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If you want a wired over-ear gaming headset with big 50mm drivers and a boom mic you can rely on for long shifts, choose IMYB A36; if you need lightweight clip-on earbuds that never fall off and disappear into your pocket between rounds, choose KZ Gale. I'm framing this whole comparison around nurses who game on breaks and after shifts, because that's exactly the buyer torn between these two — and the honest answer is that they solve two different problems.
• IMYB A36 biggest strength: Over-ear design with 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers, a flexible padded headband, and a noise-isolating boom mic on a 6.5ft anti-tangle braided cable — a full-size gaming headset experience.
• IMYB A36 biggest trade-off: It's an over-ear wired headset at 0.77lb, so it's bulkier to carry and warmer on your ears during a long session.
• KZ Gale biggest strength: Ear-hook in-ear design built to stay put, dual omnidirectional condenser mics, and a 16 ohm / 116 dB sensitivity spec that's easy to drive from a phone or controller.
• KZ Gale biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear monitor, so it can't match the physical heft and soundstage of a large over-ear cup, and it relies on ear-hook fit rather than a headband.
• Pick IMYB A36 if you want an around-the-house or desk headset with a boom mic and full over-ear isolation.
• Pick KZ Gale if you want something you can drop in a scrubs pocket, clip on in seconds, and use on the move.
The A36 is the classic wired gaming headset formula done at a budget-friendly spec level. IMYB pairs 50mm neodymium magnet drivers with a 32 ohm impedance, a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range, and 42 dB sensitivity. That combination tells you two things: the large drivers are there for low-end punch and a sense of depth in game audio, and the 32 ohm load is easy enough for a controller, laptop or phone to drive without a separate amp. The mic is an omni-directional noise-isolating unit with a dedicated mute button, so you can kill your mic fast without digging through software.
Physically, it's built for sitting down. Soft skin-friendly ear cushions, a flexible headband with thickening pads, and a total weight of 0.77lb. The cable is 6.5ft of anti-tangle braided cord with a rotary volume knob and mic mute button inline. In the box you get the headset, a 1-to-2 3.5mm audio jack splitter cable (handy for desktops with separate mic and headphone ports), and a manual. It's wired only — no Bluetooth — and it carries a 3-year limited hardware warranty from IMYB.
Who should buy it: someone who games at a desk or couch, wants a boom mic close to their mouth, and prefers over-ear cups that physically block out a noisy room. In my opinion it's the better pick if you share a living space and need isolation without turning the volume up. Who should skip it: anyone who wants to game while walking around, or who hates warm ears after a couple of hours. If you want true wireless freedom, this isn't it — the A36 is a 3.5mm wired headset, full stop.
The Gale is a different animal entirely. It's a wired in-ear monitor with an ear-hook that KZ designed specifically so it won't work its way loose. Spec-wise it uses a balanced armature driver with a 16 ohm impedance, 116 dB sensitivity, and a claimed frequency range of 20 Hz–40,000 Hz. That 16 ohm / 116 dB pairing means it gets loud off almost anything — a phone, a Switch, a controller — without needing extra power. The sound profile is deliberately bass-forward, which is why KZ frames it around footsteps and explosions in FPS games.
Where the Gale earns its keep for a nurse is portability and fit. There's no headband, no ear-cup heat, and no "head dent." It folds into a pocket or a bag. The mic setup is two omnidirectional condenser mics with in-line controls for play/pause, calls, and voice assistant. KZ also markets one-click EQ tuning and a dual-mic noise-cancellation scheme it says outperforms traditional ENC for call clarity.
Who should buy it: nurses and anyone else who wants earbuds they can clip on in ten seconds, wear for hours without ear fatigue from a headband, and stash in a scrubs pocket. The ear-hook design is the whole point — it's the answer to "clip on earbuds for nurses" that won't pop out when you move. Who should skip it: anyone who wants the big physical presence and cup-based isolation of an over-ear headset, or who prefers a boom mic they can position right at their mouth. The Gale's mics are built into the earbud housing, not on a boom arm.
• Best for long desk sessions → IMYB A36. Over-ear cushions, padded headband, 0.77lb, and a boom mic that stays put.
• Best for portability and pocket carry → KZ Gale. No headband, ear-hook fit, folds away small.
• Best for noisy shared rooms → IMYB A36. Over-ear cups with sound isolation physically cover your ears.
• Best for gaming on the move or clipped on between tasks → KZ Gale. The ear-hook design is built so it doesn't fall out.
• Best for low-power devices → KZ Gale. 16 ohm impedance and 116 dB sensitivity are easier to drive than the A36's 32 ohm / 42 dB.
• Best for big-driver bass thump → IMYB A36. 50mm dynamic drivers move more air than any in-ear can.
• Best for mic flexibility → IMYB A36. A dedicated omni-directional boom mic with a mute button beats in-line earbud mics for voice pickup.
• Best for staying cool → KZ Gale. No ear cups means no heat buildup, which is exactly why KZ calls out the "not hot ears" angle.
In my opinion, if you're a nurse who games at a desk after a shift — or who wants a real headset with a proper boom mic and full over-ear isolation — I'd buy the IMYB A36. The 50mm drivers, 0.77lb padded build, and 3-year limited warranty make it the more substantial piece of gear, and the 6.5ft braided cable with inline controls is genuinely practical.
But if what you actually want is a pair of waterproof-friendly, pocket-sized clip on earbuds for nurses that stay put and don't heat your ears up, the KZ Gale wins that job cleanly — no over-ear headset can compete on portability. Decide which of those two lives you're living, and the choice makes itself.
FAQ
Wired. It connects over a 3.5mm jack and includes a 1-to-2 splitter cable for desktops with separate mic and headphone ports. There's no Bluetooth, so it's not a wireless option.
Yes — it's a 3.5mm wired in-ear with 16 ohm impedance and 116 dB sensitivity, so it's easy for a phone, Switch, or controller to drive. Devices without a headphone jack would need their own adapter.
The IMYB A36 uses full over-ear cups with sound isolation, which blocks more room noise overall. The KZ Gale relies on in-ear sealing, which helps but won't match a closed over-ear cup.
The IMYB A36's dedicated noise-isolating boom mic with a mute button is the stronger call setup. The KZ Gale's dual condenser mics and in-line call controls are fine for quick calls, but a boom mic sits closer to your mouth.
Before you decide, check the current price on Amazon for both — this page has a button for that, and the numbers change.
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