If you want lightweight, wired ear-fit headphones for calls, choose Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M; if you need an amplified over-ear headset with a boom mic for calls and gaming, choose dreamGEAR Universal Elite Amplified. The choice comes down to a simple trade-off: compact ear-fit design or a larger headset with separate game and chat volume controls.
Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M vs dreamGEAR Universal Elite Amplified at a Glance
• dreamGEAR Universal Elite Amplified: An over-ear gaming headset with a boom mic, built-in amplification, and independent game and chat controls; its trade-off is a long cable and a substantially larger headset design.
• Choose Audio Technica if you want a straightforward wired listening option and do not need headset features for managing game chat.
• Choose dreamGEAR if you want a mic and separate game/chat volume controls for compatible gaming setups, or want to consider it for calls.
• These are different kinds of headphones: one is a simple wired ear-fit model, while the other is designed around gaming and communication.
The ATH-EQ300M is the simpler of these two picks. It uses a wired connection with a 3.5 mm jack and has 28 mm dynamic drivers. That straightforward setup may suit someone who wants headphones for listening without an amplifier, a boom mic, or several inline adjustments. Its listed frequency range is 16 Hz to 24,000 Hz, but that specification alone does not establish how it will sound to an individual listener.
Its ear-fit design is the main reason to consider it. The headphones weigh 33 g, and the product information lists plastic and silicone for the enclosure materials. Those details point toward a compact alternative to an over-ear gaming headset. The trade-off is just as important: the listed features include no noise control, and there is no microphone specification. For calls, that means buyers should not assume it provides the dedicated voice pickup or chat controls of a headset with a boom mic.
I would consider the Audio Technica for someone who wants a basic wired headphone and prefers an ear-fit form over cushioned cups that cover the ears. It may also appeal to someone who values the listed 3.5 mm connection and wants to avoid depending on a wireless connection. Skip it if you need a built-in microphone, amplified game audio, or separate controls for chat and game sound.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The headset is described as compatible with several game systems, including PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Wii U, and it can also work with devices such as smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, and TVs. It uses a 3.5 mm jack and has a 15-foot cable. That extra length can help when the listening position is farther from the connected device, though a long cord can also be more to manage around a desk or chair. The over-ear cushions are described as soft, but the larger form is not the same compact ear-fit approach as the Audio Technica.
For calls, the boom mic is the meaningful distinction. It gives this model a dedicated microphone feature that the ATH-EQ300M’s listed specifications do not provide. I would look at dreamGEAR if game chat, mic use, and separate volume adjustment matter more than a small, simple design. Skip it if you want a lightweight ear-fit headphone or would rather avoid a long wired gaming headset.
• Best for a dedicated boom mic → dreamGEAR Universal Elite Amplified. Its flexible boom mic is specified as part of the headset; the Audio Technica listing does not specify a microphone.
• Best for separate game and chat adjustments → dreamGEAR. Its inline controls handle those sound levels independently, a feature not listed for the ATH-EQ300M.
• Best for a compact ear-fit approach → Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M. It is an ear-fit wired headphone, while dreamGEAR uses an over-ear design.
• Best for a long cable reach → dreamGEAR. Its cable is listed as 15 feet; the Audio Technica specifications do not provide a cable length.
• Best for a simple 3.5 mm wired connection → either. Both list a 3.5 mm jack, though dreamGEAR adds amplification and gaming controls.
• Best for gaming-focused compatibility → dreamGEAR. The product information names multiple consoles along with phones, tablets, MP3 players, and TVs.
• Best if you do not need headset controls → Audio Technica. Its listed features are more basic, without the amplifier and game/chat controls found on dreamGEAR.
• Best open ear headphones for calls? Neither listing establishes an open-ear acoustic design or call performance. Of these two, dreamGEAR is the one with a specified boom mic; Audio Technica is the ear-fit option.
• Best open ear earbuds for calls? Neither is identified as an open-ear earbud model. Choose by the actual designs and features here rather than assuming either has that format.
Buying Considerations
Next, consider how you want to control sound. dreamGEAR’s separate game and chat volume controls are specific to balancing those sources during play. They are more relevant to a console session than to someone who simply wants wired headphones for general listening. Audio Technica’s listed controls are described as media controls, but the details do not explain their exact functions. I would not assume they provide the same dedicated game/chat adjustment.
The cable and fit are practical differences, not minor details. A 15-foot cord gives dreamGEAR more reach, which may be useful when the connected device is not close by. It can also mean more cable to route and store. Audio Technica lists a 33 g item weight and an ear-fit design, but the data does not give a cable length or establish how either model will feel to every wearer. The dreamGEAR headset has over-ear cushions, a form that may suit someone who prefers that style but will take up more space than an ear-fit model.
Finally, do not treat driver size or frequency range as a complete sound-quality verdict. The ATH-EQ300M lists 28 mm drivers and a 16 Hz–24,000 Hz range; dreamGEAR lists 40 mm drivers and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range. Those figures describe different specifications, but by themselves they cannot settle which headset will sound better for music, speech, or games. For a best bluetooth headset for calls search, note that neither product is Bluetooth: both are wired, and dreamGEAR specifically lists a corded connection.
In my opinion, I would choose the dreamGEAR Universal Elite Amplified for calls when I also want a headset suited to gaming. Its boom mic and independent game/chat controls give it the more communication-focused feature set. The long cable and over-ear design are real compromises, so I would not pick it for someone seeking a compact headphone. If calls are secondary and a simple ear-fit wired design matters more, I would choose the Audio Technica instead.
FAQ
The dreamGEAR is the more clearly specified option for calls because it includes a flexible boom mic. The Audio Technica listing does not specify a microphone, so its suitability for voice calls is less clear from the available product details.
No. Both are wired and list a 3.5 mm jack. dreamGEAR also describes its connection as corded, so neither should be chosen if wireless Bluetooth is a requirement.
The dreamGEAR has built-in amplification and independent inline controls for game and chat volume. The Audio Technica lists media controls but does not specify separate game and chat adjustments.
The Audio Technica ATH-EQ300M is the simpler option in the listed features: it is a wired ear-fit headphone without the specified amplifier, boom mic, or separate gaming audio controls. Choose it only if those headset features are not priorities.
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