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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
• Microsoft Xbox One — biggest strength: a detachable Stereo Headset Adapter that puts volume, mic mute and game/chat balance right on the cable, plus a unidirectional boom mic that folds out of the way.
• Microsoft Xbox One — biggest trade-off: it's a wired, Xbox-first design with no wireless mode, and it's aimed at adults rather than kids.
• Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones — biggest strength: a suspension headband designed to spread pressure evenly, a 360° rotatable noise-reduction mic and a 50 mm driver in a light, gift-friendly package.
• Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: no inline audio controls and no active noise cancellation, so you get whatever volume the source gives you.
• Pick the Xbox One Stereo Headset if you mainly play on Xbox and want to balance game audio against party chat without leaving the game.
• Pick the Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones if you want a comfortable, colourful wired headset for a younger player or for hopping between consoles and a laptop.
The Xbox One Stereo Headset is the more purpose-built gaming tool of the two. Its defining feature is the detachable Stereo Headset Adapter, which clips into a controller and gives you physical buttons for volume up and down, microphone mute, and independent game/chat balance. That last control matters more than it sounds: in a party chat you can lean the mix toward your friends when the lobby goes quiet, then push it back toward the game when the action starts, all without opening a menu. The unidirectional boom mic is there to capture your voice and reject some of the room around it, and it folds up and out of the way when you're playing solo.
On the audio side, the spec sheet lists a full-range 20Hz–20kHz response with a dynamic driver and 32 ohm impedance. In plain terms, that's a low-impedance, easy-to-drive headset that should reach from deep bass up to the high end without needing a separate amp — exactly the profile you want when the source is a controller. The over-ear design uses breathable fabric ear cups and a metal enclosure, and Microsoft describes it as lightweight for long sessions. Passive noise cancellation is listed, which means the cups physically block some outside sound rather than cancelling it electronically.
Who should buy it: Xbox players who spend real time in party chat, want tactile controls on the cable, and value a mic that gets out of the way. It's also listed as compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Windows 10, so it can double as a PC headset. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, anyone who needs a bright, expressive design, and anyone shopping for a young child — the age range is listed as adult, and the setup notes mention that console updates may require an internet connection.
The Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones take the opposite approach: they lead with comfort and personality. The headline feature is the lightweight suspension headband, which is described as skin-friendly and designed to spread the headset's weight evenly across your head instead of concentrating it in one spot. For a kid who wears a headset through a long Minecraft or Switch session, or an adult who finds clamp pressure annoying, that's the detail that actually matters. The over-ear cups and plastic frame keep the whole thing light — the listed item weight is 16 ounces, in the same ballpark as the Xbox headset.
The microphone is the second selling point. It's a 360° rotatable, full-finger noise-reduction mic with an in-line closed design, meaning you can swing it into position and it's meant to cut down background noise and keep your voice clear. There's a 50 mm dynamic driver inside, which is a large driver for this class of headset, paired with a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range and a 140 ohm impedance rating. That impedance is worth flagging: it's high enough that the headset will want a reasonably strong source to reach its full volume, so a phone or a weak laptop jack may not drive it as loudly as a console controller or a PC with a decent output.
Connectivity is wired, with a 3.5 mm jack and a 2 m USB-and-3.5 mm dual-ended audio cable in the box. The listing also names Bluetooth under wireless technology, but the product is presented as a wired headset with a cable in the package, so I'd plan around the wired connection. It's listed as compatible with Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and laptop, which makes it a genuinely cross-platform pick. The stated age range is 6+, and it's clearly positioned as a gift — the packaging list mentions an exquisite box and the description calls it a good fit for Christmas, Thanksgiving or a birthday. There are no inline volume controls and no active noise cancellation, so you control loudness from the source device.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for game/chat balance control → Microsoft Xbox One. The adapter's dedicated balance buttons have no equivalent on the Xmenha.
• Best for kids or gift shopping → Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones. Age range 6+, suspension headband, cat-ear styling, gift-oriented packaging.
• Best for party chat clarity on Xbox → Microsoft Xbox One. A unidirectional boom mic plus mic mute on the cable is the more focused voice setup.
• Best for long-session comfort design → Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones. The suspension band is explicitly built to spread pressure evenly, and the cups are over-ear.
• Best for cable-free use → neither. Both are wired designs; if wireless is a must, look elsewhere.
• Best for a large-driver, big-sound feel → Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones. A 50 mm dynamic driver is the larger of the two.
• Best for easy volume control without touching the console → Microsoft Xbox One. Inline volume and mute beat reaching for the source.
In my opinion, the Xbox One Stereo Headset is the better buy for anyone whose main screen is an Xbox and whose main social outlet is party chat. The adapter is the reason: volume, mute and game/chat balance within thumb's reach changes how a headset feels to live with, and the low 32 ohm impedance means a controller drives it easily. I'd steer a younger player, a cross-console household or anyone who wants a headset that looks fun rather than tactical toward the Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones instead — just budget for a decent audio source, because 140 ohm wants more power than a weak jack gives. If you're on an Xbox and you talk to people, take the Microsoft. If you're on everything and you want comfortable and cute, take the Xmenha.
how to connect xbox headphones
On the Xbox One Stereo Headset, plug the 3.5 mm jack into the controller and attach the Stereo Headset Adapter, then use its buttons for volume, mute and game/chat balance. The Xmenha headset connects the same way through its 3.5 mm jack, using the included dual-ended audio cable. Either way, the headset is wired to the controller rather than paired wirelessly.
how to make xbox headphones louder
Start with the source. The Xbox One headset has volume up/down on its adapter, so raise that first. The Xmenha headset has no inline controls, so you'll need to raise the console or device volume — and because it's rated at 140 ohm, a stronger audio source will get you more output than a weak headphone jack.
how to pair xbox headphones
Neither of these is a wireless headset you pair. The Xbox One Stereo Headset and the Xmenha Cat Ear Headphones are both wired, connecting through a 3.5 mm jack and, in the Xmenha's case, an included audio cable. If you want to pair something over Bluetooth, you'd need a different product.
how to use xbox headphones
Plug in, put the cups over your ears, and position the mic. On the Xbox headset, unfold the boom mic and lean the game/chat dial toward chat when you're talking to friends. On the Xmenha, rotate the 360° mic toward your mouth. Both are over-ear designs, so adjust the headband for a snug but not tight fit before a long session.
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See also: Andrea Communications NC-255VM vs Microsoft Official Xbox One, PHNIXGAM Gaming Headset vs E-Greetshopping Cat Ear Headphones, Xmenha Gaming Open Ear vs Conyat Open-Ear Headphones