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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.4
Review updated Aug 09, 2023 at 09:10 am
JBL Quantum 800 Wireless Picture
6.8
Mixed Usage
6.5
Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
6.3
Sports/Fitness
7.0
Office
6.8
Wireless Gaming
7.3
Wired Gaming
7.2
Phone Calls

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless are gaming headphones with an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, which is uncommon. They support Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth wireless, and their customizable RGB lighting around their ear cups gives you more customization over their style.

Our Verdict

6.8 Mixed Usage

The JBL Quantum 800 are okay for mixed use. They're bulky gaming headphones with customizable RGB lighting, and they don't have a detachable mic, so they have trouble looking casual. They have Bluetooth support and a great active noise cancelling feature that can help reduce bus or plane sounds. They also have a bass-heavy sound that listeners may prefer. If you don't like this sound, there's a graphic EQ and presets available on their companion software, which is nice. They're better suited for gaming, though, as they can connect wirelessly via their USB dongle. However, their boom microphone performs better when wired.

Pros
  • Great active noise cancelling feature.
  • Wireless capabilities via Bluetooth or USB dongle.
Cons
  • Unremarkable battery performance.
  • No music/call controls.
6.5 Neutral Sound

The JBL Quantum 800 are acceptable for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile with a somewhat veiled treble. That said, their treble delivery is inconsistent between listeners, and these headphones could sound different depending on their placement on your head. Luckily, their companion software has a graphic EQ alongside presets to help you get a more neutral sound.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and EQ presets available through companion software.
Cons
  • Treble delivery varies across users.
7.1 Commute/Travel

The JBL Quantum 800 are satisfactory for commuting and traveling. These fairly comfortable headphones have a great active noise cancelling feature that can help reduce the noise of bus or plane engines. However, due to their bulky design, they're not portable, and with the ANC on, they last around eight hours continually, which is less than the manufacturer's advertised 14 hours.

Pros
  • Great active noise cancelling feature.
  • Wireless capabilities via Bluetooth or USB dongle.
Cons
  • Unremarkable battery performance.
  • No music/call controls.
6.3 Sports/Fitness

The JBL Quantum 800 aren't the best choice for sports and fitness. They're bulky gaming headphones that aren't portable and can easily fall off your head with moderate physical movement. That said, their wireless design makes it near impossible for your headphones to snag on something, and their great active noise cancelling can help cut down the sound of fitness machines around you. They even have Bluetooth support, so you don't need to take their USB dongle with you.

Pros
  • Wireless capabilities via Bluetooth or USB dongle.
Cons
  • Not stable enough for wearing during physical activity.
7.0 Office

The JBL Quantum 800 are satisfactory for office use. These wireless headphones are fairly comfortable and have great active noise cancelling, although they do a similar job reducing voices whether it's on or off. These headphones don't leak sound in an office setting, though, and their battery will last the entire day unless you have the ANC and RGB lighting on.

Pros
  • Great active noise cancelling feature.
  • Wireless capabilities via Bluetooth or USB dongle.
Cons
  • Unremarkable battery performance.
  • No music/call controls.
6.8 Wireless Gaming

The JBL Quantum 800 are okay for wireless gaming. They're fairly comfortable headphones that come with customizable RGB lighting. However, as they're heavy, they may become a little fatiguing if worn for long gaming sessions. Thanks to their USB dongle, you can play wirelessly on PC and PS4, though they have somewhat high latency. We tested the boom microphone using its 1/8" TRRS cable, which produced better results than when used wirelessly. When wired, voices sound clear, although lacking fullness.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and EQ presets available through companion software.
  • Customizable RGB lighting.
  • Wireless capabilities via Bluetooth or USB dongle.
Cons
  • Treble delivery varies across users.
  • Plasticky build quality.
  • Unremarkable battery performance.
7.3 Wired Gaming

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless are decent for wired gaming. They're fairly comfortable but heavy, which may not be the most comfortable for long gaming sessions. They come with a 1/8" TRRS cable, so you can easily plug them into your console's controller or PC. When wired, their boom microphone performs better than wireless, capturing voices clearly. The boom mic can also separate voices from background noise, although it struggles more in loud environments.

Pros
  • Customizable RGB lighting.
Cons
  • Treble delivery varies across users.
7.2 Phone Calls

The JBL Quantum 800 are decent for phone calls. When using the included 1/8" TRRS cable, the boom microphone can capture voices clearly, although they lack depth. The mic does an alright job separating speech from background noise but struggles more in busy environments. These headphones have a great active noise cancelling feature that can help you focus on your calls by blocking background noise.

Pros
  • Decent boom microphone performance when wired.
Cons
  • No music/call controls.
  • 6.8 Mixed Usage
  • 6.5 Neutral Sound
  • 7.1 Commute/Travel
  • 6.3 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.0 Office
  • 6.8 Wireless Gaming
  • 7.3 Wired Gaming
  • 7.2 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We've updated this review's text to bring it up to date and ensure its accuracy.
  2. Updated Sep 23, 2021: We've tested 'Breathability' and retested 'Multi-Device Pairing'.
  3. Updated Jul 15, 2020: Review published.
  4. Updated Jul 08, 2020: Early access published.
  5. Updated Jun 03, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Jun 02, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated May 26, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The JBL Quantum 800 Gaming Headset comes in one color variant: 'Black'. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

Comparison picture

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless are okay gaming headphones. Unlike most gaming headphones, they have an active noise cancelling feature that's quite great at cutting down low-bass noise, and they support Bluetooth, which makes them a little more versatile for casual use. They also have customizable RGB lighting, so you can match your favorite team's colors. However, their boom microphone doesn't perform as well as other wireless gaming headphones like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless or the Logitech G533 Wireless, even when wired. Their battery life is also less than other gaming headphones, even lower with their features turned on.

If you're looking for more gaming headphones, check out our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets, and the best Xbox One headsets.

JBL Quantum ONE

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless and JBL Quantum ONE are similarly performing gaming headphones, each with different advantages. The Quantum 800 are cheaper wireless gaming headphones with a slightly better ANC system as well as a wealth of connectivity options. The Quantum ONE only support a wired connection and are a lot less versatile, but have better build quality, a more well-balanced default sound profile, and the inclusion of JBL’s adjustable QuantumSphere 360 virtual surround system.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are better wireless gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless. The SteelSeries are slightly more comfortable, and have better controls. Although they're prone to inconsistencies in their bass and treble delivery, their companion software comes with a graphic EQ as well as presets, which is similar to the JBL. They also have support non-Bluetooth wireless thanks to their transmitter dock, their boom microphone performs better overall, and their battery life lasts longer too. However, the JBL have an adjustable mic level in their companion software, and they also have a great active noise cancelling feature. They also have RGB lighting, which some users may prefer.

HyperX Cloud Flight S

The HyperX Cloud Flight S are better wireless gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless. The HyperX are slightly more comfortable with better build quality, and their detachable boom microphone gives an outstanding overall performance. They also have a significantly longer continuous battery life. However, the JBL have a great active noise cancelling feature, they support Bluetooth, and they can be used wired by plugging in their included 1/8" TRRS cable into a PS4 and Xbox One controller. They also have customizable RGB lighting, and their companion software has a graphic EQ as well as presets so you can tweak their sound.

JBL Live 660NC Wireless

The JBL Live 660NC Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless. The 660NC are better-built, more stable, and have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. They also have a better battery performance, and their companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets. However, the Quantum 800 have a better-performing ANC.

HyperX Cloud Alpha S

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless and the HyperX Cloud Alpha S are similarly-performing gaming headphones but there are a few major differences. The HyperX are wired-only headphones that are more comfortable, are better built, and have a better-performing detachable boom microphone. In comparison, the JBL are more versatile as they can be used wired or wirelessly using either Bluetooth or their USB dongle. They also have a great active noise cancelling feature, customizable RGB lighting, and companion software with a graphic EQ plus presets.

RUNMUS RGB K1 Gaming Headset

The JBL Quantum 800 Wireless are better gaming headphones with RGB lighting than the RUNMUS RGB K1 Gaming Headset. The JBL are wireless headphones that are slightly more comfortable and stable, they have a better-balanced sound profile, and they also have virtual soundstage features. They're also more versatile as they have a great active noise cancelling feature, and they have companion software with a graphic EQ and presets so you can tweak your sound. However, the RUNMUS have a slightly better performing boom microphone, as well as a better passive soundstage.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The JBL Quantum 800 are gaming headphones with customizable RGB lighting, which is nice if you like to match your team's colors for gaming tournaments. However, as they're mostly plastic, they don't look particularly sleek. The high gloss plastic around the ear cups especially catches the eye, and it's easy to see fingerprints all over it. If you want to wear these out in more casual spaces, they still look like gaming headphones. If you're interested in a pair of JBL gaming headphones but want a detachable boom microphone, check out the JBL Quantum ONE, though the ONE are wired-only.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.9 lbs
Clamping Force
1.1 lbs

These headphones are decently comfortable. They don't clamp too tightly but feel loose overall, and they can move around your head. They're also fairly heavy, so you may feel fatigue if you wear them for long hours.

6.9
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
Yes
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Bluetooth Sync

These over-ears have okay controls. You'll find buttons along both ear cups, but there aren't any music/call controls like playing or pausing audio. There's an infinite volume wheel as well as a channel mixing wheel. Both wheels are pretty close together, though, and it's easy to accidentally change their settings if you're reaching for something else. On the upside, you can flip the mic upward to mute it.

Noise cancelling button:

  • Single press: Turns ANC on and off.
  • Press and hold: Turns TalkThru on and off. This feature lowers your audio so you can have conversations without taking off the headphones.

Mic mute button:

  • Single press: Mutes and unmutes the microphone.
  • Press and hold: Turns RGB lighting on and off.

5.8
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 7.4 °C

These headphones have sub-par breathability. They have an over-ear design, which covers your entire ear and traps in heat. You can feel a temperature difference if you wear them during long listening sessions.

5.3
Design
Portability
L 8.1"
W 7.5"
H 3.5"
Volume 213 in³
Transmitter Required No

Like most over-ear gaming headphones, these over-ears aren't very portable. Their ear cups can swivel to lay flat, which is nice if you want to put them in your backpack, but they don't have a case to protect them. The microphone isn't retractable or removable, so it can snag on something if you're trying to store them. Their portability won't be an issue if you want to keep them by your desk or couch.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
6.5
Design
Build Quality

The JBL Quantum 800 have an okay build quality. They're mostly made up of plastic, which causes several issues with the design. Parts of the headband squeak when in use, and its headband mechanism can loosen to its maximum setting, making these headphones feel like they're drooping off your head. They still feel like they can withstand a few accidental drops or bumps. If you're looking for better-built JBL headphones with an over-ear design, try the JBL Live 660NC Wireless.

6.0
Design
Stability

They have mediocre stability. They'll stay in place if you're gaming from your desk or couch; however, if you move your head while gaming, they won't stay put and can easily fall off.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • JBL Quantum 800 Gaming Headset
  • Wireless USB dongle
  • USB-C charging cable
  • 1/8" TRRS analog cable with an in-line remote
  • Microphone windscreen
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
2.12 dB
Treble Amount
-2.28 dB

These headphones have a bass-heavy sound profile that's pretty boomy. The treble is uneven and veils vocals and instruments while sibilants are piercing. At least dialogue is still fairly clear. If you prefer a different sound profile, you can use the EQ in their companion app to help create a sound that better suits your needs.

6.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.78 dB

These over-ears have a mediocre frequency response consistency. While they're pretty consistent in the bass range, there's a lot of inconsistencies in the treble range. Treble delivery is sensitive to the headphones' positioning and placement, especially because they're not the most stable.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
6.9
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.46 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
16.58 Hz
Low-Bass
2.8 dB
Mid-Bass
5.6 dB
High-Bass
5.11 dB

The JBL Quantum 800 have okay bass accuracy. It's overemphasized across the range, producing a thumpy, boomy bass. That said, some listeners may prefer a bass-heavy sound as it can help add extra emphasis to explosions in video games.

9.0
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.31 dB
Low-Mid
0.96 dB
Mid-Mid
0.03 dB
High-Mid
-0.13 dB

The mid accuracy is outstanding. The range is very neutral and flat, resulting in vocals and lead instruments that sound detailed, natural, and present. If you're playing games with a lot of dialogue, like Mass Effect, voices will be clear and easy to follow.

5.6
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.92 dB
Low-Treble
-2.55 dB
Mid-Treble
2.04 dB
High-Treble
-6.58 dB

The JBL Quantum 800 have disappointing treble accuracy. It's uneven, so instruments and vocals lose a bit of detail and clarity while sibilants like S and T sounds become bright and piercing. However, their treble response varies noticeably, depending on how you position the headphones on your head.

6.4
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.33 dB
Dips
2.08 dB

The peaks and dips performance is unremarkable. A couple of minor peaks in the bass range can slightly muddy parts of the mid-range. However, the large dip in the low treble reduces the clarity and detail of vocals and lead instruments. The following peak can make sibilants bright and piercing too.

6.6
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.23
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
2
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
3.2
Weighted Phase Mismatch
23.66

JBL makes a lot of headphones, and while a vast majority of them have well-matched drivers and, thus, solid imaging performances, others show some discrepancies. Imaging indicates a manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics, though, and it varies between units. Our unit's right driver has a little bump in the low bass range, but otherwise, everything is below the audibility threshold, ensuring mostly tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The L/R drivers of our unit are also fairly well-matched in amplitude and frequency response. However, there's a large phase mismatch between the L/R drivers, which can have a small negative effect on the stereo image and how objects are spatially oriented.

4.1
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.75 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
3.39 dB
PRTF Distance
6.65 dB
Openness
1.7
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.8

Their passive soundstage is poor. While the soundstage sounds somewhat natural, it doesn't seem very large. You'll perceive sound as inside your head instead of being in front of you.

2.0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
Yes

These headphones have JBL's Quantum Surround 7.1 and a DTS X virtual surround feature. This feature helps create a more immersive and 3D audio experience.

7.4
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.383
WHD @ 100
0.166

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. While there's a small spike in the treble range at a moderate volume level, it affects a very small band and isn't very noticeable.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
2.6.0.0
Power
On
Connection
Wireless (Proprietary)
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Default
ANC
On
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Boom

These are the settings used to test the JBL Quantum 800 Gaming Headset. Our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
8.3
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-23.1 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-16.94 dB
Mid
-15.64 dB
Treble
-36.22 dB

These over-ears have great noise isolation. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature can reduce some bass noise, like the sound of bus and plane engines. While their ANC does a similar job to the passive noise isolation in the mid and treble range, it still manages to block out a significant amount of noise in both ranges.

7.6
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
36.2 dB

The leakage performance is good, especially for gaming headphones. While leakage covers the entire range, it all falls below the noise floor of an average office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
Yes
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes

They have a boom microphone with a removable windscreen. While we normally use wireless when available, we tested this microphone using a 1/8" TRRS cable, which produced better results than when we used it wirelessly.

7.2
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
538.17 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
4.01 dB
HFE
20,186.38 Hz
Weighted THD
0.952
Gain
22.83 dB

The recording quality of the boom microphone is decent. While your voice lacks depth or fullness, it will still be clear and understandable to whoever's on the other line.

7.0
Microphone
Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise
Speech + Subway Noise
SpNR
20.44 dB

The noise handling of the microphone is decent. The mic can separate voice from background noise but has a little more trouble in loud environments. However, this isn't too much of an issue if you're gaming from a quiet space like a living room.

Active Features
6.1
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
8 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
8 hrs
Charge Time
1.6 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port USB-C

The battery performance is mediocre. The manufacturer advertises them as having 14 hours of continuous playtime, but that's with the RGB lighting and ANC off. If you have both features on, they last about eight hours, which is quite a bit lower. They also fully charge in just over an hour and a half. That said, battery life can vary depending on use.

7.5
Active Features
App Support
App Name JBL Quantum Engine
iOS No
Android No
macOS Yes
Windows Yes
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
No
Mic Control Adjustable Level
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
Yes

These headphones use JBL Quantum Engine as their companion software. It gives you access to a graphic EQ plus presets, and you can even adjust the mic level, which is nice. However, you can only use this software once you turn the headphones' Bluetooth off.

Connectivity
8.4
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Multi-Device Pairing
Bluetooth + Console/Non-BT Wireless
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
323 ft
PC Latency (SBC)
131 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
167 ms
Android Latency
139 ms

These headphones have great Bluetooth connectivity. While they don't have NFC pairing, you can connect them to one Bluetooth device, like your smartphone, and another device, like a PlayStation console or your PC, via their wireless dongle to receive both audio outputs simultaneously. That said, their latency on PC and Android is fairly low when streaming YouTube videos, while their iOS latency is slightly higher. However, some apps and devices tend to compensate for latency differently.

7.1
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
104 ft
Non-BT Latency
90 ms

These headphones support a non-Bluetooth wireless connection via their USB dongle. Their latency is a bit higher than many other gaming headphones, which can cause your audio and visuals to fall slightly out of sync.

9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.4 ft
Connection 1/8" TRRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

These headphones come with a 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line remote.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC/PS4 Analog
Audio + Microphone
PC/PS4 Wired USB
No
PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone

When using their 1/8" TRRS audio cable, you can plug these headphones directly into your PC or PlayStation headphone jack for audio and microphone compatibility. If you're using their USB dongle, you'll have full audio and microphone compatibility with a wireless connection.

Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio + Microphone
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No

Using their 1/8" TRRS audio cable, you can plug the JBL Quantum 800 directly into your Xbox controller for audio and microphone compatibility. However, you can't use these wirelessly.

3.4
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Wireless USB Dongle
USB Input
Yes
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
USB

These headphones don't have a base or dock. You can plug the included wireless dongle into a PS4 or PC, but it isn't compatible with Xbox consoles.