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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 keep your existing Pulse Explore earbuds and fix the two things that ruin long gaming sessions — poor isolation and tips that slip — choose COMPLY Memory Foam Replacement; if you need a complete wired in-ear monitor built for gaming, music and studio work at once, choose HIFI WALKER A20.
• COMPLY Memory Foam Replacement — biggest strength: Comply True Memory Foam tips with a TechDefender guard, built specifically to fit the Pulse Explore earbuds for PS5 and to block out room noise during long sessions.
• COMPLY Memory Foam Replacement — biggest trade-off: It is an accessory, not a headphone. You get three pairs of tips in S/M/L and nothing else — no drivers, no cable, no audio hardware.
• HIFI WALKER A20 — biggest strength: A full wired IEM with a 10mm dynamic driver, detachable 2-pin cable, 3.5 mm jack and three pairs of silicone tips — a complete listening setup out of the box.
• HIFI WALKER A20 — biggest trade-off: Wired only, no mic on this version, and it relies on silicone tips rather than foam, so the seal and the isolation feel are a different experience.
• Who each pick is for: COMPLY is for the Pulse Explore owner who likes their earbuds and just wants better comfort and isolation. The A20 is for someone who wants a dedicated wired IEM for gaming, music and studio listening.
This is a maintenance and upgrade part, and that framing matters. COMPLY's replacement tips are made from Comply True Memory Foam in black, sold as three pairs in assorted small, medium and large. They are crafted to fit the PULSE Explore earbuds for the PS5, which means the fit is the whole point: the foam conforms to your ear canal, so the earbud stays seated instead of working its way loose mid-match.
The second thing that stands out in the specs is the TechDefender guard built into the tip. It shields the earbud's sound port from debris, wax and moisture — the kind of slow buildup that shortens the life of an in-ear you actually use. If you have ever watched a silicone tip collect grime and wondered whether it was reaching the driver, that guard is the answer. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, and the foam is the mechanism: it fills the canal and cuts the ambient noise that competes with game audio.
Comfort is the other half of the pitch. COMPLY describes the foam as ultra-soft and aimed at long sessions, with less ear fatigue than traditional silicone. In my opinion, that is the real reason to buy these: a firmer, deeper seal you can wear for hours without the pinch that silicone can produce. Who should skip it? Anyone who does not own Pulse Explore earbuds — the fit is designed around that specific model. And anyone who wants a new headphone rather than an upgrade to the one they already own should look elsewhere, because there is no audio hardware here at all. Care is simple but specific: warm water and a soft cloth only, and avoid alcohol-based cleaners or lotions, which degrade the foam.
The A20 is a proper wired in-ear monitor. Inside is a 10mm dynamic driver tuned for deep bass and clear vocals, with a 16 ohm impedance and a frequency response up to 20 kHz. Low impedance like that means it is easy to drive — a phone, a controller, a laptop or a small DAC will all push it without trouble. Connection is a standard 3.5 mm jack, so it plugs into a DualSense controller, a PC front panel, a console headphone port or a studio interface without an adapter.
Wearing style is over-ear, and that is a deliberate design choice rather than a cosmetic one. The ergonomic in-ear shape plus the cable routed over the ear keeps the buds planted and reduces cable pull — the tug you feel when a straight-down cable snags on a desk or a controller. Soft silicone tips create the seal, and the noise control is listed as sound isolation. HIFI WALKER positions it for commuting, studying, gaming, working, relaxing at home and long music sessions, which is a broad brief for one pair of earphones but consistent with a neutral-ish IEM design.
Two details are worth flagging before you buy. This version has no microphone, so it is a listening tool, not a headset — if you need in-game voice chat, plan around that. And the cable is detachable via 2-pin connectors, which is genuinely useful: a damaged cable is a cheap replacement instead of a dead pair of earphones. In the box you get the IEMs, one detachable 2-pin cable, three pairs of silicone tips in S/M/L, and a user guide, backed by a one-year warranty. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless freedom or a built-in mic. The A20 is for people who accept a cable in exchange for a stable fit and consistent, low-latency wired audio — which, for gaming, is usually the trade they are happy to make.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for fixing earbuds you already own → COMPLY Memory Foam Replacement. It upgrades the Pulse Explore you have rather than replacing it.
• Best for long-session comfort → COMPLY. Ultra-soft memory foam aimed squarely at reducing ear fatigue over hours of play.
• Best for wired, low-latency gaming on PC or console → HIFI WALKER A20. A 3.5 mm jack and 16 ohm impedance keep it simple to drive from almost any source.
• Best for protecting the earbud's sound port → COMPLY. The built-in TechDefender guard is the standout feature here.
• Best for a replaceable cable → HIFI WALKER A20. The detachable 2-pin design means a broken cable is not the end of the earphones.
• Best for in-game voice chat → neither, strictly. The A20 has no mic, and COMPLY is a tip accessory; if voice chat is essential, factor that in.
• Best for listening to music and studio-style work → HIFI WALKER A20. A 10mm dynamic driver with deep bass and clear vocals suits music and monitoring, not just games.
If I already owned Pulse Explore earbuds, I would buy the COMPLY Memory Foam Replacement. It solves the two problems that actually annoy me in long sessions — slipping and background noise — and the TechDefender guard protects the earbud itself. If I were starting from nothing and wanted one wired pair for gaming, music and studio listening, I would buy the HIFI WALKER A20 instead, because it is a complete IEM rather than an accessory. In my opinion, the deciding question is simple: are you upgrading what you own, or buying your first serious wired set?
what is gaming earbuds
Gaming earbuds are in-ear headphones used for play — usually chosen for a secure fit, sound isolation and low latency. Wired models like the HIFI WALKER A20 connect over a 3.5 mm jack, while foam tips like COMPLY's improve an existing pair by sealing better and staying put.
what is best gaming earbuds
There is no single best pair; it depends on what you already own. If you have Pulse Explore earbuds, COMPLY memory foam tips are the targeted upgrade for isolation and comfort. If you need a complete wired IEM with a 10mm dynamic driver and a detachable cable, the HIFI WALKER A20 fits that role.
what gaming earbuds are good
Good ones stay in your ears, block outside noise and drive easily from your device. The A20 covers this with an over-ear fit, silicone tips, sound isolation and 16 ohm impedance. COMPLY covers it differently — memory foam that conforms to your canal, plus a guard that keeps debris out of the sound port.
what is the best gaming earbuds for pc
For PC, a wired 3.5 mm connection is the safest bet, and the HIFI WALKER A20 plugs straight into a PC jack with no adapter. If you game on PS5 with Pulse Explore earbuds, the COMPLY replacement tips are the better pick, because they improve the earbuds you already use.
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