JBL hasn’t broken the mould with the Tune 750BTNCs, or any of its recent wireless noise-cancellers for that matter. But it has produced another practical, well-featured and pleasant-sounding pair that should please anyone whose budget doesn’t stretch to the elite in the noise-cancelling headphone world. Every visible part of the JBL Tune 750BTNC is made from plastic. The cups, the leather-like padding, the headband; you find even a flash of aluminium on these headphones.

Not everyone will appreciate the fit, however – you can feel their clamping force; we’re far from the light touch of the Bose QC35 II here. Relatively small holes in the pads provide little room for bigger ears, too. They sound good, wear surprisingly well over long sessions – even if they initially seem a little tight. Noise cancellation isn’t great, but it’s handy for public transport and planes. Related: Best noise-cancelling headphones JBL Tune 750BTNC design and comfort – A tight fit at firstThe inclusion of active noise cancellation gives the impression that the JBL Tune 750BTNC offer more than some headphones at the price. The majority have only the basics, such as wireless. You can't adjust it via an app or on-board controls – again a concession that's predictable given the price tag – but it's a small issue when much of the time, you'll just want to silence all environmental sound. It’s disappointing to learn then that the ANC here isn’t hugely effective. It removes a fair amount of low-frequency engine noise – which is the primary job of any noise-cancelling set of headphones. Also eliminated is the hum of air conditioning units. However, the JBL Tune 750BTNC barely touch any higher-frequency sound, instead adding a light bed of hiss, which will noticeable in a quieter room. Using such a specific bass boost means JBL didn’t really need to offset it with another boost higher up the frequency range – but it does so here. The upper-mids are also promoted, a classic balancing act also used in the JBL Tune 650BTNC. The headphones have a dedicated button for switching ANC off. Just press it for two seconds to toggle.

The trade-off is a presentation that doesn’t pull you into the music as if its life depends on it, but if you listen as a distraction during travel, perhaps that is preferable. VerdictWhile you shouldn’t expect the fancier frills of pricier models, such as premium materials, their matte-finished plastic exterior, also available in red, blue and white, bears an assurance of quality. Just watch yourself while handling the sharp corners by the swivel mechanism.

The JBL Tune 750BTNC’s use Bluetooth 4.2 and support only the basic SBC codec, not aptX. However, I tried streaming a YouTube video with the headphones and lag is minimal enough to make it a non-issue. Plus, there was no glaring sound quality deficit (the bit-rate of SBC depends on its application by the Bluetooth chipset). JBL Tune 750BTNC sound quality – Energetic and enjoyable Mid-range texture and tone is the main weak point in the JBL headphones. There’s a slight vacuum in the mid-content, below the JBL Tune 750BTNC’s promoted upper-mids.The active noise cancelation means you can feel suitably ensconced within the sanctuary of these cans, ensuring you don’t miss a precious moment of your favorite songs. They sound suitably pleasant and with a warm presentation. Instead, they use a standard SBC codec which may bug audiophiles and those who want to use these headphones for gaming and watching videos, but it's to be expected at this price. Similarly, with no app support, you won’t be able to fiddle with the equalizer to your heart’s content. Still, as a ‘one size fits all’ example, the JBL Tune 750BTNC still sound mostly great for those not fussed about tweaking the settings. Conclusion

This becomes a little more pronounced when active noise cancellation is switched on, which means acoustic piano lines can sound more natural with ANC turned off. The JBL Tune 750BTNC deliver a very basic take on active noise cancellation, then, with no Ambient Aware function to let you hear outside noise with the press of a button. The JBL Tune 750BTNCs are a pair of winning headphones – good quality at a better price than most of the competition. Also consider...The JBL 750BTNC style mimics that of some of our top-rated units. These are full-size headphones, with the cup padding sitting around your ears rather than on them.