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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 10 min read · Independent comparison
The keephifi KZ Taurus is my #1 pick for detachable mic gaming headphones because it is the only product here that is a complete headset on its own — a horizontal dual-dynamic-driver in-ear with a dual built-in microphone array and a tangle-free detachable cable. If you want one box that handles game audio and voice chat, start there.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO — best for wired in-ear monitoring on a phone or handheld; pick this if you want a 1BA + 1DD hybrid with a detachable 2-pin style cable and an inline mic.
• keephifi KZ Taurus — best for all-in-one gaming and voice chat; pick this if you want dual 8mm dynamic drivers plus a dual microphone array in a single pair of IEMs.
• weishan A40 — best for fixing an Astro A40 / A40 TR; pick this if your boom mic broke or vanished and you need a bendable 3.5mm replacement.
• ABLET Boom Gaming Microphone — best for turning ordinary headphones into a headset; pick this if you already own a 3.5mm-input pair and want a boom mic, volume dial and mute switch on the cable.
• AMYYMA Turtle Beach Replacement — best for reviving a Turtle Beach headset; pick this if your original boom mic died and you need a bendable 19 cm replacement with a gold 3.5mm tip.
This is a wired in-ear monitor, not a headset in the classic sense. Kinboofi builds it as an upgrade of the earlier KZ ZSN PRO, with the changes spread across drivers, tuning, cable material and the shell itself. Two drivers do the work: a redefined 10mm dual-magnetic dynamic driver for the low end, and a 30095 balanced armature handling the high frequencies. The result, according to the spec sheet, is a wider frequency response and vocals that come through richer and clearer.
The shell is the part you notice first. Zinc alloy metal meets resin, so it looks like jewellery and should survive a bag or a pocket. The cavity is curved to follow the shape of your ear, and a memory PU tube loops over the ear to hold everything in place. If you have ever had an earbud pop out mid-match, that over-ear routing is the fix — it keeps the bud seated without you clamping your jaw shut.
Cabling is where this one earns its place on a detachable-mic list. The cable is detachable, so you can swap it, replace it when it wears out, or pair the buds with a different cable entirely. It is four strands of 100 wires in silver-plated copper, which the sheet says reduces loss and distortion in signal transmission and improves detail resolution. There is a single all-in-one control button and an inline mic, compatible with most phones.
The trade-off is the control scheme. There is no volume control on the cable — the button handles playback and calls only. Impedance is 25 ohm and noise control is sound isolation, so these are easy to drive from a phone but they will block out a fair amount of the room. In my opinion, this is the pick for someone who wants a wired IEM for music and casual gaming on a phone or handheld, and who is fine adjusting volume on the device itself.
Here is the one I would hand to a gamer first. The Taurus is built around horizontally placed dual 8mm dynamic drivers — a layout KZ uses specifically to create a sense of sound localisation, which is the ability to tell where a footstep or a shot came from. Bass is tuned tight and punchy rather than bloated, and the highs are extended so dialogue and high-frequency effects stay readable. Frequency range runs from 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz, with 36 ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity.
The microphone setup is the real differentiator. Instead of a boom hanging off one side, the Taurus integrates a high-sensitivity (-26 dB) capacitive microphone into both earpieces — the sheet describes it as a dual 6mm capacitor microphone array. That means your voice is picked up from either side, which reduces the chance that turning your head cuts you out of the call. For online gaming, virtual meetings and mobile calls, that is a meaningful design choice, and it is why I rank it above the rest for voice chat.
Comfort is clearly a design priority. The shell is compact and lightweight — the sheet compares it to the KZ Castor but lighter — and it uses a secure ear hook so the buds stay put during intense moments. Its contours are shaped from ergonomic data to sit in the ear without pressure over long sessions. Total weight is listed at 30 g. It comes in three finishes: Clear Black, Clear White and Solid White.
Connectivity is 3.5mm wired with a detachable, tangle-free cable and button controls, and the package includes replacement ear tips. Sound isolation is the noise-control method, so it will quiet a noisy room. The trade-off: it is wired, so you are tethered to your controller or device, and there is no active noise cancellation — just passive isolation. If you want a single pair of IEMs that does game audio and team chat without a separate boom, this is the one I recommend.
This is a repair part, not a listening device, and that is exactly its value. The weishan A40 is a detachable boom microphone built for the Astro A40 and A40 TR gaming headsets, and it exists for one reason: your original mic broke, got lost, or started sounding like a paper bag. It is compatible with PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, computer and phone.
The design details matter here. It has a unidirectional polar pattern, which means it focuses on sound arriving from one direction — your mouth — rather than picking up the whole room. The sheet notes the mic lets you position it closer to the mouth for maximum voice clarity. The metal hose is covered in soft silicone, so it bends and holds its shape without snapping, and the foam windscreen filters plosives and keeps dust and moisture off the element. Frequency response tops out at 20 KHz, signal-to-noise ratio is 78 dB, and the plug is gold-plated to reduce signal loss.
Length is 7.09 inches — about 18 cm — with a slim 0.79 x 0.39 inch profile. That is a short boom, so it sits near your cheek rather than across your face, and the 360-degree bendable neck lets you angle it where you want. The package includes the mic and a black foam cover, and the warranty is listed as one year replacement.
The catch is compatibility. This fits Astro A40 and A40 TR headsets specifically — it is not a universal mic, and it will not rescue a HyperX or a SteelSeries. Check what you actually own before buying. If you are on an A40 or A40 TR, this is a straightforward, low-drama replacement.
ABLET Boom Gaming Microphone
Input compatibility covers anything with a 3.5mm audio output: PS4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S controllers, PC, laptop, iPhone and Android phones. Output compatibility is where it gets interesting — it fits V-MODA Crossfade M-100, LP, LP2, M-80 and V-80, plus most headphones with a 3.5mm input port, including a long list of Sony models like the MDRXB950BT, MDRXB650BT, MDR1000X, MDR100ABN, MDR-1A and MDR-1R. There is also a dual 3.5mm Y-adapter in the box for devices with separate mic and headphone jacks, which covers desktop PCs that split the two.
The polar pattern is omnidirectional, so it picks up from all around the capsule rather than in a tight cone. That is forgiving if you move around, but it also means it will hear your keyboard and your fan. Sensitivity is listed at 10 dB. Colour is grey, and the power source is corded electric — no battery to charge, which is one less thing to think about.
So who is this for? Someone who already loves a pair of wired headphones and refuses to buy a second set just for gaming. Plug this cable in and you have comms, volume and mute in one move. The trade-off is that omnidirectional pickup and the reliance on your existing headphones being good enough for positional audio. If your headphones are bass-heavy and closed-back, footsteps may be harder to place than they would be on a purpose-built gaming IEM.
Another repair part, this time aimed at Turtle Beach owners. The AMYYMA replacement mic is a detachable boom that fits Ear Force Turtle Beach models including the Stealth 400, 420x, 450, 500p, 520, Recon 50x, 50p, 50, 60p and 150. If your original boom mic has gone quiet, crackly or missing, this is the swap.
The boom is 19 cm long, which the sheet describes as exactly the right length to reach your mouth for clear sound, and it bends 360 degrees and stays where you put it. A foam cover sits over the capsule to cut plosives. The tip is gold-plated 3.5mm, and the body mixes metal and plastic. Polar pattern is omnidirectional, sensitivity is 36 dB, and frequency response reaches 20 KHz. It weighs just 5 g.
Compatibility is the thing to read carefully. It fits headsets that use a 3.5mm combined mic/headphone jack with a removable mic, and it works with PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and mobile devices through that jack. The manufacturer's own note is the useful bit: the replacement fits as long as the gold tip is the same size as your original, because that tip is the only part that actually plugs in. So even if your original mic is fatter or curved at the end, this can still work.
The warranty is unusually generous — 18 months, with refund or replacement for quality problems, plus lifetime customer service. The trade-off is the same as any replacement part: it only helps if you own a compatible Turtle Beach headset, and omnidirectional pickup means it will catch background noise in a loud room. For a dead mic on a working headset, though, it is a sensible fix.
I compared the published specifications and feature lists for each product — driver configuration, microphone design, cable detachability, connector type, controls, materials and stated compatibility — and ranked them by how well those specs serve someone who wants a detachable mic for gaming. This ranking is our independent editorial opinion. No brand paid for placement, and no position here reflects anything other than the data sheets.
are studio headphones better than gaming headsets
It depends on what you need. Studio headphones are typically built for accurate, neutral sound and often ship without any microphone at all, while gaming headsets bundle a mic, controls and sometimes surround processing. If you already own a good pair of 3.5mm headphones, a cable like the ABLET Boom adds a boom mic, volume control and mute switch and turns them into a headset — that is often the smarter route than buying a second set of cans.
what headphones do pro gamers use
There is no single answer, and the data sheets here do not claim any competitive endorsement. What the specs show is that in-ear monitors are a real option: the keephifi KZ Taurus uses horizontally placed dual 8mm dynamic drivers specifically for sound localisation, with a dual microphone array built into both earpieces. That combination — directional audio plus clear comms in one pair — is the kind of setup that suits competitive play.
do all headphones have mics
No. Plenty of headphones, especially studio and audiophile models, have no microphone whatsoever. The Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO is available in a With Mic version that includes an inline mic on the detachable cable, and the KZ Taurus builds microphones into both earpieces. But a pair like the Sony models listed for the ABLET Boom cable would need that cable added before you could talk through them.
can studio headphones be used for gaming
Yes, as long as they have a 3.5mm input port you can run a mic cable through. The ABLET Boom is designed exactly for that — it fits V-MODA Crossfade and a range of Sony headphones with a 3.5mm input, and includes a dual 3.5mm Y-adapter for devices with separate mic and headphone jacks. Just keep in mind that an omnidirectional mic will pick up more room noise than a directional boom.
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