We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired in-ear monitor that blocks the room out and lets you swap cables when yours wears out, choose Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM; if you need a USB-C gaming set that pinpoints footsteps and plugs straight into a handheld, choose keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. Both are noise isolating, wired, and built around hybrid drivers. Neither has active noise cancellation, and neither is a true wireless pair — so if you're hunting for the best active noise cancelling true wireless earbuds for gym, this isn't that article. What you get here is passive isolation and a cable, which for a lot of people is exactly the point in a gym, at a desk, or on a commute.
• Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM — biggest strength: a metal in-ear housing that seals well, so it physically blocks ambient noise, plus a standard 0.75mm 2-pin detachable cable that accepts almost any aftermarket replacement.
• Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM — biggest trade-off: it terminates in a 3.5mm plug only, so phones and handhelds without a headphone jack need an adapter, and there's no USB-C option in the box.
• keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C — biggest strength: a dedicated balanced armature aimed at gaming detail above 1.2kHz, tuned to pull out footsteps and weapon cues, with both 3.5mm and Type-C connectors to choose from.
• keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C — biggest trade-off: the noise control is sound isolation only, it's not water resistant, and the touch controls mean no physical buttons to feel for.
• Who each pick is for: the KZ ZES suits listeners who want a comfortable sealed fit and cable flexibility; the CCA Xyrra suits gamers who want positional audio and a plug-and-play USB-C connection.
The KZ ZES is a hybrid-driver in-ear monitor with a metal housing, and the design brief here is isolation first. The shell is shaped to seat deep and seal, which is what actually kills ambient noise — not electronics. Kinboofi's own description frames it as sound-canceling in the sense that the seal stops outside noise from interfering with what you're listening to, whether that's on stage or on the move. That's passive isolation, and it's the honest way to read it.
The specs back up a fairly easy-to-drive set. Impedance is listed at both 24Ω and 32Ω depending on which field you read, sensitivity is 112dB/mW, and the frequency range runs 10–20000Hz. Low impedance plus high sensitivity generally means a phone or laptop can push it without a dongle amp. The cable is 1.25m with a 3.5mm plug and 0.75mm gold-plated 2-pin connectors — the standard KZ-style interface, which matters because it means you can swap in a replacement or an upgrade cable instead of retiring the whole set when the wire fails. You get three pairs of silicone tips and a media control on the cable, and the mic is optional depending on which version you pick, so check the variant before buying if you need calls.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants a sealed in-ear monitor for focused listening, practice, or a noisy commute, and who values being able to replace the cable. The isolation-focused fit also makes it a reasonable headphone for gym use where you want the room muted and you're not worried about sweat resistance claims — because there aren't any.
keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C: Who It's For
The CCA Xyrra is the more gaming-specific of the two. It runs a hybrid setup too — a 10mm metal composite dynamic driver handling the low end and a 30118 balanced armature positioned at the nozzle to reproduce everything above 1.2kHz. That split matters for shooters. The BA facing the nozzle is meant to keep phase distortion low and hand off cleanly from bass into mids and treble, which is exactly the range where footsteps, reloads, and weapon switches live. The tuning is described as optimized in the mid-to-high frequencies to separate those cues from ambient noise — again, isolation doing the work, not ANC.
Comfort and build are where it pulls ahead for long sessions. Each earbud is listed at 6 grams, made from skin-friendly anti-allergy resin with a waved cover formed by high-pressure injection molding and a mirror finish. The shell is Black, and the enclosure material is listed as zinc alloy. Light plus resin plus soft silicone tips is a sensible recipe for a secure fit over hours of play. The cable is a dual parallel OFC design with QDC connectors, detachable, and you pick either a 3.5mm or a Type-C termination — the Type-C version is what makes it plug-and-play into a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch, or a USB-C phone with no adapter.
Audio numbers: 27Ω impedance, 110dB sensitivity, and a frequency response listed up to 40kHz. It's not water resistant, and control is touch-based rather than a physical inline remote. Specific uses listed include gaming, music, fitness, school, travel, and commute, and compatible devices include USB-C smartphones from Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, and Google, plus MacBooks.
Who should buy it: competitive and casual gamers on USB-C hardware who want directional cues and a light, comfortable fit for long sessions. It also works as a general wired IEM for music — the tuning is described as bright on rock, electronic, and synth material, and still suited to classical, folk, vocals, and pop.
Who should skip it: if you sweat heavily and want a rated set, the lack of water resistance is a real limitation. If you prefer physical buttons over touch controls, that's another reason to pause. And if you're on a 3.5mm-only source, you'll want to confirm you're buying the 3.5mm variant.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for cable flexibility and repair → Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM. The 0.75mm 2-pin interface matches a huge range of aftermarket 2-pin 3.5mm cables.
• Best for USB-C plug-and-play → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. Choose the Type-C connector and skip the adapter entirely.
• Best for a 3.5mm-only setup → Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM. It's a straight 3.5mm jack with a media control on the cable.
• Best for long-session comfort → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. 6-gram resin earbuds are the lighter, more fatigue-resistant option on paper.
• Best for noise blocking by fit alone → a tie. Both rely on sealing and sound isolation, not active noise cancellation. The KZ ZES is explicitly framed around blocking ambient noise; the Xyrra is framed around isolating game cues from the room.
• Best for gym and commute use → Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM, with the caveat that neither set carries a water-resistance rating.
• Best for music-versus-gaming versatility → keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C. It's positioned as tuned for both gaming and music listening.
In my opinion, the keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C is the one I'd buy, because the dedicated balanced armature and the sound-localization tuning give it a clear purpose that the KZ ZES doesn't match, and the Type-C option means it works with the hardware most people actually own now. If gaming cues and a light, comfortable fit are your priorities — at a desk or as a headphone for gym sessions on a USB-C phone — the Xyrra is the better fit. I'd pick the KZ ZES instead if you live on 3.5mm, want to swap cables freely, or just want a sealed metal in-ear monitor for focused listening. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since that's the one thing specs can't tell you.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation means the earbuds physically block outside sound by sealing your ear canal, rather than using electronics to cancel it. Both the KZ ZES and the CCA Xyrra list their noise control as sound isolation, so the seal from the tips is what does the work. That's different from active noise cancellation, which neither of these has.
are noise cancelling headphones good for gaming
Active noise cancellation can help in a loud room, but it isn't required for good gaming audio — what matters more is positional accuracy and detail in the mid and high frequencies. The CCA Xyrra targets exactly that with a balanced armature reproducing content above 1.2kHz. Isolation from a good seal gets you most of the way there without ANC.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
There are gaming headsets with active noise cancellation, but these two aren't among them — both are wired in-ear monitors using passive sound isolation. If ANC is a hard requirement, look for a model that explicitly lists it. If you just want the room muted and clear game cues, the Xyrra's isolation and tuning cover that need.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
I won't hand you a universal winner, because "best" depends on your source and your ears. In my opinion, if you're on USB-C and want gaming-focused tuning, the keephifi CCA Xyrra USB-C is the stronger pick of these two; if you want a 3.5mm set with swappable cables and a metal sealed housing, the Kinboofi KZ ZES IEM is the better call. Check the current price on Amazon and match the connector to your device first.
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