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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a major concern and you don't need wireless capabilities, AKG K361 headphones offer a lower midrange price with very good sound quality, comfort, and build. They are ideal for music and TV thanks to their good soundstage, but not suited for exercise due to being wired and not sweatproof. Conversely, JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds are a premium wireless option that excel in portability, exercise use, and feature a smart charging case with touch controls, active noise cancelling, and optimized interaction with both Android and Apple devices. However, they may not be as suitable for long music sessions or watching TV due to the absence of low latency features. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
6.3
5.4
The AKG K361 is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.2
5.2
The JBL Live Beam 3 and AKG K361 are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0
5.9
The JBL Live Beam 3 and AKG K361 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.8
5.6
The AKG K361 is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
8.3
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Battery
N/A
12.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life.
Cost
$98
$216
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The AKG K361 has a price of $98 and the JBL Live Beam 3 costs $216.
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Key similarities
Music
7.5
7.8
The JBL Live Beam 3 and AKG K361 are both good for music.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The AKG K361 and JBL Live Beam 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the AKG K361 and the JBL Live Beam 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| AKG K361 | JBL Live Beam 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$98 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | AKG | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2018 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 12 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 219 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
AKG K361
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Dig into reviews and images
Medium
Alex Rowe | November 2019
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
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About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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