In the second product sent to us after the JBL Flip 6, we are reviewing the JBL JR 460NC which is also been released considering we are heading into summer and the dreaded 6-week holidays. Giving your child some headphones to listen to the latest Harry Styles song might give you 5 minutes of peace.
The JBL JR 460NC are a pair of overhead headphones specifically designed for children allowing them to listen to their favourite music or assisting them to listen to all their TicTok videos online. They currently cost £69.99 and are available in 3 colour schemes:
- Blue
- Pink
- White
They have been designed for children who are starting to get interested in music streaming, Youtube or online gaming. JBL has made these headphones durable, and easy to use while keeping the audio quality the brand is known for with their adult range.
Unboxing
JBL has packaged the JR460NC in quite an eye-catching packaging with the three keywords – Safe, Sound, Noise Free. The packaging also mentions some of the key features:
- Google Fast Pair
- Built-in Mic
- Bluetooth 5.0
- ANC
- 30-hour battery life (with ANC off) or 20 hours (With ANC on)
- Suitable for 6 years +
The packaging also indicates these headphones were a reddot winner in 2021. What I really like about the packaging was that on the side it indicates the safe volume limit which is 85dB and also shows you what kind of things sound at 45dB up to 140dB.
Inside the box, you are presented with the JR 460 NC Headphones, a 3.5mm cable for a wired connection, USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a user guide.
First Impressions
When you first look at these headphones they look like a normal pair of JBL headphones but the size and a few subtle details when you take a closer look indicate they are designed with kids in mind. For example, inside both cups indicate which cup is the left & right cup.
The controls are simplified with 3 buttons such as a power button which also doubles up as a Bluetooth pairing button. The second button is a multi-function button that allows you to play/pause/skip your tracks. Last but not least is a button with a smiley face on it and this allows you to switch on/off the ANC.
I have had my youngest son help me test these out and his first thoughts were they are comfortable and the design did not feel too young. The build is durable and the headphones were quite flexible especially when you were not using them and wanted to put them away in your bag. I was also impressed with how lightweight they are you forget they are even on your head after a long period of use. My only negative in terms of first impressions was Its a shame JBL did not provide any kind of headphone case or bag to keep them safe and scratch-free when not in use.
Design
The JBL JR 460 NC as mentioned comes in 3 colour offerings in this review we were sent the white option that also uses some grey mainly on the cups and the inside of the headphones. The is finished with some orange details at the ends of each side of the headband.
The headphones come with circumaural ear cups that provide cushioned earpads that really do add to the comfort levels. The headband is also well padded and the fit will allow the user to use these for long periods of time as the comfort has been considered in the build and these will be secure on your head for long periods of use.
The JR 460 NC come with 32mm drivers that provide a max volume of 85dB and come with volume limiting features which are designed to protect your young children’s ears. I have already discussed the simplistic set-up of the controls at the start of the review. However not only does the multifunction button control play/pause, and track navigation it also allows you to answer calls on the headphones and can also summon your phone’s voice assistant.
The right earcup is where all the controls are positioned and that earcup also has the 3.5mm headphone jack for that wired connection and the USB-C port for charging with a LED strip to indicate when the headphones are charging or in pairing mode.
The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and also support the SBC codec. The headphones allow you to pair multiple devices at once and take advantage of Google fast pair if you use an android device to streamline the connection process.
Last but not least the battery life is designed to function for 20 hours with ANC switched on or this increases to 30 hours with ANC switched off. This does vary on user habits but in testing, these provided fairly accurate listening figures.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the JBL JR 460 NC is as good as you might expect considering JBL the brand. What JBL has done here is put in a safety feature at 85dB meaning even at the max volume they will never damage your ears or get too loud. This allows the sound to stay clear and defined. Some apps like Tic Tok can have harsh high frequencies due to the audio compression. JBL have considered this to adjust the EQ and it sounds great.
When testing the headphones with a range of different tracks these headphones will give your child their first experience of boosted bass. When listening to tracks with sub-bass content they deliver substantial thump and a fuller sound due to the volume limit feature.
Tracks with a less deep bass are where the sound signature shines like“Alice Merton – Vertigo”. This track gives you a better sense of the track the drums provide some extra bass boost. The vocals also get some low to mid richness to pair with crisp highs.
ANC- Active Noise Cancellation
The headphones also provide ANC and when switched on you will notice the lows and mids are reduced when looking to reduce the sound of the washing machine I have next to my office it did helo to reduce some of that rumble when the machine is on a spin. It’s not perfect as it does not reduce all the unwanted noise out there.
What you will notice is the audio quality performance does not change when ANC is on or off which is a real benefit for headphones like these.
Built-in Mic
The Mic offers a clear signal and when tested we could hear every word recorded when using a voice memo app or taking a call using the headphone. This allows your child’s voice on the call to be easy to understand.
Verdict
The JBL JR 460 NC are are great pair of headphones targeting children 6+. They offer a cool design, especially on the headband so depending on the size rather than the size they have to switch that for Musical notes.
The headphones are easy to use with simple-to-understand controls and the fact they have volume limit control will ease any concerns a parent might have for their child. JBL has also offered a beefy bass that really does improve the overall listening experience. The ANC is not the best on the market but does reduce some outside noise down a few levels.
The JBL JR 460 NC headphones are a really good option for kids who are starting to get into music streaming or even mobile gaming. If you want to protect your child’s ears but let them enjoy some boosted bass these are an excellent option. At £69.99 they won’t hit mum and dad’s wallet that hard.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Features: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Sound Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value For Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars – 4.6 Stars
Thanks for reading this review, please continue to support us and check out our other reviews and follow us on Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below.
Kia ora, Just wondering how old your child is wearing these? I am hoping to get for my 11 going on 12 year old, but worry the headband might be too short in length across the top of the head. Many thanks for your help.
Hi Sue,
My Son in this picture is actually 17 and they fit him fine. Unfortunately, I do not have these to hand and gave them away at Christmas. The Dimensions are 25.4 x 5.08 x 6.86 cm. Now if they fit my 17-year old I think you will be fine to get your 11-year-old a pair. The headband did have a good range for various head sizes.