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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're primarily concerned about price and need a basic, reliable set of headphones for everyday use, the JBL Quantum 100 may be the better choice. They're significantly more affordable and are suitable for casual listening. However, if you're looking for advanced features, such as noise-cancellation, superior sound quality, and wireless convenience, the Sony WF1000XM4 would be a better choice. The Sony earbuds are known for their high-quality audio, effective noise-cancellation, and additional features like touch controls and a compact form factor, though they come at a higher cost. Consider how you'll use them: for travel, work in noisy environments, or the highest quality audio experience, the Sonys may be worth the investment; for general use without these requirements, the JBL Quantum 100 will save you money. 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 Quantum 100
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.0
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
8.5
5.6
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.5
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.5
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
7.1
6.0
The JBL Quantum 100 is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
5.3
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$220
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The JBL Quantum 100 has a price of $20 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
Build Quality
6.5
8.9
The Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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How the JBL Quantum 100 and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Quantum 100 | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2020 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.2/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 220 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
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."
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the JBL Quantum 100 or the Sony WF1000XM4
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Luis Torres
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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