Press and hold the power button to set up noise cancellation

The JBL Tune 600 has noise cancellation built in, but it does not turn on automatically when you power up the headphones. You need to press and hold the power button — the same button you use to turn the headphones on — for about three seconds after the headphones are already running. A voice prompt will confirm that noise cancellation is active.

The power button is located on the right ear cup. When you first press it briefly, the headphones power on. If you keep holding it down for a few more seconds after that initial power-on, the noise cancellation mode engages. You will hear an audio cue or feel a vibration (depending on your model year) to signal the change.

Once noise cancellation is on, it stays on until you press and hold the power button again to turn it off. This toggle method means you can switch between noise cancellation active and noise cancellation off without powering down the headphones themselves.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the power button on the right ear cup for three seconds after the headphones are powered on to turn noise cancellation on.
  • A voice prompt or vibration will confirm that noise cancellation has activated.
  • Noise cancellation remains on until you press and hold the power button again to toggle it off.
  • Noise cancellation and power are separate controls — turning off noise cancellation does not power down the headphones.

What happens when noise cancellation is on

When noise cancellation is active on the JBL Tune 600, the headphones use microphones on both ear cups to detect ambient sound around you. The headphones then generate sound waves that are opposite to those ambient sounds, canceling them out before they reach your ears. This works best for steady, low-frequency noise like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning hum.

You will notice that background noise becomes much quieter, but the headphones do not eliminate all sound. Very sudden noises or high-pitched sounds may still come through. The effect is most noticeable in environments with consistent background noise; in a quiet room, you may not hear much difference.

Battery drain and noise cancellation

Noise cancellation uses extra battery power because the microphones and processing circuits are running continuously. The JBL Tune 600 will drain its battery faster when noise cancellation is on compared to when it is off. If you are using the headphones unplugged and want to extend battery life, turning noise cancellation off will give you more listening time.

The headphones will still work with noise cancellation on even when the battery is low, but you may notice the noise cancellation effect weakens as the battery drains. If the battery dies completely, you will need to charge the headphones before you can use them again, whether noise cancellation is on or off.

Troubleshooting when noise cancellation will not turn on

If you press and hold the power button and do not hear a confirmation prompt or feel a vibration, the headphones may not be charged enough. Noise cancellation requires a minimum battery level to function. Plug the headphones into a USB charger and let them charge for at least 15 minutes, then try again.

If the headphones are charged but noise cancellation still will not set up, try restarting the headphones completely. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until you hear a power-down sound, then release. Wait a few seconds and press the power button briefly to turn them back on. Once they are on, try the three-second hold again to set up noise cancellation.

If noise cancellation still does not work after a restart and a full charge, the headphones may have a hardware issue. Check the JBL support website for your specific model number to see if there is a firmware update available, or contact JBL customer service for repair options.

Noise cancellation and phone calls

When you receive a phone call while noise cancellation is on, the headphones will keep noise cancellation active during the call. This means the microphones on the headphones will filter out background noise from your environment, so the person on the other end hears you more clearly. However, the noise cancellation does not affect what you hear from the caller — their voice will come through normally.

If you find that noise cancellation is interfering with call quality or if the other person says they cannot hear you well, you can turn noise cancellation off by pressing and holding the power button again, then take the call with it off.

Pairing noise cancellation with different devices

Noise cancellation settings are stored in the headphones themselves, not in the devices they connect to. This means if you pair your JBL Tune 600 with multiple devices — a phone, a laptop, a tablet — the noise cancellation state will be the same across all of them. If you turn noise cancellation on while connected to your phone, it will still be on when you switch to your laptop.

You control noise cancellation only through the headphones' power button, not through any app or settings menu on your connected device. Some JBL models have a companion app, but the Tune 600 does not use an app to manage noise cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn noise cancellation on without powering on the headphones?

No. The headphones must be powered on first. Press the power button briefly to turn them on, then press and hold the same button for three seconds to set up noise cancellation. Both steps are required.

Does noise cancellation work with wired audio cables?

The JBL Tune 600 is a wireless model that connects via Bluetooth. It does not have a wired audio input, so this question does not explore. If you are using a different JBL model with a wired connection, check your product manual because noise cancellation behavior may differ.

Will noise cancellation drain the battery if I am not listening to music?

Yes. Noise cancellation uses battery power whenever it is on, regardless of whether you are playing audio. The microphones and processing circuits run continuously. If you want to preserve battery life, turn noise cancellation off when you are not using the headphones.

What is the difference between noise cancellation and noise isolation?

Noise cancellation actively generates sound waves to cancel ambient noise. Noise isolation is passive — the physical design of the ear cups straightforward blocks outside sound from entering. The JBL Tune 600 has both: the ear cups provide some passive isolation, and the active noise cancellation adds an extra layer of sound reduction on top of that.