We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete wired gaming headset with an inline remote that handles volume, mic and vibration in one place, choose MSI Gaming Headset; if you need a braided replacement cable with a volume wheel and mic mute for a Logitech G433, G233, G Pro or G Pro X, choose EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. These two products sit at completely different points in a gamer's setup, and mixing them up is the fastest way to waste money. One is a headset; the other is a cord that keeps an existing headset alive.
• MSI Gaming Headset — biggest strength: two 40mm dynamic drivers, an adjustable omnidirectional mic, passive noise reduction and a wired remote with volume, mic and vibration control built in.
• MSI Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: it is a closed over-ear headset that requires a 3.5mm jack, so it is not a fix for a broken cable on a headset you already own.
• EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable — biggest strength: a 2-meter braided male-to-male aux cord with a roller volume wheel and a slide-to-mute switch, built specifically for Logitech G433, G233, G Pro and G Pro X.
• EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable — biggest trade-off: it produces no sound on its own. It only works if you already own a compatible headset, and its connectors are a specific 5-pole/4-pole pairing.
• Buy the MSI headset if you want one box that gets you gaming audio, a mic and inline controls.
• Buy the EARLA TEC cable if your Logitech headset still works but the cord has failed, frayed or lost its controls.
The MSI DS501 is a self-contained wired gaming headset. Under the shell sit two 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range, which covers the full range you would expect from a gaming headset — rumble down low, footsteps and detail in the mids, and enough sparkle up top. Sensitivity is listed at 97 dB, and the impedance figure of 2.2 ohm is unusual and worth noting: a low number like that suggests the headset is easy to drive, so a phone, controller or laptop jack can push it without a separate amp. The high, mid and low frequencies are all represented, which is exactly what you want when a game mixes gunfire, voice chat and ambient audio at the same time.
The design is where this headset earns its place. It uses a self-adjusting headband, so instead of fiddling with sliders you just put it on and the band settles to your head. MSI describes it as extra lightweight, and combined with closed over-ear cups and large earmuffs, the intent is clear: long sessions without pressure points. Passive noise reduction comes from the closed cup design rather than electronics, which means it blocks some surrounding noise without any battery or processing involved. The omnidirectional microphone is adjustable, and MSI claims balanced, natural-sounding voice pickup with limited background noise.
The part that matters most for this comparison is the remote. A wired remote gives you quick access to volume, microphone and vibration control without leaving the game or reaching for your keyboard. If you have ever scrambled to mute yourself mid-match, that inline control is the whole point.
Who should buy it: gamers who want a single wired headset with a mic and inline controls, people who play on PC, console or a device with a 3.5mm jack, and anyone who prefers a lightweight self-adjusting fit over a heavy clamp.
Who should skip it: anyone who already owns a working Logitech G433, G233, G Pro or G Pro X and just needs a new cord. Buying a second headset to solve a cable problem is the wrong move. Also skip it if you want wireless — this is a wired 3.5mm headset with a wired remote.
The EARLA TEC cable is a repair and upgrade part, and it is honest about that. It is a male-to-male aux cord with two different ends: one 3.5mm 4-pole plug and one 3.5mm 5-pole plug. The setup is straightforward — the 5-pole end goes into the headset, the 4-pole end goes into your device. That 5-pole connector is the detail that tells you this is not a generic cable; it is shaped around how Logitech's G-series headsets route audio and mic through a single jack.
The connectors are 24K gold-plated and straight-shaped, which is a practical choice for durability at the plug, the spot where cables usually fail first. The cable itself is braided, round in shape, and 2 meters long. Braiding matters here: it resists the tangling and kinking that kills thin rubber cords, and EARLA TEC specifically calls out that it is sturdy, wear-resistant and not easy to knot. For a part that lives in a bag, gets wrapped around a headset and gets yanked when you stand up, that is the right material.
The inline controls are the second reason people buy this. A control roller wheel handles volume, and a slide switch mutes your voice. That is plug-and-play — no software, no drivers. Compatibility stretches well beyond Logitech: phones, PS4, PS5, MP3 and MP4 players, laptops, PCs, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and tablets, as long as the device has a 3.5mm jack.
Who should skip it: anyone without one of those compatible headsets. If your headset uses a different connector layout or a USB connection, this cable will not help you. And if you have no headset at all, a replacement cable gives you nothing to plug into.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a complete audio setup → MSI Gaming Headset. Drivers, mic, cups and remote in one product.
• Best for fixing what you already own → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. It restores a compatible Logitech headset instead of replacing it.
• Best for inline volume and mute → both, but differently. MSI puts volume, mic and vibration control on a wired remote; EARLA TEC puts a volume roller and a mute slide directly on the cord.
• Best for microphone use → MSI Gaming Headset. It has an adjustable omnidirectional mic built in; the EARLA TEC cable only carries your existing headset's mic signal to your device.
• Best for long sessions → MSI Gaming Headset. Lightweight build, self-adjusting headband and closed over-ear cups with passive noise reduction.
• Best for durability on the cord itself → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. Braided, wear-resistant, 2 meters, gold-plated straight plugs, round profile.
• Best for device flexibility → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. It is listed as working with PC, laptop, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, tablets, phones and MP3/MP4 players over 3.5mm.
• Best for console and phone gaming out of the box → MSI Gaming Headset. It connects over a 3.5mm jack and needs nothing else.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison should buy the MSI Gaming Headset. It is the only one of the two that actually produces sound, and it covers the full job — drivers, mic, comfortable over-ear fit and inline volume and mic control on a wired remote. The EARLA TEC cable is the smarter buy only in one specific case: you already own a Logitech G433, G233, G Pro or G Pro X, the headset still works, and the cord is the problem. Then a braided 2-meter replacement with a volume roller and mute switch is exactly the right fix, and far less wasteful than buying a whole new headset. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your situation before you commit.
No. The EARLA TEC cable is listed as compatible with Logitech G433, G233, G Pro and G Pro X headsets, and it uses a specific 5-pole/4-pole connector pairing. The MSI DS501 uses its own 3.5mm connection and its own wired remote, so this cable is not a replacement for it.
Yes. It comes with a wired remote controller that gives quick access to volume, microphone and vibration control, so you can adjust things without leaving your game.
Not necessarily. If the headset itself still works, the EARLA TEC replacement cable is designed for exactly that situation — 2 meters of braided cord with a volume roller wheel and a slide mute switch, plug and play over 3.5mm.
Out of the box, the MSI headset, because it is a complete wired headset that connects over a 3.5mm jack. The EARLA TEC cable also lists PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S support, but only as a cord for a compatible headset you already own.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable vs QianLink 2: Aux Wired, BINNUNE Headset vs Black Shark Gaming Headset, TOZO NC9 vs Atheewon Headset V5.4