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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize affordability and mainly use earbuds for gaming, the JBL Quantum 100 could be a great choice, but they lack wireless capabilities which may limit mobility and convenience. However, if you're after higher overall sound quality, comfort, and active noise cancelling for varied environments including air travel, and don't mind spending more, the Soundcore Space Q45 may better suit your needs. The Space Q45 also offers a much longer battery life and foldability for portability, but these features come at a higher price point. Both have a built-in microphone, but the Quantum 100 has a slightly better mic quality, which could be important for clear communication. 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 Soundcore Space Q45
Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
8.5/10
5.4/10
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the Soundcore Space Q45 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.5/10
4.9/10
The JBL Quantum 100 and Soundcore Space Q45 are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.5/10
5.9/10
The Soundcore Space Q45 and JBL Quantum 100 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Soundcore Space Q45 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.1/10
5.6/10
The JBL Quantum 100 is good for TV and video, while the Soundcore Space Q45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
8.7/10
The Soundcore Space Q45 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
N/A
41.0 Hours
The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery. The Soundcore Space Q45 has 41 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$130
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL Quantum 100 has a price of $20 and the Soundcore Space Q45 costs $130.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Soundcore Space Q45 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 Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is a great pair of active noise canceling (ANC) headphones, and the $150 USD price tag only sweetens the deal. Unlike many mid-tier wireless headphones, the Q45 microphone system rejects quite a bit of background noise, making this a great work headset too."
Get a great deal on the JBL Quantum 100 or the Soundcore Space Q45
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 Soundcore
Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.
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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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