I chose orange because this is the most prominent and beautiful color. The listed price in Vietnam is about 3 million VND and this is a price I think is appropriate, especially when Quantum 520 has many advantages compared to other headphone models in the segment. This is not a detailed review, I have only used it for 5 days so these are just my first impressions.

Three connection modes, more flexible than competitors

The biggest difference of Quantum 520 compared to competitors in the same price range of 3 million VND is its diverse connectivity capabilities, while most gaming headsets at this price range are usually only equipped with Bluetooth with 2.4GHz or Bluetooth with wired connection. JBL equips Quantum 520 with three modes: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.4 and wired connection.

With this setup, you can use a 2.4GHz connection for your PC and Bluetooth for your phone, or use a wired connection to save battery life. When you need to save battery, you can switch to wired mode to use.

However, you should note that the Quantum 520 version is usually not certified to be compatible with Xbox. If anyone wants to play games on Microsoft consoles, they should consider buying the Quantum 520X version instead.

Battery lasts 5 days without needing to be charged

JBL announced that the Quantum 520's battery life reaches 37 hours when used via Bluetooth and 30 hours when used via 2.4GHz connection. The 500mAh battery does not support hot-swap like on the Quantum 950, so if you play a lot or stream for a long time, I recommend plugging it in for more peace of mind.

I received the device and fully charged it in about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then I mainly used the 2.4GHz connection to play CS2 and Valorant for about 45 minutes to 1 hour a day. After 5 days of continuous use, the headset's battery still has about 50% left, a number that I find quite impressive because I did not worry about running out of battery midway through this experience.

However, if you are a heavy gamer or streamer who needs to wear headphones continuously for many hours a day, this battery life may not be enough for a long session. Unlike the Quantum 950, the Quantum 520 does not support hot-swap batteries, so if you play a lot or stream for a long time, you should plug in the cord to use. The fast charging feature allows you to charge for 50 minutes to listen to music or play games for another hour.

Gaming sound: Thick, pleasing bass

Advertisement

JBL equips the Quantum 520 with a 50mm Dynamic driver made from Carbon, with a Carbon damping layer. This material is hard and light, so when it vibrates it deforms less, helping the driver respond quickly to the fast rhythms in the game. The result is that the sound is cleaner and less distorted than conventional speakers, especially when you turn up the volume during intense fights. This driver's specifications include a frequency response of 20Hz to 40,000Hz and an impedance of 32 Ohm.

What I like most about Quantum 520 is the bass range, it is thick, deep and powerful, giving a feeling very similar to the Quantum 950 that I experienced before. When playing CS2, the sound of gunshots is very loud, creating the necessary shock for players to feel the presence of their opponents. If I score the sound perception in the game compared to the Quantum 950, I think the Quantum 520 gets about 8/10, a pretty impressive number for the price of 3 million VND.

In addition, the headset also supports JBL Quantum Spatial Sound, spatial sound simulation technology that helps locate footsteps in eSports games more accurately (those who play Valorant will immediately see the effect).

You can activate this feature through Quantum Engine software on your computer. However, if you are a serious music user, the Quantum 520 is only okay, not its strong point. I recommend that you use headphones that specialize in listening to music if you need to enjoy sound properly, and with Quantum 520, you should focus on the gaming experience.

Detachable mic, unidirectional recording

Advertisement

Quantum 520 is equipped with a detachable 6mm microphone, you just need to pull it out of the headset when you don't need it to store it, especially useful when switching to listening to music without getting entangled with the mic cord.

This microphone uses unidirectional (cardioid) recording orientation, helping to limit ambient noise when streaming or live, especially reducing environmental noise and mechanical keyboard typing. However, this noise cancellation feature only works when you use Quantum Engine software, so if you connect to other devices that do not support this software, you will not be able to use that feature.

Regarding Zoom certification, I have not had the opportunity to actually test the quality of conversations in online meetings, so those who have used it can share more experiences below.

Outstanding orange design, comfortable to wear

I chose the orange and blue version and I really feel it is so beautiful and outstanding that everyone passing by has to ask. Many people are surprised to learn that JBL also makes gaming headphones. Regarding materials, Quantum 520 uses fabric foam cushions instead of leather like higher-end models. Inside, I think it is foam and the big plus is that it is not stuffy and absorbs sweat much better than skin in temperature conditions of 28-29 degrees.

However, you should note that this fabric easily absorbs sweat so it needs to be cleaned regularly to avoid odors. On both sides of the earcup there is a wire sticking out. I think this is an interesting design highlight, not a manufacturing defect.

Unlike the Quantum 950, this model does not have a stretch fabric layer underneath the headband, but overall it is not heavy or compresses the ears, and still feels comfortable to wear for a long time.

On the back there will be 2 rollers, the one on the left for you to increase/decrease the volume, the one on the right to balance the volume of the microphone and game sound, this will be needed when you stream.

Some points to consider before buying

The first point you need to note is that the Quantum 520 is not equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC). If you need this feature, you should consider higher-end Quantum models. In addition, this regular version does not have Xbox certification, those who play on this console want the best optimization, please choose the 520X version.

In terms of volume output, the Quantum 520 is not as "loud" as the Quantum 950, its maximum sound pressure only reaches 94dB with a sensitivity of 90dB. I tried turning the max volume on the headset combined with the computer to 75-80% to achieve a volume equivalent to the 60-65% level of other headphone models I've used, so if you have a habit of keeping the computer volume at 50-60% and then turning it all the way up on the headset, the volume won't be too loud.

Conclusion

Overall, the JBL Quantum 520 aims for flexibility and abundant connectivity, supporting the connection of 2 devices in parallel. In this price range, competitors often have to choose between low latency (2.4GHz) or flexibility (Bluetooth), and the 520 has both. There is a reduction compared to the high-end line, of course, but I personally find this to be a sufficient choice for the majority of normal gaming users. If you need to be more professional, you can upgrade to a high-end line.

If you are interested in the product, you can see more here. What do you think about this headset? If you need me to test it further or if you want to see a comparison with any model, please comment below.

Thank you JBL for accompanying me on this article.