The JBL Quantum 400 are an okay pair of wired gaming headphones. They're similar in design and performance to the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless, but don't have the latter's wireless connectivity or active noise cancellation feature. They offer a wealth of customization options, with a dedicated companion app providing access to a Graphic EQ, microphone volume control, and RGB lighting customization. These headphones have a somewhat bass-heavy sound profile that should be pleasing if you like an extra bit of thump and kick in your favorite action games. Their microphone performs quite well overall, making your voice sound clear even in hectic environments. They also come with a 1/8" TRRS and USB-A to USB-C cable, ensuring full compatibility with all gaming systems. On the downside, they have a bulky design that's not especially portable and lack basic call and music controls.
Our Verdict
The JBL Quantum 400 are passable for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that some may perceive as being boomy, very accurate mids, and veiled treble. They don't provide an especially consistent listening experience, with sounds across the audible spectrum being perceived very differently depending on their positioning. Thankfully, their sound profile can be adjusted via a graphic EQ or audio presets in the dedicated JBL Quantum Engine software.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Lightweight construction.
- Significant variation in listening experience depending on fit.
The JBL Quantum 400 are a bad choice for traveling. They aren't very portable due to their bulky design, non-detachable microphone, and total absence of a carrying case. They don't block out ambient noise very effectively, especially in the lower bass range, which includes sounds like bus and plane engines. They also lack any music and call controls, so answering a call or skipping a track is a bit of hassle when you're on the go.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Lightweight construction.
- Bulky, gamer-oriented design.
- Disappointing noise isolation performance.
- No music/call controls.
The JBL Quantum 400 are poor for sports and fitness. While they don't weigh that much, they don't clamp your head very tightly and will fall off if you make any sharp head movements. They also lack any easily accessible call and music controls.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Lightweight construction.
- No music/call controls.
- Somewhat unstable fit.
The JBL Quantum 400 are inadequate for office use. They're decently comfortable, with a lightweight construction that shouldn't be too tiring to wear throughout a day at the office, but they don't look especially premium or inconspicuous. They also don't block out much in the way of ambient noise and feature little controls.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Lightweight construction.
- Bulky, gamer-oriented design.
- Disappointing noise isolation performance.
The JBL Quantum 400 are wired-only and can't be used wirelessly.
These headphones are a decent choice for wired gaming. They come with both a 1/8" TRRS and USB-A to USB-C cable, ensuring full audio and microphone compatibility regardless of what system you choose to game on. Their microphone also provides good overall performance, as it ensures your voice comes through clear and mostly absent of any background chatter.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Customizable RGB lighting.
- Lightweight construction.
- Microphone volume control and sidetone in dedicated app.
- Significant variation in listening experience depending on fit.
These headphones are decent for phone calls. While they lack any sort of on-board call controls, their boom microphone does a good job of making your voice come through clear, and mostly free of any ambient noise.
- Companion software offers a graphic EQ and audio presets.
- Good overall microphone performance.
- Lightweight construction.
- Microphone volume control and sidetone in dedicated app.
- No music/call controls.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 06, 2022: We've retested 'Analog/USB Audio Latency' in the Wired test due to unusual results. We used a local version of our test track instead of using our test track on Reaper, which changed the latency value. We also checked the mic's Recording Quality to see if there were related issues caused by track skipping. However, there aren't any issues with this test. We will continue to monitor track skipping.
- Updated Jan 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Jun 11, 2021: Changed USB Audio results for clarity.
- Updated Jul 23, 2020: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The JBL Quantum 400 are a decent pair of wired gaming headphones. They offer a wealth of customization options, with a dedicated companion app providing access to a Graphic EQ, microphone volume control, and RGB lighting customization. However, their build quality isn't as sturdy as rivals like the HyperX Cloud Alpha, while their bulky, gaming-oriented design provides less versatility than something along the lines of the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless. If you're looking for gaming headsets, take a look at our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets under $100, the best PS4 gaming headsets, and the best Xbox One headsets.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are better wired gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum 400. The HyperX are much better built, offer a more comfortable fit, and have a better-balanced sound profile. Their microphone performance is fairly similar overall. Meanwhile, the JBL offer a more customizable listening experience overall, thanks to their feature-rich Quantum Engine companion software, and they are slightly better at blocking out ambient noise.
The JBL Quantum 400 are better wired gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum 100. The Quantum 400 offer a much sturdier build-quality as well as a broad array of configuration options in their companion JBL Quantum Engine software, not to mention USB audio compatibility. However, the Quantum 100 are much cheaper, have a boom microphone that makes your voice sound fuller, and deliver a broadly similar, only slightly less neutral listening experience.
The Logitech G433 are much more customizable headphones than the JBL Quantum 400. The Logitech's padding is a little plusher, they have an easier-to-use control scheme, and feature a similarly comprehensive dedicated companion app in the Logitech G HUB software, which offers the same range of configuration options as the JBL Quantum Engine software. However, the JBL have slightly better noise isolation performance, making them better suited for loud and hectic environments.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are better wired gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum 400. The HyperX have a more balanced sound profile overall, a more comfortable fit, and a slightly better microphone. However, the JBL offer a bit of extra flair in the form of RGB lighting, not to mention a more customizable listening experience courtesy of their dedicated companion software.
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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