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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired gaming headset with virtual surround processing, a flip-up mic and memory-foam comfort that also works for side sleepers who game lying down, choose Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400; if you need a simpler, sturdier closed-back headset with in-line volume control and a removable cable, choose Astro A10.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest strength: USB and 3.5 mm connectivity plus JBL Quantum Surround Sound, so it can do spatial audio processing on PC and Mac, not just plain stereo.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest trade-off: It's a renewed unit, so you're buying professionally inspected pre-owned hardware with a 90-day limited warranty rather than a brand-new box.
• Astro A10 — biggest strength: A closed-back circumaural build with a flip-to-mute boom mic and in-line volume control, which keeps things simple and sturdy for long sessions.
• Astro A10 — biggest trade-off: No surround processing, no noise control, and the cable is removable but the audio is straightforward stereo — nothing extra to tune.
• Who the JBL is for: Gamers who want surround sound, dual connections and soft PU-leather memory foam for marathon sessions.
• Who the Astro is for: Gamers who want a tough, no-fuss closed-back headset with quick mic muting and on-cable volume.
The Quantum 400 is built around flexibility. It's a wired over-ear headset with both a 3.5 mm jack and a USB adapter, which means it can plug straight into a controller or a console, or go through USB on a PC or Mac where the JBL Quantum Surround Sound processing comes into play. If you split your time between a desktop and a console, that dual-connection design is the whole reason to pick this one.
Comfort is clearly a priority here. The memory foam ear cushions are wrapped in soft PU leather, and the round over-ear cups are sized to sit around the ear rather than press on it. That matters if you game lying down, because a flatter, softer cushion spreads pressure instead of concentrating it on one spot. For anyone hunting for the best headphone for side sleepers who also wants to game, this is the more forgiving of the two on paper. The flip-up boom mic is a nice touch too — flip it up and it's out of the way, flip it down and you're talking.
Who should skip it? If you want new-in-box hardware and nothing else, a renewed unit isn't for you. The 90-day limited warranty is shorter than a typical manufacturer warranty, and the noise control is sound isolation only — it physically blocks some outside noise but it is not active noise cancelling. If you specifically want noise canceling head phones for side sleepers, neither of these two delivers that; this one just isolates.
The A10 Gen 2 is the straightforward option. Custom-tuned 32 mm dynamic drivers, a closed-back circumaural design, and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — the same range as the JBL. There's no surround processing and no software layer. What you plug in is what you hear, and for a lot of players that's exactly the point.
Its best feature is the flip-to-mute boom mic. Flip it down for a 6.0 mm unidirectional mic, flip it up to mute instantly. No button hunting mid-match. The cable is removable and carries an in-line volume control, so you can ride the level without alt-tabbing out of a game. The build is described as ergonomical and robust with a closed back, which is the right recipe for long sessions where you want isolation from the room and a headset that survives being tossed in a bag.
The trade-offs are real, though. At 0.54 kg it is listed as noticeably heavier than the JBL's 274 g, and the enclosure is plastic with no memory-foam cushioning specified. There's no noise control listed at all. And this is a bulk-packaged international item, which the sheet notes may differ from local products in fit, age ratings, labeling and instructions. If you want the softest possible pressure against your head for lying-down gaming, this isn't the cushier pick.
• Best for surround sound → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. JBL Quantum Surround Sound is a feature the A10 simply doesn't have.
• Best for multi-platform plug-in options → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. It offers both 3.5 mm and USB; the A10 is 3.5 mm only.
• Best for comfort during marathon sessions → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. Memory foam wrapped in PU leather beats a plain plastic closed-back shell on paper.
• Best for low weight → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. 274 g versus 0.54 kg is a big difference over a long evening.
• Best for quick mic muting → Astro A10. Flip-to-mute is faster than reaching for anything else.
• Best for on-cable volume control → Astro A10. The removable cable has in-line volume, so you adjust without pausing.
• Best for a simpler, sturdier build → Astro A10. Closed-back circumaural construction, no software, no setup.
• Best for buyers who want new hardware with a manufacturer warranty → Astro A10. The JBL is a renewed product with a 90-day limited warranty.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. Surround sound, dual 3.5 mm and USB connections, a flip-up boom mic and memory-foam PU-leather cushions are a lot of headset for wired gaming, and the lighter 274 g build is kinder if you game lying down or you're chasing the best headphone for side sleepers who still wants spatial audio. I'd only steer you to the Astro A10 if you want new hardware, a simpler closed-back design, and in-line volume control with a removable cable.
is gaming headphones good for music
Yes, for casual listening. Both of these run dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range and 32 ohm impedance, which covers the full musical spectrum. They're tuned for games, so expect punchy, clear sound rather than a flat studio signature.
how do over ear headphones work
The cups sit around your ear rather than on it, and a dynamic driver inside converts the electrical signal into sound. Both headsets here are wired over-ear designs — the JBL adds USB and surround processing, the A10 runs straight stereo through a 3.5 mm jack.
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can work, but over-ear designs like these two generally give you bigger drivers, better isolation and more room for a boom mic. If you game for hours, an over-ear fit usually spreads pressure better than an in-ear seal.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Not inherently. Damage comes from volume and duration, not the style of headphone. Keep levels reasonable and take breaks during long sessions, and over-ear isolation can actually help you listen at lower volumes.
If price matters to you, check the current price on Amazon with the button on this page — the numbers move around and neither headset is worth guessing at.
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See also: EPOS PC 7 vs Yealink UH35: Wired Headset, StreamEye Rode PodMic Dynamic vs Audio-Technica ATH-WB LTD Closed-Back, iClever BTH12 vs JLab JBuddies Studio Kids, SYPVRY Soft Sleep Eye vs Totority 4pcs: Noise Blocking Sleep