How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a single wired gaming headset with a boom mic, big drivers and console-friendly controls, choose IMYB A36; if you need a cheap multi-pack of plain in-ear buds for music players, laptops and spares, choose CCeCCe 4.
• IMYB A36 — biggest strength: a full over-ear gaming headset package: 50mm dynamic drivers, an omni-directional noise-isolating boom mic, a 6.5ft anti-tangle braided cable, rotary volume knob and a one-button mic mute.
• IMYB A36 — biggest trade-off: it's wired only, it's a bulky 0.77lb over-ear set, and older Xbox One consoles need an adapter that isn't in the box.
• CCeCCe 4 — biggest strength: four pairs of in-ear buds in one pack (Red or Golden, Blue, Silver, Green) with reinforced fiber-cloth braided cords and reflective detailing.
• CCeCCe 4 — biggest trade-off: no microphone at all. You can listen, but you cannot take calls or chat in a game.
• Who each pick is for: pick the A36 if you game on PC or console and need to talk; pick the CCeCCe 4 if you want cheap, light, no-fuss earbuds and don't need a mic.
The A36 is a classic over-ear gaming headset, and its whole design is built around one job: putting you in a game and letting you talk while you're there. The 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers are the headline spec here, paired with a 32-ohm impedance and a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range. Larger drivers and that tuning generally point to a fuller low end and a wider sense of depth, which is exactly what you want for footsteps, engines and explosions. The oval faux-leather cushions and thickened headband padding exist to keep that weight tolerable across a long session, and at 0.77lb it sits in the normal range for a wired over-ear headset rather than the heavy end.
Connectivity is where it earns its keep. The 3.5mm jack plus the included 1-to-2 splitter cable covers PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, laptops, tablets and phones. That splitter matters more than people expect: it's what lets a single 3.5mm plug feed separate headphone and mic sockets on a desktop. The 6.5ft braided cable gives you enough slack to lean back, and the rotary volume knob and mic mute button sit on the cable, so you're not alt-tabbing or digging through menus mid-match. The omni-directional mic with noise isolation is there for voice chat, and the ABS build keeps it light rather than premium-feeling.
Buy the A36 if: you game on PC or console, you need a mic, and you want one headset that covers several devices. Skip it if: you want something pocketable, you only listen to music on a phone, or you're on an older Xbox One and don't want to source an adapter. Also skip it if you need wireless — this is a wired-only headset.
The CCeCCe 4 is the opposite philosophy entirely. This is a four-pack of wired in-ear buds sharing one 3.5mm three-pole plug, with a 110cm (3.6ft) cord on each pair and a fiber-cloth braided jacket that's described as reinforced and durable. The colors are Blue, Red, Silver and Green, with a Red or Golden variant in the mix, and each cord carries a reflective line so it catches light. It's about as simple as audio gets: plug in, press play.
The specs tell you what to expect and what not to expect. At 32 ohms with 95dB sensitivity, these are easy to drive — a phone, an MP3 player, a cassette recorder, a CD player, a laptop or a desktop will all push them to a comfortable volume without any help. The rounded-tip in-ear shape and PC housing are built for a light, unobtrusive fit, and the sound isolation comes from the tips sealing in your ear canal rather than from any electronics. The 0.04kg weight means you'll forget you're wearing them. What they are not: there is no microphone anywhere in this package, so no calls, no voice chat, no headset duties.
Buy the CCeCCe 4 if: you want several cheap pairs to scatter around — one in a bag, one at a desk, one for a music player, one as a backup — or you share a household where buds go missing. Skip it if: you need to talk to anyone. No mic means no gaming comms and no phone calls, and the three-pole plug reflects that.
• Best for gaming and voice chat → IMYB A36. The boom mic, mute button and stereo subwoofer tuning are all aimed at that use.
• Best for pure music listening → CCeCCe 4. No mic, no bulk, just in-ear sound from a 3.5mm jack.
• Best for multiple devices on one headset → IMYB A36. PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, laptop, tablet and phone, with a splitter cable included.
• Best for having spares around → CCeCCe 4. Four pairs in one pack beats one pair you have to remember to carry.
• Best for long sessions → IMYB A36. Over-ear cushions and thickened headband padding beat in-ear tips for multi-hour wear.
• Best for portability → CCeCCe 4. At 0.04kg with a 3.6ft cord, they disappear into a pocket.
• Best for cable durability → roughly a tie, different reasons. The A36 uses a 6.5ft anti-tangle braided cable; the CCeCCe 4 uses a reinforced fiber-cloth braided cord. The A36's is longer, the CCeCCe 4's comes in four copies.
• Best if you're on older Xbox One hardware → CCeCCe 4 (by default). The A36 needs an adapter for older Xbox One, and it isn't included.
My Verdict
how to make cheap headphones sound better
Start with fit and seal — in-ear tips like the CCeCCe 4's rounded tips only isolate properly when they sit snugly. After that, check the source: both of these are 32-ohm sets, so they're easy to drive, and a better-sealed fit plus a decent equalizer on your device usually does more than any accessory.
how to get cheap headphones
Know what you're giving up before you buy. The CCeCCe 4 drops the microphone entirely in exchange for four pairs; the IMYB A36 keeps the mic and adds a boom arm, controls and a longer cable. Match the spec to the job rather than chasing the lowest number, then check the current price on Amazon.
what budget headphones
Budget headphones sit in a few clear categories: over-ear wired gaming sets like the A36, with 50mm drivers, a mic and inline controls, and in-ear wired buds like the CCeCCe 4, with 32-ohm impedance, 95dB sensitivity and no mic. Both are 3.5mm wired, which is the simplest, most compatible connection you can buy.
how long do cheap headphones last
Nobody can promise a number, but the build specs point the way. The A36 carries a 3-year limited hardware warranty and uses a braided anti-tangle cable with ABS and faux-leather parts. The CCeCCe 4 carries a 6-month warranty and uses a reinforced fiber-cloth cord. Cables and joints are the usual failure points on both.
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