Short answer: the Sony WH-1000XM5, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #405 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $198; the JBL Live 770NC ranks #422, rated 2.5/5, and costs $219.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #8 at $199.95.
What the Sony WH-1000XM5 does well: It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life. The catch: Bass sits about 7 dB over target and sub-bass about 6 dB over, with the low mids another 3 dB over, so the sound is bloated and bass-heavy for anyone wanting a balanced presentation.
The JBL Live 770NC is the longer-running option. Active noise cancelling and a claimed 65 hours of battery (50 with ANC on) suit long flights and daily commutes, and the 32 ohm drivers also work wired. It is rated for 65 hours of battery against 30 for the Sony WH-1000XM5. The tradeoff: A 9.1 dB dip near 9.7 kHz right after a 5.5 dB peak near 6.9 kHz makes cymbals sound uneven, with some sharpness and then missing shimmer.
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Live 770NC and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life.
Amazon $198.00 Lowest Sony $299.99 eBay
Active noise cancelling and a claimed 65 hours of battery (50 with ANC on) suit long flights and daily commutes, and the 32 ohm drivers also work wired.
Amazon $219.95 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | JBL Live 770NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $198.00 | $219.95 |
| Ranked | #405 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #422 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wireless and wired |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 48 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation | 3.61 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 48 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 100 dB SPL @ 1kHz |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) | 0.6 lbs (256 g) |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 65 hours (50 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | - |
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