JBL Quantum Stream Review

While it seems that almost every other month I’m screaming from the mountains about the superior audio quality that comes from JBL products, with over 75 years in the audio business I’ve rarely found anything in their Quantum line that hasn’t been top-tier. This time around I’ve been given a JBL Quantum Stream, JBL’s first time jumping into the stand-alone podcast/gaming microphone market which brands like Yeti Blue and Razer have long dominated. Does the JBL Quantum Stream stand up against some long-time brands in the marketplace? Let’s take a look.

Product Name: JBL Quantum Stream
Product Type: Microphone
Manufacturer: JBL
Compatible With: PC
Available: Now

 

Technical Specifics

• MICROPHONE
  • Power required/consumption: 5V 500mA
  • Sample rates: 44.1kHz/48kHz/96kHz
  • Bit rate: 16/24 bit
  • Capsules: 14mm Electret Condenser Microphone
  • Polar patterns: Cardioid & Omni-directional
  • Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Sensitivity: -37±3dB (1kHz@1Pa, 0dB=1v/Pa)
  • Maximum SPL: 110dB
• HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
  • Impedance: >16 ohms
  • Power output (RMS): 45mWrms per channel (Load = 32 ohms)
  • THD: <0.5% (Load = 32 ohms)
  • Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Signal to noise: 90dB (A weighted)
• DIMENSIONS – MIC WITH STAND
  • L = 3.15″ (8cm) W = 3.15″ (8cm)
  • H = 6.86″ (17.43cm)
  • Weight: 248g/0.547 lbs
• What’s in the box:
  • JBL Quantum Stream microphone
  • USB power cable
  • 1 x Warranty / Warning (W / !)
  • 1 x QSG / Safety Sheet (S / i)

 

Simple but effective right out of the box (Positives)

To say that the JBL Quantum Stream is easy to use is a complete understatement. From getting it out of the box through to up and working took no less than 5 minutes… Mainly because I had to get behind my computer to plug in the USB cable (Cable management is life!). Getting the JBL Quantum Stream mounted onto my mic arm was simple since it came with the correct attachment. What also helped me was that I had the JBL Quantum app on my computer (Since I still use the JBL Quantum 810 Wireless headset), giving me access to all the settings of the microphone instantly.

Once set up, I was ready to go with JBL Quantum Stream. Almost right away my friends noticed the improved audio quality that comes from the JBL Quantum Stream, using USB-C to connect to the computer means that you are getting some of the clearest digital audio transmission available, the only thing better would be spending thousands on a professional soundboard and microphone setups. But for gaming and streaming, JBL Quantum Stream comes in as one of the cheaper and superior experiences I’ve had in the last 5 years. A simple button press (or toggling through the JBL Quantum app) gets you one of two modes: 360-degree audio pick up or 180-degree more precise audio pick up.

I’m not too sure what else to really say about the JBL Quantum Stream as it’s really just a microphone, so once you begin talking into it the experience is pretty much done. However, the experience is simple enough that you do not have to be a PC or audio expert in order to get it up and going. There will be some people who will know how to mess around with their settings through the JBL Quantum app in order to get the best settings for what they want to do (Believe it or not, there is a difference between things like talking, singing, voice work, etc), but for the average user, the JBL Quantum Stream is the best and easiest setup available.

Simple is not always Great (Negatives)

While I have nothing but love for the JBL Quantum Stream, sometimes simple is not always going to be best. For some people, they will find the JBL Quantum Stream to be a little echo-y when used in a more open space like a large room, and the audio does stutter at times… but that might be something to do with my system more than anything. JBL Quantum Stream is also very sensitive no matter what setting you have, with no active voice volume gate setting available, leaving you to have to add such things via OBS. Many times my wife would get picked up with the slightest cough or mutter from the other side of the room when the mic was active, leading to her getting picked up on videos and causing more than a few re-recordings to happen.

Outside the addition of a voice volume gate being added to the JBL Quantum App, there really isn’t much to be negative about when it comes to the JBL Quantum Stream, as its just a microphone at the end of the day and it does that job extremely well.

Something different that is not called “Yeti” (Closing)

A lot of what I know about and from the JBL Quantum Stream comes from other people having to listen to my voice (and the voice of my wife in the background), and from what they say, the JBL Quantum Stream is much clearer than the Yeti Blue that I had been using for the last 5+ years. While I have yet to use the JBL Quantum Stream as a two-person microphone (and unless I can find a camera with USB input, I highly doubt it’ll change), I could imagine that the quality wouldn’t drop at all. But as a gaming microphone that I use for daily gaming and recording, I’m having a hard time going back to the older mic over the JBL Quantum Stream… and I wish I had another one for my wife for when she starts gaming/streaming (Hint Hint JBL). I highly recommend the JBL Quantum Stream to anyone who is taking their streaming or audio seriously and wants top-tier quality at a decent price.

Review Disclosure Statement: JBL Quantum Stream 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.