How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• ETWAR EG100 — biggest strength: USB 7.1 virtual surround sound with 50mm driver units, plus a flexible noise-cancelling boom mic and RGB lighting built for a desktop gaming setup.
• ETWAR EG100 — biggest trade-off: It's wired, USB-only, and explicitly does not work with Xbox — you're tethered to a PC, laptop, Mac, or PS4/PS5.
• LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: Bluetooth 6.0 wireless freedom, open-ear comfort, a detachable 360° mic, and a lightweight body that keeps your ears cool for hours.
• LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancellation, and the open design deliberately lets outside sound in — which is a feature for safety, not a flaw.
• Buy the ETWAR EG100 if you game at a desk and want immersive surround audio with a mic that cancels background noise.
• Buy the LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones if you want one headset for gaming, calls, and all-day wear without a cable or sweaty ears.
The EG100 is a purpose-built desktop gaming headset, and it reads that way on paper. It runs a USB 7.1 audio chipset with 50mm dynamic drivers, tuned so you catch deep lows and clear mids and trebles at the same time. In practice, that's the kind of tuning that helps you place footsteps and distant gunfire in a match. It's plug-and-play too — no driver hunting, just a 5.0mm PVC cable into a USB port.
The microphone is the other half of the story. It's an omni-directional unit with a noise-reduction chip that filters background noise, mounted on a long flexible arm so you can angle it exactly where you want. If you've ever had teammates complain about fan noise or keyboard clatter, that's the problem this design targets. Comfort gets attention as well: protein over-ear pads, a retractable leather headband, and a build meant to cut down on heat and sweat during long sessions. RGB lighting on both earcups rounds out the look.
LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones: Who It's For
The LOBKIN headset goes the opposite direction. It's an open-ear, over-ear design with a hollow frame, which means the earcups sit around your ears rather than pressing on or sealing them. Nothing blocks your ear canal, so no trapped heat and no muffled, plugged-up feeling. That's the whole pitch: you hear your game and your surroundings at the same time, and your voice sounds natural on calls because nothing is sealed off.
Under the hood it's surprisingly capable for the category. A 40mm dynamic driver handles bass, treble, and stereo imaging. The mic is detachable and rotates a full 360°, which is genuinely handy — clip it on for gaming and voice chat, pull it off when you just want music. Connectivity is Bluetooth 6.0 with a stated range of around 15 meters and near-zero latency, plus the option to switch to a wired USB audio connection through the included cable for a lossless signal.
Battery is where it quietly shines. The spec sheet lists roughly 30 hours of average use and a 2-hour charge time — and a 5-minute top-up gets you about an hour of gaming. At around 180 grams, it's light enough to forget you're wearing it, which matters if your sessions run long. Adjustable RGB lighting and voice assistant support are there for the vibe and convenience.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants one headset for gaming, work, and everyday listening — especially if you take a lot of calls, wear glasses, or hate the heat buildup of sealed earcups. Who should skip it? If you need total isolation from a noisy room, this is the wrong design. There's no active noise cancellation here, so loud environments will bleed through, by intention.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for immersive in-game audio → ETWAR EG100. Its USB 7.1 virtual surround and 50mm drivers are built specifically to make games sound bigger.
• Best for voice chat in a noisy room → ETWAR EG100. Its noise-reducing mic and flexible boom arm are made for filtering out background clutter.
• Best for wireless freedom → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Bluetooth 6.0 with a stated 15-meter range means no cable holding you to the desk.
• Best for battery life → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Around 30 hours per charge, with a fast top-up that returns roughly an hour of gaming in 5 minutes.
• Best for console flexibility → ETWAR EG100. It works across PC, laptop, Mac, PS4, and PS5 — though not Xbox.
• Best for situational awareness → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. The open design lets you hear what's happening around you while you stay in the game.
• Best for a detachable, versatile mic → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. The 360° rotating mic comes off when you don't need it.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the ETWAR EG100 for dedicated desktop gaming. In my opinion, its 7.1 surround, 50mm drivers, and noise-reducing boom mic are the pieces that actually move the needle when you're sitting at a PC chasing immersion and clear comms. But I'd recommend the LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones to anyone who games, works, and takes calls from the same chair — the wireless freedom, open-ear comfort, and 30-hour battery make it the more flexible daily companion. Match the headset to where you actually sit, and you won't regret either one.
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can work fine for casual gaming, but for competitive play and long sessions, over-ear designs like these two generally serve better. The ETWAR EG100's 50mm drivers and 7.1 surround give more spatial detail, while the LOBKIN's open-ear frame keeps you aware of your surroundings. It comes down to whether you prioritize immersion or comfort and awareness.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and listening duration are the real factors, not the over-ear shape itself. Both headsets here are designed with comfort in mind — the ETWAR EG100 uses breathable protein pads and its materials are chosen to reduce heat and sweat, and the LOBKIN keeps your ear canal open entirely. Keep levels reasonable and take breaks.
how do over ear headphones work
They place drivers in earcups that sit over or around your ears and convert electrical signals into sound. The ETWAR EG100 runs a USB 7.1 chipset and 50mm dynamic drivers over a wired connection; the LOBKIN uses a 40mm dynamic driver fed either by Bluetooth 6.0 or a wired USB/USB cable connection.
is gaming headphones good for music
Yes, and both handle it differently. The ETWAR EG100's 50mm drivers deliver strong bass with clear mids and treble, which suits music well. The LOBKIN's 40mm dynamic driver offers powerful bass and full stereo sound, and its detachable mic means nothing extra hangs off your head when you're just listening. For music on the move, I'd lean LOBKIN; at a desk, ETWAR.
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