JBL Quantum 800 Wireless 5.0 Noise Cancelling Gaming Headset with Microphone and RGB, PC and PS Wirelessly compatible only, in Black

Product Information

The Quantum 800’s come with their own dongle using 2.4GHz across the airways. If you have Bluetooth 5.0 then you can also utilise the set’s connection in this way. Unfortunately, you will lose a few of the features that you will only find on the QuantumENGINE PC app. These are features such as adjusting mic settings, EQ, RGB lighting, etc. The boom microphone is very sensitive and sounds excellent with some tinkering. My first test recordings were filled with sibilance, but after I reduced the microphone volume a bit in the QuantumEngine software, it worked much better. Test recordings after the adjustment were clear and sharp. The steady bass drum in Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” sounds full and weighty, without any distortion even at maximum (and unsafe) volume levels. It doesn’t quite rattle the head with subwoofer levels of bass, but it’s still a powerful thump. The guitar strings and vocals both come through clearly in the mix, even with the prominent bass.

JBL are renowned for their audio products and the Quantum 800’s do not disappoint! With a lovely rich wide sound, the 50mm dynamic drivers bring the visuals to life as you begin gaming. Every deep bass tone and high-end note are clear and perfectly formed. Also, the human brain uses small head movements to distinguish if sound sources are behind or in front of us. The brain processes the differences between when a sound arrives at the left vs. the right ear to determine where the sound is located. So with JBL QuantumSPHERE 360, you can move your head naturally to pinpoint the exact source of sounds around you.When powered up, the iconic JBL logos that adorn each of the ear cups illuminate into a burst of light while a halo of colour chases around in a circle across the fascias. While the lighting isn’t quite as much as the Quantum One’s you must remember that here you have a wireless headset therefore you do not want to sacrifice all of that battery power! Connection

The JBL Quantum 800 gaming headset performs very well with the sound and mic quality being both clear and rich. It is a shame that the mic boom arm seems a little flimsy and that there is no wireless charging. However, with those two minor details aside they are not detrimental to the overall product if used correctly. Music sounds very good on the Quantum 800 when you use the right settings. Like with the Quantum One, I found the bass to sound thin unless you use the Bass Boost EQ preset, which produces a more robust sound that doesn’t sacrifice any clarity in the mids or highs. Curiously, using the QuantumSurround simulated surround mode produces the best balance when listening to music. The mode boosts treble to match the strong bass, and while the result is a somewhat scooped signature that isn’t particularly accurate, it’s an exciting and balanced sound. Stereo and DTS modes don’t boost the higher frequencies, so music can sound a bit flat or (if you use the Bass Boost preset) bass heavy. JBL kindly sent me down a pair of their Quantum 800 gaming headsets recently. After the niggle I had with the cable on the Quantum One, I was looking forward to this wireless headset very much. JBL Quantum 800 – Wireless Freedom! Unbeknown to me, my wife had been talking to me and as I had not responded, decided to put her face to the side of mine. You know in those horror movies when there isn’t something there, and then there is. Yes, I screamed, and it was met with hysterics from both my wife and the TC crew who were on the other end of the voice chat! I certainly needed a few minutes after that!

With up to 14 hours of battery life (having ANC on will drain this), you get a lot of gaming time between charges. Sadly there is not any wireless charging built into the Quantum 800’s. Therefore you must charge using the included USB C cable. Final Thoughts The noise cancellation isn’t quite as strong as Bose’s ANC technology, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are twice as expensive as the Quantum 800. In this price range, if you want good ANC (and don’t need a boom mic), the Sennheiser HD 450BT is an excellent pair of headphones with audiophile-pleasing sound. Otherwise, you’ll be spending much more for better noise cancellation. Performance JBL’s QuantumEngine software lets you adjust a variety of features on the headset. It provides a 10-band customizable EQ with multiple presets, to start. You can also toggle DTS simulated surround, JBL’s own QuantumSurround, or disable simulated surround entirely. The colored lighting on the sides of the earcups is also programmable, and you can adjust both the JBL logo and the outer light ring to cycle through up to five different colors at various speeds. The microphone menu offers few options, but you can adjust the sidetone (how much of your voice comes through the headphones when you talk) in addition to mic volume. Microphone

The Quantum 800 features active noise cancellation (ANC), like the Quantum One headset. The difference is that it’s much more useful on the Quantum 800 because of the Bluetooth connectivity; you can connect it to your phone and enjoy ANC when out and about. The ANC button on the headset toggles it on with a long press, and switches between ANC (or non-ANC) listening and a pass-through mode that lets you hear your surroundings clearly with the headset on.This is a very good mic, though if you want to seriously record or stream you might want to consider getting a dedicated USB microphone instead of relying on a headset. Noise Cancellation

The active noise cancellation is perfect for gaming if you either a) want to be completely immersed and b) do not want to listen to Paul Hollywood chatting in Bake Off on the TV in the living room. I did have another unfortunate moment that my fellow Thumb Culture staff can confirm while playing Phasmophobia. Because I was transfixed on the job in hand and was making my way around the dark house searching for evidence of the ghost. According to JBL, the Quantum 800 can last up to 14 hours with the lights disabled. Your use will vary depending on the volume level you use and whether you keep the lights on. Connectivity and Software I gave the JBL Quantum 800 headset a good run and I was really surprised at how far in the house I could go before the signal began to get lost. They are certainly the most powerful wireless headphones that I have used so far in terms of signal strength.

Typically, you need to spend a hefty chunk of money to get headphones with good ANC, and the feature is rarely found on gaming headsets at all. The Quantum 800’s ANC is surprisingly strong, cutting out a decent amount of surrounding noise without producing a low-level hiss or significantly changing the sound of what you’re listening to (problems often found in cheap ANC).