We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired gaming headset that feels built to survive years of daily play and works with basically every console you own, choose ASTRO Gaming A10; if you need bigger drivers, a mic you can angle exactly where you want it, and a look that actually stands out, choose EKSA Fenrir S Gaming.
• ASTRO A10 — biggest strength: an anodized aluminum headband wrapped in damage-resistant polycarbonate, so durability is the headline feature rather than an afterthought.
• ASTRO A10 — biggest trade-off: the design is deliberately plain and the spec sheet gives you no lighting or visual flair; it's a tool, not a showpiece.
• EKSA Fenrir S — biggest strength: 50 mm dynamic drivers paired with a 120-degree rotatable, noise-cancelling microphone — more room for the driver and more freedom to place the mic.
• EKSA Fenrir S — biggest trade-off: it's the heavier of the two at 0.48 kg versus 0.35 kg, and the plastic/metal/fabric build reads as less rugged than aluminum-and-polycarbonate.
• Who each pick is for: the A10 suits players who want one headset to survive console-hopping and travel; the Fenrir S suits players who want bigger drivers, a repositionable mic and a distinctive werewolf-styled look.
The A10 is the definition of a no-drama gaming headset. Its headband is anodized aluminum wrapped in a damage-resistant polycarbonate blend, which is the kind of construction you notice when you're tossing a headset into a backpack or letting a younger player handle it. The memory foam ear cushions are there to fight fatigue over long sessions, and the over-ear, circumaural shape means the cups sit around your ears rather than pressing on them.
Audio is tuned for gaming with ASTRO Audio, with a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance, 99 dB sensitivity and a dynamic driver. That low-ish sensitivity means it leans on your source device a bit more, but the 3.5 mm jack covers a genuinely wide spread of hardware: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, VR and streaming setups. The omnidirectional mic has flip-up mute, and there's in-line volume control on the cable.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one wired headset that works across consoles and PC, values a durable frame, and prefers physical controls they can find without looking. Who should skip it: anyone who wants RGB lighting, a boom mic they can rotate into a specific position, or the largest possible driver. The A10's story is toughness and compatibility, not spectacle.
EKSA Fenrir S Gaming: Who It's For
The microphone is the other differentiator. It rotates through 120 degrees, so you can park it right where you want it, and it's a unidirectional, noise-cancelling design intended to keep background noise out of your teammates' ears. The ear cushions are described as extra large, deeper and softer, and EKSA specifically calls them glasses-friendly — a detail that matters if you wear frames all day.
Compatibility is the same broad 3.5 mm spread: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC and Switch. One practical note from the spec sheet: on PC you need to plug the 3.5 mm cable into the included Y-extension cable for the mic to work properly. The headset also carries a 24-month manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: players who want bigger drivers, a repositionable noise-cancelling mic, glasses-friendly cushions and a headset that looks like nothing else on the desk. Who should skip it: anyone who wants the lightest possible option or a build that prioritizes metal over styling.
• Best for durability → ASTRO A10. Aluminum headband plus damage-resistant polycarbonate beats plastic and fabric if your gear takes a beating.
• Best for lighter weight → ASTRO A10. 0.35 kg against 0.48 kg is a real difference by the end of a long session.
• Best for driver size and headroom → EKSA Fenrir S. 50 mm drivers versus the A10's dynamic driver give the Fenrir S more surface area to work with.
• Best for microphone placement → EKSA Fenrir S. A 120-degree rotatable, noise-cancelling unidirectional mic is more flexible than a flip-up omnidirectional one.
• Best for glasses wearers → EKSA Fenrir S. EKSA explicitly designs the deeper cushions to be glasses-friendly.
• Best for console and platform spread → ASTRO A10. It names PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac, VR and streaming.
• Best for style and gifting → EKSA Fenrir S. The werewolf IP design and monochrome lighting are the whole point, and EKSA frames it as a gift option.
• Best warranty coverage on paper → EKSA Fenrir S. Two years versus the A10's one-year limited hardware warranty.
• Best for set-and-forget simplicity → ASTRO A10. Flip-up mute and in-line volume are controls you never have to think about.
My Verdict
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can work, but both headsets here are over-ear designs, and that matters for gaming. Over-ear cups like the A10's circumaural shape and the Fenrir S's deeper cushions sit around your ear rather than inside it, which generally means less fatigue over long sessions and more room for the larger drivers — 50 mm in the Fenrir S's case.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and listening duration are the factors that matter, not the over-ear form factor itself. Both of these are wired 3.5 mm headsets with their own volume controls — the A10 has in-line volume, the Fenrir S uses a one-key control — so you can keep levels sensible during long sessions.
how do over ear headphones work
A driver converts the electrical signal from your device into sound inside a sealed or semi-sealed cup around your ear. The A10 uses a dynamic driver with 99 dB sensitivity and 32 ohm impedance; the Fenrir S uses 50 mm dynamic drivers with 106 dB ± 3 dB sensitivity and the same 32 ohm impedance, so it needs less power to reach the same loudness.
is gaming headphones good for music
Yes, within reason. Both cover a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, which spans the audible spectrum, and both use dynamic drivers that handle music fine. They're tuned with gaming in mind — positional cues and voice clarity — so they lean toward that rather than a flat, studio-style sound, but neither will embarrass you on a playlist.
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See also: Plugfones Sovereign Duo vs ISOtunes Free Aware, kids headphones with microphone, ABCPOW USB C vs Jiunai USB C, CozyPhones Over-Ear vs Owliwise Kids Headphones