JBL Quantum 800 Wireless ANC Performance Gaming Headset (Factory Reconditioned)

I bought 3 headset. The Steelseries Arctis 7+, the Turtle beach stealth 700, and this JBL quantum 800. I've had the first two for about 2 weeks and i wanted a good headset with the same features as the Turtle beach 700. Specifically simultaneously Bluetooth and wireless USB connection use. If the Turtle Beaches weren't so notoriously flimsy with deceptive solidity i would have kept those. So ultimately it is between this 800 and arctis 7+ and i am basically set on keeping these after a few days. Build/comfort: 7/10 i feel more comfortable tossing these around (like into a bag, onto a bed, falling off a table or small daily accidents) I wish the pads weren't leather and/or at least had a fabric ear cup like my comparison headsets. Sound isolation is not bad nor is sound leak, not the greatest but average muffles sound to where there's plenty i don't make out sounds well but still hear them to know there is a sound. But when in use i don't even use the Active Noise Canceling because the isolation and volume is enough. They have good weight distribution for my head. I prefer some clamping force to relieve me from feelinge the head band too much. The 800 has a nice balance between the 3 sides. I wear glasses half the time and I've worn worse. I honestly can't complain about glasses with these. I've worn these for more than 10 hours multiple times. Sound: 8/10 the sound is good. I was surprised how flat the audio was out the box BUT it wasn't totally flat despite the EQ saying so. At least not compared to the arctis and my srudio monitors. The main issue is if you are going to be using ANC sometimes on and sometimes off. The Low and bass end is stronger ON and weaker OFF. And after adjusting it im still worling on finding a good bass balance because it either stands out too nuch or is too hidden. I couldn't use my EQ sliders from other devices. But the potential is their for great balance if you stick to one mode. The sound stage/surround sound is a bit weird in my opinion. Not bad just different, tighter. I play on PS5 not PC so i am not sure if the JBL surround options affect this, but i do use DTX on the playstation end. I did notice the surround sound got better and less narrow after messing witn the setting on the PC hub when i reconnected it to my playstation (turned it off and on). But after i couldn't tell a difference between on and off. Of my 3 comparisons i think the TB700 weirdly enough had the best sound stage/surround sound for gaming. I would put these 3rd but they do job and it is probably better on PC than playstation. The 3.5mm jack audio is solid. My phone has a built in DAC and LG sound engine. I actually just tested it right now while typing this. Almost want to move the rating to a 9 but i stick to 8. ANC does not work while jacked in, it will turn off anc. When the headset is on your PC settings affect the jack audio BUT it will not stay on if you are not using USB 2.4ghz or Bluetooth. Of the 3 headsets this is the only one without high end distortion. Battery: 5/10 Tied for the worst part of the 800. With Lights, USB wireless, Bluetooth, and ANC you are looking at 9-10 hours. With no lights, no ANC, just Bluetooth and USB wireless you are looking at about 24 hours or so. My next test will be with ANC, Bluetooth, USB, and no lights to see how much ANC affects battery and i will update this section. Full charge is between an hour and 2. Very fast. As i am sure you have read the headset will immediately cut power when plugged in and i hate that. But also if there is no sound from USB 2.4ghz or Bluetooth playing for about 20 minutes the headset powers down. And once the battery is at about 25% it will play a warning aound. Then again at aboit 15% and 5%. For my comparison the TB700 does a stagnant voice prompt that is annoying and the arctis does a tone every few minutes which is just as annoying. I do not find the JBL 800 warning annoying. It highlights how the battery isn't THAT bad since the warnings are about an hour or more apart. Plenty of time to give it a 15 minite charge for a solid 20% boost. UPDATE: having the ANC turned on does inconsistently deplete much more of the battery. I lost about 30% in 2 hours. Without ANC and with Bluetooth and 2.4ghz dongle and lights i was losing about 10% an hour. Without ANC or lights i was losing about 10% every 1-3 hours. I lowered the acore from a 6 to a generous 5. Connectivity: begrudgingly 5/10 I would love to give these a 10, very few headsets have the 3 options of Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack, and usb 2.4ghz and can use them all simultaneously! Unfortunately the range is non existent. Per my comparison the TB700 cuts in and out at the back door of the house (about 10-15 steps away), the Arctis cuts in and out a bit earlier at the kitchen ( 8-12 steps) and this JBL has the most annoying disconnect reconnect at the just walking out of my room (5-9 steps) the distance is honestly REALLY bad, the worst i can remember of any wireless device. But i can get to the bathroom with both doors, bedroom and bathroom closed ( 3-5 steps) no i am not taking large steps i am size 11 us men and my feet are about a tonail apart each step. If you have a JBL device it plays that sound every time it connects and it plays it even if the connection is interrupted a second. Awful. The connectivity is ironically the worst despite also being the thing i got them for. I suppose turning off while charging falls undee this as well. Oh and the mic does not work with Bluetooth. I read people using it on Bluetooth and tbat being their main use, but apparently mine doesn't. Could be a dud. Mic: 3/10 While in PS5 chats no one can tell the difference between this and the other 2 headsets although i can during the mic tests. It is pretty average. The actual mic isn't as ugly as it looked in photos and actually blends in well when swung up. It feels weird how it stiffly can be beny where i want it but hey it works. Weird there is a mute button on the left earcup when swinging up mutes it but great to have a backup if anything happens. UPDATE: after streaming and listening to playback, this is one of the worst sounding mics i have ever used. Plugging earbuds into the ps5 remote sounds better or the same as this. So much background noise, so much digital noise. Horrible low volume voice pickup but drop a pen and you will hear it. Changing my overall score. Other 7/10 Esthetically these are very nice with and without the lights. The PC hub software is better than the arctis software in my opinion. Has all the same options plus a little more like saving more than 1 custom EQ. The JBL quantum does not work with any JBL mobile apps unfortunately. And unlike the other 2 i had no issue updating the JBL quantum 800. Overall 5/10 I am ultimately keeping the JBL over the other 2 because unlike the TB700 i don't think it will break on its own after a few months and it doesn't have distortion. And unlike the arctis it has simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4ghz which is my must have feature. If you don't need that feature i absolutely recommend the Steelseries arctis for gaming. But if you are like me and need Bluetooth and USB wireless simultaneously i would recommend the JBL 800. The battery isn't that big an issue, i just think when you compare it to something like the arctis 7+ that can last 30+ hours, makes it seem worse than it actually is. In reality the 10-20 hour battery life (depending if you use lights) is kind of average for audio devices. I think most people will be find getting home from work or school and playing for 2-6 hours with these. I am a typical 10+ hour power player and they have been fine. UPDATE: I. Looking to replace and return these. The mic is just horrible. I was willing to accept the average battery life and extremely short wireless range but adding on how bad the mic is. I would not recommend these for more than $80 or less after tax. I would have been furiously upset if i paid full price for these. These would have been perfect if they didn't waste their time putting lights on it and instead actually made the mic, ANC, and range better.