We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired in-ear that prioritizes a hybrid driver setup with a detachable cable for pure music listening and gaming on a 3.5mm source, choose erjigo KZ ZST X; if you need native USB-C connectivity plus a 3.5mm option for consoles like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Switch, choose keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C.
• erjigo KZ ZST X biggest strength: Hybrid 1DD+1BA design (10mm double-magnetic dynamic plus a 30095 balanced armature) with a 20Hz–40kHz range, ear-hook comfort, and a detachable 0.75mm 2-pin cable you can swap or upgrade.
• erjigo KZ ZST X biggest trade-off: Wired 3.5mm only — no USB-C connection — so it won't plug directly into a Switch, Steam Deck, or USB-C-only phone without an adapter.
• keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C biggest strength: Ships with both 3.5mm and Type-C connectors on a detachable OFC cable, tuned for gaming with a 30118 BA that emphasizes cues above 1.2kHz.
• keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C biggest trade-off: 27Ω impedance and a zinc-alloy, non-water-resistant build make it less of a featherweight minimalist pick than a dedicated gaming tool.
• Who erjigo KZ ZST X is for: Musicians and listeners who want a flexible, swappable-cable IEM for music-first use on 3.5mm gear.
• Who keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C is for: Gamers who want plug-and-play USB-C or 3.5mm into consoles, laptops, and phones.
The KZ ZST X is built around two drivers working together. A 10mm double-magnetic dynamic unit handles the low end — the kind of clean, fast, punchy sound that suits electronic music, drum and bass, and anything rhythm-driven. Then a 30095 balanced armature sits at the front of the nozzle to keep high frequencies from getting lost, which is why the spec sheet talks about detail retrieval and instrument separation. If you play or listen to a lot of instrumental music, that hybrid split is the whole point.
Physically, this is a lightweight in-ear — 22g for the pair, 12Ω impedance, 107dB sensitivity, and a 20Hz–40kHz range. Low impedance like that means it's easy to drive from a phone or a basic dongle, so you don't need a dedicated amp to get volume. The ear-hook shape and soft silicone tips are designed to seat the earbud deep and hold it there, which is exactly how passive noise isolation works: a good seal blocks external sound rather than cancelling it electronically. The cable is a 125cm, 100-core silver-plated wire with Kevlar in the core, and it's detachable via 0.75mm 2-pin connectors — so if the cable wears out, you replace the cable, not the earphones.
Buy it if you want a music-first IEM with a swappable cable, low impedance for easy driving, and a secure ear-hook fit you can wear for long sessions. Skip it if your main source is USB-C only — there's no Type-C option here, so a console or laptop without a 3.5mm jack will need an adapter.
The CCA Xyrra is unapologetically a gaming IEM. It pairs a 10mm metal-composite dynamic driver with a 30118 balanced armature, and the BA is deliberately aimed at the nozzle to reproduce frequencies above 1.2kHz. That matters in games because footsteps, reload clicks, and weapon swaps live in that mid-to-high band. The tuning is described as isolating those critical cues from ambient noise so you can pick out directional information — near versus far, left versus right — instead of just hearing a wall of bass.
It's also the more flexible connection of the two. The detachable cable uses QDC connectors and comes in both 3.5mm and Type-C, so you can go straight into a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch, USB-C phone, or MacBook with no dongle, or use 3.5mm on older gear. The dual parallel OFC cable is meant to cut electromagnetic interference and keep the signal clean. Each earbud is 6g in skin-friendly resin with a mirror-finish waved cover, and the impedance is 27Ω with 110dB sensitivity and a 40kHz ceiling — still easy to drive, just a touch more demanding than the KZ.
Buy it if you game on a mix of USB-C and 3.5mm devices and want console-ready plug-and-play with gaming-tuned mids and highs. Skip it if you need water resistance (it's listed as not water resistant) or you specifically want a bare-bones music monitor with a lighter ear-hook fit.
• Best for USB-C consoles and phones → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. Native Type-C plus 3.5mm on one detachable cable.
• Best for music-first listening → erjigo KZ ZST X. The 10mm double-magnetic DD plus 30095 BA is tuned toward detail and instrumental clarity.
• Best for competitive gaming cues → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. The 30118 BA targets frequencies above 1.2kHz where footsteps and switches sit.
• Best for easy driving from weak sources → erjigo KZ ZST X. 12Ω and 107dB needs less power than the Xyrra's 27Ω.
• Best for cable upgrades and repairs → erjigo KZ ZST X. Standard 0.75mm 2-pin makes third-party cable swaps simple.
• Best for long console sessions → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. 6g resin shells and included silicone tips are built for extended wear.
• Best for a minimalist ear-hook fit → erjigo KZ ZST X. The ear-hook shape keeps the cable routed out of the way.
• Best if you want both connection types in one box → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C.
If I had to pick one, I'd take the keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C — and I'd pick it specifically for the noise-isolating gaming use case this comparison is about. In my opinion, the dual 3.5mm/Type-C cable, the gaming-focused BA tuning above 1.2kHz, and the 6g resin shells line up better with how people actually game across a Switch, a Steam Deck, and a phone. The KZ ZST X is the better pure music monitor and the easier one to drive, so if your listening is music-first on a 3.5mm source, go that way instead. For gaming, the Xyrra's console-ready connection wins it for me.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation means the earbud physically blocks outside sound by sealing your ear canal — not by active electronics. Both the KZ ZST X and CCA Xyrra list "Sound Isolation" as their noise-control method, relying on silicone tips and a secure in-ear fit to reduce external noise.
These two aren't active noise cancelling — they're passive isolating IEMs, which is often better for gaming because there's no ANC processing delay. The Xyrra's BA is tuned above 1.2kHz to surface footsteps and switches, and a good seal keeps room noise down so those cues come through.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
Since neither of these does active cancellation, "best" here means best isolating fit for games. In my opinion the CCA Xyrra USB-C edges ahead for gaming because of its USB-C/3.5mm detachable cable and gaming-tuned balanced armature, while the KZ ZST X suits music-first players.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
There are gaming headsets with active ANC, but these two are isolating, not cancelling. If you want console plug-and-play with strong passive isolation, the CCA Xyrra USB-C covers Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch, and USB-C phones; the KZ ZST X covers 3.5mm sources.
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See also: Aitalk Ear Headphones vs BOYACARE Ear Plugs: Noise Isolating, Yatloml Earbuds vs YINYOO KBEAR K01: Wired Noise Isolating, SADES Anivia vs ZIYOU LANG Gaming Headset: Noise Isolating