JBL Quantum 100: An Honest Review
JBL is the most cost-effective brand we can think of when shopping for headphones, speakers, or other audio equipment. There is a lot of competition in the gaming headset market, but it hasn’t stopped JBL from showing off its skills with the release of the Quantum Line.
JBL Quantum 100 Specification
In Brief
When it comes to JBL’s gaming headset lineup, the Q100 is the most budget-friendly option. So, it’s not fair to put this headset up against more expensive alternatives. However, this headset is a decent choice. A new year always seems to offer fresh platform-specific interpretations of established models and form factors when it comes to gaming headsets, and this appears to be the case no matter how many we have. The name of the JBL Quantum 100P gaming headset tells you pretty much everything you need to know about it: it’s a PlayStation-themed variant of one of the most basic headsets JBL offers in its increasingly competitive Quantum series. Keeping things straightforward isn’t necessarily a negative thing to do.
Driver Size | 40 mm Dynamic drivers |
Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
Max input power | 20 mW |
Sensitivity | 96 dB SPL @1 kHz / 1mW |
Type | Detachable boom |
Impedency | 32 ohm |
Weight | 220 g |
Cable length | 1.2 m |
Microphone pickup pattern | Directional |
Design
The JBL Quantum 100 is a high-quality headset made by a brand with a solid reputation in home audio. It has a comfortable over-ear design with soft ear cups, and the braided audio cord moves around your ears with ease. The angled 3.5mm audio port is surprisingly strong, making it easy to use without kinking the cord. There is a volume wheel (instead of a rocker) and a mute button (also basic and straightforward) on the left ear cup. In addition, it has a detachable, articulating boom mic that is surprisingly high-quality; I wouldn’t feel bad about using it to record a podcast or some vox-overs. While most of the headset is made of plastic that has a somewhat cheap feel to it and doesn’t win any design awards, it’s evident that JBL spent some time making sure it was comfortable and easy to use.
High-Quality Microphones
While I have some issues with the design of the headphones, I have no complaints with the microphone’s audio output. There won’t be a lot of distractions, and your teammates will be able to hear you clearly.
Top-Notch Audio
The JBL Quantum 100 incorporates state-of-the-art features such as a 40-mm dynamic driver and built-in surround sound. After extensive testing, I can confidently declare that these headphones work great not only for gaming but also for listening to music and watching movies, since, let’s be real, no user would buy headphones just for gaming.
I’ll tell you what I learned the hard way, so you won’t have to. When it comes to gaming, I’ve had a lot of success that’s left me feeling fulfilled. After trying them out for three days straight on PUBG PC and APEX, I was pleasantly impressed by how well they performed. When it comes to affordable, high-quality gaming headphones, these JBL models are hard to beat.
I was also blown away by how high-quality the quantum sound signature was, as well as by how neutral and natural the gaming audio output was. Overall, the sound effects were fairly well balanced, especially in comparison to the bass boost most headphones provide for video games. We can all agree that the noise is annoying and that it makes it difficult to hear people walking. I’d like to take a moment to laud JBL for producing such high-quality audio, especially given the current situation with the nearby fire and vehicles needing instructions.
Decent repairability
While many pieces of technology are designed to be inaccessible without special tools or knowledge, the JBL Quantum 100 can be opened and repaired with little more than a screwdriver and a soldering iron. The ear cups have easily removable and interchangeable clips that reveal a cover fastened with a handful of Phillips-head screws. The driver is housed inside, shielded by even more plastic, alongside a few tiny circuit boards connected by straightforward soldering. The driver’s housing appears to be glued to the plastic cover, but the two should be rather straightforward to pry off. Everything else about them can be addressed, though I probably wouldn’t bother with updating the driver itself.
In conclusion
The JBL Quantum 100 is worth your consideration if you’re shopping for an affordable, dependable wired gaming headset. It’s less expensive than the majority of branded wired headsets while still offering superior controls, design, and microphone quality. The sound quality is adequate for everyday use but won’t impress audiophiles. It lacks any unique capabilities, but I usually end up disregarding such features anyway unless they significantly enhance my experience, so I guess that’s not a big deal.