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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want studio-grade resolution and deep-tuning control in a wired USB-C in-ear monitor, choose KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor; if you need a comfortable over-ear gaming headset with a boom mic and console-ready 3.5mm plug, choose IYGR K98.
• KZ Duonic's biggest strength: A hybrid triple-magnet planar magnetic + dynamic driver setup with four tuning switches, so you can shape the sound yourself.
• KZ Duonic's biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear design with a hook-style fit — that means ear tips and a deeper seal, which not everyone enjoys.
• IYGR K98's biggest strength: A 50mm dynamic driver in a lightweight 8-ounce over-ear frame with a noise-isolating boom mic and a 3.5mm jack that works with PC and consoles.
• IYGR K98's biggest trade-off: No tuning switches, no detachable cable, and a closed gaming-headset sound profile rather than a reference-flat one.
• Pick KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor if you're a musician, mixer, or detail-chasing listener who wants to tune your own sound.
• Pick IYGR K98 if you game on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, or Switch and want a plug-and-play headset with a mic.
The Duonic is KZ's follow-up to the Castor Pro, and it carries that heritage forward with a genuinely unusual driver layout. Instead of a single dynamic driver, it pairs a triple-magnet planar magnetic driver — KZ calls it TriFlux — with a super-linear dynamic driver in one acoustic fusion design. The claim behind that architecture is straightforward: a flat diaphragm suspended between three sets of magnets moves uniformly, so it can pull out micro-detail and fast transients that would normally require separate high- and low-frequency drivers. In practice, that's the kind of engineering you buy for resolution, not for thump alone.
What separates the Duonic from most IEMs at this tier is the tuning switch system. There are four switches, and they let you adjust tonality yourself — boosting low-frequency punch or leaning out the mids and treble for more clarity. KZ positions this as more precise than traditional damping-based tuning, and for anyone who has ever wished a pair of IEMs was just a touch brighter or warmer, that's the actual selling point. Add a 20 Hz–20 kHz range, 24 ohm impedance, 103 dB sensitivity, and a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable, and you have a set built to be lived with rather than replaced.
The fit is the part to think about honestly. These are in-ear monitors with ergonomic ear hooks and three sizes of silicone tips, and KZ rates the isolation at up to 36 dB of passive noise blocking. That's excellent for stage, studio, and DJ work — you'll hear your mix, not the room. But if you dislike deep insertion or ear hooks, this is where the Duonic will fight you. There's also a USB-C option with DSP and EQ tuning, plus a mic cable variant for calls, and the cable detaches so you can swap in KZ's Bluetooth module later.
Who should buy it: musicians, content creators, mixing and mastering hobbyists, and anyone who wants direct control over their sound signature. Who should skip it: casual gamers who want a mic boom and a big over-ear cup, and anyone who prefers not to fiddle with switches or ear tips.
The IYGR K98 goes the opposite direction. It's a wired over-ear gaming headset with oval earcups, a durable aluminum alloy frame, and memory foam cushions — the classic long-session shape. At 8 ounces it stays in reasonable territory for an over-ear can, and the ABS enclosure keeps it from feeling like a brick on your head. The 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers are the headline, delivering stereo surround sound for games, and the 15ms audio latency figure tells you IYGR is thinking about keeping audio and on-screen action reasonably aligned.
Connectivity is the K98's quiet strength. A single 3.5mm jack means it works across PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Switch without adapters or drivers, and there's a push-button volume control on the headset itself. The noise-isolating microphone handles voice chat, and the sound isolation design keeps game audio in and room noise out. Impedance is 32 ohm with 105 dB sensitivity, so it's easy to drive from a controller or motherboard jack — no amp required. It ships with a user manual and comes in a white/purple RGB finish with a pink carrying case.
Where the K98 gives ground is flexibility. There are no tuning switches here — you get the tuning IYGR chose. The cable isn't detachable, so if it fails, the headset goes with it. And while the 2-year warranty is a real plus compared to the Duonic's 1-year coverage, this is still a stereo gaming headset, not a reference monitor. If you're mixing music or chasing micro-detail, it's the wrong tool.
Who should buy it: console and PC gamers, teens and adults who want a comfortable all-in-one headset with a mic and inline volume. Who should skip it: audiophiles, musicians, and anyone who wants to tune their own sound or swap cables.
• Best for sound resolution and detail → KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor. The planar magnetic + dynamic hybrid is built around extracting fine detail a single dynamic driver typically smears.
• Best for gaming with voice chat → IYGR K98. The noise-isolating mic and 50mm drivers are aimed squarely at multiplayer audio.
• Best for tuning your own sound → KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor. Four switches versus no switches at all is not a close contest.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → IYGR K98. Over-ear memory foam cushions spread pressure; IEMs sit inside your ear canal.
• Best for passive noise blocking → KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor. Up to 36 dB of isolation is a genuinely different league from a closed over-ear cup.
• Best for console compatibility → IYGR K98. PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Switch are all named; the Duonic's USB-C/DSP path is aimed at phones, laptops, and audio gear.
• Best for cable longevity and upgrades → KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor. The detachable 2-pin cable and optional Bluetooth module mean the earphones outlive the wire.
• Best warranty → IYGR K98. Two years versus one.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the KZ Duonic in-Ear Monitor. The hybrid planar/dynamic driver, the four tuning switches, the 36 dB isolation, and the detachable cable add up to a set I could keep adjusting and repairing for years — and that matters more to me than a boom mic. The IYGR K98 is the smarter pick if you game on a console and want one cable, one headset, and a working mic out of the box. Neither is universal. Match the shape and the features to how you actually listen, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
For critical listening, yes — in my opinion. The Duonic's planar magnetic driver and tuning switches are designed for detail and customization, while the K98 is tuned as a stereo gaming headset.
Yes. The 3.5mm jack and named compatibility with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Switch mean you can plug straight into a controller or console without extra hardware.
KZ offers two cable options — one with a mic for calls and one standard cable for pure listening — so you choose at purchase. The K98, by contrast, has a built-in noise-isolating boom mic.
The KZ Duonic. Its in-ear seal and ear tips are rated for up to 36 dB of passive isolation. The K98 relies on closed over-ear cups, which reduce noise but not to that degree.
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