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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 in-ear monitor that doubles as a gaming earbud with a detachable cable, choose Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO; if you need a bendable, noise-cancelling boom mic to replace the one on your SteelSeries Arctis 1 headset, choose NewTH Replacement Game Mic.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO — biggest strength: a hybrid 1BA + 1DD driver setup (10mm dual-magnetic dynamic plus a 30095 balanced armature) with a detachable C-pin 3.5mm cable, so you get real in-ear monitor sound and the freedom to swap cables.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO — biggest trade-off: it's a wired in-ear with a mic on the cable, not a headset; the inline control is a single button and does not support volume control, so it's a different kind of "gaming audio" than a boom mic.
• NewTH Replacement Game Mic — biggest strength: a plug-and-play 3.5mm detachable boom mic built specifically for SteelSeries Arctis 1 headsets, bendable 360 degrees, with noise cancelling and no drivers or batteries needed.
• NewTH Replacement Game Mic — biggest trade-off: it only works with the Arctis 1 — it is a single-purpose replacement part, not a headphone you can listen to anything through.
• Who each pick is for: Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO is for the wired-IEM listener who wants detailed sound and a detachable cable; NewTH Replacement Game Mic is for the Arctis 1 owner whose boom mic died, got lost, or sounds rough.
The KZ ZSN PRO X is best understood as a wired in-ear monitor that happens to be marketed for gaming. Under the shell it pairs two driver types: a redefined 10mm dual-magnetic dynamic driver for the low end and a 30095 high-frequency balanced armature for the highs, tuned as a hybrid. In practice, that combination is exactly why people reach for IEMs over basic earbuds — a wider frequency response and vocals that come through richer and clearer. With a 25 ohm impedance it's an easy load for a phone, a controller, or a laptop headphone jack, so you don't need a dedicated amp to get it going.
The physical design matters just as much as the sound. The shell mixes zinc alloy metal with resin, which gives it a bit of shine while keeping it durable, and the curved cavity follows an ergonomic shape so it sits tight in the ear. Around-the-ear memory PU tubing holds the cable in place and keeps it from yanking on the buds mid-session. The cable itself is detachable via a C-pin connector, made from four strands of 100-wire silver-plated copper — a spec that's aimed at tightening detail resolution and cutting signal loss and distortion. Detachability also means you can re-purpose or replace the cable later, which is a real longevity win for a wired earphone.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one wired pair for music, monitoring and casual gaming on a console or PC, values a replaceable cable, and prefers the deep-seal isolation of an in-ear over an over-ear headset. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a dedicated boom mic that reaches their mouth, wants wireless freedom, or wants volume control on the cable — the inline control here is a single button, and volume control isn't supported. If you're set on an IEM-with-mic form factor, this is the one of the two that actually produces sound for you.
The NewTH Replacement Game Mic is not a headphone and isn't trying to be. It's a direct replacement boom microphone for the SteelSeries Arctis 1, sized 1:1 to the original headset's dimensions so it slots into the same jack and sits the same way. That specificity is the whole point — and the whole limitation. It will only work with Arctis 1 headsets. If you own a different model, this part isn't for you, no matter how good it looks.
Where it earns its place is in the details Arctis 1 owners actually care about. The boom bends a full 360 degrees and stays where you put it, so you can position it right at your mouth and leave it there. It's noise cancelling, with a foam cover (plus a spare foam pop filter in the box) that keeps your audio clean while cutting down unwanted background noise. The 3.5mm jack is gold-plated over copper, and the 6.5-inch cable length is deliberately chosen to reach your mouth without a tangle of slack. The head is ABS plastic, the build is molded to match the original, and it's plug-and-play: no driver, no batteries.
Who should buy it: an Arctis 1 owner whose mic is broken, lost, or picking up too much room noise, and who wants a drop-in fix across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Series X, Nintendo, PC, Mac and phones — basically anything with a 3.5mm headset connection. It's also a sensible spare to keep around. Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own an Arctis 1, and anyone expecting a full listening device rather than a mic. Note the 50 Hz–16,000 Hz frequency range is voice-focused, which is exactly right for a boom mic and not a music-listening spec.
• Need a full listening device → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The NewTH part is a microphone only.
• Need a boom mic that reaches your mouth → NewTH Replacement Game Mic. The KZ's mic lives on the cable, not on a bendable arm.
• Own a SteelSeries Arctis 1 and nothing else → NewTH Replacement Game Mic. It's molded 1:1 for that headset and won't fit others.
• Want a replaceable, upgradeable cable → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The detachable C-pin design lets you swap cables instead of retiring the earphones.
• Want noise cancelling on the mic → NewTH Replacement Game Mic. It ships with active noise cancellation and two foam covers.
• Want sound isolation while you play → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The deep in-ear seal and ergonomic cavity do the blocking for you.
• Hate charging things → either one. Both are wired and neither needs a battery.
• Want the simplest possible setup → NewTH Replacement Game Mic. Plug and play, no driver, no batteries, done in seconds.
In my opinion, these two barely compete — they solve different problems, so the right answer depends entirely on what's broken in your setup. If you need a mic for an Arctis 1, I'd buy the NewTH Replacement Game Mic: it's purpose-built, bendable, noise cancelling and plug-and-play, and it fixes the exact part that failed. If you need something that actually plays audio and you like the in-ear format, I'd buy the Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO for its hybrid driver setup and detachable silver-plated cable. My honest pick for most people reading about "detachable mic gaming headphones" is the NewTH — but only if you own an Arctis 1. Everyone else should look at the KZ.
are studio headphones better than gaming headsets
Not automatically — it depends on what you need. Studio-style gear like the KZ ZSN PRO X focuses on a wide frequency response and clear vocals via its 1BA + 1DD hybrid drivers, but it lacks a boom mic. A gaming headset pairs audio with a mic like the NewTH, which is better for voice chat.
what headphones do pro gamers use
There's no single answer, and the data sheets here don't claim any pro endorsement. What matters practically is whether your audio device has a mic that reaches your mouth. If your headset's boom mic is the weak point, a replacement like the NewTH fixes it without changing your headphones.
do all headphones have mics
No. Plenty of headphones and IEMs are audio-only. The KZ ZSN PRO X comes in a "with mic" style, so it has an inline mic on the cable, but the inline control is a single button and doesn't support volume control.
can studio headphones be used for gaming
Yes. Wired in-ears like the KZ ZSN PRO X work fine for gaming — its 25 ohm impedance runs easily off a controller or PC jack, and the deep in-ear seal gives good isolation. You just won't get a bendable boom mic, so voice chat needs a separate solution.
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See also: Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO vs weishan Mic: Detachable Mic Gaming, IO CREST GamesterGear PC PS4 vs Smays Replacement Mic, Adhiper Earpad Replacement vs Fadmew Beat Studio Pro