We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete set of wired earbuds with an inline mic that plugs straight into a 3.5mm jack, choose Koss CL/3i; if you need to keep a pair of Beats-style headphones you already own working on a modern USB-C phone or laptop for work, choose Asobilor USB-C Audio Cable.
• Koss CL/3i — biggest strength: a full, ready-to-use wired earbud with an inline OneTouch mic and remote, a clear retro transparent shell, and a 3.5mm plug that fits almost any older laptop, tablet, handheld or desktop.
• Koss CL/3i — biggest trade-off: there is no USB-C option and no active noise cancellation, so it only works with devices that still have a 3.5mm jack, and it does nothing for headphones you already own.
• Asobilor USB-C Audio Cable — biggest strength: it turns existing Beats Solo2/Solo3/Solo Pro, Studio2/Studio3/Studio Pro, Mixr or Executive headphones into a USB-C headset with an inline mic, volume buttons and track control — no adapter needed.
• Asobilor USB-C Audio Cable — biggest trade-off: it is only a cable. You must already own compatible headphones, and it only helps devices with USB-C audio.
• Pick Koss CL/3i if you want one simple, self-contained pair of wired earbuds for calls and music. Pick the Asobilor cable if the headphones are the part you love and the connector is the problem.
The CL/3i is the straightforward answer for anyone who wants wired listening without thinking about it. You pull it out, plug the 3.5mm jack into a laptop, tablet, phone, gaming handheld or desktop, and you are done. No pairing, no charging, no dongle to lose. Koss built the whole thing around a transparent plastic shell that shows the driver and wiring inside — a deliberately retro look that stands out from the sea of black plastic earbuds.
The inline remote is the part that matters most for work. There is a microphone and a single OneTouch remote on the cord, so you can answer and end calls and pause, play or skip tracks without reaching for your device. If you spend your day on video meetings and take the occasional call, that is the exact feature you want. The earbuds are in-ear with rounded tips and a dynamic driver rated from 60 to 20,000 Hz, which Koss describes as deep bass, crisp highs and a full midrange. They are also light — about 0.01 kg — and the specs call out a durable, lightweight build for extended use.
Who should skip it? Anyone whose phone or laptop has already dropped the headphone jack. There is no USB-C or Lightning option here, and there is no active noise cancellation, so a noisy open office will still come through. If you need to block out a room, this is not the pick. And if your favorite headphones are Beats, the CL/3i does not fix them — it replaces them.
One more thing worth noting: Koss lists a limited lifetime warranty and rigid packaging, which speaks to how the brand positions this model — a durable everyday item rather than a disposable accessory.
This is a repair-and-revive product, not a headphone. Asobilor made a 4.4-foot cable with a 3.5mm end and a USB-C end, and the whole point is to connect headphones you already own to a device that no longer has a headphone jack. The compatible list is specific and worth reading carefully: Beats Solo2, Solo3, Solo Pro, Studio2, Studio3, Studio Pro, Mixr and Executive. If that is your headphone, you already know why you are here — the cans are fine, the connector situation is not.
The inline section gives you a microphone and click buttons for volume, tracks and calls. The controls are laid out clearly: one press of the red button pauses or resumes, two presses skip forward, three skip back, and the two black buttons handle volume up and down. That is full hands-free operation on a call or in a meeting without touching your phone, which is exactly the kind of thing that matters when you are talking and taking notes at the same time.
On the audio side, Asobilor specifies an oxygen-free copper core with reinforced shielding for low-latency, noise-free playback, and positions the cable for studio work, daily listening and online meetings. The build is a flexible TPE jacket with strain-relief connectors, described as bend-tested and tangle-resistant — the two failure points that kill cheap cables. It also lists heat resistance as a special feature. The cable is pink, 4.4 feet long, and rated for indoor and outdoor use.
The honest limits: it only works with USB-C audio devices — iPhone 17, 16 and 15, USB-C iPad, tablets, laptops and PCs — and only with headphones that accept a 3.5mm connection. If you do not already own compatible headphones, this cable has nothing to attach to. And if your device still has a headphone jack, you do not need it.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a single, complete solution → Koss CL/3i. Earbuds, mic and remote arrive together.
• Best for newer phones and laptops → Asobilor. USB-C only, no adapter required.
• Best for older laptops, tablets and gaming devices → Koss CL/3i. The 3.5mm jack is the universal fit here.
• Best for hands-free calls and meetings → both, honestly. Koss uses its OneTouch inline mic and remote; Asobilor uses a mic plus dedicated volume and track buttons.
• Best for sound isolation → neither. Koss lists no noise control, and a cable cannot add any. Plan around that if you work somewhere loud.
• Best for durability you can see and feel → Koss for the earbuds themselves plus a limited lifetime warranty; Asobilor for strain relief and a tangle-resistant jacket on the cable.
• Best for travel and everyday carry → Koss CL/3i if you want nothing extra to manage; Asobilor if your headphones are already the thing you carry.
For work, I would buy the Koss CL/3i. It is one item that does the whole job — plug in, take calls, control your music — and it works with the widest range of devices because of that 3.5mm jack. It is the lower-friction choice if you do not already have a favorite pair of headphones.
I would only go with the Asobilor USB-C Audio Cable if you own Beats Solo or Studio headphones and your phone or laptop is USB-C. In that case it is the smarter, cheaper-feeling fix, because you keep the sound you like and just solve the connector problem. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your setup before you commit.
what is an inline mic on headphones
An inline mic is a small microphone built into the headphone cable rather than into the earcup. Both products here have one: the Koss CL/3i uses a OneTouch inline mic and remote on the cord, and the Asobilor cable has a built-in microphone in its control module. It lets you take calls and speak without holding your phone.
how to use wired headphones with mic on pc
On the Koss CL/3i, plug the 3.5mm jack into your computer's headphone or combo jack — it is listed as compatible with computers, laptops, tablets and gaming devices. With the Asobilor cable, connect your headphones to the 3.5mm end and the USB-C end to your PC, then use the red button for play/pause and track skipping and the black buttons for volume.
That is the deciding question. The Koss CL/3i is wired with a 3.5mm plug only, so it needs a device with a headphone jack. The Asobilor cable is USB-C on one end and 3.5mm on the other, so it needs a USB-C audio device plus a pair of compatible Beats-style headphones. Neither one covers both situations.
Both handle calls, but differently. The Koss CL/3i gives you a single OneTouch remote for answering, ending, and pausing or skipping music. The Asobilor cable gives you a mic plus separate volume and track buttons on a longer 4.4-foot cord. If you want fewer things to manage, Koss. If you want more control on the wire, Asobilor.
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