JBL Quantum ONE

Textured, three-dimensional sound for serious gamers

When video games cross over from a time-consuming habit to lucrative career, the true professionals start taking their gear more seriously. That's where the JBL Quantum ONE headset comes in — the statement piece of the company's new line of gaming headphones. This ambitious headset features high-grade 50mm drivers under the hood, along with a 3D surround sound technology that can track the movement of your head.

Active noise cancellation helps remove external distractions. And game soundtracks have clarity, power, nuance, and realistic sense of space. After all, the most advanced players rely on the directional and spatial cues they hear as much as what they see on-screen. I have a sample on the way, but JBL is already has already earned rave reviews from some of the leading gaming publications.

Cutting-edge head-tracking tech adds a new dimension to surround sound

What sets the ONE apart from the other Quantum headphones is JBL's QuantumSPHERE 360° technology. Inside the headphones, there's a gyroscope that constantly tracks the position of your head. As you lean or turn your head, the sound field stays fixed and centered.

From there, you can hear the exact positioning of approaching footsteps, the distinct sounds of different weapons, and all the other important sonic cues. It's no longer as if you're wearing headphones — more like you're smack in the middle of the game's soundscape. Almost the audio equivalent of a visual virtual reality experience.

Wired connection to your PC or console game controller

You'll need to connect to your PC via the provided USB-A adapter cable to take advantage of the QuantumENGINE software — and the surround sound processing. This cable is over four feet long, so it gives you some extra slack. And it feels nice and durable thanks to the woven-fabric covering.

That adapter attaches to another cable terminated by a 3.5mm miniplug. So you can also connect to the headphone jack at the bottom of your Xbox ONE or PS4 controller (and some third-party Nintendo Switch controllers) for two-channel sound. You should be able to make the same type of connection on the forthcoming Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 controllers, based on the specs released by those companies.

Battle-tested sound

JBL's special headphone sound signature has been honed by years and years of research and exhaustive user testing. We've visited their U.S. headquarters in California and seen their impressive testing facilities — they take this stuff seriously. It's helped them develop a sound profile that's been proven to satisfy most listeners — and gamers.

Secure, well-cushioned fit

Gamers often end up wearing headphones for even longer stretches than we serious music listeners. So JBL added an thick layer of soft memory-foam padding to the Quantum ONEs earcups and headband. They are larger and heavier than most gaming headphones, but the weight is distributed evenly.

One tip for all-day PC gamers: in the QuantumENGINE software suite, choose the EQ setting called "long session." It will smooth out some of the higher frequencies, so you don't get those harsh sounds that can grate on you over time.

Convenient communication and control

You'll find a game/chat balance dial on the USB-C to USB-A cable. It gives you quick and easy control over the audio mix for multi-player games. It is certified for use with DISCORD, and compatible with other chat software including TeamSpeak.

On the left earcup, there's a raised volume dial that's easy to find with your finger. The detachable directional microphone is tuned to pick up voices for clear-sounding chat. You can quickly mute the mic by pushing the dedicated button below the volume dial.