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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, low-hassle gaming headset with a flip-up boom mic and a familiar surround-sound pedigree, choose Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400; if you need a featherweight wireless headset with three connection modes, a detachable mic and long battery life, choose Redragon H848.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest strength: Wired 3.5 mm plus USB connectivity across PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, with JBL Quantum Surround and a flip-up boom mic.
• Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 — biggest trade-off: It is a renewed (pre-owned, professionally inspected) unit with a 90-day limited warranty, and it has no wireless mode at all.
• Redragon H848 — biggest strength: Three connection modes (2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5 and USB-C), a very light 178 g build, and roughly 20–25 hours of battery life per charge.
• Redragon H848 — biggest trade-off: 7.1 surround only works in 2.4 GHz and wired mode (not over Bluetooth), and it does not support Xbox.
• Choose Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 if you game on a desk with a console or PC and want a plug-and-play wired set.
• Choose Redragon H848 if you want wireless freedom, low weight, and a mic you can detach when you're not chatting.
The Quantum 400 is a wired over-ear gaming headset built around JBL's Quantum Surround sound processing. It connects two ways: a 3.5 mm jack and a USB adapter, which is what makes it flexible across PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. In practice that means you can move it from a console to a laptop without hunting for a dongle — plug in and you're set. The 32 ohm impedance and dynamic drivers covering 20 Hz to 20 kHz are a standard, well-rounded setup for game audio, and the sound isolation design helps block out some room noise while you play.
Comfort is clearly a design priority here. The memory foam ear cushions are wrapped in soft PU leather, which is the kind of padding that tends to hold up over marathon sessions rather than pressing hard after an hour. The mic is a flip-up boom, so you can swing it out of the way when you're not talking instead of fiddling with a mute button. At 274 g it is not a featherweight, but it is a normal weight for a wired over-ear headset with this kind of padding.
The catch is the "Renewed" part. This is a pre-owned or traded-in unit that has been professionally inspected and tested to work and look like new by Amazon-qualified suppliers, and it carries a 90-day limited warranty. If you're comfortable with that, you get a wired JBL gaming headset for less commitment than a brand-new one. I'd steer you here if you mostly game at a desk, want a wired connection you never have to charge, and value that flip-up mic. Skip it if you want wireless freedom, or if a 90-day warranty window feels too short for your comfort.
The H848 is Redragon's first three-mode wireless gaming headset, and that's its whole pitch. You get a 2.4 GHz receiver for low-latency PC play, Bluetooth 5 for your phone or tablet, and USB-C for wired mode. That trio covers a lot of ground: desktop gaming on the dongle, wireless audio on a phone, and a cable fallback when you want zero latency. It works with PC, PS5/4/3, Switch and mobile — but note it does not support Xbox, and it doesn't ship with a 3.5 mm cable or adapter.
The weight is the standout spec: 178 g. That's genuinely light for an over-ear headset, and combined with breathable fabric earcups and soft memory foam padding, it's designed to stay comfortable through all-day wear. Battery life is rated at 20–25 hours with a 2.5-hour full charge, and the headset powers itself off after 10 minutes when there's no connection or no audio source — a small but genuinely useful detail for people who forget to switch things off.
Audio is handled by 40 mm dynamic drivers with 7.1 surround sound, but there's an important caveat: 7.1 only works in 2.4 GHz and wired mode, and it's unavailable over Bluetooth. The mic is detachable and noise-cancelling, which is a nice touch if you sometimes use the headset purely for listening. Controls sit on the left earcup for volume and mic mute. I'd point you here if you want wireless freedom, low weight and long battery life across multiple devices. Skip it if you're on Xbox, or if you specifically need surround sound over a Bluetooth connection.
• Best for wireless freedom → Redragon H848. Three modes (2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5, USB-C) versus the Quantum 400's wired-only design.
• Best for console coverage → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. It lists Xbox, PS4, Switch, PC and Mac; the H848 explicitly does not support Xbox.
• Best for long sessions without fatigue → Redragon H848. At 178 g it's substantially lighter than the 274 g Quantum 400, with breathable fabric earcups.
• Best for never charging → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. It's wired, so battery life is simply not a factor.
• Best for battery life → Redragon H848. Roughly 20–25 hours per charge, with a 2.5-hour recharge.
• Best for mic flexibility → Redragon H848. Its mic detaches completely; the JBL's boom mic flips up but stays attached.
• Best for surround over any connection → Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400. JBL Quantum Surround works as part of its wired setup, while the H848's 7.1 drops out over Bluetooth.
• Best for warranty length → Redragon H848. A 1-year warranty versus the Quantum 400's 90-day limited coverage.
In my opinion, the Redragon H848 is the stronger buy for most people shopping this comparison. The three connection modes, the 178 g weight and the 20–25 hour battery life make it the more flexible, more comfortable everyday headset, and the 1-year warranty is easier to live with than a 90-day window. I'd only push you toward the Amazon Renewed JBL Quantum 400 if you're on Xbox, you refuse to deal with charging, or you specifically want JBL's surround processing and flip-up boom mic in a wired setup. For everyone else, the H848 covers more ground with fewer compromises. Whichever you pick, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can work for gaming, but over-ear sets like these two usually win on immersion because the larger earcups and drivers create a wider sound field. Both the Quantum 400 and H848 are over-ear designs, which is generally the better fit for long sessions and positional audio.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and listening duration are the real factors, not the over-ear form itself. Both headsets here are designed with extended sessions in mind — the Quantum 400 with memory foam and sound isolation, the H848 with breathable fabric earcups — but sensible volume levels still matter most.
how do over ear headphones work
They house drivers inside earcups that sit around your ears, converting audio signals into sound. The Quantum 400 uses dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range over a wired connection, while the H848 uses 40 mm dynamic drivers fed by 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth or USB-C.
is gaming headphones good for music
Yes — a gaming headset can handle music perfectly well. The H848's 40 mm drivers and 7.1 processing in 2.4 GHz/wired mode are aimed at rich sound, and the Quantum 400's 20 Hz–20 kHz range covers most music. Just note the H848's surround mode isn't available over Bluetooth.
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See also: JBL Quantum 400 vs Bodykoo Pro Gaming Earphones, JBL Quantum 400 vs FIFINE H9, Sony INZONE E9 vs Amazon Renewed JBL Tune Flex