JBL Quantum Stream Studio: one-minute overview
JBL might not be a model finest identified for its microphones and streaming package, however they’re a hardy model with a wonderful status. The model’s Quantum Stream Studio is one in all its first stabs at a premium streaming microphone so that you can shout into, and by and huge, it’s a strong choice that’s well-priced and specced. It seems nice with a wholly built-in design and considerate touches comparable to an built-in mute button, on-board acquire management with LED lights for acquire and monitoring quantity, and a alternative of 4 polar patterns.
Elsewhere, the Quantum Stream Studio performs effectively with a transparent, well-rounded pickup with each a good bit of low-end and glorious readability. These 4 polar patterns make it versatile too, as it may be used for single-person recording, in addition to in one-on-one interviews, or when recording in a bunch. Not many different microphones for streaming and gaming provide this perform in 2024, so it’s a welcome addition to JBL’s choice.
Nevertheless, the Quantum Studio has a few shortcomings in comparison with extra established choices, comparable to its sub-par noise rejection. The software program right here, whereas purposeful, can also be on the fundamental aspect, sticking with choices additionally discovered bodily on the microphone’s management panel, comparable to acquire management and selection of polar sample.
JBL Quantum Stream Studio: Worth and availability
- $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95
- Out there within the US, UK and Australia
- Strong worth for cash
Within the context of premium mics for content material creators, streamers, and that form of viewers, the value tag of the JBL Quantum Stream Studio is respectable and gives sturdy worth. In opposition to a few of our favourite streaming microphones, JBL’s choice retails for barely greater than the Blue Yeti within the USA, however identically within the UK, whereas additionally being corresponding to choices from audio giants Audio Technica and its AT2020 USB-X with its $149 / £116 price ticket.
With this in thoughts, the Quantum Stream Studio can also be rather more inexpensive than premium selections such because the SteelSeries Alias, which fits for $179.99 / £179.99. In Australia, JBL’s mic turns into even higher worth than SteelSeries’ choice, given its value is half – it’s AU$199.95 in opposition to the Alias’ AU$399. Throughout the board, the Quantum Stream Studio represents strong worth for cash with its characteristic set.
JBL Quantum Stream Studio: Specs
| Worth | $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95 |
| Polar sample | Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo |
| Pattern charges | 44.1kHz / 48 kHz / 96 kHz / 192 kHz |
| Bit price | 16 / 24 bits |
| Frequency vary | 50Hz – 16kHz |
| Impedance | 16 / 32 ohms |
JBL Quantum Stream Studio: Design and options
- Glossy, cylindrical chassis
- Intuitive controls
- Easy connectivity and lighting
In comparison with among the extra avant-garde designs seen extra just lately with microphones such because the SteelSeries Alias, the JBL Quantum Stream Studio sticks to one thing extra typical. Its major physique is cylindrical, with a tall stature that carries presence when plonked on a desk, whereas there’s a mute button on prime and handy controls on the entrance fascia.
The pop filter on the Quantum Stream Studio is built-in, which means there aren’t any ugly protrusions right here, preserving JBL’s microphone wanting clear. The chassis right here is nearly solely steel too, exuding a high-quality end that matches the value tag.
Elsewhere, JBL’s mic additionally comes with a small stand, which echoes the marvelous high quality discovered elsewhere. It carries loads of heft and retains the Quantum Stream Studio in place effectively, though permits for some motion out of the field. This may be alleviated by tightening the dials on all sides, in addition to on the bottom. The underside of the stand additionally gives a strip of non-slip rubber to forestall the Quantum Stream Studio from sliding round unnecessarily on a desk. It labored effectively each on a desk and on my mousepad in testing.
The controls on the Quantum Stream Studio are splendidly easy to make use of and straightforward to entry, being contained on the entrance panel or on the highest and backside sides of the cylinder. The entrance panel is house to a dial, providing you with fast entry to achieve management or monitoring quantity in the event you’ve obtained headphones plugged into the mic’s 3.5mm jack on the again. You may as well select between a stability of the 2 by clicking the dial-in till it reveals a half-and-half sample. The dial additionally has a small LED which can be utilized to watch ranges with out trawling by means of software program, which is nifty.
Additionally contained on the entrance panel are 4 white LED lights on the backside which let you decide between the totally different polar patterns that the Quantum Stream Studio has, very similar to the Blue Yeti can do. These are accessed with a button on the underside aspect of the mic, marked with a P. Click on it in, and it’ll change the sample with ease.
On the highest of the Quantum Stream Studio’s chassis is a giant mic mute panel, which operates as extra of a pad than a button. Press on the mic mute icon, and the LED on the highest adjustments from inexperienced to purple, providing you with a handy visible indication that nobody can hear you. You do should be fairly exact along with your finger placement to make sure the microphone mutes, as urgent anyplace however instantly on the mic mute icon does nothing.
The again aspect is house to a USB-C port for connectivity, in addition to that 3.5mm jack for monitoring. Apparently, the Quantum Stream Studio itself doesn’t have a thread mount for placing elsewhere aside from the desktop mount. Nevertheless, the bottom of the desktop mount unscrews for placing into an ordinary increase arm mount. Nifty.
JBL Quantum Stream Studio: Efficiency
- Clear, full-bodied pickup
- Versatile with 4 pickup patterns
- Fundamental software program configuration
Out of the field, the Quantum Stream Studio gives moderately strong pickup with respectable readability and physique. The default cardioid pickup sample is finest fitted to vocals and devices and gives good comms in each chatting with buddies over Discord, in-game chats on Counter-Strike 2, and when testing in Audacity for recording my very own dulcet tones.
The preliminary thesis with the cardioid pickup sample is that with it selecting up noise solely from the entrance, it ought to reject noise from the again and sides. Nevertheless, at the very least on this sample, the noises of my customized mechanical keyboard a number of inches away from the again of the microphone have been picked up. The distinct lack of any type of noise cancellation or rejection is a disgrace, particularly when different premium streaming microphones provide a lot better efficiency on this explicit space.
The opposite polar patterns are much less helpful for particular person recording, however they’re helpful in the event you’ve obtained a number of individuals concerned to huddle round one microphone. The omnidirectional sample means the Quantum Stream Studio will decide up sound from all instructions, making it supreme for podcast recording with a singular microphone. It basically opens up the soundstage, and isn’t one of the best for single-person recording, selecting up much more background noise.
There’s additionally a bidirectional sample, the place the microphone captures inputs from the back and front – supreme for one-on-one interviewing. This selection did a strong job of isolating noise elsewhere than the back and front in testing. The ultimate pickup mode is arguably essentially the most attention-grabbing, because the Quantum Stream Studio has a stereo mode, which can be utilized for recording devices or in the event you’ve obtained two individuals on the identical aspect of the microphone.
The mic’s software program comes within the type of the Home windows-only JBL Quantum Engine, which installs routinely while you first plug the Quantum Stream Studio in. Versus providing a plethora of customization with its personal mixer, as SteelSeries’ GG does, the Quantum Stream Studio’s software program is a little more fundamental.
Quantum Engine permits for on-the-fly adjustment of the degrees of acquire and monitoring, in addition to permitting you to decide on the polar sample. You may as well customise the colour of the lighting for the mic’s built-in stage indicator which reveals across the quantity wheel on the entrance so you understand you could be heard with out being too loud. In any other case, that’s just about it, other than a cool graphic of the mic’s define itself which rotates round within the backside proper nook.
Ought to I purchase the JBL Quantum Stream Studio?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate…
Should you’re nonetheless not bought on the JBL Quantum Stream Studio, right here’s the way it stacks up in opposition to two comparable choices.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | JBL Quantum Stream Studio | Blue Yeti | HyperX DuoCast |
| Worth | $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95 | $129.99 (round £100 / AU$180) | $99/about £80/AU$140 |
| Polar sample | Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo | Cardioid | Cardioid, omnidirectional |
| Pattern charges | 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz / 96 kHz / 192 kHz | 48 kHz | 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz / 96 kHz |
| Bit price | 16- / 24-bit | 16-bit | 24-bit |
| Frequency vary | 50Hz – 16kHz | 20Hz – 20kHz | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Impedance | 16 / 32 ohms | 16 ohms | 32 ohms |
How I examined the JBL Quantum Stream Studio
I used the JBL Quantum Stream Studio as my major microphone for 2 weeks. I examined it with each Audacity for check recordings, in addition to when chatting with buddies over Discord and in video games comparable to Counter-Strike 2 for in-game chats. I additionally made positive to put in the extra software program to finest check its performance on Home windows.
First reviewed June 2024.
