The JBL Tune 600 has noise cancellation built in, but you have to switch it on manually

The JBL Tune 600 is a pair of wireless headphones with active noise cancellation — a feature that uses microphones and speakers to block out background sound. Unlike some newer headphones, the Tune 600 does not turn noise cancellation on by default. You have to press a physical button on the headphones themselves to set up it each time you want to use it.

The noise cancellation button is located on the right ear cup. It is a small, slightly raised button positioned near the back edge of the right side. When you press it once, you will hear a tone or voice prompt confirming that noise cancellation is on. Press it again to turn it off.

Noise cancellation works best in steady, low-frequency sounds — airplane engines, traffic, air conditioning, or train noise. It is less effective against sudden sounds or high-pitched noises like voices or sirens. Battery life drops when noise cancellation is active, so you may want to turn it off if you are not in a noisy environment.

Key Takeaways

  • The noise cancellation button is on the right ear cup, near the back edge, and requires a physical press each time you use it.
  • You will hear a confirmation tone when noise cancellation turns on or off, so you know the feature is active.
  • Noise cancellation drains the battery faster than normal listening, so turn it off when you do not need it.
  • The feature works best on constant background noise like engine rumble or air conditioning, not on sudden or high-pitched sounds.

Where the button is and how to use it

Hold the headphones in front of you with the ear cups facing toward you. Look at the right ear cup — the one that would sit over your right ear. Near the back edge of that cup, you will see a small button that sticks out slightly from the surface. This is the noise cancellation control.

Press this button once with your finger or thumb. Within a second or two, you should hear a beep or a voice saying "noise cancellation on" or similar confirmation. The button does not stay pressed — it springs back to its normal position. Press it again to turn noise cancellation off, and you will hear another confirmation sound.

If you do not hear a confirmation sound, make sure the headphones are powered on. The Tune 600 has a separate power button on the left ear cup. If the headphones are on but you still hear nothing when you press the noise cancellation button, the battery may be too low — charge the headphones for at least 30 minutes and try again.

What noise cancellation actually does

Active noise cancellation does not make the headphones silent. Instead, it listens to the sound around you and plays back an inverted version of that sound through the speakers. When the two sounds meet in your ear, they cancel each other out — similar to how two waves in water can flatten each other if they are perfectly opposite.

This works very well for steady, predictable sounds. If you are on an airplane, the engine noise is constant and low-frequency, so the headphones can predict it and cancel it effectively. The same applies to traffic noise, air conditioning hum, or a washing machine running. You will notice a significant drop in volume for these sounds.

Noise cancellation is much less effective against sudden or high-pitched sounds. If someone speaks near you, a car horn honks, or a door slams, the noise cancellation cannot predict these sounds fast enough to cancel them. You will still hear them, though they may sound slightly softer. This is why noise cancellation is useful on a flight but not as helpful in a busy office or coffee shop.

Battery drain and when to use it

Turning on noise cancellation uses extra power because the headphones are constantly running microphones and processing sound. On the JBL Tune 600, you can expect the battery to drain roughly 20 to 30 percent faster when noise cancellation is active compared to normal listening without it.

If you are listening for a short time in a quiet room, turn noise cancellation off to save battery. If you are on a long flight, commute, or in a consistently loud environment, turn it on. Check your battery level before long trips — the Tune 600 typically lasts around 35 hours with noise cancellation off, but closer to 24 to 28 hours with it on, depending on volume level.

Troubleshooting if noise cancellation will not turn on

If you press the button and hear no confirmation sound, first check that the headphones are powered on. Look for a light on the ear cups — usually a small LED that glows when the headphones are active. If there is no light, press and hold the power button on the left ear cup for a few seconds until you see the light or hear a startup sound.

If the headphones are on but noise cancellation still will not set up, the battery may be critically low. Plug the headphones into a USB charger using the cable that came with them. Let them charge for at least 30 to 45 minutes, then try the noise cancellation button again.

If noise cancellation still does not work after charging, try resetting the headphones. Turn them off completely, then press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until you hear a reset sound or the light flashes in a specific pattern. Turn them back on and test the noise cancellation button again. If it still does not work, the headphones may have a hardware issue and should be checked by JBL support or the retailer you purchased them from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does noise cancellation work if I am not playing music?

Yes. Noise cancellation works independently of whether you are listening to music, podcasts, or silence. You can turn on noise cancellation, play nothing through the speakers, and straightforward hear the ambient sound around you reduced. This is useful if you want to block out background noise while you work or read.

Can I use noise cancellation with a wired connection?

The JBL Tune 600 is a wireless headphone model, so it connects via Bluetooth. It does not have a wired audio input. Noise cancellation only works when the headphones are powered on and connected wirelessly to a device.

Will noise cancellation block out voices or conversations?

No, not effectively. Noise cancellation is designed for steady, low-frequency sounds like engine noise or air conditioning. Human voices are higher-pitched and unpredictable, so the headphones cannot cancel them well. You will still hear people talking around you, though the overall noise level may drop slightly.

What if the noise cancellation button gets stuck?

The button should spring back on its own after you press it. If it feels stuck or does not return to its normal position, do not force it. Stop using that button and contact JBL support or the retailer. Forcing a stuck button can damage the internal mechanism.

Does turning off noise cancellation save enough battery to matter?

Yes, if you listen for many hours. Turning off noise cancellation can add 10 to 15 hours of total listening time on a full charge. If you regularly use your headphones for short periods, the difference is small. If you use them all day, turning off noise cancellation when you do not need it extends the time between charges noticeably.