How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, over-ear gaming headset with a dial-style volume control, choose IMYB A88; if you need a wireless Xbox gamepad that also handles headphone volume on the controller itself, choose GMVOX Controller.
• IMYB A88 — biggest strength: A true gaming headset build: 50mm dynamic drivers, 7.1 surround sound with deep bass, a 120° adjustable noise-canceling mic, and a lightweight double-reduce-pressure headband with protein leather ear cups.
• IMYB A88 — biggest trade-off: It is strictly wired (3.5mm jack, no wireless), and older Xbox One controllers need an adapter for the mic and audio to work.
• GMVOX Controller — biggest strength: A wireless Xbox pad with a 1000mAh battery, two remappable back buttons, Turbo, dual vibration motors, and on-controller volume/mute buttons plus a 3.5mm headphone jack.
• GMVOX Controller — biggest trade-off: It is a controller, not a headset — it produces no audio of its own, so you still need your own wired headphones to hear anything through that jack.
• Who IMYB A88 is for: Anyone who wants one plug-and-play headset for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, laptop or phone.
• Who GMVOX Controller is for: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Android or PC players who want a wireless pad with back buttons and in-hand volume control.
The IMYB A88 is a traditional over-ear gaming headset, and its design choices point in one direction: long sessions. The frame is lightweight, the headband uses a double reduce-pressure design, and the ear cups are wrapped in soft protein leather. Those three details exist for the same reason — so the headset doesn't turn into a headache two hours into a raid. The ear cups are rounded and over-ear, and the enclosure is ABS with a fabric carrying case included.
On the audio side, IMYB specs 50mm high-density dynamic drivers, a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance and 42dB sensitivity. Practically, 32 ohm is an easy load — the kind of headset that gets loud enough off a plain controller jack or a laptop port without a DAC. The 7.1 surround sound with deep bass is aimed squarely at positional audio: footsteps, reloads, direction of fire. The mic is described as sensitive and noise-canceling, non-static when recording, 120° adjustable, long and flexible — so you can park it near your mouth or flip it out of the way.
GMVOX Controller: Who It's For
The GMVOX Controller is a different category of product entirely, and it's important to be honest about that: it's a wireless Xbox-style gamepad, not a headset. Its job is input, not output. Still, it has one feature that overlaps directly with this comparison — volume control — which is why shoppers end up weighing the two against each other.
Its spec sheet is gamepad-focused. Sixteen buttons, dual vibration motors for feedback in shooting and fighting games, two back buttons you can program or map so you can trigger combos without lifting your thumbs off the sticks, and a Turbo mode that repeats a held button for you. The battery is 1000mAh and it connects wirelessly without needing a 2.4GHz adapter. Compatibility is listed as Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Android and PC.
Then there's the part that matters here. The GMVOX has a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it has physical volume buttons: hold the left side to turn volume down, hold the right side to turn it up, and press the mute/unmute button while holding either side to mute. That means you control your headset's loudness from the pad in your hands, without alt-tabbing or reaching for a dial. Voice chat runs through that same jack, so you can talk to teammates without a separate audio device.
Buy it if you're on Xbox (or Android/PC) and want a wireless pad with back buttons, Turbo and on-controller volume. Skip it if you need actual headphones — GMVOX makes none, and the 3.5mm jack is only as good as the headset you plug into it.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for listening to game audio → IMYB A88. GMVOX has no speakers or drivers of any kind.
• Best for voice chat → IMYB A88, which includes a dedicated 120° adjustable noise-canceling boom mic. GMVOX only provides the jack and volume/mute buttons; the mic must come from your own headset.
• Best for competitive input advantage → GMVOX Controller, thanks to two remappable back buttons and Turbo mode.
• Best for controller feel and feedback → GMVOX Controller, with dual vibration motors and 16 buttons.
• Best for multi-platform plug-and-play → IMYB A88, which covers PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One Series X/S, Switch, 3DS, laptop, tablet, iPad and phone over 3.5mm.
• Best for long-session comfort → IMYB A88, with its lightweight frame, double reduce-pressure headband and protein leather ear cups.
• Best if you already own a headset → GMVOX Controller. Plug your existing wired headphones into the jack and you get both audio and volume control from the pad.
In my opinion, these two aren't really competitors — they answer different questions. If your problem is "I can't hear the game properly and my mic is bad," I'd buy the IMYB A88. It's the complete audio solution: drivers, surround, mic, comfort and a wide 3.5mm compatibility list, with a 2-year manufacturer warranty behind it. If your problem is "my Xbox controller is worn out and I want back buttons plus easy volume control," I'd buy the GMVOX Controller and pair it with a headset I already own. Decide which problem you actually have, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
Both. The IMYB A88 has a volume control on the headset itself, and the GMVOX Controller has volume buttons on the pad — hold left to lower, hold right to raise, and use the mute/unmute button to silence. The difference is where your hand goes: headset versus controller.
Do I need both?
Yes for Xbox One Series X/S, but note that older Xbox One controllers require an adapter for the mic and audio to pass through the 3.5mm jack. On PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, laptop and phone it's a straight 3.5mm connection.
GMVOX is the only one with a battery at all — a 1000mAh cell — so it's the one you charge. IMYB A88 has no battery because it's wired; its durability story is different, built around a hand-knit adjustable headband, a long-lasting case, a braided cable and materials the brand says were tested for wear.
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