JBL Quantum 810 Wireless Review

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the JBL Quantum series of headsets, doing reviews for the JBL Quantum 100, 200, and 600 versions of the headsets during my time here at The Outerhaven. Each time I’ve used JBL products, I’ve walked away with a new favorite when it comes to headsets for gaming and chat. They even converted me from wired headsets to wireless with their high quality and distance while using them. Today I get to use the JBL Quantum 810 wireless headset. Does it hold up to the high quality and expectations I have for the JBL brand or is it time to find a new favorite?

Product Name: JBL Quantum 810 Wireless
Product Type: Wireless Headset
Manufacturer: JBL
Compatible With: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/Ps5, Xbox Systems, MAC, & VR (Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack connections)
Available: Now
Price: $230AUD

Technical Specifics

• Audio Specifications
  • Driver size (mm) – 50
  • Driver sensitivity at – 1kHz/1mW (dB) 95
  • Dynamic frequency response range (Hz) – 20 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Impedance (ohms) – 32
  • Passive Frequency Response – 20 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Active Frequency Response – 20 Hz – 40 kHz
• Dimensions
  • Weight (g) – 418
  • Weight (oz) – 14.7
  • Charging Cable Length (m) – 1.5
  • Charging Cable Length (ft) – 4.9
  • Ear Cup External Height (in) – 3.8
  • Ear Cup External Width (in) – 3.4
  • Ear Cup Internal Height (in) – 2.4
  • Ear Cup Internal Width (in) – 1.7
  • Ear Cup Depth (in) – 1.1
  • Ear Cup External Height (cm) – 9.7
  • Ear Cup External Width (cm) – 8.7
  • Ear Cup Internal Height (cm) – 6.2
  • Ear Cup Internal Width (cm) – 4.2
  • Ear Cup Depth (cm) – 2.7
  • Audio Cable Length (ft) – 3.9
  • Audio Cable Length (m) – 1.2
• Control and Connection Specifications
  • Bluetooth profiles – A2DP 1.3, HFP 1.8
  • Bluetooth frequency – 2400 MHz – 2483.5 MHz
  • Bluetooth transmitted modulation – GFSK, /4π DQPSK, 8DPSK
  • Bluetooth transmitter power – <12 dBm
  • Bluetooth version – 5.2
• Battery
  • Charging time (hours from empty) – 3.5
  • Maximum play time (hours) – 43
• Features
  • Audio cable – Yes
  • Bluetooth – Yes
  • Charging cable – Yes
  • Active Noise Cancelling – Yes
  • Built-in Microphone – Yes
  • Wireless – Yes

Positives

Straight out of the box, the JBL Quantum 810 wireless headset feels very much like the JBL Quantum 600 wireless headset I was using previously. The JBL Quantum 810 still had the same excellent all-encompassing ear cushions that are standard with JBL Quantum products, the same braided high-quality JBL wiring style, and the same RGB lighting in the ear cups of the headset. You also get the same type of 2.4G Bluetooth connecter, though it is about half the size of the previous version. So I wouldn’t be surprised if people will overlook the JBL Quantum 810 because the look and profile are identical to the JBL Quantum 600 series. However, they would be missing out on the upgrades under the hood of this great little upgrade.

The JBL Quantum 810 allows a much higher quality of audio input and output compared to the JBL Quantum 600. The output from the microphone is crystal clear, very much on par with most studio-quality microphones that other companies put out. I have no issue using the headset’s microphone while chatting in Discord with people instead of the Blue Yeti microphone I use when recording video or audio. To be honest, most people can’t tell the difference between the two. Much like the JBL Quantum 600, the JBL Quantum 810 allows me to walk very far away from my computer and keep chatting to people or listening to anime or AEW Dynamite that would be playing on the PC. Where the big difference is the distance that I can use the JBL Quantum 810 in my house. While I have changed houses since reviewing the JBL Quantum 600, I did get a chance to use the JBL Quantum 810 before the move and whereas the JBL Quantum 600 started to drop out in the kitchen (About 20 feet), the JBL Quantum 810 began to drop out at a much further distance, somewhere around the 35 feet range. In the new house I can wear the JBL Quantum 810 all through the house, and even outside to the Post Box, a good almost 40 feet from the house through brick walls with no audio loss at all.

Negatives

To be honest, I don’t really have any negatives when it comes to the JBL Quantum 810 as a product. The two biggest complaints I had with the JBL Quantum 600, the battery life and connection distance, were both addressed with the JBL Quantum 810. So I can’t really fault anything when it comes to using the JBL Quantum 810. However, if there is anything that got a bit under my skin is the fact that with the JBL Quantum 810, the use of the JBL QuantumENGINE app is pretty much mandatory, meaning yet another piece of bloatware to add to my computer’s start-up sequence. I know that I can disable it through Windows, but since it is needed for firmware updates for the headset itself, you are needing to keep it on at all times… Plus it’s the only way to turn the headset RGB off to extend battery life (Not that it needs it). Also when running the software the program, once again, has issues with other devices connected via Bluetooth or Wifi connection, making it a bit of a hassle to have more than one thing connected at once, with the program forcing the headset to be the only option available. As someone who runs a Bluetooth speaker, as well as the headset, can make things confusing and more of a pain to use than they should.

Closing

As a product, JBL Quantum 810 is a great upgrade to the JBL Quantum series. It addresses all the issues of the JBL Quantum 600, making the JBL Quantum 810 a must-own headset for gamers and audiophiles alike. However, there are some issues when using the JBL QuantumENGINE application that needs to be smoothed out as JBL isn’t the only brand that should be allowed to work on your computer at any time. Once this small issue is addressed, then there is nothing stopping JBL Quantum from being THE brand in gaming headsets.

Review Disclosure Statement: JBL Quantum 810 Wireless Headset was provided to us by JBL for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please go review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.