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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing the Audeze Maxwell would give you excellent gaming and TV/video performance, superior build quality, and long battery life, suitable if you're after premium sound quality and features like active noise cancelling and wireless connectivity. However, it comes at a premium price. On the other hand, the JBL Quantum 100 is much more affordable and offers a great microphone and good sound quality for music listening. It lacks wireless options and active noise cancelling, making it less versatile but potentially a better value if you're primarily using the headphones for calls, meetings, or if you're on a tighter budget. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audeze Maxwell
- Very good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Quantum 100
- The JBL Quantum 100 has no clear advantages over the Audeze Maxwell.
Key differences
Music
8.4
7.0
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
9.0
8.5
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the JBL Quantum 100 is very good.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.5
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
4.5
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
7.1
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
5.3
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
78.0 Hours
N/A
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$40
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the JBL Quantum 100 costs $40.
Build Quality
9.0
6.5
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the JBL Quantum 100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | JBL Quantum 100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 220 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | August 2023
"Despite a few caveats, the Audeze Maxwell is one of the best-performing gaming headsets on the market and should top the ranks for a few buyers — provided the budget (and neck strength) is there. Gaming headsets have their work cut out for them, and their audience is historically unkind to performance flaws. If you’re an older gamer with some cash to blow, you should be pleased with the Audeze Maxwell."
JBL Quantum 100
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Dig into reviews and images
CNN Underscored
Wes Davis | July 2023
"I appreciate a functional piece of tech as much as I do gear on the bleeding edge, and the JBL Quantum 100 certainly falls in the former category. The sound is reasonably good, the built-in microphone is surprisingly reliable and it has a thoughtful design for the price. It lacks the convenience of Bluetooth, sure, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to worry about the finicky nature of wireless communication and go with good old hard-wired tech."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the JBL Quantum 100
About Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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