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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer — biggest strength: a real XLR microphone input with built-in 48V phantom power plus four independently controlled channels (microphone, line in, headphones, line out).
• FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer — biggest trade-off: it does no audio output of its own and no listening of its own beyond monitoring. It does not work with USB microphones, and no XLR cable is included.
• OneOdio A71 — biggest strength: 50mm dynamic drivers covering 20Hz–20,000Hz, wired 3.5mm connection, and a detachable noise-canceling boom mic you can pull off to use them as normal headphones.
• OneOdio A71 — biggest trade-off: noise control is listed as none, so isolation depends on the over-ear cushions rather than active processing, and some consoles may need an adapter.
• Who each pick is for: the FIFINE mixer is for the streamer or podcaster building a desk setup around an XLR mic; the OneOdio A71 is for the gamer, caller or beginner DJ who mainly needs to hear audio and be heard clearly.
This is a desktop control hub, not a listening device. Its centrepiece is a single XLR microphone input with built-in 48V phantom power, which means you can run a condenser mic straight into it without an extra preamp box. If you already own a USB mic, stop here — the sheet is explicit that this input is not available for USB microphones.
The part I find genuinely useful is the channel layout. Four independent channels give you separate volume control over the microphone, line in, headphone and line out. That means you can ride your voice, your game audio and your music bed independently without tabbing out to software mid-stream. A smooth volume slider fader handles the mic, and the mute and monitor buttons sit on the front where you can actually reach them — muting kills background noise from reaching your broadcast, and live monitoring lets you hear yourself as you speak.
Beyond the basics, there are four recordable sound-effect buttons you can trigger at a press, six voice-changing modes and 12 auto-tune settings for changing your vocal tone. The RGB lighting rotates in a flowing or frozen pattern and is designed to be vivid without being harsh. Connectivity is a USB-C port for power and computer connection, and it's plug-and-play on Mac OS and Windows, with two PC settings or audio sources you can physically balance. Around the edges: 3.5mm line in and line out jacks, a headset jack, a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable and USB cable in the box, a 0.5 kg body at roughly 4.44 by 6.45 by 1.6 inches, and a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Buy it if you're on OBS, Twitch, YouTube or TikTok and want tactile hardware control instead of software menus. Skip it if you need headphones, if your mic is USB, or if you'd rather not buy a shielded XLR cable separately — audio quality here is influenced by cable length, shielding and connector condition, so that's a real line item to plan for.
The A71 is a wired over-ear headphone with a mic bolted on as a bonus — and that's the appeal. The headline spec is the 50mm dynamic driver pair running 20Hz to 20,000Hz, which is the full audible range and the kind of low-end extension that makes basslines and kick drums feel present rather than polite. For music listening, movie watching and game audio, that's the core of the product.
The detachable boom mic is the second half of the story. It's a professional-grade design with noise-canceling technology aimed at voice pickup for gaming, Zoom calls and podcasting, and because it detaches, the headphones convert into plain everyday cans when you're done. That's a genuinely flexible arrangement for someone who doesn't want two separate pairs on the desk.
Comfort is clearly built for long sessions: memory-protein ear cushions plus an adjustable headband, with a circumaural over-ear fit in black synthetic leather, fabric, plastic and metal. Wired 3.5mm connectivity means no charging and no latency concern, and dual 3.5mm AUX cables are included so it works with PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Mac and mobile devices — though the sheet notes an adapter may be required on Xbox.
Buy it if you want one cable-connected pair that handles listening and talking, especially across multiple platforms. Skip it if you need active noise cancellation — noise control is listed as none — or if you specifically want wireless freedom, since this is a wired-only design with push-button controls and no built-in media controls beyond that.
• Best for controlling an XLR microphone → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. It's the only one of the two with an XLR input and 48V phantom power.
• Best for actually hearing your audio → OneOdio A71. The mixer has no drivers; the A71 has 50mm dynamic drivers rated 20Hz–20,000Hz.
• Best for live streaming control → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. Four independent channels, a volume fader, and front-mounted mute and monitor buttons.
• Best for calls and voice chat on a budget of desk space → OneOdio A71. The detachable noise-canceling boom mic covers Zoom, podcasting and in-game comms in one piece of gear.
• Best for fun on-air effects → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. Four recordable sound-effect buttons, six voice-change modes and 12 auto-tune settings.
• Best for cross-platform flexibility → OneOdio A71. Dual 3.5mm AUX cables cover PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Mac and mobile, with an adapter possibly needed on Xbox.
• Best for long wear comfort → OneOdio A71. Memory-protein cushions and an adjustable headband are specified for extended 8-hour sessions.
• Best for a beginner DJ desk → both, in different roles. In my opinion the mixer handles your mic and channel balancing while the A71 handles monitoring — they're complements, not rivals.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the OneOdio A71. Here's my reasoning: it produces sound, which is the thing most people actually need first, and the 50mm drivers plus the detachable boom mic cover listening, gaming and voice work in a single wired package that works across nearly every platform. The FIFINE mixer is the stronger product for a specific job — running an XLR mic with real faders — but it's a control surface that assumes you already own headphones and a microphone. If your goal is a streaming or podcasting desk built around an XLR mic, I'd flip that recommendation and take the FIFINE. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one number that should settle a close call.
FAQ
can you dj with studio headphones
Yes. Studio headphones are commonly used for DJ monitoring because they're built to reproduce a wide frequency range accurately — the A71 covers 20Hz to 20,000Hz with 50mm drivers. What matters more for DJ work is a closed over-ear fit, a wired connection and enough durability for repeated use, all of which the A71's over-ear circumaural design and 3.5mm wired connection provide.
You need some way to hear the next track before the crowd does, and headphones are the standard tool for that. In a two-product setup like this, the A71 is the piece that does the listening, while the FIFINE mixer is the piece that balances microphone, line-in and output levels. The mixer has a headphone channel and monitoring, but it doesn't produce sound on its own.
why do djs need headphones
Because DJing is about cueing — hearing a track privately while another one plays out loud. Headphones let you match tempo and find your entry point without the audience hearing it. The A71 suits this with its over-ear seal, wired 3.5mm connection and full-range 20Hz–20,000Hz drivers, and its detachable boom mic is a bonus if you also talk on stream or on calls.
is a gaming audio mixer or a headset better for streaming
They do different jobs, so it isn't either-or. The FIFINE mixer gives you XLR mic input, 48V phantom power, four independent channels and sound effects — the control side. The A71 gives you the listening and voice-capture side. For a full stream, the mixer plus a separate XLR mic and a pair of headphones is the more capable route; for a simple setup, the A71 alone covers audio out and voice in.
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