Headphones — JBL QUANTUM 350 WIRELESS

The JBL Quantum 350 Wireless is a PC-oriented gaming headset that drops the cable in favour of a lossless 2.4 GHz link through a USB dongle, with a detachable boom microphone and a claimed 22 hours of battery life. HARMAN announced it on September 2, 2021, as the latest addition to the Quantum series, with availability from that month at USD 99.95. It is a wireless over-ear option focused on PC use but compatible with several consoles.

Key specs that matter

Sound comes from 40 mm dynamic drivers covering 20 Hz to 20 kHz. JBL gives impedance of 32 ohm, sensitivity of 115 dB SPL at 1 kHz and maximum SPL of 93 dB. A 3.7 V 500 mAh lithium-ion battery supplies 22 hours of music play, and a full charge from a 5 V 1 A source takes 2 hours. The radio works between 2402 and 2480 MHz with GFSK modulation. The microphone spans 100 Hz to 10 kHz with an omni-directional pickup pattern and -42 dBV/Pa sensitivity at 1 kHz. The headset weighs 252 g, and its charging cable is 1.0 m long.

Engineering and use context

JBL chose a 2.4 GHz gaming-grade wireless connection instead of Bluetooth to avoid audio drops during play and to give freedom of movement away from the desk, for example when sitting on a sofa. Speed charge gives roughly one extra hour of use from five minutes on the cable, and power and play mode means the headset keeps running while it charges from a USB port. The boom mic detaches entirely when the headset is used for music or films and has a mute function when attached. Wearing comfort relies on a lightweight headband and PU-wrapped memory foam ear cushions. Through the QuantumENGINE PC suite the user can adjust JBL QuantumSURROUND, EQ, sidetone and microphone settings, though these software features are only available on PC. The headset holds DISCORD certification and also works with Skype and TeamSpeak. JBL rates the operating temperature ceiling at 45 degrees C.

Pairing

The wireless dongle connects the headset to PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch and all PlayStation models including PS5 and PS4. The box includes the headset, a USB audio adapter, a Type-C to Type-A cable and a foam windshield for the microphone. Because the amplifier and converter live inside the ear cups, the wireless link needs nothing beyond the dongle plugged into the host.

Alternatives

For a cabled setup, the JBL Quantum 400 offers 50 mm drivers and a chat mixing dial with both USB and 3.5 mm connections.