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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Sundara offers superior overall sound quality, a more expansive soundstage, and a premium build, making it a great choice for an immersive music listening experience. Its open-back design enhances soundstage but does not isolate noise, so it's not ideal in noisy environments. On the other hand, the JBL Quantum 100, while less expensive and scoring lower on sound quality and build, has a closed-back design and a boom microphone, making it better suited for gaming, online meetings, and environments where noise isolation is needed. The JBL Quantum 100's greater portability and better score for book and podcast listening could also be factors to consider if those are significant to your usage. 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 HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Quantum 100
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
9.3
7.0
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
7.2
8.5
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Sundara is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
5.5
The JBL Quantum 100 and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
4.5
The HifiMan Sundara is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
8.8
7.1
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The JBL Quantum 100 and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for noise reduction, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Cost
$279
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Sundara has a price of $279 and the JBL Quantum 100 costs $20.
Build Quality
8.2
6.5
The HifiMan Sundara has very good build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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How the HifiMan Sundara and the JBL Quantum 100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Sundara | JBL Quantum 100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$279 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2020 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 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 | 8.2/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 394.6 Grams | 220 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Sundara
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | July 2023
"The HiFiMan Sundara is the set of headphones to get if you want high-end audio, but don't want to shell out a king's ransom for it. These planar magnetic headphones are comfortable, straightforward, and excellent performers."
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 HifiMan Sundara or the JBL Quantum 100
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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
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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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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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