JBL Tune 770NC Review – Tuning Performance

Hey everyone! Welcome to the JBL Tune 770NC Noise Cancelling Headphones review. I’ve also reviewed the previous model, the 760NC, which looks identical to the 770NC. So, what’s changed?

The 770 comes in in colours like black, purple, white, and blue. They have a folding design like the 760 and are 10g heavier, weighing 230g.

Comfort-wise, the 770NC is quite good with a catch. The construction is firm like the 760NC, able to withstand some abuse despite the folding design. However, they aren’t dust or water-resistant, so handle with care.

Similar to the 760NC, comfort is good. Whether I’m wearing glasses or not, I can wear them for hours without issues. My ears don’t get sweaty, warm, or irritated. But, the ear cup openings are too narrow, just like the 760NC. Despite my abnormal face (which led to the local zoo thinking I’m an escaped animal), my ears are normally proportioned. These headphones are still comfortable for me. For people with larger ears though they might be too tight and make your ears warm. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are a better fit for larger ears, with ear pad openings about three-quarters of a centimetre wider. Three-quarters of a centimetre may seem small, but for ears, it makes a significant difference.

When using the 770 for working out, it’s not a pleasant experience. Like all over-ear headphones, (including the Momentum 4), your ears will get hot and sweaty during workouts.

The 770NC’s headband flex is balanced—not too tight or loose. The ear cushioning is firm, thick, and soft, and the headband cushioning is generous, ideal for those with little to no hair. The headband adjusts with notches and the ear cups rotate well.

Official ear pad replacements are only on JBL’s UK site and often sold out. Third-party vendors list replacement earss for the 760NC also fit the 770NC.

For traveling, the 770NC sits comfortably on the neck without digging in. Physically, it’s nearly identical to the 760NC.

Controls

There are no controls on the left ear cup—all are on the right. Starting from the front of the right ear cup:

• Power button: Cycle between on and off, press and hold to enter Bluetooth pairing mode.
• ANC button: Cycles between ANC, transparency mode (uses microphones to let in surrounding sounds), and regular mode. Transparency mode wasn’t available on the 760NC so big upgrade for the 770NC.
• Volume down button: Also hold to go to the previous track.
• Middle button: Play/pause, answer/hang up calls, and hold to activate the phone assistant.
• Volume up button: Hold to go to the next track.

Using with Android and Google Assistant is responsive, but the command button doesn’t play a chime to indicate it’s listening, which is annoying.

There’s no passive play/pause mode (auto-pause when removing headphones). This isn’t common in mid-tier headphones, so it’s acceptable.

Control functionality is like the 760NC

Noise Cancelling

Compared to the 760, the 770 ANC performs better. It handles low-pitch sounds at high volumes well, like plane or bus engine noise. Great for travel, but you might need to slightly increase volume for podcasts without music, after all these are mid-tier priced headphones.

In crowded, noisy environments, the 770NC tries to muffle higher-pitched noises like conversations. While not perfect, it manages well. Playing content, like a podcast, at half volume handles noise adequately, making it suitable for public transport. This is a big improvement from the 760NC.

Transparency mode lets you have a conversation within 5 to 10 feet. It’s not the best sound quality, but it works. Passive noise cancelling (all tech off) does okay, but with great battery performance, you likely won’t need it. Just keep ANC or transparency mode on.

Sidetone mode is available, letting you hear your voice during calls—a rare feature for mid-tier headphones.

Battery

Battery life is impressive. JBL claims 44 hours with ANC; I got 56 hours. In regular mode, they claim 70 hours; I got 90 hours, all at 60% volume. Yes, you read that right (90 hours). It took weeks of multiple battery drain testing and that’s the result I got.

JBL claims a two-hour recharge time, which matches my testing. The USB-C charging port is on the top of the right ear cup.

Microphone Quality

In a quiet environment, the microphone performed exceptionally well and is among the best at this price point. It’s so good that people on the other end might not even realize you’re using a headset with a dedicated microphone arm.

In a noisy environment, the microphone effectively cancelled out background noise. The only noticeable difference compared to the quiet environment test was that my voice sounded slightly more digital and less natural. While it didn’t sound robotic, it was evident that I was using headphones to communicate.

With a fan positioned about 3.5 feet away, there were some faint hints of wind noise. Despite this, the microphone still performed admirably, but the person on the other end of the call could likely tell that you were outside or in a breezy setting.

Audio Quality

It supports SBC and AAC audio codecs.

Another significant change from the 760NC: audio quality. The 770NC has a slightly bass-emphasized flat profile. There’s a mobile app with an equalizer. Yes, this time there is app compatibility because the 760 didn’t have app support.

Going back to the 770 the equalizer makes a dramatic difference, especially for bass-heavy tracks like “It’s Up” by Drake featuring Young Thug and 21 Savage. The bass performance is fantastic, even at high volumes. It remains crisp and clear, without distortion.

Vocals are sharp and clear, standing out from instrumentals. Highs are crisp and hit the sweet spot without piercing your ears, making some songs more energetic.

When wearing glasses, sound quality is like other over-ear headphones. Mids and highs are unaffected, but bass may leak due to glasses poking out of the ear cup padding.

Software

The app includes ANC controls, Ambient Aware (hearing surroundings), and Talk Through ( same as Ambient Aware but also emphasizing conversations). I prefer Talk Through as it works great as an all around transparency setting.

There’s also an equalizer with tons of preset settings and the ability to add your own profiles.

Voice Aware (sidetone mode) sensitivity can be adjusted or simply be turned off.

The app has Smart Audio (adapts audio playback for music or movies), but I don’t notice a difference and leave it always on music mode.

You can adjust the balance between earcup volume and choose your preferred voice assistant in the app. There’s a max volume limiter, but it can’t be customized and may be too restrictive, so I usually leave it off. The app also includes a QuickStart guide, firmware updates, and factory reset options.

Conclusion

When I reviewed the 760NC, I was critical because I value honesty for consumers. JBL made significant improvements with the 770NC—it’s a huge difference. However, the small ear cup opening remains a drawback. If you have larger ears, these headphones may be uncomfortable. Despite this, the 770NC is a much better product compared to the 760NC.