JBL LIVE 500BT Specifications, Tests and Review

Headphone type
Full size
Connectivity
Wireless
Frequency Response
18 - 20000 Hz
Sensitivity
108 dB
Impedance
32 Ohm

Complete technical specifications, details, expert ratings and review of JBL LIVE 500BT. Find out how your chosen headphones stack up against the competition and whether they are the ones that best meet your expectations with the headphone comparison feature.

DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS JBL LIVE 500BT
Product Type Headphones - Bluetooth - wireless
Weight 231.6 g Worse than 69 % of headphones rated.
Colour Red | White | Blue | Black
Earpad Material Polyurethane leather
Headband Material Fabric
Recommended Use Portable electronics

​​The JBL LIVE 500BT are wireless headphones. The wireless connection allows absolute freedom of movement and with that increases the comfort of using the headphones. This feature is very popular, especially when using headphones every day. The limiting factor of wireless headphones is a certain delay in the sound transmission between the source and the headphones (almost indistinguishable for a normal user), as well as the need to charge them (in the case of wired headphones, the headphones are recharged by connecting the cable itself). The technology used for the sound transmission used by the headphones is Bluetooth 4.2.

The design of the headphones is around the ears. Because of this design, the headphone envelops the entire ear and isolates the ear better from surrounding noise when listening compared to for example on-ear headphones. With that, they offer high-quality listening without interference. However, they are most likely heavier by design and less practical for frequent carrying. The weight of the headphones is 231.6 g. Although these are over-the-head headphones that are normally characterized by their bulky nature, this model can be folded into a more compact form. This makes them easier to fit into a backpack or bag

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SOUND QUALITY JBL LIVE 500BT
Headphones Form Factor Full size
Foldable Yes Better than 84 % of headphones rated.
Connectivity Technology Wireless
Wireless Technology Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version Bluetooth 4.2 Better than 66 % of headphones rated.
Bluetooth Profiles Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Headset Profile (HSP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Sound Effects Signature Sound
Frequency Response 18 - 20000 Hz Better than 65 % of headphones rated.
Max Input Power 15 mW
Sensitivity 108 dB Better than 73 % of headphones rated.
Impedance 32 Ohm
Diaphragm 50 mm Better than 96 % of headphones rated.
Features TalkThru technology, Ambient Aware

The sound quality can be affected by many factors. When it comes to frequency range, the wider it is, the more detail you will hear when listening. However, the range a person can perceive is highly individual. The average person is able to perceive frequencies in the range of 16 to 20 000 Hz. So the most common frequency range you will see on the market is 20 to 20,000 Hz. Lower frequencies up to approximately 256 Hz are considered bass frequencies. Therefore, the lower the bottom value is, the better the headphones will reproduce bass. Conversely, values from approximately 2 048 Hz upwards are treble. That is why headphones with a high upper value will provide a much more accurate reproduction of high notes. JBL LIVE 500BT offers a frequency range of 18 - 20000 Hz. The sensitivity parameter determines how sensitively the headphones can receive the signal from the source. The higher the sensitivity value, the louder the headphones will be able to play with less power consumption. In general, a higher listening volume also means a higher power load for the connected device. So if you're buying headphones to listen to music from your mobile phone, for example, this is relevant to think about as you don't want to drain your phone's battery too much. Lower values around 85 dB are more suitable for listening in more quiet environments (for example, at home or in the office). Medium values of around 90 dB can provide good listening quality in noisier environments (for example, on public transport or in cafés). Headphones with high sensitivity values of around 100 dB or more are designed for really noisy environments, such as concerts. The JBL LIVE 500BT has 108 dB.

The device connected to the headphones also plays a role most times. The lower impedance value (approximately 100 to 150 Ohms) is suitable for playback from mobile phones, laptops or other portable players that do not have a powerful enough amplifier. The lower impedance will ensure that the required volume level is achieved with less power, thus extending the life of the player. However, at the same time, with lower impedance, there is more distortion of the sound. Headphones with a higher impedance of around 250 Ohms and above are then more suitable for playback from really powerful signal sources or using a headphone amplifier, otherwise the sound coming out of them might not be loud enough. At the same time, higher-impedance headphones will also ensure less distortion in the sound. In the case of these headphones, the impedance reaches the 32 Ohm value. The maximum input power of these headphones indicates how many decibels they can receive from the device without any damage. For JBL LIVE 500BT, it is 15 mW.

An important part of these headphones is the diaphragm, which, simply put, converts the electrical signal into a sound. The thin diaphragm that is around 6 mm thick can react quickly to changes in the audio signal and improves high-frequency listening. However, it is less sensitive to bass. The medium-thick diaphragm of around 10 mm provides a fairly balanced sound profile, allowing you to enjoy both bass and treble. A thicker diaphragm of around 20 mm cannot react so quickly to changes in the sound signal, thus impairing bass listening. However, it is more sensitive to higher frequencies. This model features the 50 mm.

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MICROPHONE JBL LIVE 500BT
Form Factor Built-in
REMOTE CONTROL JBL LIVE 500BT
Controls Volume, power on/off, answer/end, play/pause, next/previous track, pair mode, voice assistant
CABLE JBL LIVE 500BT
Cable Type Headphones cable - detachable - with remote control and mic - 1.334 m
Cable Length 1.334 m
Detachable Cable Yes
FEATURES JBL LIVE 500BT
Intelligent Assistant Siri, Google Now, Google Assistant, Alexa

Demanding users and technology enthusiasts will appreciate an intelligent assistant with whom they can partially control connected devices. For example, they can adjust the volume or request information about messages or alerts.

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BATTERY AND CHARGING JBL LIVE 500BT
Battery Type Headphone battery rechargeable - lithium polymer
Battery Capacity 700 mAh Better than 77 % of headphones rated.
Battery Life 33 hour(s) Better than 87 % of headphones rated.
Battery Life Details Continuous playback: up to 33 hours
Continuous talk: up to 33 hours
Charging Time 2 hour(s) Better than 80 % of headphones rated.

These headphones have a battery capacity of 700 mAh. In terms of headphone battery life as a significant factor in the purchase decision, it depends on what you want to use the headphones for and potentially how often you will be able to recharge them. Headphones with up to a few hours of battery life are more suitable for home use as they will require more frequent charging. Headphones with a battery life of around 10 hours or more are already more suitable for commuting and shorter journeys. However, nowadays you can also find headphones on the market that have a battery life in the higher tens to hundreds of hours. In this case, you do not have to worry about your headphones simply running out of power on longer journeys, and you will not have to deal with constant recharging. The battery life of the JBL LIVE 500BT reaches up to 33 hour(s).

Charging time is 2 hour(s).

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OTHERS JBL LIVE 500BT
Included Accessories Charging cable
Service & Support Limited warranty - 1 year

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