JBL Quantum TWS – Hardware Review
We have featured our fair share of wireless earbuds over the years, and even now, we still find it hard to find the right ones that suit our needs. Sometimes we just wish to relax with some nice tunes, while at other times we wish to be immersed in a captivating story of a movie or series. Sometimes, however, we also wish to go all out during an intense gaming session. Nonetheless, when it comes to music and picking up calls, there are so many products on the market. Sadly, dedicated gaming wireless earbuds are in low supply. Even so, after JBL released its impressive Quantum 910 Wireless gaming headset, the audio expert decided to have a crack at dedicated gaming wireless earbuds. We were lucky enough to try out the Quantum TWS, and we were rather impressed.
Design
The Quantum TWS is a good-looking pair of wireless earbuds, and the somewhat discreet design makes them look very classy. The earbuds come with a matte-coated charging case, with the JBL logo prominently featured on the top. The logo is depicted with a glossy finish. The earbuds themselves also clearly have the JBL logo present on them, but they are also treated with the same matte finish. The package also included a simple black USB-C dongle. We did find the inside design of the case a bit odd when it came to the placement of the earbuds.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, these earbuds may offer one of the most interesting features we have seen so far on wireless earbuds such as these, namely the included USB-C dongle, which also fits neatly inside the charging case. If you’re a handheld gamer, and simply don’t wish to pair your earbuds to every single gaming device you use, you simply plug in the dongle, and you’re basically good to go. This was incredible when switching between devices such as Nintendo’s Switch or Valve’s Steam Deck. You’re up and running in a matter of seconds. It’s clear that this product was designed by gamers for gamers. On top of that, you are able to multi-pair the device, which means that you can engage in intense gaming sessions on your device of choice, while still being connected to your phone in case someone calls you.
The earbuds themselves are also very comfortable for longer gaming sessions, watching your favorite shows, and of course, making a phone call or two. The package also includes different ear-tips, making sure you can find the perfect size for your ears.
As mentioned above, the only odd design choice for us was the placement of the earbuds in the charging case. To us, this felt somewhat awkward, but after using the Quantum TWS a few times, we did somewhat get used to it. We would have preferred a more traditional design in this regard. The case itself remained fairly compact, making it extremely easy to bring along, or even to carry around in your pocket.
Overview
The Quantum TWS is a user-friendly package, and there’s no real hassle when it comes to pairing the earbuds to your device(s) of choice. The earbuds can be paired to devices via Bluetooth or via the included USB-C dongle. For our smartphone, we opted for a Bluetooth connection, while for different gaming devices, we found the wireless USB-C connection very convenient. In the case of the latter, you simply have to insert the dongle into the device of your choice, and you’re ready to start using the Quantum TWS. Once again, the earbuds themselves have different functions by tapping on the sides, meaning you can pause tracks, activate ANC, pick up calls, and so on.
JBL’s supporting app does wonders if you like to tweak certain settings, but the device functions properly out-of-the-box. When gaming on devices such as the Steam Deck, you’ll notice that these small earbuds pack a proper punch. We were fully immersed during our gaming sessions, but you’ll have to make sure that you’ve picked the right size for the ear-tips. If the earbuds are too loose, you’ll miss out on a lot of what the Quantum TWS has to offer.
The battery life is fairly good, and we could get around four to five hours per charge, which is not bad. The case itself holds a total of around two additional charges, meaning you can get around twelve to fifteen hours out of these little earbuds. This meant we could easily commit ourselves to a few interesting games before the charge would run out. Charging the case is also via a USB-C connection.
One of the main selling points of this device is the USB-C dongle that we have mentioned quite a few times throughout our review. When using the wireless USB-C connection, you’ll get to enjoy a so-called lossless 2.4 GHz connection. This means there is less lag than when you’re using a Bluetooth connection. In most cases, both connection types work just fine, but having a direct transmitter does provide a bit more stability.
Conclusion
JBL’s Quantum TWS impressed us from start to finish. Outside of the awkward interior of the charging case, we were treated to powerful multi-platform earbuds that were truly designed with gamers in mind. The USB-C dongle allowed us to switch between platforms seamlessly, and it was simply a joy not having to worry about pairing the earbuds with every possible device via Bluetooth. As a whole, we enjoyed crystal clear sound, while being extremely comfortable during long gaming sessions. Not only does JBL offer a quality experience here, it does so at a very low price.
Related Items
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
[…] recently we took a closer look at JBL’s Quantum TWS wireless earbuds, which were designed with gamers in mind. We concluded that this budget-friendly package was […]