Will JBL Headphones Work With A PS4? How?
Sony’s home video game consoles are especially picky when it comes to which headsets work with their games. Some headsets will work, but they won’t have microphone capabilities. Some headsets won’t even provide audio. In fact, Sony uses a special version of Bluetooth, and most headsets don’t have this feature. That makes the search for a great pair of headsets a real chore. Although there are some exceptions, generally speaking, you don’t want to buy a headset for PS4 or PS5 use unless the packaging specifically says that it’s compatible.
Table of Contents
- Do JBL Headphones work with the Playstation 4?
- How do I Connect my JBL headphones to my PS4 Controller?
- Can I Connect my JBL headphones to my PS4
- Will JBL Headphones work on PS5?
- Connect Headphones to TV Instead
- Why Won’t my Headset Work with PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5?
Do JBL Headphones work with the Playstation 4?
Sony’s PS4 doesn’t support JBL Bluetooth headsets directly due to the lag they cause while gaming. Wired JBL headsets will work perfectly fine by being plugged into the controller’s 3.5mm plug.
You could also connect your JBL headset to your TV’s audio output but, again, you’ll likely experience latency issues with any Bluetooth headsets while playing your PS4.
How do I Connect my JBL headphones to my PS4 Controller?
Standard Bluetooth isn’t supported for the PS4. This means headphones won’t work with the PS4 unless they specifically say they are designed for the PS4.
Unfortunately, JBL doesn’t make a headset for Sony consoles; however, they do have a large lineup of gaming headsets for PC.
On the other hand, all JBL wired headphones should work perfectly fine with the PS4. You just have to plug your 3.5mm cable into the bottom of the PS4 controller.
Some users report that the microphone doesn’t work when used this way, but other controllers work with 100 percent functionality.
Here is a complete list of confirmed JBL headphones that work with the PS4:
- JBL Quantum 100
- JBL Quantum 200
- JBL Quantum 300
- JBL Quantum 350
- JBL Quantum 400
- JBL Quantum 600
- JBL Quantum 800
- JBL Quantum One
Some of these headphones work via a 3.5mm jack, and some of them work via a Bluetooth dongle that you plug into the PS4.
If you connect via a Bluetooth dongle, you will still experience slight latency in your audio. This is generally fine for single-player experiences, but it could be detrimental to your gameplay in multiplayer competitive games.
Can I Connect my JBL headphones to my PS4
No. JBL doesn’t make a wireless headset that is compatible with the PS4.
Wireless dongles that you see that advertise adaptation for the PS4 generally don’t work either, but they do in some scenarios. Sony has a proprietary version of Bluetooth that it uses to connect its own wireless headset and controllers to the console.
This version of Bluetooth is lower latency than other types of wireless connection, meaning your controller input and audio latency is kept to a minimum.
If you truly need a wireless headset to use for your PS4, consider purchasing the official PS4 headset from Sony. It comes in several colors, is affordable, and offers a great gaming experience. The Pulse 3D by Sony was recently released too, and it’s considered one of the best headsets to use with Sony game consoles.
Will JBL Headphones work on PS5?
The PS5 doesn’t support Bluetooth either. Like the PS4, you can still connect your wired headphones to the controller.
Despite having no wireless headsets that will work directly with the PS5, The JBL Quantum One is designed for console gamers in mind. It’s compatible with every modern console thanks to the standard 3.5mm plug, and it has all the great features that gamers want.
Other Quantum headsets in JBL’s lineup will work with the PS5 as well, although there may be some discrepancies in what works and what doesn’t.
Connect Headphones to TV Instead
Most smart TVs support Bluetooth headphones, and it’s an easy way to get around Sony’s compatibility issues with Bluetooth. You won’t be able to communicate in multiplayer games, but you will still be able to receive audio through your headset.
The exact process varies from brand to brand, but you can follow these general instructions to connect your headphones to your smart TV:
- Turn pairing mode on on your headphones. This varies by brand, but you likely know how to turn pairing mode on already.
- You’ll have to find your settings or systems folder on your television.
- Settings are usually signified by a gear icon.
- Once inside settings, you will have to locate network, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth options.
- Once you have found the correct menu, you need to toggle Bluetooth on.
- Scan for devices on your TV, and you will see your headphones pop up.
- The option to pair Bluetooth headphones can often be found in the Sound settings too
Bluetooth audio transmitters can also be used with most TVs. These devices are plugged directly into your television’s audio port, and they catch the audio as it exits the audio port, transmitting it directly to your headphones.
Why Won’t my Headset Work with PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5?
As previously mentioned, Sony uses its own version of Bluetooth. This type of wireless connectivity comes with many perks, but it also means it has limited compatibility.
If your headset doesn’t appear in the PlayStation menu when you search for a device, it means that those headphones are not supported. You can try using a wireless dongle adapter to give the PlayStation Bluetooth capabilities, but this doesn’t always work.
It’s sometimes just better to buy a headset that is officially supported by the PlayStation 4. You’ll experience better audio quality, lower latency, and be able to take advantage of every feature found on the PS4 and PS5.
Attentively, if you still want to use your headset with your Sony console but can’t get Bluetooth to work, check and see if your headset has a slot for a 3.5mm jack. Modern wireless headphones often have a 3.5mm port somewhere on them, and you can use this port to hardwire directly to your console’s controller.