If you want a wired, over-ear headphone designed for detailed monitoring, choose audio-technica ATH-M30x; if you need wireless listening with adaptive noise cancelling, choose JBL Tune 670NC. For basketball, neither is a sports-specific pick, but the JBL’s wireless design is the more practical of these two for moving around.
• audio-technica ATH-M30x: Over-ear fit, sound isolation, and a stated 15–22,000 Hz frequency range; the trade-off is a wired connection with no listed Bluetooth or noise-cancelling feature.
• JBL Tune 670NC: Bluetooth 5.3, adaptive noise cancelling, Smart Ambient modes, and up to 70 hours of battery life; the trade-off is an on-ear fit and the need to recharge for wireless use.
• Choose the ATH-M30x if you want wired headphones aimed at monitoring, mixing, or field recording.
• Choose the Tune 670NC if you want wireless everyday listening, adjustable awareness of your surroundings, and app-based sound customization.
• For basketball, the Tune 670NC avoids a cable, but neither model is described as sweatproof or specifically designed for sports.
The ATH-M30x is a wired, over-ear headphone with sound isolation and a focus on detailed audio and strong mid-range definition. Its stated frequency range is 15–22,000 Hz, and it uses dynamic drivers. Those specifications make it the more straightforward fit for someone who wants a listening setup centered on monitoring, mixing, or evaluating sound rather than wireless convenience.
The 6.35 mm headphone jack gives the ATH-M30x a clear wired connection, and the included adapter plug adds flexibility for compatible audio connections. A protective case is also included, which is useful if you plan to carry the headphones between a workspace and a field-recording location. The product is described as portable for field recording, though it remains a wired model: the cable is part of the everyday setup, not something Bluetooth can replace.
I’d consider the ATH-M30x for someone who values an over-ear design and sound isolation and expects to listen from equipment with a suitable headphone connection. Its volume control is another simple, practical touch. Skip it if you want wireless listening, adaptive noise cancelling, or headphones explicitly suited to workouts. For basketball, a cable can be inconvenient while moving, and the product information does not describe it as sweatproof.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Its noise-control modes are a major part of the appeal. Adaptive noise cancelling is intended to reduce distractions, while Ambient Aware and TalkThru let you hear more of your surroundings or nearby voices without taking the headphones off. You can activate these modes through the JBL Headphones app. The app also offers sound customization, and its Smart Audio & Video feature includes separate modes for audio quality and video or gaming output. That gives the JBL more ways to adapt to different everyday tasks, although some app features may depend on an update.
Battery life is listed as up to 70 hours, with a two-hour recharge time. The battery description specifies that the 70-hour figure applies with Bluetooth on and ANC off, so it shouldn’t be treated as the runtime for every listening setup. The headphones also fold flat, weigh 174 g, and have soft ear cushions and a padded headband—useful details for carrying them and wearing them for extended listening.
Skip the Tune 670NC if you specifically want an over-ear monitoring headphone or a wired-first setup without battery management. For basketball, wireless listening avoids the ATH-M30x’s cable, but the product information does not say the JBL is sweatproof or intended for sport. It’s an on-ear everyday headphone, not a documented sports model.
• Best for wired studio monitoring or mixing → audio-technica ATH-M30x. It is described as designed primarily for studio monitoring and mixing, with detailed sound and strong mid-range definition.
• Best for wireless listening from a smartphone → JBL Tune 670NC. Bluetooth 5.3 lets you listen without relying on a headphone cable.
• Best for over-ear fit → audio-technica ATH-M30x. Its ear placement is listed as over-ear; the JBL is on-ear.
• Best for adjustable noise control → JBL Tune 670NC. It offers adaptive noise cancelling plus Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes.
• Best for a long listed battery life → JBL Tune 670NC. It offers up to 70 hours under the stated condition of Bluetooth on and ANC off.
• Best for simple wired field recording use → audio-technica ATH-M30x. It includes a protective case and adapter plug, with portability called out for field recording.
• Best for carrying a wireless headphone → JBL Tune 670NC. Its lightweight, fold-flat design makes it easier to pack than a wired setup with its cable.
• More practical of these two for basketball → JBL Tune 670NC, with reservations. Going wireless removes a cable, but neither product is described as sweatproof or specifically made for basketball.
The phrase “multipoint wireless earbuds for basketball” can describe a shopper’s target, but neither of these products is an earbud, and the supplied information does not establish multipoint connectivity for the JBL. Likewise, someone searching for the “best comfortable clip on earbuds for basketball” or “sweatproof bone conduction headphones for basketball” is looking for a different type of product. Neither model is described as clip-on, bone-conduction, or sweatproof. Those distinctions matter more than trying to make either headphone fit a sports brief it wasn’t specified for.
Start with how you’ll connect. The ATH-M30x is wired and has a 6.35 mm jack; the JBL is wireless over Bluetooth 5.3 and includes a detachable audio cable. If you mostly listen from a phone without connecting a cable, the JBL’s setup is the more convenient match. If your priority is a wired monitoring headphone, the Audio-Technica’s intended use is more closely aligned.
Next, consider how you want a headphone to sit. The ATH-M30x goes over the ear, while the Tune 670NC rests on the ear. The JBL’s listed weight is 174 g and its design folds flat; the Audio-Technica includes a protective case. Those are concrete portability details, but they don’t establish which fit you personally will find more comfortable.
Finally, be realistic about basketball use. Wireless operation is an advantage for movement, but it does not by itself make a headphone suitable for exercise. The available product details don’t specify sweat resistance, a sports fit, or secure attachment for active play. If those are essential, neither of these is a well-supported choice from the information here. For ordinary listening before or after a game, the JBL offers more wireless features; for monitoring or recording away from the court, the Audio-Technica has the clearer purpose.
I’d choose the JBL Tune 670NC for general listening because Bluetooth, adaptive noise control, Ambient Aware, and its long listed battery life make it the more flexible everyday option.
For basketball, it is the more practical of these two because it avoids a cable, but I would not treat it as a sweatproof sports headphone.
I’d choose the ATH-M30x instead for wired monitoring, mixing, or field recording, where its over-ear design and sound-isolation focus make more sense.
My pick depends on the use I’d actually make of it: for wireless convenience, JBL; for monitoring, Audio-Technica.
Yes. It uses Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless listening and also comes with a detachable audio cable. That gives it both a wireless option and a cable connection.
The ATH-M30x is listed with sound isolation, not adaptive noise cancelling. The JBL Tune 670NC has adaptive noise cancelling, along with Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes for hearing more of your surroundings or nearby voices.
Between these two, the JBL is more convenient for movement because it can connect wirelessly. However, neither product is described as sweatproof or specifically designed for basketball, so neither has a documented sports-suitability advantage.
The ATH-M30x is the closer fit: it is described as designed primarily for studio monitoring and mixing, with detailed sound and strong mid-range definition. The JBL is aimed more at wireless everyday listening, with noise-control features and app customization.
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