JBL has launched a new flagship headset, the Quantum 910 Wireless. It complements the functions of the JBL Quantum One with a wireless component that convinced us in the test. But is a gaming headset worth more than 200 euros? We found out for you.
With the Quantum series, JBL already offers a whole range of gaming headsets. We have already tested the mid-range Quantum 400 headset, as well as the Quantum One , with which JBL has set new standards in terms of function, but only with a cable. The Quantum 910 Wireless now brings back many of the features of the One, but now also wirelessly.
Technical specifications
As we often do, let’s just start with the specs to get an overview of what we’re dealing with.
The Quantum 910 is an over-ear gaming headset. At 420, it’s anything but easy. Thanks to the very good padding, both for the ears and for the headband, it is still comfortable to wear for hours on the head.
Depending on the volume, lighting and connection type, the headphones have a battery life of up to 39 hours – that’s a lot. You can either hold a very long gaming session or play for several days in a row without charging. The headphones are charged in 2 hours.
The headphone diaphragms measure 50mm and create a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.
The microphone can be flipped up and shaped, but not detached. A pop screen is installed by default. We’ll come to the sound quality from the headphones and microphone in a moment.
Always connected
The headphones can be connected in different ways – 4!
- Bluetooth 5.2 – This allows you to connect the headset to your computer, but of course also to your smartphone. You can not only listen to music, but also use the voice transmission and e.g. B. Talk to the iPhone via FaceTime.
- 2.4 GHz radio – this is an interface from JBL, with which you can transfer the sound of games from your PC to the headphones with almost no delay. The microphone can also be used here. The dongle is included and can be used with USB-A and USB-C.
- Via USB-C – The headphones can be connected to the PC in cable mode using a USB-C cable, and the headphones recharge at the same time.
- Via jack – The headphones can also be used via jack, depending on the connected device the microphone can also be used here. In this mode, the headphones themselves don’t even need power.
The special feature is that you can combine two of the digital sources, for example play the game sound wirelessly from your computer using a dongle and make calls on your smartphone via Bluetooth at the same time. The volume ratio is controlled via a controller on the headphones themselves.
scope of delivery
The scope of delivery is also worth mentioning. Especially when it comes to the cables, JBL doesn’t take any questions and includes fantastic cables. One USB-A to USB-C with a length of 2 meters, which has beautifully made connections and woven fabric insulation. The jack cable is also made like this and also has a control unit for the volume and microphone mute, since the buttons on the headset do not work in this mode (because they are passive without power).
A measurement microphone for the surround sound is also included, more on that later.
And there is also a transport bag, but this is just a cloth bag, better than nothing, but we would have been happy about a real hard case transport bag.
Special functions
As already written, the JBL Quantum 910 could also be called Quantum One Wireless. Many of the features that JBL introduced with the Quantum One can also be found in the 910 Wireless.
For example, the 910 offers an excellent noise-cancellation mode that is specially tuned for gaming. This can be particularly useful in noisy surroundings. There’s also a talk-thru feature that lets you talk to other people in the room. However, playback will be suspended.
Of course, a real gaming headset should not be without RGB lighting, the 910 has three areas that can be illuminated. The JBL logo itself, a circle around the headphone and a stripe element in the bottom corner.
The headset can be used wirelessly with the Xbox and Playstation consoles both via USB and via the USB dongle. If you want to save yourself the dongle, you have to wait a little longer, but JBL has announced the 910P (Playstation Support) and 910X (Xbox Support), which can communicate directly with the consoles.
360 degree sound
A special feature is the 360 degree sound that JBL has developed. Because the 910 also supports the JBL QuantumSPHERE 360™ function in connection with a PC and the Quantum Engine software. The software games do not deliver stereo sound, but 7.1 sound, which is converted by the software for the headphones.
The special thing, similar to what is also possible with Apple’s AirPods, is that there is a head-tracking function here. So if you move your head, the sound rotates with it, or not – it stays still. Voices still come from the direction of the monitor, even though you are looking to the side.
So that this works ideally, there is even a small microphone included, which you can put in your ear and thus measure your head once.
Whether you need such a function or not depends on your own preferences. Your own set-up also plays a decisive role here. If you play on a very large screen, or multiple screens, and move your head around a lot, then this feature can be worthwhile for you and make the gaming experience even more intense. But most of you probably use a normal screen, the function is still quite fun here, but since you look at the screen almost continuously, especially in games, capturing head movements is not that incredibly exciting here.
In addition to the JBL QuantumSPHERE 360™, there is also another static surround sound solution with DTS HEADPHONE X: V2.0.
Sound Quality: How do the Quantum 910s sound?
The most important function, however: the sound of the headphones. Divided into the two areas:
Microphone quality
Unfortunately, the quality of the headset microphone is always a problem. Compared to typical normal over-ear headphones with a built-in microphone for making calls, the headset has an advantage simply because of its design, after all, the microphone here is directly in front of the mouth. But if you expect to get studio quality here, you will be disappointed. Unfortunately, there are still no wireless headsets that offer really good microphone sound.
Don’t get me wrong, the microphone is completely sufficient for Discord, Skype, teams, etc., is one of the best here, and the tools themselves are also limited. For a Twitch or YouTube stream, I would still use the clip-on microphone, or the large-diaphragm microphone.
Nevertheless, it is a good microphone for a headset, which does very well in voice chat. The optional crosstalk ratio also sounds good and protects the voice.
Headphone quality
But where the 910 Wireless is really good is the sound of the headphones themselves. Despite the many features around it, there are almost no compromises compared to normal headphones in this price range. The headset itself is HiRes Audio certified, if you think so. It offers a very balanced sound between powerful basses – particularly important for action games, but the mids and highs are not neglected either. This makes it so fun to just listen to music with the headphones.
If you want, you can further adjust the sound to your own wishes. A detailed equalizer is available for this in the Quantum Engine software.
Conclusion
The JBL Quantum 910 Wireless is one of the best headsets we’ve ever tested, and it’s worlds better than some of its competitors when it comes to sound. Here you can see that JBL is an audio brand and not a gaming accessory manufacturer. You only have to make compromises when it comes to integration, the Quantum Engine is not an iCue (Corsair), which not only controls the headset, but also manages the lighting of the entire PC and is also integrated into some games. Leaving aside such RGB gimmicks, you get a fantastic headset with the Quantum 910, which of course comes at a price, but it’s worth it.
Especially those who have already invested a lot of money in their hardware should not save on the headset, it simply makes an incredible difference how good a game sounds or how stress-free communication with friends works.
