JBL Quantum 910P review

The JBL Quantum 910P is a new premium gaming headset from JBL. As such, it features active noise canceling (ANC) and full wireless connectivity. Focusing on PlayStation and PC players, this gaming headset has a high price, but does it have what it takes to justify that?

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the JBL Quantum 910P?

The JBL Quantum 910P is a primarily plastic affair, with sharp angular styling—the visuals are clearly tailored to its gaming-oriented audience. There’s ample leather padding on both the headband and the ear cups. The headset is adjustable, with the ear cups moving up and down as well as swivelling to better fit your head or to lie flat on a desk. There are also two exposed and well insulated wires connecting the ear cups to the headband.

The JBL Quantum 910P is on the heavier side as far as headsets go, weighing in at 420g. This does impact the comfort for long-term wear, but overall it’s still comfortable to use for a few hours at a time. The JBL logo is prominently displayed on the outside, and the headset features customizable RGB lighting.

How do you control the JBL Quantum 910P?

The JBL Quantum 910P controls are extensive and slightly confusing at first blush. On the left earcup are the following: ANC toggle button, a chat/game balance slider, a volume slider, and a microphone mute button (which can be held down to turn off the RGB lighting). On the right earcup are the power/Bluetooth slider and a button that enables head tracking with spatial audio.

While the amount of control available is very impressive, I frequently get confused by which button does what, or by how to enable or disable certain settings. I also find it far too easy to accidentally jostle the volume sliders. It’s also disappointing that those sliders don’t adjust the volume on a system level—a little more understandable though, considering that this headset is meant for use with consoles.

Should you use the JBL QuantumENGINE for the JBL Quantum 910P?

If you’re using the JBL Quantum 910P with a computer, it is fully supported by JBL’s QuantumENGINE software. Like many gaming headset apps, this one allows for more granular control over the RGB lighting, spatial audio, EQ profiles, and firmware updates. QuantumEngine is one of the simpler apps out there, with most menu options laid out on one page. Overall we would recommend using this app if you have a Windows computer. If you use Linux or Mac OS however you’re out of luck though.

How do you connect the JBL Quantum 910P?

The JBL Quantum 910P can operate wirelessly either using the included 2.4 GHz dongle—which connects via USB-C and includes a USB-A adapter—or using Bluetooth 5.2, with support for the SBC and AAC codecs. The headset defaults to the USB mode and can be paired with the included USB dongle very easily. To pair via Bluetooth you need to hold down the power slider for two or more seconds to enter pairing mode. Additionally, the headset works with a regular 3.5mm headphone jack connection in a pinch, and the required cable is included in the box.

Thanks to this wide array of connection types, this headset supports a wide variety of consoles (the PS4/PS5 in particular), as well as PCs, laptops, and smartphones. As a minor drawback the USB-C port on the headset is recessed slightly, which makes it difficult to use with any USB-C cables that aren’t made by JBL for this headset.

How long does the JBL Quantum 910P’s battery last?

According to JBL, the Quantum 910P’s battery is supposed to last 39 hours. In our testing it slightly exceeded this number and ran for 40 hours and 4 minutes with noise canceling turned on. Keep in mind that battery performance will degrade over the lifetime of the device, but nonetheless this is excellent performance for a gaming headset. You can also charge the headset while you use it, or use a 3.5mm headphone cable sans power in a pinch.

How well does the JBL Quantum 910P attenuate noise?

The JBL Quantum 910P features active noise canceling (ANC) and it’s fairly effective. It’s not quite on the same level as some of the best ANC headphones on the market, but it gets the job done, and it’s easy to toggle on and off with the press of a button. While we wouldn’t recommend taking the headset on a commute due to its design, the ANC does a great job of tuning out hums from AC units and the like. Additionally the headset has decent noise isolation overall and does a good job of blocking out conversations and quiet music, but struggles with anything louder.

How does the JBL Quantum 910P sound?

The frequency response of the JBL Quantum 910P is generally pretty good, and follows our preferred headphone curve with a few deviations. Like most gaming headsets, it has a notable bump in the bass frequencies, usually meant to enhance the louder, action-oriented sections of video games. This can sometimes feel overwhelming when listening to music, such as with Blockbuster Night, Pt. 1 by Run The Jewels, but if you’re used to headphones with lots of bass then this might be exactly to your taste. The high end also has some peaks and valleys that can color the sound of the headset, audible in songs like Infinity Guitars by Sleigh Bells where the hi-hats sound overly present and the song’s distortion is over-emphasized. This can also be heard in Bellbottoms by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion where the guitar distortion sounds excessively bright and sparkly.

In games the headset sounds fairly good. The gunfire and action of a game like Halo Infinite comes across excellently. It’s also a great headset for online lobbies and Discord voice calls thanks to the included microphone and the ability to change the balance between game and chat audio with a slider on the left ear cup.

How good is the JBL Quantum 910P’s microphone?

The JBL Quantum 910P features a boom mic you lower and raise to best pick up your voice. It’s surprisingly small, and includes a removable foam shield to filter out plosives. The microphone boom features a red LED to let you know when it’s muted. Unfortunately the microphone is not detachable or retractable, making this headset really only fit for gaming. You can listen below to how the microphone sounds and judge for yourself its quality, as well as vote in the attached poll.

JBL Quantum 910P microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

JBL Quantum 910P microphone demo (Office conditions):

Should you buy the JBL Quantum 910P?

The JBL Quantum 910P is a great gaming headset, especially if you’re on PlayStation or PC. However, its high price and focus on features like spatialized head tracking, which most people won’t get much out of make it a little difficult to recommend. It’s a well-built headset with good wireless connectivity and generally pretty enjoyable sound, but it’s simply too expensive. The confusing controls and heavy weight don’t help much, either.

This isn’t a bad choice if you have the money to spare for a high quality gaming headset, but generally there are better alternatives sitting in the same price range.

What should you get instead of the JBL Quantum 910P?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is an excellent wireless alternative that has a much bigger focus on comfort for $152.99 at Amazon. If you’re looking for  a headset with active noise canceling then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is an excellent choice, although it’s much better if you’re playing on PC instead of a console. If you’re on a budget then the Razer Barracuda X (2022) is our go-to recommendation for a wireless headset thanks to its comfort and sound quality for a good value.

Frequently asked questions about the JBL Quantum 910P