JBL Quantum Stream Wireless review: simple and portable

JBL Quantum Stream Wireless: One-minute review

If you’re a content creator who needs a portable microphone for a convention, or even just some on-the-go video making, you really can’t go wrong with the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless. This pocket-friendly lapel mic comes with a convenient charging case, much like a pair of wireless earbuds, and works readily with your phone right out of the box. You simply insert the included Lightning or USB-C dongle and you’re ready to go.

I’ve been impressed with the performance during my testing and found that the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless delivers clear sound even in quite loud environments, especially when paired with the noise-canceling capabilities of the compatible JBL Headphones mobile app. The manufacturer touts a 24-hour battery life, with six hours from the microphone and another 18 from its charging case, and this figure was broadly accurate – giving you more than enough juice for an entire day.

Factor in a few more handy features, such as the onboard microphone mute button, and you have a very robust overall package. My one complaint would be that the included windshield, useful for outdoor recording, is a touch fiddly and can be quite hard to securely install. 

Potential buyers should also weigh up whether they actually need a lapel mic. The performance is good for a small, portable device, but you will still get superior sound quality from many of the best microphones for streaming – which would be a better choice if you want to record at home. 

JBL Quantum Stream Wireless: Price and availability

• $99.95 / £89.99 
• USB-C and Lightning variants
• Launched in March 2024 

The JBL Quantum Stream Wireless is readily available for $99.95 / £89.99 directly from JBL and at retailers like Amazon. This might seem like a fair chunk to spend on any microphone, but means that this model sits neatly between super-budget offerings and more premium portable microphones from companies like Rode and DJI. The DJI Mic, for example, features two transmitters and a similar storage space but comes in at roughly double the price of the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless. 

JBL Quantum Stream Wireless: Specs

JBL Quantum Stream Wireless: Design and features

• Portable size
• LED power indicators
• Good app

The design of the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless shares quite a lot in common with your average pair of wireless gaming earbuds. Its black carrying case is compact, with a subtle embossed JBL logo and a small row of four white LED indicators used to denote its current charge level. On the back of the case, you can find a type-C charging port, compatible with the included charging cable.

The top of the case opens up like a lid on a hinge, revealing slots for the clip-on microphone and dongle. Both are secured by magnets, though just the microphone also has two metal contacts that allow it to charge while it’s in the case. Removing the microphone gives you a good look at its design, which is mainly constructed from plastic. The front has a smooth grooved pattern, with a little JBL logo, while the back has a generously sized clip for attaching it to your clothes.

On the side of the microphone is a small button, which can be used to quickly mute it. There’s also a bright indicator LED, which is red when the microphone is disabled. Otherwise, it flashes white before turning a solid color when paired with your phone.

There’s very little to report about the dongle itself, which is rectangular and quite light and thin. It attaches to your phone via a type-C or Lightning connector depending on your model of choice, but also has its own USB port for pass-through charging. This is a great little feature and means that you don’t have to worry about not being able to charge your phone while the microphone is in use.

Most of the microphone’s core features are accessed through the JBL Headphones mobile app or JBL Quantum Engine PC software, both of which are compatible with this product. Given the clear focus on portability, I mainly relied on the app which offers the option to check battery levels, alter mic gain, enable AI noise canceling, flick between a few preset effects, and tweak power settings like LED brightness and the automatic power off.

The software isn’t anything revolutionary, but it’s got a decent selection of options and is, importantly, very responsive and well-presented.

JBL Quantum Stream Wireless: Performance

• Effective noise cancellation
• Works well at events
• Great battery life

It’s hard to fault the performance of the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless. I mainly tested the product at events, including the busy halls of Gamescom, and found that it did a great job of cutting through the background noise to deliver perfectly understandable recordings despite its small size. 

You do notice a dip in quality when things get quite loud, with my voice often taking on a slightly robotic edge in particularly large crowds, but that was still preferable to the frankly incomprehensible recordings produced by my phone’s microphone in the same areas. This is also true of its performance outdoors, particularly with loud wind or vehicles. Expect a more natural sound when you’re out on a calm day.

It is a tad unfortunate that the included windshield is so fiddly, though. It clips on the top of the microphone via two little holes but is quite hard to align. I struggled to do it in poor lighting and was often unsure whether it was actually attached. This is not a dealbreaker, but it is worth bearing in mind if you intend to use the windshield a lot.

In terms of battery life, the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless is more than capable. I only have to charge up the case every couple of days with semi-frequent use and never had the microphone die during a recording session. Unless you want to wear it, turned on, for hours and hours at a time, you’re not going to run into any problems here.

Should I buy the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider…

If you’re not keen on the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless, you can consider these two top gaming and content-creation microphones instead.

How I tested the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless

• Tested over a few months
• Used at various events
• Tried indoors and outdoors

I tested the JBL Quantum Stream Wireless over a period of roughly five months with an iPhone 15 Plus. During that time I took the microphone to a variety of gaming events and tested it in a wide range of conditions both indoors and outdoors. I was careful to evaluate its performance and test all of the available features in its mobile app.

I compared it to a number of desktop mics such as the Asus ROG Carynx, SteelSeries Alias, SteelSeries Alias Pro, and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2024.