We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a console headset that plugs straight into a PS4 or PS4 Pro over USB and brings its own onboard sound card, choose Cooler Master CH321; if you need a lightweight, officially licensed Switch headset with a detachable boom mic and a 3.5 mm jack, choose PowerA Headset. Both are wired, both use 50 mm dynamic drivers, and they are aimed at genuinely different players. Below I break down the console gaming headphones angle in detail — comfort, connection, mic design and who each one actually fits.
• Cooler Master CH321 — biggest strength: an onboard sound card paired with 50 mm Neodymium drivers, a USB Type A connector and a 2.3 m cable, so it runs on PC and PlayStation without any dongle or adapter fuss.
• Cooler Master CH321 — biggest trade-off: the flexible boom mic is non-removable, so it always travels with the headset, and there is no 3.5 mm option if you want to plug into a standard controller jack.
• PowerA Headset — biggest strength: an ultra-lightweight frame with breathable fabric-wrapped ear pads, a detachable boom mic, on-ear volume and mute controls, and a 3.5 mm jack built for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
• PowerA Headset — biggest trade-off: it leans on your console or controller for audio processing rather than using its own sound card, and the theme design is a fixed choice rather than a neutral look.
• Who each pick is for: Cooler Master CH321 for desktop-and-PlayStation players who want onboard audio processing and a fixed mic; PowerA Headset for Switch players who want low weight, travel-friendly mic removal and quick on-ear control.
The CH321 reads like a headset built around two ideas: long sessions and simple desk-side setup. The suspension headband flexes over your head instead of clamping down on it, and the soft PU leather ear cups sit over the ear rather than pressing on it. Cooler Master lists a weight of 256 g, which is mid-range for a full-size over-ear headset — light enough that the suspension band does most of the load-bearing work. The ear cups are also described as removable, which matters if you like to swap or replace padding rather than retire the whole headset when it wears.
The microphone is a flexible omni-directional boom with background noise cancellation, so it picks up your voice from a range of positions and works to cut down room noise. It's non-removable, which is the main compromise here. If you also want music or single-player immersion without a mic hanging near your face, that's a real limitation.
Buy it if you play on PC or PlayStation, want onboard sound processing and USB simplicity, and like a suspension-band fit you can wear for hours. Skip it if you need a 3.5 mm jack, want to remove the mic, or you're mainly gaming on a Nintendo Switch.
PowerA Headset: Who It's For
The PowerA headset is designed around the Switch first and everything else second. The frame is deliberately ultra-lightweight — PowerA lists just 7.84 ounces — and the ear pads are breathable fabric rather than faux leather. That combination is the whole pitch for long handheld or docked sessions: less clamping pressure and less heat build-up around your ears than a sealed leather cup tends to produce. The headband is expandable and fabric-wrapped, so you can size it to your head instead of accepting a fixed fit.
Audio comes from 50 mm dynamic speaker drivers, the same nominal driver size as the Cooler Master, so both are working from a comparable foundation. The difference is the signal path: the PowerA connects through the 3.5 mm jack on the Nintendo Switch, meaning the console or controller does the audio processing. That's a lighter, simpler design, and it keeps the headset compatible with the Switch family — Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite — as well as Switch 2. It's also officially licensed, and this particular version is the Fortnite Llambro design with a code for a bonus in-game Glyphic virtual item included in the box.
The mic is where PowerA makes its smartest move for travel. It's a flexible detachable boom mic, so you can pull it off entirely when you're playing solo or carrying the headset in a bag. On-ear controls cover volume via a slider and mic mute via a button — both reachable without digging into a menu. Two things to weigh: there's no active noise control or sound isolation listed, so it won't block much of the room around you, and the design is a licensed character theme, which is either the main appeal or a deal-breaker depending on your taste.
Buy it if you game on Switch or Switch 2, want the lightest possible fit, and value a mic you can remove plus quick on-ear mute. Skip it if you want onboard audio processing, USB connectivity, or a headset that also covers PC and PlayStation duty well.
• Best for PlayStation (PS4 / PS4 Pro) → Cooler Master CH321. USB Type A plus an onboard sound card means one cable and no adapter.
• Best for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 → PowerA Headset. The 3.5 mm jack matches the Switch's headphone port directly.
• Best for long-session comfort if you run hot → PowerA Headset. Breathable fabric ear pads and a 7.84 oz frame are built for hours without heat build-up.
• Best for structured, stable fit over long sessions → Cooler Master CH321. The suspension headband and PU leather cups distribute weight and add sound isolation.
• Best for mic flexibility → PowerA Headset. A detachable boom mic you can remove for travel or solo play beats a fixed one for portability.
• Best for voice clarity in a noisy room → Cooler Master CH321. The omni-directional mic includes background noise cancellation, and the sealed leather cups isolate more.
• Best for PC gaming alongside console → Cooler Master CH321. It's listed for PC and notebook use as well, which the Switch-focused PowerA isn't.
• Best for gifting a younger Switch player → PowerA Headset. The licensed Fortnite Llambro theme and included bonus virtual item code are the draw.
In my opinion, the Cooler Master CH321 is the better pick for console gaming headphones if your console is a PlayStation or you split time between a PC and a console. The onboard sound card, 50 mm Neodymium drivers, 2.3 m cable and noise-cancelling omni mic make it a self-contained setup that doesn't ask anything of your controller. I'd only steer you to the PowerA headset if you're a Switch player — in that case the 7.84 oz frame, breathable pads, detachable mic and on-ear mute are exactly right, and the USB-only CH321 simply isn't the tool for that console. Match the headset to your platform first; everything else follows.
what are the best xbox gaming headphones
Neither headset here is built for Xbox. The Cooler Master CH321 connects over USB Type A and is listed for PC, PS4 and PS4 Pro, while the PowerA headset uses a 3.5 mm jack designed for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. If Xbox is your platform, look for a headset that explicitly lists Xbox compatibility and the matching connection type.
The PowerA headset. It connects through the Switch's 3.5 mm port, is officially licensed for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and adds a detachable boom mic plus on-ear volume and mute controls. The CH321's USB Type A connection and non-removable mic make it a poor match for handheld Switch play.
No. The PowerA headset has a flexible detachable boom mic you can pull off for travel or solo play. The Cooler Master CH321's flexible omni-directional mic is non-removable, so it stays attached at all times even though it does include background noise cancellation.
The PowerA headset, at 7.84 ounces, with an ultra-lightweight frame and breathable fabric ear pads. The Cooler Master CH321 weighs 256 g and relies on a suspension headband plus PU leather ear cups for comfort and sound isolation. If low weight and airflow matter most, the PowerA is the fit; if you want a sealed, isolating feel, the CH321 is.
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