless charging. The multipoint connectivity feature allows you to connect the earbuds to multiple devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between different devices. The Find My Buds feature ensures that you never lose your earbuds, and Bluetooth 5.3 with LE and LC3 Audio Codecs support ensures a stable and high-quality wireless connection. The Personi-Fi 3.2 feature allows for personalized audio settings, ensuring that you get the best possible sound experience.
JBL Live Beam 3 vs JBL Tour Pro 2
Final Thoughts
JBL Live Beam 3 vs JBL Tour Pro 2
Choosing between the JBL Live Beam 3 and the Tour Pro 2 depends on your specific needs and preferences. The Live Beam 3 is perfect for those who prioritize a lightweight design, extensive battery life, and excellent call clarity, making it ideal for professionals and active users. Meanwhile, the Tour Pro 2 is tailored for audiophiles who crave a powerful, immersive sound experience, with advanced noise-cancelling capabilities and a slightly more premium build. Both models represent the pinnacle of JBL's innovation, ensuring high-quality audio performance for any scenario.
If you like to read more about Wireless Earbuds, check out our other relevant guides here:
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