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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 complete wired gaming headset with big drivers, a twist-lock detachable boom mic and a spare splitter cable in the box, choose IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4; if you need a cheap replacement boom mic for an Astro A40 or A40 TR you already own, choose weishan A40.
These two listings look similar from the search bar because both mention a detachable microphone, but they solve completely different problems. One is a whole headset. The other is a single part. Buying the wrong one is the fastest way to waste a return label, so let's separate them properly.
• IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4 — biggest strength: a full over-ear headset with 57mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, a 20Hz–20kHz range and a twist-lock detachable boom mic.
• IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4 — biggest trade-off: it's wired only, uses a 3.5mm 4-pole plug that may need the included splitter on a desktop PC, and the plastic ABS build is tough rather than premium.
• weishan A40 — biggest strength: a unidirectional, bendable boom mic with a gold-plated 3.5mm plug, foam windscreen and a 78dB signal-to-noise figure, made to revive an Astro A40 / A40 TR.
• weishan A40 — biggest trade-off: it is not a headset at all. No ear cups, no drivers, no audio output — it only works if you already own the compatible Astro headset.
• Who each pick is for: IO CREST for someone building a setup from nothing; weishan for someone repairing an Astro A40 they already have.
This is a stereo, over-ear wired headset aimed at PC owners first, with PS4, Xbox One, mobile, tablet and Mac also listed as compatible. The headline number is the 57mm dynamic driver — large for a gaming headset — running at 32 ohms with a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response. In plain terms, that combination is about giving game audio weight and definition rather than a thin, tinny mix, which is exactly what the "superior audio experience" pitch is leaning on.
Comfort is handled by the floating ear cup design, which is shaped to follow the angle of your ears rather than pressing flat against them — a real consideration over long sessions. The enclosure is ABS thermoplastic, and the listing frames that as resilience for backpack travel and desk drops, which tells you the intent: rugged, not luxurious. You get a volume control and sound isolation, and the box includes a 3.5mm audio splitter cable alongside the 4-pole headset plug.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one wired headset to cover PC gaming, chat and casual listening, and who values a mic they can pop off. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, a premium metal build, or who already owns a working Astro A40 and just needs a mic. Also worth noting — it's a stereo headset, not a surround one, so don't buy it expecting virtual 7.1.
weishan A40: Who It's For
Read the title carefully: this is a microphone, not a headset. It exists for one job — replacing a broken, lost or worn-out boom mic on an Astro A40 or A40 TR. If that's your situation, the fit list is PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, computer and phone, and it plugs in with a 3.5mm jack.
The design choices make sense for that job. It's a unidirectional boom, which means it listens mainly from one direction — the idea being that it picks up your voice and rejects more of the room around you. The neck is a bendable metal hose covered in soft silicone, adjustable through 360 degrees, so you can bring the capsule closer to your mouth for clearer pickup. The whole mic is about 7.09 inches long, and a foam windscreen is included to filter plosives and keep dust and moisture off the element.
Two details are worth calling out honestly. The plug is gold plated, which the listing ties to reduced signal loss, and the stated signal-to-noise ratio is 78dB with a 20kHz frequency response. The listing also flags a battery as the power source, which is unusual for a passive boom mic and something to be aware of rather than assume away. Warranty is listed as a one-year replacement.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a complete setup from scratch → IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4. It's a headset with drivers, ear cups, cable and mic; the weishan has none of that.
• Best for repairing an existing Astro A40 → weishan A40. It's purpose-built for that headset family and nothing else.
• Best for detachable-mic flexibility → IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4. The twist-lock boom comes off and goes back on, so the headset doubles as plain headphones.
• Best for mic positioning control → weishan A40. A bendable, 360-degree neck plus a unidirectional capsule is built for getting the mic close to your mouth.
• Best for big-driver game audio → IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4. 57mm dynamic drivers at 32 ohms with a 20Hz–20kHz range is the more audio-focused spec sheet.
• Best for multi-device voice chat → weishan A40. PS5, PS4, PC, Mac and phone are all listed for the mic's 3.5mm plug.
• Best for rough handling → IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4. ABS thermoplastic is called out for surviving backpack travel and desk drops.
• Best for buyers who want zero compatibility homework → IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4. The weishan only makes sense if you already know you own an A40 or A40 TR.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison should buy the IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4, because it's an actual headset — 57mm drivers, floating ear cups, a twist-lock detachable mic and a splitter cable in the box — and it works out of the box on PC, console and mobile. I'd only point you to the weishan A40 if you already own an Astro A40 or A40 TR and your current mic is dead or missing; in that narrow case it's the smarter fix. If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
FAQ
are studio headphones better than gaming headsets
what headphones do pro gamers use
There's no single answer, and it changes by game and player. What the spec sheets here show is that the practical requirements are lightweight comfort over long sessions and a clear mic — the IO CREST addresses that with floating ear cups and a twist-lock detachable boom mic, while the weishan A40 is only a mic for an existing Astro A40.
do all headphones have mics
No. Plenty of headphones have no microphone whatsoever, and the weishan A40 is a good illustration of the reverse case — it's a mic with no ear cups or drivers, so it can't work as headphones. The IO CREST is a headset, meaning audio and mic are both included, with the mic removable.
can studio headphones be used for gaming
Yes, they can. The catch is you'd need a separate mic for chat, since studio models typically omit one. The IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4 is effectively the all-in-one version of that idea: over-ear 32-ohm drivers for the audio, plus a detachable boom mic and a 3.5mm splitter for voice.
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