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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Alitutumao QC35 — biggest strength: it adds a flexible boom mic with a mute switch to Bose QC35/QC35 II headphones, so your existing noise-cancelling cans become a voice-ready headset for PS5, Xbox, PC and calls.
• Alitutumao QC35 — biggest trade-off: it is a cable only. You need the QC35 headphones already, and the 2.5mm end fits that specific headphone family, not everything.
• ZRTXBA USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a two-pack of USB-C in-ear buds with an inline mic and remote, passive noise isolation, and plug-and-play use across a long list of USB-C phones, tablets and laptops.
• ZRTXBA USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: no boom arm, no active circuitry, and no gaming-specific tuning. It is a general-purpose earbud set, not a headset upgrade.
• Who each is for: Alitutumao for QC35 owners who want a real gaming mic; ZRTXBA for anyone who just wants cheap, wired USB-C earbuds for calls, commuting and casual play.
This is not a headphone. It is a replacement boom microphone cable, and that single fact decides everything about who should buy it. It is built specifically for the Bose QuietComfort 35 and QuietComfort 35 II, using a 2.5mm plug on the headphone end and a 3.5mm gold-plated plug on the device end. If you own QC35s, you already know the hardware is excellent for isolation and comfort — the missing piece for gaming is a microphone, and that is exactly what this cable supplies.
The mic itself is the interesting part. It uses a cardioid pickup pattern, which means it favours sound arriving directly in front of the capsule and pushes down what comes from the sides and behind. In a room with a fan, a keyboard, or a chatty housemate, that is the difference between your squad hearing you and hearing your room. There is a built-in noise reduction chip doing additional work on the signal, and the boom arm adjusts through 120 degrees, so you can park it near your mouth instead of clipping it to your collar and hoping.
Practical details worth knowing: there is a physical mute switch on the cable you slide up or down, which is far faster than hunting for a software toggle mid-match. The wire is pure copper OFC inside a TPE jacket, and it is listed as tangle-free, with a 3.9ft length. Gold plating on the 3.5mm connector resists oxidation and keeps the connection solid. The 3.5mm end covers PC, laptop, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, iPhone, Android and more — note that consoles with only a controller jack need the cable in the controller, as you would expect with any 3.5mm headset cable.
Buy it if: you already own QC35 or QC35 II headphones and want to game, stream, podcast or take Zoom calls without buying a second headset. Skip it if: you do not own QC35s, or you want a standalone headset out of the box — this cable has nothing to plug into without them.
The ZRTXBA set is the opposite kind of product: a complete, self-contained pair of wired in-ear headphones that arrives as a two-pack. It connects over USB-C, which is the whole point — no dongle, no 3.5mm adapter, just a plug that matches modern phones, tablets and laptops. The compatibility list is genuinely broad, spanning iPhone 15 through 17 series, iPad Pro and iPad Air, iPad Mini 6, MacBook and MacBook Pro, the Galaxy S25/S24/S23 and older S-series, and a long run of Pixel models. If your device has a USB-C port and no headphone jack, this is aimed squarely at you.
Inside, there is a dynamic driver covering a 20Hz to 20,000Hz range, plus a built-in DAC chip. That DAC matters more than it sounds: it is what keeps USB-C audio clean and avoids the buzzing or popping you sometimes get from poorly implemented digital audio. The connectors are metal-plated to reduce intermittent contact, and the 1.2m cable is described as stretch-resistant. In-ear fit means the isolation here is passive — the silicone seal blocks outside noise mechanically rather than cancelling it electronically. That is a real limitation and a real advantage: no battery, no charging, no circuitry to fail.
Controls live on the inline remote. One button handles answer/end, reject, play/pause and volume, and the built-in mic is tuned for hands-free calls in the car, at a desk, or on a video conference. It ships as two sets, which is worth noting — one for a bag, one for a desk drawer, or one to hand to someone else. A two-year manufacturer warranty is listed.
Buy it if: you want inexpensive wired USB-C earbuds for calls, commuting, study and casual gaming, and you like having a spare. Skip it if: you need a dedicated boom microphone, active noise cancellation, or a headset built specifically for competitive voice chat.
• Best for gaming voice chat → Alitutumao QC35. The adjustable boom and cardioid pattern are made for talking to teammates; the ZRTXBA mic is a general call mic on a short inline remote.
• Best for noise isolation while gaming → Alitutumao QC35, because it inherits the QC35's own isolation and adds a directional mic that rejects room noise. The ZRTXBA relies on passive in-ear sealing only.
• Best if you already own Bose QC35 headphones → Alitutumao QC35. It converts gear you have instead of adding another device to your bag.
• Best for USB-C phones and tablets → ZRTXBA USB C Headphones. Native USB-C, built-in DAC, no adapter needed.
• Best for calls and remote work → ZRTXBA USB C Headphones. One-button remote plus a high-sensitivity mic covers answer, reject, play and volume.
• Best for having a backup pair → ZRTXBA USB C Headphones. It comes as a two-pack; the Alitutumao is a single cable.
• Best for multi-device flexibility → Alitutumao QC35. The 3.5mm end reaches PC, laptop, PlayStation, Xbox and phones; the ZRTXBA is USB-C only.
• Best for zero setup → ZRTXBA USB C Headphones. Plug and play. The Alitutumao requires owning the right headphones first.
In my opinion, if gaming voice chat is the actual goal, the Alitutumao QC35 is the more useful purchase — but only for people who already own Bose QC35 or QC35 II headphones. The boom arm, mute switch and cardioid pickup solve the exact problem QC35 owners have when they want to talk while they play, and it costs far less than a second headset. If you are not a QC35 owner, or you just want simple wired earbuds for a USB-C phone, the ZRTXBA two-pack is the sensible pick and I would buy that instead. Match the product to the job, not the other way around.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation means the headphones physically block outside sound rather than cancelling it electronically. The ZRTXBA buds do this with an in-ear seal, which is passive isolation. Active noise cancellation, like the Bose QC35 headphones the Alitutumao cable is made for, uses circuitry instead.
are noise cancelling headphones good for gaming
They can be, mainly for immersion and for cutting down room noise. The catch is that most noise-cancelling headphones have no microphone, which is why the Alitutumao QC35 cable exists — it adds a boom mic to QC35 headphones so they work for game chat. The ZRTXBA set uses passive isolation instead.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
"Best" depends on what you already own. If you have Bose QC35 or QC35 II headphones, adding the Alitutumao boom mic cable is the most direct route to a noise-isolating gaming setup. If you want a self-contained wired option with passive isolation and USB-C, the ZRTXBA set is a straightforward choice.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
Yes, but the two products here take different routes. The Alitutumao cable pairs with active noise-cancelling QC35 headphones to create a gaming headset. The ZRTXBA USB C Headphones use passive noise cancellation through their in-ear design, with no battery or charging required.
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See also: noise isolating headphones, wired noise isolating headphones, MINDBEAST Noise Cancelling Headphones vs Bywulanda USB C Headphones