JBL Quantum 910X Review

There are a lot of gaming headphones on the market, and JBL has one of the biggest selections of them. Usually, they are quite affordable, but they do have a more top-of-the-line selection too. The Quantum 910X is one of their pricier options, but does it bring the sound quality and features associated with a gaming headset in this price range.

What You Get

• JBL Quantum 910X Wireless for Xbox headset
• Calibration Microphone
• USB Charging Cable
• 3.5 mm audio cable
• USB wireless dongle
• USB-A to USB-C Converter
• Windshield foam for microphone
• QSG | Warranty card | Safety Sheet

Look & Feel

Most of JBL’s gaming headsets have the same basic design, and the 910X takes that design to its endpoint. The RGB lighting definitely gives the headphones a gamer aesthetic, but what really catches my eye is the different materials used on the earcups. It’s a busy looking headphone, but thankfully it’s also very comfortable, with big, soft ear pads that give your ears room to breath, and a solid headband as well. The microphone doesn’t get in the way either, and while I would have just liked to be able to remove it, the retractable arm isn’t too distracting.

Design & Functionality

The 910X is built using 50mm dynamic drivers and it has a pretty substantial output volume. Combining the output volume of your device and the physical volume wheel on the headphones gives you a ton of headroom. There are also controls on the side panel of the earcups that control noise-canceling and spatial audio. You get two modes of spatial audio that includes virtual soundstage and headtracking. The noise-canceling is good at isolating you in the space of your game audio with very little outside interference.

Bluetooth

You’ll be able to use the 910X wirelessly via Bluetooth and switchable USB-A and C dongle. Using the dongle for your games should ensure lossless fidelity and low latency. The multipoint connection allows you to connect wirelessly to another device too.

Battery Life

At most, the 910X should be able to sustain 40+ hours of continuous playback, but there are a ton of factors that cause the battery to drain much quicker. This includes using spatial audio, ANC, and even the RGB lights. It has a charge time of 3.5 hours.

Soundstage

Even though the 910X has some nice stereo quality in its soundstage, you’ll probably listen to most of your game audio using the various spatial modes. A majority of my time using the 910X was in its virtual surround sound mode, mainly because I find spatial audio interesting, but it also seems to be the intended experience of these headphones. However, I did enjoy the binaural experience too, as the 910X features some nice width and full channel separation. When playing “Sons of the Forest” the rich environment of winds, trees, and stream felt full and immersive all on its own, especially when transitioning to the more claustrophobic caves where dense drones take over.

When applying spatial sound to these soundscapes, the result is a more filtered, but dimensional, presentation. The sound starts to surround your head like a dome where sound can emanate from more directions. Even when the fidelity of the sound is decreased, the soundstage and imaging are still able to communicate more exact sound placement and movement. Layers of effects, music, and dialogue are staked over each other nicely, from front to back, up and down, and of course, left to right. There are some moments where the sonic fidelity perfectly matches with the filtered effect of the spatial audio, and it results in heightened moments that enhance your gaming experience.

Low End

If you’ve heard any set of JBL headphones, you’ll know what to expect from the bass. The 910X has a thick, thumpy tone that is fun and easy to enjoy. It’s not just a bloated fog of resonance though. The 910X has a clear bass that you can feel. It vibrates beneath you, and establishes a pool of frequencies that slam down in a satisfying impact. There’s a clear rumble that might not reach the games desired scale, but will always be textured with sweeteners that make each instrument and effect more engrossing. Playing “ULTRAKILL” gave me the best impression of the bass. While the lows might not have always had the largest surface area, the sub-bass had a consistent accent with the shot of every gun having more punch and the underlining rumble of the chaotic soundscape during combat.

Mids

Listening to game audio whiteout spatial audio is the best way to get the cleanest midrange frequencies from the 910X. It still wont be the most detailed response, but at least dialogue won’t have a reverb effect attached to them. The mids just appear hazier in general with spatial audio activated, although this doesn’t effect music beds as much. This was quite a distraction while playing “Baldur’s Gate 3.” The general music and ambient effects all felt roomy, organized and punctual in moments, but as soon as a character began talking, the resolution of the voices was lacking.

Highs

Using spatial audio helps increase the wispiness of the high frequencies, but the response is smooth otherwise. It establishes good presence while not always containing the most expressive details, there’s enough tick and patter to balance out the sound signature nicely. There’s a simplicity to them that gives your game audio just enough extra tail to feel exciting.

Summary

I know what I’m getting when I listen to a set of JBL headphones, but I tend to find them enjoyable for what they are. As a set of gaming headphones, the 910X offers a lot. Using it for XBOX is most ideal, but PC, Switch, and PlayStation users will also find their spatial audio, and bass satisfying for listening to games. In terms of the price range it sits in, other headsets like the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro and Audeze Maxwell might have better sonic fidelity, but the 910X has a ton of theatric qualities that does your games justice.

The JBL Quantum 910X is available at Audio46.