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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
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO biggest strength: a hybrid 1BA + 1DD driver setup with a detachable C PIN cable, so you get a proper in-ear monitor that also handles voice chat.
• Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO biggest trade-off: it is wired, in-ear only, and the inline control is a single button that does not support volume control.
• NewTH Replacement Game Microphone biggest strength: a bendable 360-degree noise-cancelling boom that plugs into a 2.5mm jack with no drivers and no batteries.
• NewTH Replacement Game Microphone biggest trade-off: it only works with specific JBL Quantum models — buy it for anything else and it is useless.
• Buy the Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO if you want one pair of earphones for music, monitoring and gaming on a 3.5mm jack.
• Buy the NewTH Replacement Game Microphone if your JBL Quantum headset's mic died and you just want to fix it cheaply.
The KZ ZSN PRO X is an in-ear monitor first and a gaming earphone second. Inside each shell you get a 10mm dual magnetic dynamic driver handling the low end plus a 30095 balanced armature driver for the highs, tuned together by an acoustic team. In practice that means a wider frequency response and vocals that come through richer and clearer than a single-driver earbud. If you play games where footsteps and callouts matter, that separation is genuinely useful. The impedance sits at 25 ohm, which is low enough that a phone or a controller jack can drive it without extra gear.
The build is where this thing stands out for the money. The shell mixes zinc alloy metal with resin, so it has that sparkle without feeling flimsy, and the curved cavity follows an ergonomic shape that sits tight in the ear. There is an elastic memory PU tube that hooks around the ear, which keeps the earbud planted even when you turn your head. The cable is detachable via a C PIN connector, and it is a 4-strand, 100-wire silver-plated copper design — that spec exists to cut signal loss and distortion and pull out more detail. You also get a single all-in-one control button that works with most phones.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants one wired earphone for music, in-ear monitoring and gaming on a 3.5mm jack, and who likes the idea of swapping cables later. Musicians and casual players both fit here. Who should skip it? If you need wireless freedom, if you want real volume buttons on the cable, or if you prefer an over-ear headset with a boom mic near your mouth, this is not the product for you. Note the connector is 3.5mm only, so it will not plug into a 2.5mm headset port.
This is not a headphone. It is a single replacement boom microphone, and its entire reason to exist is that JBL Quantum 100, 350, 100P, 100X and 360P owners eventually lose or break the stock mic. NewTH molds this 1:1 to the original size, so it slots into the headset's 2.5mm jack and looks like it belongs there. The plug is gold-plated copper, the neck is bendable through 360 degrees, and the head uses ABS plastic with a stainless wind shield. It also ships with a foam cover, plus an extra foam piece acting as a pop filter.
Functionally, the pitch is straightforward: unidirectional pickup, noise cancelling, and a stated signal-to-noise ratio of 78 dB. The mic holds whatever position you bend it into, so you can park it right at your mouth. There is no driver to install and no battery to charge — it is plug and play, corded electric, and the cable runs 6.5 inches, which the brand says is sized to reach your mouth without a mess of slack. The brand also states each unit is tested individually before shipping and backs it with a two-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it? JBL Quantum owners on PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox or Mac whose mic has gone quiet, crackly or missing. Also anyone who wants a spare boom in a drawer. Who should skip it? Everyone else. If your headset is not one of the listed Quantum models, or if your port is 3.5mm rather than 2.5mm, this will not work at all. And if you are shopping for headphones, not a repair part, keep scrolling.
• Best for a complete audio setup → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. It is a finished product: drivers, cable, ear hooks and an inline button in one box.
• Best for fixing what you already own → NewTH Replacement Game Microphone. It restores a JBL Quantum headset instead of replacing it.
• Best for music and monitoring → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The 1BA + 1DD hybrid and silver-plated cable are built around detail and clarity.
• Best for voice pickup near the mouth → NewTH Replacement Game Microphone. A bendable 360-degree boom with a foam pop filter beats an inline cable mic for chat.
• Best for compatibility range → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. A 3.5mm jack works with most phones, controllers and laptops; the NewTH only fits specific Quantum models.
• Best for a no-hassle install → NewTH Replacement Game Microphone. No drivers, no batteries, no pairing.
• Best for cable flexibility → Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. The detachable C PIN cable means you can swap or replace it down the line.
• Best for a spare part you can forget about → NewTH Replacement Game Microphone. The two-year manufacturer warranty and 1-by-1 testing speak to the "buy it and move on" use case.
In my opinion, most people reading this should buy the Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO. It is an actual audio product — hybrid drivers, a memory PU ear hook, a detachable silver-plated cable and a 3.5mm plug that works almost anywhere — and it covers music, monitoring and gaming in one purchase. I would only recommend the NewTH Replacement Game Microphone to one specific buyer: someone who already owns a JBL Quantum 100, 350, 100P, 100X or 360P and needs to bring its mic back to life. If that is not you, the NewTH is the wrong buy, no matter how well it does its one job. Everyone else, take the Kinboofi.
are studio headphones better than gaming headsets
It depends what you need them for. A set like the Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO X is built around driver quality and detail retrieval, which helps with music and positional audio in games, but it has no boom mic and only a single inline button. Gaming headsets usually trade some audio refinement for a mic and platform features.
what headphones do pro gamers use
There is no single answer, and the data sheets here do not back any claim about what professionals pick. What matters is fit, comfort and clear voice pickup. If voice chat is your priority, a boom mic like the NewTH on a compatible headset beats an inline cable mic; if audio clarity is the priority, a hybrid in-ear like the KZ ZSN PRO X has the driver advantage.
do all headphones have mics
No. Plenty of headphones ship without any microphone at all. The Kinboofi KZ ZSN PRO X comes in a "With Mic" version, so the inline control button handles calls — but it does not support volume control, and it is not a boom mic. The NewTH is a microphone only, with no speakers in it.
can studio headphones be used for gaming
Yes, and people do it constantly. The KZ ZSN PRO X is a wired 25 ohm in-ear monitor with a 3.5mm jack, so it plugs straight into a controller or PC and works fine for games. The trade-off is that you rely on its inline mic for chat instead of a dedicated boom, and you may want a separate mic if you stream or record.
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