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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, multi-platform gaming headset with a boom mic and a huge 50mm driver, choose IMYB A36; if you need a wireless neckband for music, calls and workouts with retractable earbuds, choose Tyxmere 5.3.
These two products barely overlap. One is a wired over-ear gaming headset built around a 3.5mm jack. The other is a Bluetooth neckband designed to sit on your collarbone while you run. Picking between them isn't about which is "better" in the abstract — it's about which job you actually have. Let me break down what each one is built to do.
• IMYB A36 biggest strength: 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers, a noise-isolating omnidirectional boom mic, and a wired 3.5mm connection that works on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, laptop and phone.
• IMYB A36 biggest trade-off: It's wired only — there's no Bluetooth, so you're tethered to your device by a 6.5ft braided cable, and Xbox One/Series X/S may need an adapter.
• Tyxmere 5.3 biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.3 wireless freedom with a 10m (33ft) range, up to 20 hours of music time, and retractable earbuds that tuck away into the neckband.
• Tyxmere 5.3 biggest trade-off: It's in-ear only with no 3.5mm jack, and it's aimed at music, calls and light sweat exposure — not a boom-mic desk setup.
• Who IMYB A36 is for: Gamers and anyone who wants a single wired headset for a console, a desktop PC and voice chat.
• Who Tyxmere 5.3 is for: Runners, commuters and remote workers who want hands-free audio without a cable running to their pocket.
The IMYB A36 is a classic over-ear gaming headset, and its spec sheet reads exactly like one. The headline number is the 50mm neodymium magnet driver — a large dynamic driver that IMYB says is tuned to add depth and expressiveness to voice and game audio. Big drivers in a closed over-ear shell generally translate to more low-end presence and a wider sense of space, which is what you want for footsteps, explosions and ambient sound design. Frequency response is listed as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, impedance is 32 ohm, and sensitivity is 42 dB. That 32-ohm impedance matters: it's low enough that a standard controller jack, laptop port or phone can drive it without a separate amp.
The second thing that defines this headset is connectivity. It's wired, full stop — a 3.5mm jack with a 6.5ft anti-tangle braided cable, plus a 1-to-2 3.5mm splitter in the box for devices that separate headphone and mic inputs. IMYB lists compatibility with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, 3DS, laptop, tablet, iPad and mobile, with a note that older Xbox versions require an adapter. That's an unusually broad compatibility list, and it's the main reason to buy this over a wireless headset: no pairing, no latency, no charging.
On the mic side, you get an integrated omnidirectional microphone with a noise-isolating function and a dedicated mute button, plus a rotary volume knob on the cable. For voice chat, that's the practical combination — mute without leaving your game, volume without alt-tabbing. The build is ABS plastic with faux leather ear cushions, a flexible headband with thickened padding, and a claimed weight of just 0.77 lb. It ships with a 3-year limited hardware warranty.
Who should buy it: anyone who plays on a console or desktop and wants one wired headset that handles game audio and voice chat across multiple platforms. The 50mm driver and boom mic are the point. Who should skip it: if you want to move around the room, take calls away from your desk, or listen while running, a wired over-ear headset is the wrong tool — you'll want a wireless option instead. Also skip it if you're on an older Xbox and don't want to deal with an adapter.
The Tyxmere 5.3 is a different animal entirely. It's a neckband Bluetooth headphone — the kind that rests around your neck with two retractable earbuds on cords you pull out to your preferred length and let snap back when you're done. Tyxmere says the retract system was upgraded and the wire is rated to retract more than 5,000 times, which is the spec that matters most on this style of headphone, since the retract mechanism is usually the first thing to fail.
Wireless is the core feature. Bluetooth 5.3 gives you a 10m (33ft) range and the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, so you can be paired to a laptop and a phone and switch between them. There's no 3.5mm jack at all — this is Bluetooth-only, compatible with Android, iOS, tablets and computers. The 180 mAh battery is rated for up to 16 hours of talk time, up to 20 hours of music playback, 240 hours of standby, and roughly 1.5 hours to a full charge. For a neckband, those are strong numbers, and it also reports battery status on your device.
Audio and calls run through CVC 8.0 noise-canceling technology, which is designed to filter background noise on calls so your voice comes through clearly. There's a built-in mic for hands-free calling, and the neckband vibrates when a call comes in — a genuinely useful feature if the earbuds aren't in your ears at that moment. The whole thing weighs 1.5 oz, uses soft silicone, and carries an IPX5 sweatproof rating, which Tyxmere positions for running, hiking, cycling, gym and fitness use.
Who should buy it: runners, gym-goers, commuters and people who take a lot of calls and want their hands free with nothing clipped to their ear. Who should skip it: if you need a boom mic for desk voice chat, competitive game audio, or a wired connection to a console, this isn't the product — it's in-ear, wireless-only, and tuned for music and phone calls.
• Best for console and PC gaming → IMYB A36. Wired 3.5mm, 50mm drivers, boom mic with mute, splitter cable included.
• Best for running, gym and cycling → Tyxmere 5.3. IPX5 sweatproof, 1.5 oz neckband, retractable buds, no cable to your device.
• Best for voice chat and streaming → IMYB A36. Omnidirectional noise-isolating mic with a dedicated mute button.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Tyxmere 5.3. Up to 20 hours of music, 16 hours of talk, 10m range, dual-device pairing.
• Best for long desk sessions → IMYB A36. 0.77 lb with padded headband and skin-friendly faux leather cushions, and no battery to run down.
• Best for calls on the move → Tyxmere 5.3. CVC 8.0 call noise cancellation plus vibration alerts for incoming calls.
• Best for multi-device households → IMYB A36. Works across PC, PS, Xbox, Switch, tablet and phone; just watch the older-Xbox adapter note.
• Best for zero setup and zero charging → IMYB A36. Plug in and go; nothing to pair and nothing to charge.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the IMYB A36 — but only because my use case is a desk and a console. In my opinion, the 50mm drivers, the boom mic with mute and the sheer breadth of 3.5mm compatibility make it the more versatile tool for anyone who games or takes voice calls at a screen. The Tyxmere 5.3 is the better choice if your audio life happens away from a desk: running, commuting, taking calls with your hands full. They solve different problems, so match the product to the problem rather than to the label. Whichever you land on, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
FAQ
It's Bluetooth-only with no 3.5mm jack, and Tyxmere lists compatibility with Bluetooth devices like Android and iOS phones, tablets and computers. Consoles generally don't accept Bluetooth audio directly, so for PS5 or Xbox the wired IMYB A36 is the safer fit.
The Tyxmere 5.3, clearly. It's IPX5 sweatproof, weighs 1.5 oz, sits on your neck, and has retractable earbuds. The IMYB A36 is a 0.77 lb over-ear headset with a cable — not built for exercise.
Only the Tyxmere 5.3 has a battery. Tyxmere rates it at up to 20 hours of music, 16 hours of talk and 240 hours of standby with about 1.5 hours to charge. The IMYB A36 is wired and needs no charging at all.
Both product pages list their own pricing on Amazon, and it changes over time. Use the price button on this page to check the latest figure for whichever model you're leaning toward — I don't quote prices here because they move.
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