JBL has been around for years, but they never really focused on the market’s gaming section. But today in our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review, we’re checking out one of their wireless gaming headsets.
JBL’s Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset has precise spatial audio positioning which gives you the edge. It also offers Bluetooth dual-wireless capabilities, lossless 2.4GHz, ANC features, 14-hour battery life, and lots more.
If you want to get your hands on this headset, continue reading our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review. This will help you decide if the gaming headset is something worth purchasing.
JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Gaming Headset Packaging
Our headset arrived in an attractive-looking cardboard box that features an image of the headset in front. JBL’s branding can be found on the upper-left portion while features are listed on the box’s lower-right and left corners.
On the box’s sides, you’ll find another image of the Quantum 800 but at a different angle. There are more details about the product here, as well as on the box’s rear.
Inside, you’ll find the wireless gaming headset kept nicely and neatly in place. That also goes for the other accessories that are included.
Other than the headset, you’ll also find a charging cable, a 3.5mm audio cable, and one USB wireless dongle. You’ll also find a Windshield foam for the mic, a quick start guide, safety sheet, and a warranty card.
JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Gaming Headset Review – Design and Functionality
When the headset arrived for our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review, we saw how fine it looked. It’s dark, sleek, and covered in black plastic and matte gunmetal. Keep in mind that it’s primarily made of plastic but is quite hefty for a gaming headset.
The Quantum 800 sports a two-hinge setup that provides an adequate degree of tilt. This will help accommodate a variety of head shapes while letting the headset lay flat too.
The rear of each ear cup carries a circular and textured panel that has JBL’s logo. These light up with customisable lighting when the headset is on. Its metallic, reflective dark grey plastic frames the lighting panels.
On the right earcup’s bottom edge are the power switch and Bluetooth pairing button. Other controls can be found along the left earcup’s back and bottom edges. These include the USB-C port, 3.5mm input, microphone mute button, game/chat balance wheel, volume wheel, and ANC button.
The flip-down boom microphone is also on the left earcup. It’s a foam-covered capsule mounted on a firm yet bendable rubber arm.
For the headband and cushions, these have memory foam cushions wrapped in leatherette, making the entire headset comfortable when worn.
This is where our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review focuses on the product’s connectivity.
The Quantum 800 works a lot like other wireless gaming headsets. It connects mainly via a 2.4 GHz USB wireless RF dongle. This connectivity makes it compatible with a wide range of platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
You can also use a 3.5mm detachable cable for wired gaming with supported platforms like PlayStation 4 and 5. In addition, the Quantum 800 features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for mobile devices. It supports SBC and AAC codecs, and can be paired with your phone and PC simultaneously.
Key Features of the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Gaming Headset
What makes this product better than other gaming headsets on the market? Let’s find out by discussing its key features in our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review.
Audio Precision Made for Gaming
With QuantumSURROUND, you can enjoy the most accurate and immersive surround sound experience. This technology is powered by JBL QuantumENGINE which boosts your gaming audio. Also, the Quantum 800 features DTS headphone:X v2.0.
Hi-Res Certified JBL QuantumSOUND
With the Quantum 800’s QuantumSOUND, you can enjoy every in-game scene with a more realistic soundscape. Thanks to its Hi-Res certified 50mm drivers, you can have a competitive advantage in your game.
Dual Wireless for Audio Freedom
There’s no need to remove your headset when getting up for a snack. That’s because the Quantum 800 features gaming-grade 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 dual wireless audio connectivity.
Voice-focus Boom Microphone
The microphone of the Quantum 800 features echo-cancelling technology. This feature ensures that your voice is loud and clear.
DISCORD-certified Game Chat Balance Dial
The Quantum 800’s game audio chat dial allows the adjustment of audio levels conveniently. Separate sound cards enable handling of game and chat audio to set proper balance without leaving the game.
Play Longer
With its lightweight and ventilated design, this headset provides ergonomics. That means, you can use it without experiencing discomfort even during the longest gaming sessions.
Specifications
Of course, we also looked into the headset’s specifications for this JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review. We saw that it uses Bluetooth 5.0 and has a 50mm driver.
Its passive dynamic frequency response ranges from 20 Hz to 40 kHz. For its active frequency response, it ranges from 20 Hx to 20 kHz. Additionally, it has an impedance of 32 ohms.
From empty, the Quantum 800 has a total charge time of two hours. Thus, it gives you a total play time of 14 hours.
Additionally, this headset is adequately light at 410g.
Hands-on with the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Gaming Headset
This is where our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review discusses the product’s performance. But before we get into that, let’s first take a look at the QuantumENGINE app.
The JBL QuantumENGINE software allowed adjustments of various features of the Quantum 800. The app offered a 10-band customisable EQ with multiple presets. We were allowed to enable DTS simulated surround or JBL’s proprietary QuantumSURROUND as well as disable these entirely.
For the headset’s coloured lighting on the earcups, we programmed it via JBL QuantumENGINE. We adjusted the JBL logo and outer light ring to cycle up to five various colours at different speeds.
Furthermore, the app featured a microphone menu with a few options. These included adjusting the microphone’s volume and its sidetone.
The entire software had a simple interface, making it easy to use. Thanks to that, we didn’t find it difficult to find the settings and make adjustments.
The Quantum 800 offered a great balance in both music and game audio, which is something most headsets struggle with.
For speech and vocals, the Quantum 800 was clear. Its bass-heavy sound profile could be overly boomy for some, while the treble was slightly uneven. But despite that, there was an EQ in the QuantumENGINE app, so we were able to make the necessary adjustments.
The Quantum 800’s audio was typical for a gaming headset. It had a notable emphasis on the bass while its peaks and valleys varied throughout the high range.
When we listened to music, we noticed that its bass range of 200 Hz made bass guitars and drums louder. It was an excellent profile for EDM, as well as songs where momentum is driven by the rhythm section.
In terms of bass accuracy, it was overemphasised yet added extra thump and kick to explosions in video games. As a result, this made our gameplay more immersive and exciting.
For its mid accuracy, it was exceptional. The Quantum 800 had a flat yet neutral range, resulting in detailed and natural sound.
The Quantum 800’s ANC worked excellently. It eliminated a good amount of surrounding noise without producing a low-level hiss. Also, it didn’t significantly change the sound of what we were listening to.
Of course, we also tested the microphone for our JBL Quantum 800 wireless gaming headset review. This is to let you know if it also delivered good performance like the headset.
The boom microphone of the Quantum 800 was sensitive, but it sounded excellent after making some adjustments. Our first test recording had a lot of sibilance, so we reduced the volume via the QuantumENGINE app. This worked better and resulted in clear and sharp recordings.
In our recordings, we noticed that our voices lacked fullness and depth. But despite that, we were still clear and understandable to our friends. However, we think it would be better if QuantumENGINE had more options to improve the microphone’s audio quality.
Its noise handling was good since it was able to separate our voices from background noise. Although it had some trouble in loud environments, that was understandable since it’s not a pro-grade microphone.
The microphone’s overall performance was great. But of course, you might want to consider a dedicated microphone if you want to record or stream.
JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Gaming Headset Review Summary
JBL’s Quantum 800 is an impressive wireless gaming headset that offers everything. It has a comfortable design, wireless connectivity, programmable lighting, active noise-cancellation, a good microphone, and simulated surround sound. Most importantly, it delivers impressive audio performance that’s balanced for both gaming and music.
For its price, this gaming headset is packed with a lot of excellent features and strong performance. It doesn’t reach flagship prices but what it offers is more than its price, making it easy to recommend.
Overall, we were satisfied with the Quantum 800, so we highly recommend it for all gamers. If you think this gaming headset is for you, get yours now via JBL’s official website.
