If you want long battery life, wired listening flexibility, and a straightforward over-ear design for calls, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT; if you need adjustable noise cancellation, ambient listening modes, and call controls that let you hear your own voice, choose JBL TUNE 770NC. For most call-focused buyers, I’d lean toward JBL because its VoiceAware feature and noise-control options are more directly useful during calls, while Audio-Technica makes more sense if battery endurance and a detachable audio cable matter more.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT vs JBL TUNE 770NC at a Glance
• JBL TUNE 770NC: Its strongest case is adaptive noise cancellation, Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes, plus VoiceAware for calls. Its trade-off: it has no headphone jack listed, so there is no equivalent wired listening option in the supplied specifications.
• Choose Audio-Technica if you want long listening time, a cable fallback, and a simpler set of features.
• Choose JBL if you want more control over what you hear around you and how your voice sounds to you during calls.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT: Who It's For
The ATH-M20xBT is a sensible pick for someone who wants wireless over-ear headphones with long stretches between charges. Audio-Technica lists up to 60 hours of playback, plus a quick-charge feature that can provide up to three hours of use from a 10-minute charge. That is useful if you often forget to charge devices and need a quick top-up before a commute or work session.
Its design is circumaural, meaning the ear cups go around the ears. Audio-Technica says this shape helps isolate sound in louder environments, but the listed noise-control feature is “None,” so don’t confuse the passive seal with active noise cancellation. The headphones also fold for easier storage and include a detachable audio cable. That wired option gives them flexibility when you want to listen without relying on Bluetooth or battery power.
The JBL TUNE 770NC is the more feature-rich choice for someone moving between focused listening and awareness of nearby sounds. Adaptive Noise Cancelling is intended to reduce distractions, while Ambient Aware and TalkThru provide ways to hear more of your surroundings or converse without taking the headphones off. Those modes offer practical flexibility for a desk, shared space, or walk where you don’t want to stay completely cut off from the environment.
For calls, JBL lists hands-free calling with VoiceAware. The feature lets you hear your own voice while speaking, and the headphones have ear-cup buttons for managing sound and calls. That makes the JBL the more clearly call-oriented option on paper. It does not guarantee a particular microphone performance in every environment, but the call features are explicitly identified, unlike the Audio-Technica’s listed information.
JBL also lists up to 70 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3, and sound customization through its app, including preset equalizer modes and an adjustable EQ curve. The important trade-off is that the product information lists no headphone jack. Choose it if call handling, noise control, and app-based sound adjustment matter more than having a wired fallback. Skip it if a detachable audio cable is essential to your routine.
• Best for calls with a listed call-specific feature → JBL TUNE 770NC. VoiceAware lets you hear your own voice while talking, and JBL identifies ear-cup buttons for call management. The provided Audio-Technica details do not describe call controls or a microphone feature.
• Best for reducing distractions → JBL TUNE 770NC. It has adaptive noise cancellation. Audio-Technica lists no noise-control feature, though its around-ear shape is described as providing sound isolation.
• Best for switching between listening and awareness → JBL TUNE 770NC. Ambient Aware and TalkThru are designed to bring more of the outside world into the listening experience.
• Best for battery life → JBL TUNE 770NC. Its listed maximum is up to 70 hours, compared with up to 60 hours for the ATH-M20xBT. Actual listening time can depend on how the headphones are used, and the supplied details do not give a separate battery figure for each mode.
• Best for a wired fallback → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. It includes a detachable audio cable for standard wired listening. JBL’s listed specifications say it has no headphone jack.
• Best for quick charging → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. A 10-minute charge is listed as providing up to three hours of use. JBL lists a two-hour charge time but does not provide a comparable quick-charge-use figure in the supplied details.
• Best for app-based sound tailoring → JBL TUNE 770NC. Its app offers preset EQ modes and manual EQ adjustment. Audio-Technica’s listed feature set does not include an app-based equalizer.
• Best for a simpler, cable-ready setup → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. It focuses on Bluetooth listening, long battery life, foldability, and wired use without the additional noise-control and app features JBL brings.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 15 min read · Independent comparison
The phrase “best bluetooth headset for calls” often leads shoppers to compare headphones with dedicated call features against models primarily described around listening. In this pairing, JBL has the more explicit call-oriented feature set. Neither product’s supplied specifications promise a particular level of call clarity in a noisy room, so I would treat the feature list as a guide to functionality, not a guarantee of performance.
One distinction is easy to miss: the ATH-M20xBT does not have “rotatable ear cups” called out in the supplied information. It is described as collapsible, which helps with storage, but that is not the same as a documented rotating-cup design. If rotating cups are a must-have for your preferred fit or carrying routine, the available specifications do not establish that either model meets that requirement.
My Verdict
I’d choose the JBL TUNE 770NC for calls because it has VoiceAware, call-management buttons, and noise-control modes that give it the more relevant feature set for voice conversations. The 70-hour battery listing is another practical advantage for frequent use. I’d pick the ATH-M20xBT instead if I valued a detachable audio cable and its quick-charge option more than call-specific controls. For my call-focused recommendation, JBL is the more convincing fit based on the features listed.
The JBL TUNE 770NC has the clearer call-focused feature set: it lists hands-free calls, VoiceAware, and ear-cup controls for call management. The supplied ATH-M20xBT details do not identify comparable call features, so JBL is the more straightforward choice for this use.
The listed noise-control feature is “None,” so it does not have a specified active noise-cancellation feature. Its circumaural ear cups are described as providing sound isolation, which is different from adaptive noise cancellation.
JBL lists up to 70 hours of battery life for the TUNE 770NC, while Audio-Technica lists up to 60 hours for the ATH-M20xBT. The Audio-Technica also has a stated 10-minute quick-charge option that provides up to three hours of use.
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Need fix short requirement 1100 words, current ~850. Also forbidden "best" generic? Personal opinions if concrete; side-by-side requested best value but omit. Must no ranking. Existing phrase open ear inaccurate and call keyword. Need expand to 1100+; exact requested opening starts phrase syntax and first sentence exact shape: currently fills blanks but "for calls" explicit yes. Is recommendation factual? JBL battery 70 only potentially NC off? Data says up to 70. Fine. FAQ price question maybe not required. Add content paragraphs within section to hit 1100. Current includes misleading open ear phrasing. Keyword phrase required naturally but contradictory: can state no product is open ear. good. But phrase "best" opinion framed? phrase SEO exact. Wording "best bluetooth headset..." present, not claim. Article likely ~900. Add 300 words distributed.
If you want long battery life, wired listening flexibility, and a straightforward over-ear design for calls, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT; if you need adjustable noise cancellation, ambient listening modes, and call controls that let you hear your own voice, choose JBL TUNE 770NC. For most call-focused buyers, I’d lean toward JBL because its VoiceAware feature and noise-control options are more directly useful during calls, while Audio-Technica makes more sense if battery endurance and a detachable audio cable matter more.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT: Its strongest case is up to 60 hours of playback, a detachable wired audio cable, and a sound profile described as emphasizing detail, midrange definition, and enhanced bass. Its trade-off: it has no noise-control feature listed.
• JBL TUNE 770NC: Its strongest case is adaptive noise cancellation, Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes, plus VoiceAware for calls. Its trade-off: it has no headphone jack listed, so there is no equivalent wired listening option in the supplied specifications.
• Choose Audio-Technica if you want long listening time, a cable fallback, and a simpler set of features.
• Choose JBL if you want more control over what you hear around you and how your voice sounds to you during calls.
The ATH-M20xBT is a sensible pick for someone who wants wireless over-ear headphones with long stretches between charges. Audio-Technica lists up to 60 hours of playback, plus a quick-charge feature that can provide up to three hours of use from a 10-minute charge. That is useful if you often forget to charge devices and need a quick top-up before a commute or work session.
Its design is circumaural, meaning the ear cups go around the ears. Audio-Technica says this shape helps isolate sound in louder environments, but the listed noise-control feature is “None,” so don’t confuse the passive seal with active noise cancellation. The headphones also fold for easier storage and include a detachable audio cable. That wired option gives them flexibility when you want to listen without relying on Bluetooth or battery power.
I’d consider them for someone who values battery life, wired listening, and a music-oriented sound description. They may also suit someone looking for the best open ear headphones for calls only if “open ear” is being used casually to mean headphones that leave the ear uncovered; these are actually over-ear headphones, not an open-ear design. For call-focused use, the supplied information does not specify a microphone feature or call-specific controls. If those are your priority, JBL’s documented VoiceAware feature gives it a clearer case.
JBL TUNE 770NC: Who It's For
The JBL TUNE 770NC is the more feature-rich choice for someone moving between focused listening and awareness of nearby sounds. Adaptive Noise Cancelling is intended to reduce distractions, while Ambient Aware and TalkThru provide ways to hear more of your surroundings or converse without taking the headphones off. Those modes offer practical flexibility for a desk, shared space, or walk where you don’t want to stay completely cut off from the environment.
For calls, JBL lists hands-free calling with VoiceAware. The feature lets you hear your own voice while speaking, and the headphones have ear-cup buttons for managing sound and calls. That makes the JBL the more clearly call-oriented option on paper. It does not guarantee a particular microphone performance in every environment, but the call features are explicitly identified, unlike the Audio-Technica’s listed information.
JBL also lists up to 70 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3, and sound customization through its app, including preset equalizer modes and an adjustable EQ curve. The app-based controls could be useful if you switch between different kinds of audio and want to adjust the sound rather than stick with one fixed tuning. JBL also lists an Audio mode and a Video mode, with Video mode intended to help keep audio and visuals in sync.
The important trade-off is that the product information lists no headphone jack. Choose it if call handling, noise control, and app-based sound adjustment matter more than having a wired fallback. Skip it if a detachable audio cable is essential to your routine. Its listed battery life is longer than Audio-Technica’s, but the key difference for a call-focused buyer is the set of specific controls and listening modes, not just the headline endurance figure.
• Best for calls with a listed call-specific feature → JBL TUNE 770NC. VoiceAware lets you hear your own voice while talking, and JBL identifies ear-cup buttons for call management. The provided Audio-Technica details do not describe call controls or a microphone feature.
• Best for reducing distractions → JBL TUNE 770NC. It has adaptive noise cancellation. Audio-Technica lists no noise-control feature, though its around-ear shape is described as providing sound isolation.
• Best for switching between listening and awareness → JBL TUNE 770NC. Ambient Aware and TalkThru are designed to bring more of the outside world into the listening experience.
• Best for battery life → JBL TUNE 770NC. Its listed maximum is up to 70 hours, compared with up to 60 hours for the ATH-M20xBT. Actual listening time can depend on how the headphones are used, and the supplied details do not give a separate battery figure for each mode.
• Best for a wired fallback → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. It includes a detachable audio cable for standard wired listening. JBL’s listed specifications say it has no headphone jack.
• Best for quick charging → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. A 10-minute charge is listed as providing up to three hours of use. JBL lists a two-hour charge time but does not provide a comparable quick-charge-use figure in the supplied details.
• Best for app-based sound tailoring → JBL TUNE 770NC. Its app offers preset EQ modes and manual EQ adjustment. Audio-Technica’s listed feature set does not include an app-based equalizer.
• Best for a simpler, cable-ready setup → Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT. It focuses on Bluetooth listening, long battery life, foldability, and wired use without the additional noise-control and app features JBL brings.
The phrase “best bluetooth headset for calls” often leads shoppers to compare headphones with dedicated call features against models primarily described around listening. In this pairing, JBL has the more explicit call-oriented feature set. Neither product’s supplied specifications promise a particular level of call clarity in a noisy room, so I would treat the feature list as a guide to functionality, not a guarantee of performance.
There’s also a difference between passive isolation and active noise cancellation worth keeping straight. Audio-Technica describes the around-ear shape as helping isolate sound, which may make the headphones a reasonable option in louder surroundings. JBL, by contrast, explicitly lists adaptive noise cancellation and modes for letting more outside sound in. If you want the option to change how much of your surroundings you hear, JBL’s feature set is more flexible.
For someone who mainly works at a desk, the choice may come down to whether call features or cable flexibility matter more. JBL’s VoiceAware and call buttons make its call controls easier to identify from the specifications. Audio-Technica’s detachable cable is helpful if you want a wired option for compatible listening setups. Neither feature automatically makes one model right for every desk; it depends on which capability you expect to use regularly.
My Verdict
I’d choose the JBL TUNE 770NC for calls because it has VoiceAware, call-management buttons, and noise-control modes that give it the more relevant feature set for voice conversations. The 70-hour battery listing is another practical advantage for frequent use. I’d pick the ATH-M20xBT instead if I valued a detachable audio cable and its quick-charge option more than call-specific controls. For my call-focused recommendation, JBL is the more convincing fit based on the features listed.
The JBL TUNE 770NC has the clearer call-focused feature set: it lists hands-free calls, VoiceAware, and ear-cup controls for call management. The supplied ATH-M20xBT details do not identify comparable call features, so JBL is the more straightforward choice for this use.
The listed noise-control feature is “None,” so it does not have a specified active noise-cancellation feature. Its circumaural ear cups are described as providing sound isolation, which is different from adaptive noise cancellation.
The ATH-M20xBT includes a detachable audio cable for wired listening. The JBL TUNE 770NC product information lists no headphone jack, so it does not offer the same wired fallback in the supplied specifications.
JBL lists up to 70 hours of battery life for the TUNE 770NC, while Audio-Technica lists up to 60 hours for the ATH-M20xBT. The Audio-Technica also has a stated 10-minute quick-charge option that provides up to three hours of use.
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