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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for portability and features like active noise cancelling (ANC), sweatproof certification, and wireless capabilities with a good battery life, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds are a strong choice, especially for use during exercise and air travel. However, they're on the premium side price-wise and not ideal for gaming or TV due to lower performance scores in those areas. In contrast, the JBL Quantum 100 headphones offer a budget-friendly option with a focus on gaming performance thanks to the higher score there and a boom microphone, which is great for calls. They are wired and don't have ANC or wireless features, making them less versatile for on-the-go use and less suitable for noisy environments. 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 JBL Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL Quantum 100
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.8
7.0
The JBL Live Beam 3 and JBL Quantum 100 are both good for music, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
Gaming
5.4
8.5
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
4.5
The JBL Live Beam 3 and JBL Quantum 100 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.6
7.1
The JBL Quantum 100 is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
12.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery.
Cost
$216
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the JBL Quantum 100 costs $20.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.5
The JBL Quantum 100 and JBL Live Beam 3 are both poor for phone calls.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the JBL Quantum 100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | JBL Quantum 100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 220 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live Beam 3 or the JBL Quantum 100
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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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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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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