We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a dedicated desktop audio hub that reshapes PC and Mac game sound into true 7.1 surround with fingertip EQ control, choose Demant EPOS; if you need one wired headset that plugs into nearly every console and device you already own, choose IMYB A36.
• Demant EPOS — biggest strength: A proprietary binaural rendering engine with 7.1 surround, a dedicated DAC chip and EQ presets built specifically for positional game audio.
• Demant EPOS — biggest trade-off: It is an amplifier, not a headset. It needs an existing pair of 2-jack analog headphones or speakers to do anything at all.
• IMYB A36 — biggest strength: One 3.5mm wired headset that works across PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, laptop, tablet and phone, with 50mm drivers and an inline volume and mute control.
• IMYB A36 — biggest trade-off: No surround processing, no EQ, no DAC — you get whatever your device's audio chip already produces.
• Pick Demant EPOS if you already own decent analog headphones and want to upgrade the source of your PC audio.
• Pick IMYB A36 if you want a single, simple headset that just works on whatever you game on tonight.
The Demant EPOS (sold under the Sennheiser GSX 1000 model name) is a different kind of product from what most people picture when they search for gaming audio gear. It is an external sound card and headphone amplifier that sits on your desk, connects over USB 1.0 or USB 2.0, and takes over audio processing from your motherboard. The core of it is a binaural rendering engine that produces 7.1 surround sound, designed to give you positional cues — footsteps, reloads, directional chatter — rather than just louder noise.
What makes it interesting is the control surface. There is a large aluminum volume ring and an LED touch panel that stores up to four customized sound settings, so you can switch profiles with one touch and also toggle between headphone and speaker listening. A dedicated DAC chip and EQ presets let you tune frequencies toward competitive gaming focus. There is also sidetone control, which adjusts how loud your own voice sounds in your headset — a genuinely useful feature if you find yourself shouting because you can't hear yourself talk. Maximum sample rate is 96 kHz, and the unit carries a two-year warranty.
Who should buy it: PC and Mac gamers who already own a decent pair of analog headphones with separate audio and mic jacks, and who want a real upgrade in spatial awareness and audio control without replacing their headset. It suits the player who likes to fiddle — saving four profiles, swapping between speakers and headphones, dialing in EQ. It is also a reasonable fit for movie watching on a desktop, since the surround processing and presets aren't gaming-only.
Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own wired analog headphones yet, anyone gaming primarily on a console, and anyone who wants a single box that includes a microphone. The EPOS has no mic of its own and no wireless connectivity. If you want plug-and-play simplicity, this is the wrong shape of product for you.
The IMYB A36 is a wired over-ear gaming headset with an integrated omnidirectional microphone. It connects through a 3.5mm jack and ships with a 1-to-2 splitter cable so you can use it on devices with separate headphone and mic ports. That single cable is why it works almost everywhere: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S (older Xbox versions need an adapter), Nintendo Switch and 3DS, laptop, tablet, iPad, phone — basically anything with a 3.5mm jack.
The audio side is built around 50mm dynamic drivers with 32 ohm impedance, a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range and 42 dB sensitivity. That combination is easy to drive, which matters because you're plugging straight into a controller or laptop rather than an amplifier. The marketing leans on "surrounding stereo subwoofer," but be clear about what that is: stereo drivers tuned for depth and impact, not processed 7.1. The microphone is omnidirectional with noise isolation, so your voice comes through clearly without a boom arm or interface.
Comfort is a real part of the pitch here. The headset weighs 0.77 lb, uses soft skin-friendly ear cushions over an ABS and faux-leather build, and has a flexible headband with thickened padding. The cable is 6.5 ft, braided and anti-tangle, with rotary volume control and a microphone mute button right on the line. It comes in red, includes a user manual, and carries a three-year limited hardware warranty.
Who should skip it: PC players chasing competitive positional audio, and anyone who wants surround processing, EQ profiles or a dedicated DAC. The A36 gives you stereo and a mic — nothing more, nothing less.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for positional audio and spatial awareness → Demant EPOS. The 7.1 binaural engine is the entire point of the product.
• Best for plug-and-play across consoles → IMYB A36. One 3.5mm cable, a splitter, and you're running on PS5, Xbox, Switch or PC.
• Best if you already own good analog headphones → Demant EPOS. It upgrades your existing setup instead of replacing it.
• Best if you need a microphone included → IMYB A36. The EPOS has no mic; the A36 has a built-in noise-isolating one.
• Best for sound customization → Demant EPOS. Four savable profiles, EQ presets, a DAC chip and a touch panel.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → IMYB A36. At 0.77 lb with padded cushions and a flexible headband, it's built for marathon sessions.
• Best for mic control without software → IMYB A36. The inline rotary volume knob and mute button are right on the cable.
• Best for desktop movie and music listening too → Demant EPOS. The surround processing and presets aren't limited to games.
If I had to pick one, it depends entirely on what you already own — and that's not a dodge, it's the actual decision. If you already have a solid pair of wired analog headphones and you game on a PC or Mac, I'd buy the Demant EPOS. It changes how your games sound, not just how loud they are, and the touch panel, EQ presets and sidetone control give you genuine control you won't get from a motherboard jack.
If you don't own good headphones, or you split your time between a console and a PC, I'd buy the IMYB A36. It's a complete, comfortable, multi-platform solution in one box with a mic included, and it will work on nearly everything you plug it into. In my opinion, that breadth is worth more than surround processing you can't use on a PS5 anyway.
It's an amplifier and external sound card, not a headset. You connect your own 2-jack analog headphones or speakers to it over USB, and it handles the surround processing, EQ and volume control.
Yes. It uses a 3.5mm jack and includes a 1-to-2 splitter cable, and it's listed as compatible with PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Switch, PC, laptop, tablet and phone. Older Xbox controllers may need an adapter.
For positional awareness, the Demant EPOS — that's what its 7.1 binaural rendering engine is designed to deliver. The IMYB A36 is stereo only, though its 50mm drivers still give you solid impact and depth.
Yes — both products vary in cost, and this page doesn't list prices. Use the button on this page to check the current price on Amazon for each before you commit.
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