The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Quantum 100 is a more budget-friendly option that excels in gaming due to its soundstage and mic quality; however, it lacks wireless capabilities and has lower overall comfort and sound quality. On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM5, while more expensive, offers superior comfort, sound quality, active noise cancellation, and extended wireless battery life, making it more versatile for music, calls, travel, and noise-sensitive environments. The Sony's high-quality noise isolation could especially benefit frequent travelers or those in noisy settings, while the JBL Quantum 100 may appeal to gamers looking for a cost-effective, wired solution. 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 WH-1000XM5
Very good for music
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.0/10
8.2/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
8.5/10
5.6/10
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.5/10
6.0/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
7.1/10
5.8/10
The JBL Quantum 100 is good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
9.1/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
N/A
40.3 Hours
The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$40
$398
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The JBL Quantum 100 has a price of $40 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has very good build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
"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."
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the JBL Quantum 100 or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
95,000
Recommendations made
14,250
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
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.