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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to turn a pair of wired AKG or beyerdynamic headphones you already own into a gaming headset for the least fuss, choose ABLET Boom Microphone Cable; if you need a standalone desktop microphone that works over USB or XLR with its own controls and lighting, choose EASEMELO USB/XLR Desktop Dynamic.
• ABLET Boom Microphone Cable — biggest strength: it converts compatible mini-XLR headphones into a full headset with a flexible, detachable boom mic, rotary volume control and a mute switch, all in one 150 cm cable.
• ABLET Boom Microphone Cable — biggest trade-off: it only works with specific headphones that use a mini-XLR jack, and it is a cable, not a microphone you can use on its own.
• EASEMELO USB/XLR Desktop Dynamic — biggest strength: dual USB-C and XLR connectivity, a cardioid dynamic core, on-body volume/reverb knobs, one-click mute, noise reduction and RGB lighting in a weighted desktop base.
• EASEMELO USB/XLR Desktop Dynamic — biggest trade-off: it is a desk mic with a plastic enclosure that expects close-range use (roughly 5–15 cm) and takes up desk space rather than living on your head.
• Who each pick is for: ABLET is for headphone owners who want a headset upgrade without buying a new mic; EASEMELO is for gamers, streamers and podcasters who want a dedicated desktop mic with their choice of USB or XLR.
This is not a microphone you sit in front of. It is a 150 cm replacement cable that plugs a 3.5 mm male end into your controller, PC, laptop or phone, and a mini-XLR male end into compatible headphones. That design matters: if you own AKG K240, K240S, K240MK II, K271s, K271 MKII, Q701, K702, K712 PRO, K371, K553 MKII, K7XX and similar models, or a Pioneer HDJ-2000 or beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro / DT 1770 Pro, this cable replaces the stock one and adds a detachable boom mic on a SteelFlex arm.
The controls are the practical part. There is a rotary volume dial and a mute switch on the cable itself, so you can kill your mic or ride your level without alt-tabbing into software. The boom arm is flexible, which means you can bend the mic toward your mouth instead of hoping a desk mic picks you up across the room. ABLET also includes a dual 3.5 mm Y-adapter for devices that split mic and headphone into separate jacks — useful on desktops where a single TRRS port isn't available.
Who should buy it: someone who already loves their wired AKG or beyerdynamic headphones and wants to keep wearing them while adding voice chat for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, laptop, or a phone over 3.5 mm. It also suits podcasting, Skype/VoIP and taking calls on the go, because the whole thing is one coiled cable in protective tubing — nothing to set up on a desk.
Who should skip it: anyone whose headphones don't use a mini-XLR jack, anyone who wants a microphone that works independently of headphones, and anyone who wants per-app software control or lighting. The cable is black, round and 150 cm long — that length is fine at a controller or laptop, but it is not a long desk run, and there is no USB or XLR output here.
The EASEMELO EM700 is the opposite approach: a self-contained desktop microphone. Inside is a moving coil (dynamic) core with a cardioid polar pattern, which the spec sheet says is tuned to capture vocals up close while rejecting keyboard clatter and room echo — the listed sweet spot is 5–15 cm from your mouth. Sampling runs at 48 KHz, frequency response at 50–12 KHz, and dynamic range at 90–120 dB, which is the kind of spec set that points at clear, present speech rather than studio instrument capture.
The headline feature is the dual connection. USB-C gives you plug-and-play into PC, PS4/PS5 or a phone (an adapter is mentioned for smartphones) with no drivers. XLR is there for mixers, sound cards and audio interfaces when you want to route it through a proper chain. Note the box includes the USB-C cable but not the XLR cable, so budget for one if you plan to go the interface route.
On-body controls are generous: dedicated knobs for microphone volume and reverb/echo, plus a multi-function button where a short press mutes and a two-second long press engages noise reduction. There is also a headphone jack, which is a genuinely handy thing on a desk mic because you can monitor without reaching for your PC. Add RGB breathing gradient lighting, a weighted shock-absorbing base with anti-slip silicone, and 360° multi-angle adjustment, and it reads as a gaming/streaming-first product. The enclosure is plastic, it comes in white, and EASEMELO lists a one-year manufacturer warranty plus ISO 9001, CE, 3C and RoHS certifications.
Who should buy it: streamers and gamers who want one mic for PC and console, podcasters who want a simple USB start with an XLR upgrade path later, and anyone who wants mute, gain and reverb physically under their hand. Who should skip it: people who need a travel-friendly setup, anyone committed to an all-XLR studio chain who already owns a preamp and prefers a metal-bodied mic, and buyers who specifically want their microphone on their head rather than on their desk.
• Best for reusing headphones you already own → ABLET Boom Microphone Cable. It exists to convert compatible AKG, Pioneer and beyerdynamic mini-XLR headphones into a headset.
• Best for a standalone mic → EASEMELO USB/XLR Desktop Dynamic. It works on its own over USB-C or XLR and doesn't depend on any headphone.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → EASEMELO on USB-C. No drivers, straight into PC, PS4/PS5 or a phone with an adapter; ABLET also plugs straight into a 3.5 mm port but needs a Y-adapter on split-jack desktops.
• Best for a future pro audio chain → EASEMELO via XLR. It will run into mixers, sound cards and interfaces; ABLET has no XLR output at all.
• Best for on-cable control → ABLET. Rotary volume and a mute switch sit inline, which is ideal when you're holding a controller.
• Best for desk-side control → EASEMELO. Volume and reverb knobs, mute, noise reduction and a headphone jack are all on the body.
• Best for close-mic vocal clarity → EASEMELO. The cardioid dynamic core and 5–15 cm working distance are designed for it; ABLET's boom is about positioning a small mic near your mouth on a headset.
• Best for console gaming → either, depending on setup. ABLET plugs into PS4/PS5/Xbox controllers over 3.5 mm; EASEMELO connects over USB-C to PS4/PS5.
• Best for visual flair → EASEMELO. RGB breathing gradient lighting is built in; ABLET is a plain black cable.
In my opinion, most people reading this should buy the EASEMELO USB/XLR Desktop Dynamic. It is the more complete product: it works with or without headphones, it gives you USB-C now and XLR later, and it puts mute, gain, reverb and a headphone jack within arm's reach. I'd only steer you to the ABLET Boom Microphone Cable if you already own compatible mini-XLR headphones and your real goal is turning them into a headset — in that one scenario, ABLET solves a problem EASEMELO simply can't. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in very different budget tiers.
No. It's a replacement headphone cable with a detachable boom mic attached, and it needs compatible mini-XLR headphones to work. Without those headphones, there's nothing for it to plug into.
Yes. The USB-C mode is plug-and-play into PC, PS4/PS5, Mac and phones with an adapter, no drivers required. You only need an interface or mixer if you choose the XLR route.
For a desk setup, I'd pick the EASEMELO — it has mute, reverb, volume, a headphone jack and RGB lighting aimed squarely at streamers. The ABLET makes more sense if you stream while wearing your own wired headphones and want the mic on your head.
Only if they use a mini-XLR jack. The listed compatible models include AKG K240/K240S/K240MK II, K271s/K271 MKII, Q701, K702, K712 PRO, K371, K553 MKII, K7XX, plus Pioneer HDJ-2000 and beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro and DT 1770 Pro. If your headphones have a fixed cable, this won't work.
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