JBL Quantum Stream Studio is a USB microphone that sounds great out of the box. If you want to change the color of the RGB lighting, you’ll need a PC, but otherwise you can do most things with the controls directly on the microphone and use it with several other devices. Simple and easy. This is a great investment if you want to sound better in your podcast, music recording, or Twitch stream.
The requirements become higher if you also record podcasts, music, or stream on YouTube or Twitch. To cover everything from the beginner to more professional users, JBL has launched a series of microphones, and here we put the most luxurious among them to the test. The name of the microphone is JBL Quantum Stream Studio, and for the extra money you pay for it, compared to its Quantum Stream Talk or Quantum Stream siblings, you get better specifications and a few more setting options that I will get to shortly.
Pros:
– Stylish and well-built
– Easily accessible controls
– Good right out of the box
– Can be mounted in several ways
Cons:
– USB-C to USB-A cable
– No software for Mac
It comes with a USB-C connector on the back and the cord plugs into a USB-A port on the device you want to use. The microphone is nice to look at, feels well made and of high quality. On the top, there’s a button you can touch to mute the microphone, which lights up with a red ring to make it clear that no sound is being picked up. On the front is a wheel you can use to adjust both the gain and volume of the headphones (a 3.5mm jack is on the back). You can also select one of four polar patterns at the touch of a button (the button is on the bottom).
Right out of the box, the microphone sounds great. You can choose a sample rate between 44.1kHz and 192kHz and either 16 or 24 bits. The frequency range is 50Hz to 16kHz. JBL writes that the maximum SPL (sound pressure limit) is 110dB — it can’t produce higher than that and the microphone can be damaged.
JBL has been clever with its mounting options. You get a table stand, and while that works okay if you think about how you place it (close to your mouth is important), you can also screw the mic to a boom arm or other stand with a clever threaded screw mounting adapter that can be reversed depending on the size and whether it’s male or female.
PC users download Quantum Engine, software where you can change the settings of the microphone. There are a few ready-made profiles you can choose for EQ. The software can also check for updates to the microphone.
The JBL Quantum Stream Studio sounds really good right out of the box and is admirably easy to use, with the main controls easy to reach and manage right on the device. It’s not the cheapest microphone you can find, and certainly not the most expensive either, but you get a lot for your money. For those who record audio for more than just video meetings, this is a good choice. If you just want to sound better in video meetings, there are simpler and cheaper alternatives.
Product name: JBL Quantum Stream Studio
Manufacturer: JBL
Connection: USB-C to USB-C
Microphone technology: 3x 14mm electr. condenser microphones
Sample rate: 44.1kHz / 48kHz / 96kHz / 192kHz
Bit depth: 16/24 bits
Frequency range: 50Hz-16kHz
Polar pattern: Cardioid, omnidirectional, stereo, bi-directional
System requirements: Windows or Mac
Size (incl. stand): 9 x 9 x 20.45 cm (WxDxH)
Weight (incl. stand): 551.5 grams
