We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete set of wired in-ear gaming headphones with a detachable cable and detachable-mic flexibility built into the earpieces themselves, choose Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO; if you need to replace a broken or lost boom mic on an existing Razer Kraken V3 / Kraken V3 gaming headset, choose Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic. These two products sit in completely different lanes, and the detachable mic gaming headphones angle is exactly where the difference matters most.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO — biggest strength: A full in-ear monitor build with a 1BA + 1DD hybrid driver setup, a detachable C PIN 3.5mm cable, and a version that ships with an inline mic.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO — biggest trade-off: The on-cable control is a single button only and does not support volume control, so you adjust volume on your source device.
• Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic — biggest strength: A drop-in boom mic replacement made from durable metal, built specifically for Razer Kraken V3 / Kraken V3 headsets, with a unidirectional pickup pattern.
• Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic — biggest trade-off: It is a single-purpose accessory. It only makes sense if you already own a compatible Kraken V3 headset.
• Who each pick is for: Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO is for someone who wants one wired IEM that handles gaming, music and calls; Oilmal is for someone repairing or upgrading the mic on a headset they already own.
The KZ ZSN PRO X is an in-ear monitor, not a headset, and that distinction shapes everything about it. You get a redefined 10mm dual magnetic dynamic driver paired with a 30095 high-frequency balanced armature driver, tuned to widen the frequency response and bring vocals forward. In practice that means footsteps, gunfire and voice chat all sit in a cleaner, more separated space than a single-driver earbud manages. If you game in a noisy room, the sound isolation design is a real asset — the seal blocks outside noise so you can hear detail at lower volumes.
The physical build is worth talking about too. The shell mixes zinc alloy metal with resin, which gives it a durable feel without being heavy in the ear, and the curved cavity follows an ergonomic shape that sits tightly in the canal. The elastic memory PU tube hooks around the ear to keep the cable anchored, which matters during long sessions where a normal earbud would work its way loose. The 4-strand, 100-wire silver-plated copper cable is detachable via a C PIN connector, so if the cable ever fails you swap the cable instead of the whole earphone. Impedance is 25 ohm, which most phones and controllers drive without trouble.
The trade-offs are honest ones. This is a wired 3.5mm in-ear with no wireless mode, and the inline control is a single all-in-one button with no volume adjustment. The mic version works for calls and chat, but it is an inline mic on the cable, not a boom arm that sits near your mouth. Buy the KZ ZSN PRO X if you want one pair of wired IEMs that covers gaming, music and voice chat and you like the idea of a replaceable cable. Skip it if you need a dedicated boom mic, wireless freedom, or you dislike the deep-seated feel of an in-ear monitor.
The Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic is exactly what its name says: a detachable boom mic replacement for Razer Kraken V3 and Kraken V3 gaming headsets. It is not a headphone and it is not a mic for general use — it is a spare part, and that focus is its whole value. If your original Kraken V3 boom mic stopped working, got lost, or picked up damage, this is the piece that gets your headset back in service without replacing the entire headset.
The spec sheet is small but tells you what you need. It uses a 3.5mm plug, it is black to match the headset's finish, and the polar pattern is unidirectional — meaning it focuses on the sound in front of it and rejects more of the room around it than an omnidirectional capsule would. Frequency response runs up to 20 KHz, so voice reproduction covers the full range of human speech comfortably. Oilmal builds it from durable metal, which is the right call for a part that gets bent, swiveled and shoved into position every session. It is powered by the corded connection itself, so there is no battery to charge or forget.
Who should buy it: Kraken V3 owners who need a working boom mic for voice chat, streaming, podcasting or calls, and who want a sturdy metal replacement rather than a flimsy one. Who should skip it: anyone who does not own a Kraken V3 or Kraken V3 headset. Compatibility is the gate here, and there is no point buying a replacement boom for a headset you do not have. It also does nothing for your audio quality on the headphone side — it is purely a microphone part.
• Best for a complete gaming audio setup from scratch → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. It is the full product: drivers, cable, ear tips and an inline mic version.
• Best for repairing a headset you already own → Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic. It exists to restore a Kraken V3's voice chat, nothing more.
• Best for music listening and mixing → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The 1BA + 1DD hybrid tuning and 25 ohm impedance are aimed at detailed, balanced sound.
• Best for noise isolation → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The in-ear seal plus sound isolation design blocks more ambient noise than an over-ear boom mic ever could.
• Best for voice pickup near your mouth → Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic. A unidirectional boom arm sits close to your lips; an inline cable mic does not.
• Best for durability of the part you touch most → Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic. Metal construction on a mic boom is a meaningful upgrade over plastic.
• Best for cable longevity → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The detachable C PIN cable means a worn cable is a cheap swap, not a dead earphone.
• Best for someone who owns neither product yet → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. Oilmal only makes sense as a companion to hardware you already have.
If I were buying for myself and I did not already own a Kraken V3, I would buy the Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. It is the only one of the two that works as a standalone purchase — you plug it into a 3.5mm jack and you have gaming audio, music and a mic in one item, with a replaceable cable to extend its life. In my opinion the Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic is a smart, well-targeted buy, but only for the specific person whose Kraken V3 boom has failed. If that is you, buy it without hesitation. If it is not, it does nothing for you. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your situation.
FAQ
are studio headphones better than gaming headsets
It depends on what you need, not on a universal ranking. Studio-style in-ear monitors like the KZ ZSN PRO X focus on accurate, detailed sound through a hybrid driver setup and 25 ohm impedance, while gaming headsets typically bundle a boom mic and surround processing. If you want one device for both music and chat, a hybrid IEM with an inline mic covers both.
what headphones do pro gamers use
do all headphones have mics
No. Plenty of headphones and in-ear monitors ship without any microphone at all. The Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO comes in a version with an inline mic, but that mic is on the cable and uses a single control button with no volume control. The Oilmal Replacement Microphone Mic is a separate boom mic part, not a headphone.
can studio headphones be used for gaming
Yes. A wired in-ear monitor like the KZ ZSN PRO X works fine for gaming — you plug the 3.5mm jack into your controller, PC or phone and you get the same detailed audio you would use for music. What you give up versus a gaming headset is a boom mic positioned at your mouth, unless you add a separate mic. The inline mic on the KZ covers basic chat.
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See also: LEFXMOPHY Mic Replacement vs BUTIAO BlackShark V3, IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4 vs LEFXMOPHY Replacement Game Mic, YINYOO KZ ZSN Pro vs MIPEACE Work Earbuds Headphones