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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Etymotic ER2SE earbuds offer superior sound quality for music with excellent noise isolation, making them great for immersive listening and environments where you want to block out distractions. However, they are less suitable for exercise due to their fit and lack of sweat resistance. The JBL Quantum 100 headphones have a boom microphone that provides clear call quality, and their over-ear design is preferred for gaming thanks to better soundstage and lower latency. If cost is a significant concern, the JBLs are much less expensive and also offer a built-in microphone, which the Etymotic lacks. 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 Etymotic ER2SE
- Very good for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Quantum 100
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.0
The Etymotic ER2SE is very good for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
6.2
8.5
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER2SE is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.9
5.5
The JBL Quantum 100 and Etymotic ER2SE are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
4.5
The Etymotic ER2SE is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
7.1
The Etymotic ER2SE and JBL Quantum 100 are both good for TV and video, though the Etymotic ER2SE is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Cost
$100
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Etymotic ER2SE has a price of $100 and the JBL Quantum 100 costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0
6.5
The Etymotic ER2SE has excellent build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER2SE and the JBL Quantum 100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER2SE | JBL Quantum 100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 220 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER2SE
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | April 2022
"Etymotic isn’t playing around: it takes audio seriously and has mastered the art of the noise-isolation earphone. Sure, the fit of the earbuds looks silly but it’s a signature Etymotic thing and could be considered charming by some. If you’re looking for best-in-class audio for a realistic price, the ER2SE is it."
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 Etymotic ER2SE or the JBL Quantum 100
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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