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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
• EKSA Headphone Stand — biggest strength: it's a tower stand with virtual 7.1 surround sound, 2 USB 2.0 ports, three 3.5mm jacks and an RGB base, so it organizes your desk and expands your audio at the same time.
• EKSA Headphone Stand — biggest trade-off: it isn't a headset. There are no ear cups and no drivers of its own, and the 7.1 driver requires a download from EKSA's site and doesn't work with Mac or Windows 8.
• ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming — biggest strength: a complete wired over-ear headset with 50mm dynamic drivers, a 360-degree flexible mic, on-ear controls and detachable white cat ears.
• ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming — biggest trade-off: it's wired-only with a 3.5mm jack, and the rainbow RGB needs a separate USB cable for power, so it's a two-cable setup.
• Who each is for: the EKSA stand suits someone who already owns headphones and wants a tidier desk with virtual surround sound; the ONITOON headset suits anyone who needs the headphones themselves — and wants them to look fun.
The EKSA W1 is a tower-style stand built from aluminum alloy with a non-slip ABS rubber base, and it's designed to hold a headset off the desk so it doesn't get crushed or scratched. That's the core job, and the aluminum build plus the rubber foot is what keeps it planted while you're pulling the headset on and off between matches. It measures 5 x 2 x 2 inches and weighs about 0.46 kg, so it claims a small footprint on a crowded desk.
What makes it more than a hook is the connectivity packed into the base. There are two USB 2.0 ports that handle USB headsets, charging and data transfer, plus three 3.5mm jacks — a mic-and-sound 2-in-1 port, a dedicated sound port and a dedicated mic port. If you run a wired headset with separate green and pink plugs, that's exactly the kind of splitter situation this solves without a dongle. The virtual 7.1 surround sound is the headline feature: it's meant to help you place the direction of footsteps and gunfire. Be aware of the fine print — you have to download and install the driver from EKSA's official website, it isn't available for Mac or Windows 8, and not every headphone is compatible with the 7.1 effect.
The RGB base has three modes — rainbow loop, single static color and breathing — and a fingerprint-touch switch turns the lighting on and off or cycles modes without you fumbling for a button. Assembly is a small job: you align the bracket with the base and tighten four screws with the included screwdriver.
ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming: Who It's For
The ONITOON X25 is the other half of this pairing: it's the headset. It's a white wired over-ear model built around 50mm dynamic drivers, with 32 ohm impedance, 105 dB sensitivity and a frequency response figure listed at 20000 KHz. In plain terms, the 50mm driver is the part that gives a headset its sense of scale — bigger drivers generally move more air, which is why the description leans on a battlefield-immersion feel.
Comfort is clearly a design priority. The ear cups are soft and breathable, the headband auto-adjusts to different head shapes, and the whole thing is described as lightweight so it can be worn for long sessions without pressure building on your ears and head. That matters more than any spec sheet line if you play for four hours at a stretch.
The styling is the hook: the white cat ears are detachable, so you can run them for a playful look or pull them off and keep the headset plain. The rainbow gradient RGB runs across the headset and headband and is powered by a USB cable, which means the lighting is a separate connection from the audio — plug in the 3.5mm jack for sound, and the USB cable if you want the glow.
For chat, there's a long, flexible 360-degree mic you can rotate close to your mouth or swing out of the way, plus on-ear touch controls for volume and mic status so you don't have to alt-tab into settings mid-match. Sound isolation helps keep outside noise from bleeding in. It's a 3.5mm wired headset, so it works with PC, laptop, Switch and tablet; if your device uses separate mic and headphone jacks, ONITOON includes an adapter cable and notes that the mic only works when the 3.5mm cable or the green/red splitter is properly seated.
Buy it if you need the full package — headphones, mic, comfort and a look nobody else on your server has. Skip it if you want wireless freedom, since this is wired-only, or if you already own a headset you love.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actually hearing the game → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. It's the one with 50mm drivers; the EKSA stand has no speakers at all.
• Best for a clean, organized desk → EKSA Headphone Stand. Aluminum tower, rubber base, and it holds your headset plus charges your gear through two USB ports.
• Best for voice chat → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. The 360-degree flexible mic and on-ear mic mute are built for party chat and calls.
• Best for long sessions → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. Breathable cushioned cups and an auto-adjustable lightweight headband are aimed squarely at all-day wear.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. A 3.5mm jack works with PC, laptop, Switch and tablet; the EKSA stand needs a driver download for its headline feature.
• Best for a mixed wired headset setup → EKSA Headphone Stand. Three 3.5mm ports including a mic/sound 2-in-1, plus two USB 2.0 ports for charging and data.
• Best if you're on a Mac → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. The EKSA 7.1 driver isn't available for Mac or Windows 8.
• Best for personality → ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. Detachable white cat ears and rainbow RGB you can take off or leave on.
In my opinion, most people shopping this comparison should buy the ONITOON Cat Ear Gaming. The reason is simple: it's a complete product. You get drivers, a mic, comfort features and a look you can customize, and it works out of the box on PC, laptop, Switch and tablet without a driver install.
I'd recommend the EKSA Headphone Stand instead if you already own a headset and your pain point is a cluttered desk plus plain stereo audio. The stand's USB and 3.5mm hub is genuinely useful, and virtual 7.1 is a real upgrade for positional awareness — as long as you're on Windows and your headset is compatible.
If you're buying for a gamer who has nothing yet, the headset is the purchase. The stand is the second purchase, once there's something to hang on it.
FAQ
is surround sound headphones good for gaming
is 7.1 surround sound good for gaming headphones
It can be, because the point of 7.1 processing is directional accuracy rather than raw loudness. On the EKSA stand it's a software effect applied to your existing headphones via the USB or 3.5mm connections, so the result depends on the headset you pair with it. Treat it as a helpful aid, not a guarantee.
do gaming headphones have surround sound
Not automatically. Some headsets build it in, and some, like the ONITOON X25, focus on driver size and sound isolation instead. The EKSA stand is unusual in that it adds virtual 7.1 to headphones you already own rather than shipping its own speakers.
is surround sound good for gaming headphones
For competitive play, virtual surround is generally the more useful feature because it targets positional cues. For pure music or casual listening, a solid stereo driver like the 50mm unit in the ONITOON set is what carries the experience. Match the feature to how you actually play.
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