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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• NBgame Sony Playstation 4 — biggest strength: purpose-built for PS4 chat, with an inline on/off mute microphone and a 3.5 mm jack that goes directly into the DualShock controller.
• NBgame Sony Playstation 4 — biggest trade-off: it is a mono earbud, so you get one ear for chat rather than full stereo sound, and the cable is fixed.
• HIFI WALKER A20 — biggest strength: a 10 mm dynamic driver with deep bass and clear vocals, an over-ear hook design that resists cable pull, and a detachable 2-pin cable.
• HIFI WALKER A20 — biggest trade-off: there is no microphone at all, so it is useless for voice chat on its own.
• Who each pick is for: the NBgame for PS4 players who mainly need to talk to their squad; the HIFI WALKER A20 for players and listeners who want better sound and don't need to speak.
This is a single-purpose accessory, and that is the point. The NBgame Sony Playstation 4 Mono Chat Earbud is designed around the PlayStation 4 platform, with a 3.5 mm jack that plugs into the DualShock controller and an inline module carrying on/off mute controls. You are not buying it for music. You are buying it so your teammates can hear you and so you can silence your mic with one press instead of digging through a console menu.
The design details back that up. It is a wired in-ear earbud with a rounded tip and a silicone enclosure in blue, and it uses a balanced armature driver — a driver type that is typically chosen for voice reproduction rather than thumping bass. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, which in practice means the silicone tip seals your ear canal a bit and blocks some room noise. At 80 g it is light enough to forget about during a session, and it is a single item in standard protective packaging.
HIFI WALKER A20: Who It's For
The HIFI WALKER A20 sits in a different category entirely. It is an in-ear monitor built around a 10 mm dynamic driver, tuned for deep bass and clear vocals, with a 16 ohm impedance and a 20 KHz frequency response. Low impedance like that is friendly to phones, controllers and laptop headphone jacks — you don't need a dedicated amp to get volume out of it.
The fit is the other headline feature. The A20 uses an over-ear wearing design, where the cable runs up and over the back of your ear before dropping down. That does two things: it keeps the earbuds planted during movement, and it reduces the tug you feel when the cable catches on something. Soft silicone tips create a seal, and the package includes three pairs of tips in S, M and L so you can size them to your ears. Noise control is sound isolation, same label as the NBgame, but here it is working in service of music rather than voice.
It ships with a detachable 2-pin cable, a user guide, and a one-year warranty description. The color is green. The weight is listed at 0.18 kg, which is noticeably heavier than the NBgame in the box — that is the cable and packaging, not the buds in your ears.
Who should buy it? Gamers who want immersive stereo audio, people who listen to music or study with in-ears for hours, and anyone who likes the idea of replacing a worn cable instead of the whole pair. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs a microphone. There is none. If your main goal is talking to friends, this is the wrong tool.
• Best for PlayStation 4 party chat → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. It is built for the platform and includes a mic with mute controls.
• Best for audio quality → HIFI WALKER A20. A 10 mm dynamic driver versus a balanced armature tuned for voice is not a close contest for music and game sound.
• Best for long sessions → HIFI WALKER A20. The over-ear fit reduces cable pull, and the three tip sizes let you find a seal that stays comfortable.
• Best for quick mute control → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. On/off mute is right on the cable.
• Best for durability and repairability → HIFI WALKER A20. The 2-pin cable detaches and can be swapped; the NBgame's cable is fixed.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. Plug into the controller, done.
• Best for stereo sound in both ears → HIFI WALKER A20. The NBgame is a mono earbud by design.
• Best for mixed use (games, music, commuting, studying) → HIFI WALKER A20, as long as you don't need to talk.
In my opinion, most people reading this should buy the HIFI WALKER A20. It does more things well: better drivers, a secure over-ear fit, swappable tips, a detachable cable, and a one-year warranty description. It covers gaming, music, studying and commuting in one pair.
I would only pick the NBgame Sony Playstation 4 if voice chat on a PS4 is the entire job. In that one narrow lane it wins outright, because the A20 has no microphone at all.
Check the current price on Amazon for both before you decide — the value gap matters, and I don't quote numbers here for a reason.
what is gaming earbuds
Gaming earbuds are in-ear headphones intended for play — usually wired, usually with a 3.5 mm jack so they work with a controller, phone or laptop. Some, like the NBgame, add a microphone for chat; others, like the HIFI WALKER A20, focus purely on sound quality and skip the mic.
what is best gaming earbuds
There is no single answer, because "best" depends on whether you need a mic. If you need to talk to teammates, the NBgame Sony Playstation 4 is the more suitable pick with its inline mute control. If you want the better-sounding pair, the HIFI WALKER A20's 10 mm dynamic driver and over-ear fit are the stronger choice in my opinion.
what gaming earbuds are good
Good ones fit securely, seal well and match your device. The A20 checks those boxes with an over-ear design, silicone tips in three sizes and sound isolation. The NBgame checks them for a narrower job: PS4 chat, where its controller-ready 3.5 mm jack and on/off mute do exactly what a player needs.
what is the best gaming earbuds for pc
Both work on a PC that has a 3.5 mm jack, since both are wired with that connector. If you use PC voice chat, the NBgame gives you a microphone. If you already have a separate mic and want the better audio, the HIFI WALKER A20 is the one I would pick, thanks to its dynamic driver and low 16 ohm impedance that's easy to drive.
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