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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• JBL Quantum 300 — biggest strength: JBL Quantum Surround sound with a boom microphone that cancels echo, on a 3.5 mm plus USB adapter connection that covers PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
• JBL Quantum 300 — biggest trade-off: It's the heavier, bulkier pick at 245 g of over-ear polycarbonate, and it has no volume limiter, so it isn't a child-safety product.
• awatrue AT2C — biggest strength: A USB-C plug that works with iPads, tablets, Chromebooks and phones, plus an 85/94 dB volume limiter and BPA-free, foldable build for ages 3–13.
• awatrue AT2C — biggest trade-off: No surround processing, no noise control, and a mic aimed at clear chat rather than gaming-grade positioning.
• Pick the JBL Quantum 300 if you're the one wearing it and you play games on a console or desktop.
• Pick the awatrue AT2C if you're buying for a kid who needs a safe, simple wired headset for schoolwork and travel.
The Quantum 300 is a gaming-first headset, and its spec sheet reads that way. JBL built it around Quantum Surround, a processing layer meant to make positional audio more accurate — footsteps, reloads, a jump landing behind you. In a game where a half-second of directional info decides a fight, that's the whole point of the product. It's not trying to be neutral or musical; it's trying to be informative.
The mic side matters just as much. This is a boom microphone with echo cancelling, which is a design choice aimed squarely at voice chat: your teammates hear your callouts, not your keyboard, your fan, or the room. If you're the person in a squad who ends up doing the shot-calling, that's a meaningful difference from a headset with an inline mic dangling on a cable.
Who should buy it? Someone who plays on a console or desktop, wants surround processing and a boom mic, and doesn't mind a wired tether. Who should skip it? Anyone shopping for a small child — there's no volume limiter here — and anyone who wants a single USB-C cable and nothing else. The item weight of 245 g is also worth a thought if you're used to featherweight headsets; the memory foam helps, but it's still a full-size over-ear build.
awatrue AT2C: Who It's For
The AT2C is a different animal entirely, and it's honest about it. This is a USB-C kids headset — model AT2C, branded in blue and orange, aimed at ages 3–13 (the listing's age range description stretches to 16) and built around one cable that plugs straight into an iPad, a school Chromebook, a kids' tablet, a smartphone or a laptop. No adapter, no setup, no dongle to lose in a backpack.
The headline feature is the volume limiter: 85 dB for a quieter mode suited to lessons and homework, and 94 dB for travel mode on a plane or in a car. For a parent, that's the reason to buy this over a cheap generic pair — it's a defined ceiling on how loud the headphones can get, not a guess. Combine that with BPA-free materials and a stated 5.2 oz weight and you get a product designed around small heads and long car rides.
The fit is adjustable and deliberately forgiving. The headband is described as flexible and durable, tested for thousands of stretches, and the ear cups expand down to a minimum of 3.5 inches — which is why the same pair is said to fit children, teens and adults. The 40 mm dynamic drivers are larger than you'd expect at this price-agnostic tier of the market, and the built-in mic is tuned for voice: video calls with grandparents, online classes, virtual playdates. There's a push-button volume control on the cable and no active noise cancellation, which is fine — isolation isn't the goal here.
Who should buy it? Parents and gift-buyers who need a durable, volume-capped USB-C headset for school, travel and tablet time. Who should skip it? Anyone buying for themselves to game competitively. There's no surround processing, no boom mic arm, and no noise control. It's a safety-and-simplicity product, not a performance one.
• Best for competitive gaming → JBL Quantum 300. Quantum Surround and a boom mic with echo cancelling are built for FPS and MOBA play.
• Best for kids and small ears → awatrue AT2C. The 85/94 dB limiter, BPA-free build and 3.5-inch minimum ear cup size are all child-focused.
• Best for console and desktop use → JBL Quantum 300. The 3.5 mm jack plus USB adapter covers PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
• Best for iPad, Chromebook and tablet use → awatrue AT2C. A native USB-C plug means it works with school-issued devices without an adapter.
• Best for voice chat quality → JBL Quantum 300. A dedicated boom mic with echo cancelling beats an inline mic for team comms.
• Best for travel and school bags → awatrue AT2C. It folds, weighs about 5.2 oz, and has a travel volume mode.
• Best for marathon comfort on a big head → JBL Quantum 300. Memory foam cushions in PU leather are made for long sessions, though it's the heavier option.
• Best for a shared family device → awatrue AT2C. It's stated to fit children, teens and adults, so one pair can move between users.
If I were buying for myself to play games, I'd take the JBL Quantum 300. In my opinion, surround processing plus a proper boom mic is the combination that actually changes how a session feels, and the multi-platform 3.5 mm/USB setup means it isn't locked to one device. If I were buying for a child, I'd take the awatrue AT2C without hesitating — the volume limiter and USB-C simplicity are exactly what a parent needs, and the foldable, lightweight build survives being shoved into a school bag. These two aren't really competitors; they're answers to two different questions. Match the product to the person and you'll be happy either way. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing that can shift the math.
FAQ
how to connect usb c wired headphones
how to use usb c wired headphones on mac
A USB-C headset plugs into a USB-C port on a modern Mac and is recognized as an audio output. If your Mac only has older ports, you'd need an adapter, since the AT2C ships as a USB-C plug only. The JBL Quantum 300 covers Mac through its 3.5 mm jack or the included USB adapter.
how to connect usb wired headphones to xbox
The JBL Quantum 300 is listed as compatible with Xbox and connects through its 3.5 mm jack or the bundled USB adapter. The awatrue AT2C is a USB-C headset aimed at iPads, tablets, Chromebooks, phones and laptops, so it isn't the pick for a console.
how to connect usb wired headphones to macbook
Plug the USB-C plug directly into a MacBook's USB-C port — no dongle required for the AT2C. On the JBL Quantum 300, you can use the 3.5 mm jack if your MacBook has a headphone port, or the USB adapter if it doesn't.
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