We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a headset with virtual surround sound, a flip-up boom mic and multi-platform wired connections for PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, choose Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400; if you need a brand-new headset with 50 mm drivers, a rotatable noise-cancelling mic and a two-year warranty, choose EKSA Fenrir S Gaming.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest strength: JBL Quantum Surround Sound plus a flip-up boom microphone, running wired over 3.5 mm and USB across PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest trade-off: It is a renewed unit, so it is professionally inspected and tested rather than factory-new, and it carries a 90-day limited warranty instead of a multi-year one.
• EKSA Fenrir S Gaming — biggest strength: Large 50 mm dynamic drivers, a 120-degree rotatable unidirectional noise-cancelling mic, glasses-friendly cushions and a 24-month manufacturer warranty.
• EKSA Fenrir S Gaming — biggest trade-off: The mic needs the bundled Y-extension cable to work properly on PC, and the headset is noticeably heavier on paper (0.48 kg listed item weight) than the JBL's 274 g.
• Who each pick is for: The JBL suits a player who wants surround sound and platform-hopping flexibility on a renewed budget; the EKSA suits a player who wants new-in-box hardware, long warranty coverage and a bigger driver.
The JBL Quantum 400 is a wired, over-ear gaming headset built around JBL Quantum Surround Sound. That is the headline feature: a spatial audio processing mode aimed at helping you place footsteps, gunfire and environmental cues around your head. The ear cups are round and over-ear, finished in memory foam covered with soft PU leather, which is the kind of padding designed for long sessions rather than a quick half-hour match. The drivers are dynamic, rated 20 Hz to 20 kHz with 32 ohm impedance — a standard, easy-to-drive load that most motherboards, controllers and phones can handle without a dedicated amp.
Communication is handled by a flip-up boom microphone. That flip-up design is genuinely useful because you can mute by simply raising the boom instead of hunting for a button mid-round. On the control side, JBL lists noise control as sound isolation with voice control input, so the isolation is passive — the closed PU leather cups block some outside noise rather than actively cancelling it.
Buy this one if you play across several platforms and want one wired headset that covers PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch via the 3.5 mm jack and USB adapter. Buy it if surround sound positioning matters more to you than raw driver size. Skip it if you specifically want a factory-sealed product — this is a renewed item, professionally inspected and tested to work and look like new by Amazon-qualified suppliers, and it is covered by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee for replacement or refund, plus a 90-day limited warranty. If you are uncomfortable with pre-owned hardware or want years of coverage, look elsewhere.
The EKSA Fenrir S is a wired over-ear gaming headset with a strong visual identity — a werewolf-themed design with monochrome lighting in a green finish. Under the styling, the substance is straightforward: 50 mm dynamic drivers, 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance and 106 dB sensitivity. The 50 mm driver size is the number that matters most here; larger drivers generally move more air and are the usual reason a headset can produce fuller low-end in explosions and engines.
The microphone is a 120-degree rotatable unidirectional boom. Rotatable means you can swing it out of the way or angle it close to your mouth, and unidirectional means it picks up mostly from one direction, which is how EKSA reduces background noise so teammates hear less static and room noise. The ear cushions are described as extra large, deeper and softer, and explicitly glasses-friendly — a real consideration if you wear frames and normally get pressure points after an hour or two.
Buy this one if you want a new-in-box headset with a two-year manufacturer warranty and 24/7 customer service, or if you wear glasses and want deeper padding. It is also pitched as suitable for kids, school and remote study, not just competitive play. Skip it if you want surround sound processing or a flip-to-mute mic, since the Fenrir S uses a rotating boom rather than a flip-up design. One practical note: on PC you must connect the 3.5 mm cable to the included Y-extension cable for the microphone to work properly.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for surround sound → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. JBL Quantum Surround Sound is the defining feature of that headset; the Fenrir S lists no virtual surround mode.
• Best for multi-platform switching → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. It ships with both 3.5 mm and USB adapter connections and is named for PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
• Best for warranty length → EKSA Fenrir S Gaming. Two years of manufacturer coverage against 90 days limited on the renewed JBL.
• Best for larger drivers and fuller low-end → EKSA Fenrir S Gaming. 50 mm dynamic drivers versus the JBL's dynamic drivers with no size listed.
• Best for glasses wearers and long sessions → EKSA Fenrir S Gaming. Extra-large, deep, glasses-friendly cushions are called out specifically.
• Best for lighter weight on your head → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. Listed item weight is 274 g against 0.48 kg for the Fenrir S.
• Best for a factory-new unit → EKSA Fenrir S Gaming. The JBL is a renewed product, inspected and tested but not new.
In my opinion, the EKSA Fenrir S Gaming is the safer pick for most buyers. The 50 mm drivers, the rotatable noise-cancelling mic, the glasses-friendly cushions and the two-year manufacturer warranty make it the more forgiving headset to live with day to day, and new-in-box hardware removes the "is this renewed unit going to feel used?" question entirely. I would choose the Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 only if surround sound and one-cable multi-platform switching are your priorities, and you are comfortable buying renewed with 90 days of coverage. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that is the one variable that can flip this call.
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can be, but both headsets here are over-ear designs for a reason: over-ear cups hold larger drivers and put the microphone on a boom near your mouth, which is why the JBL Quantum 400 and EKSA Fenrir S both use the over-ear format. In-ear models can work for gaming, but they rarely match the spatial separation and mic convenience of a full over-ear headset.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and duration are what matter, not the over-ear shape itself. Both the JBL Quantum 400 and the EKSA Fenrir S are closed over-ear headsets with 20 Hz to 20 kHz drivers and 32 ohm impedance, and listening at reasonable levels for reasonable stretches is the practical guidance. Neither headset is inherently damaging; loud, long sessions are the risk.
how do over ear headphones work
A dynamic driver inside each ear cup converts the audio signal into sound, and the padded cup seals around your ear to isolate you from the room. The JBL Quantum 400 adds JBL Quantum Surround Sound processing and a flip-up boom mic, while the EKSA Fenrir S uses 50 mm dynamic drivers, 106 dB sensitivity and a 120-degree rotatable noise-cancelling mic.
is gaming headphones good for music
Yes, and both of these can handle it. Each covers the standard 20 Hz to 20 kHz range with 32 ohm impedance, so music plays fine from a phone, PC or controller. The EKSA Fenrir S's larger 50 mm drivers may deliver fuller bass in my opinion, while the JBL Quantum 400's surround processing is tuned more toward positional game audio than critical music listening.
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See also: Turtle Beach Recon Chat vs Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400, Amazon Renewed JBL Tune 510BT vs XOSDA 2, JBL Quantum 250 vs Vakedy Gaming Headset: Wired Gaming