With the Quantum 360P, JBL has introduced an affordable entry-level headset for under 100 euros. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tried out the gaming headset and reveals how it performs in the test.
With the JBL Quantum 360P, there’s a new, lightweight gaming headset available for less than 100 euros. The headset emphasizes broad compatibility with multiple platforms (PC, PlayStation and mobile) and aims to impress with good sound and surround capabilities.
However, JBL is not alone in this idea. In the 100-euro range, there are several models from different manufacturers. And in my opinion, this is also the biggest problem for the JBL headset.
Who tested it?
I have a fondness for hardware and tech and now own over 20 gaming mice, along with several keyboards and controllers. For MeinMMO, I have been testing hardware for our readers since 2019. Besides PC and the major consoles, I now also game on the Steam Deck.
The device in question is a review unit provided to us by the manufacturer for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Here you will find all the important technical details of the headset in a table:
| Model | JBL Quantum 360P | ||||||||||
| Connection | wired, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.2 | ||||||||||
| Platform | PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and mobile | ||||||||||
| Included Items | Charge cable USB-C to USB-A, detachable microphone, wireless dongle | ||||||||||
| Features | |||||||||||
| Weight | 254 grams (without cable) | ||||||||||
| Price (RRP) | 99.99 | ||||||||||
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung! |
Design and Build
What is included in the package? The gaming headset comes with basic equipment. A charging cable, a detachable microphone, and a USB dongle for wireless connection are included.
Build of the headset: The design of the 360P is heavily based on Sony’s PlayStation 5: The headband and ear cups are in white, black and blue. If you are an aesthetics fan or looking for a headset that closely resembles the PS5, similar to the official PS5 headset (review), then you will get exactly what you expect.
However, the colors are not all successful. For instance, the symbols on the buttons of the headset, such as for powering on or muting, are also in white and therefore hardly visible.
The ear cups can rotate but are not adjustable, and there is no headband or stretchy component for the head.
Processing
The headset seems almost cheaply made and does not give a truly valuable impression to me. The entire model is made entirely of plastic, with no metal reinforcements or other high-quality materials. Due to the abundance of plastic, the headset remains very stiff overall and lacks flexibility. How this will hold up in the long term during an extended test, I cannot say after about 4 weeks of testing.
At least the plastic has one advantage: The gaming headset is very lightweight due to the plastic. The model does not weigh more than 254 grams. More on this below.
Software
The headset can be configured with the Quantum Engine. The roughly 250 megabyte software can be installed on Windows with a few clicks, and the headset is subsequently ready for use quickly. Driver updates are then managed through the Quantum Engine.
The software is simple and understated. Through the equalizer settings, various profiles for music, games, or other areas can be created. Several profiles can also be saved within the software. This is straightforward and intuitive, and the software consistently performs well in tests.
However, the surround sound promoted by JBL does not convince me in the test: This can be activated in the software, but it sounds very artificial and unnatural.
Comfort, Weight and Battery Life
What does my head look like? My head circumference is about 58 cm, so I have a rather smaller head. Generally, the headset fits well on the head. The ergonomic options are overall very limited: The ear cups only move horizontally and not diagonally, there is no headband, and the body of the headset is overall very rigid.
On my small head, it is usually comfortable, and as a glasses wearer, I have no difficulties. However, I can imagine that people with larger heads might have problems. Already with my test head (see pictures), the maximum of the headset was reached.
Weight: At 254 grams, the Quantum 360p is not a very heavy headset and sits well on the head.
Battery Life: The manufacturer states the battery life between 22 (wireless) and 26 hours (Bluetooth). In general, I have no trouble getting through two and a half to 3 days with the device – depending on how intensively I use it. Thus, the JBL Quantum 360P is in the midfield of the competition and approximately on the level of a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which offers a few more hours (about 30 hours).
Sound
In terms of sound, you can tell the headset is a budget model. The sound is particularly bass-heavy and at times overwhelms the rest of the sound. It is worth making some fine adjustments in the equalizer to reduce the bass a bit. Otherwise, you will hear a lot of bass and few other details.
In my opinion, this is the most frustrating problem with the JBL 360P: You essentially get really good sound for the money, but you have to make several adjustments before the sound truly fits the game or situation. If you don’t want to bother with that, a lot of potential is lost that the headset could theoretically offer.
At least: Locating footsteps or enemies usually works well, which is a strong plus point for competitive gaming.
The “3D Surround Sound” mentioned by the manufacturer, which can be activated in the settings, rather falls short in testing. The artificially created three-dimensional sound space feels very artificial, and voices suddenly sound far away. In practice, it feels like I am sticking my head into a thick ball of cotton and the sound isn’t quite so close to my ears anymore.
Microphone
Unfortunately, the microphone is only below average and sufficient only for simple, quick conversations. The main problem is likely the wireless connection. My voice captured by the microphone is heavily compressed by the headset to be sent over Bluetooth or wirelessly to the computer. This adversely affects the voice quality. With a proper table microphone or a wired headset, you are usually better off.
At least the microphone is detachable. Therefore, you can easily combine the JBL headset with a table microphone. I did that and was satisfied with the compromise.
Conclusion: There are better and more sensible headsets for 100 euros
For whom is the headset suitable? The JBL Quantum 360P offers a multifunctional gaming headset for many platforms. However, in the test, the device only stands out to a limited extent in the competitive field, mainly due to strong competition:
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S not only feels significantly more valuable and robust, but it also offers a significantly better boom microphone and a more refined sound tuning. And with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3, you also get a robust and very comfortable gaming headset for under 100 euros.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
JBL Quantum 360P Over-Ear Gaming Kopfhörer – Für die Playstation sowie PC, Mac und Nintendo... | Zu Amazon |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
What alternatives are available?
- The HyperX Cloud Alpha S for around 100 euros offers very good build quality, good sound, and a strong boom microphone. However, the headset is wired, unlike the JBL Quantum 360P.
- The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is also a good alternative for less than 100 euros. Excellent comfort combined with decent sound and a reasonable microphone. However, the software is a bit overloaded.
- With the Logitech G433, you also get a wired gaming headset for around 100 euros. The model offers good sound and is generally very comfortable, but with glasses, the headset can press on the ears.
More gaming headsets in all price ranges from 50 to 300 euros can be found in the buying guide on MeinMMO:
