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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• NBgame Sony Playstation 4 — biggest strength: It is a single-earbud chat solution with an on/off mute microphone built for plugging straight into the DualShock controller's 3.5 mm jack.
• NBgame Sony Playstation 4 — biggest trade-off: It is a mono earbud, so you get one earpiece and no stereo separation. It is for talking, not for hearing where footsteps come from.
• KZA COUSTICS Axas — biggest strength: A true in-ear monitor design with a dynamic driver, a 10–20kHz frequency range and deep passive noise isolation for positional audio.
• KZA COUSTICS Axas — biggest trade-off: This version ships with no microphone, so it cannot handle party chat on its own, and it only works through a 3.5 mm wired connection.
• Choose NBgame Sony Playstation 4 if you mainly play with friends and need a mic you can mute with one touch.
• Choose KZA COUSTICS Axas if you play solo, competitive FPS titles and want the cleanest, most isolating stereo sound you can get from a wired in-ear.
The NBgame Sony Playstation 4 is a purpose-built accessory, not a general listening device. It is a mono chat earbud with an inline on/off mute control, a 3.5 mm jack, and a compact, rounded-tip silicone earpiece in blue. It weighs 80 g as a package and runs on a balanced armature driver, which is the kind of driver usually chosen for clear midrange and voice reproduction rather than thumping bass. That tells you what it was designed to do: make speech intelligible.
Where it makes sense is the PS4 party chat scenario. You plug it into the controller, drop one earpiece in, and you are on comms. The mute switch is the detail I like most here — it is a physical control, so you can kill your mic instantly without hunting through a console menu mid-match. The silicone tip and rounded shape suggest a light, low-pressure fit, which matters if you wear it for a three-hour session. The single earpiece also means your other ear stays open to the room, so you can still hear someone calling you from the kitchen.
Who should buy it: PS4 owners who play team games, already own a decent headphone or TV speaker setup for game audio, and just need a reliable mic on their controller. Also a reasonable pick if you dislike the pressure and heat of over-ear headsets.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants stereo immersion. This is one earbud. You will not get directional cues, and a balanced armature mono earbud is not the tool for cinematic single-player games. If you play competitive shooters where sound position decides fights, this is the wrong purchase.
The KZA COUSTICS Axas is the opposite philosophy. It is a pair of in-ear monitors — real IEMs — with a dynamic driver, 20 ohm impedance and a 10–20kHz frequency range. KZA explicitly tunes it for gaming: the marketing language talks about enhanced footstep detail and spatial audio, and the deep in-ear seal is there to give you a personal soundstage. That is a meaningful design difference from the NBgame. An IEM that seals properly reduces ambient noise passively, which is exactly what you want when you are trying to hear a distant reload over a noisy room.
The build details back this up. You get S/M/L silicone tips so you can actually get a seal instead of a loose fit, and the shell is ergonomic and lightweight for long sessions. There is hardware-level AI noise cancellation for voice chat clarity, and a 2-pin gold-plated detachable cable — a genuine upgrade path, since a worn cable can be replaced rather than dooming the whole set.
The catch is right in the product name: White 3.5mm NO Mic. This version has no microphone at all. It is a listening device, full stop. It also only connects over 3.5 mm wired, and it is intended for adult users. The white finish is the only color in the data sheet, so if you were hoping for options, there are none listed.
Who should buy it: PC and console players who want isolating, low-distortion stereo audio for solo or competitive play, and who either use a separate mic or play without voice chat. Also a strong fit if you upgrade gear over time and value a replaceable cable.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs to talk in game. No mic means no party chat without a separate solution. And if you dislike deep in-ear insertion, the seal that makes the Axas good for isolation is the same thing that makes it uncomfortable for some ears.
• Best for in-game voice chat → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. It has a microphone with on/off mute controls. The Axas has none in this configuration.
• Best for competitive FPS positional audio → KZA COUSTICS Axas. The IEM design, deep seal and 10–20kHz range are aimed squarely at footstep and direction cues.
• Best for noise isolation → KZA COUSTICS Axas. Passive isolation from the in-ear seal is the whole point of the design, versus sound isolation on a single earbud.
• Best for PS4 controller convenience → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. It is built for the DualShock 3.5 mm jack and is a grab-and-go single piece.
• Best for upgradeability → KZA COUSTICS Axas. The detachable 2-pin cable can be swapped or replaced; the NBgame is a fixed cable.
• Best for value if you only need a mic → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. If chat is the only gap in your setup, this is the focused fix.
• Best for long marathon sessions → KZA COUSTICS Axas. Three tip sizes and a lightweight ergonomic shell are designed to prevent fatigue.
• Best for hearing the room around you → NBgame Sony Playstation 4. One earbud means one open ear.
In my opinion, the KZA COUSTICS Axas is the better buy for most people reading a gaming earbuds comparison, because sound quality and isolation scale with everything you play — single-player, co-op, competitive. The detachable cable and tip selection make it a piece of gear you keep rather than replace. That said, if your actual problem is that you have no mic on your PS4, the NBgame Sony Playstation 4 solves that specific problem cleanly and cheaply, and buying the Axas won't fix it. Buy the Axas for sound. Buy the NBgame for chat. If you need both, get the Axas and a separate mic.
what is gaming earbuds
Gaming earbuds are in-ear headphones tuned and shaped for playing games — usually with some combination of a low-latency wired connection, boosted positional detail, and either a mic for chat or strong passive isolation. The NBgame Sony Playstation 4 is a mono chat earbud; the KZA COUSTICS Axas is a stereo in-ear monitor without a mic.
what is best gaming earbuds
There is no single best one, because "best" depends on whether you need a microphone or better audio. If you need chat, the NBgame Sony Playstation 4 is the more useful pick. If you need isolation and stereo detail, the KZA COUSTICS Axas fits that role better in my opinion.
what gaming earbuds are good
Good gaming earbuds give you a secure fit, a stable wired connection and either clear voice pickup or a proper in-ear seal. The Axas offers S/M/L tips, a 2-pin detachable cable and a 10–20kHz range; the NBgame offers a single earbud with an inline mute mic and a 3.5 mm jack for PS4 controllers.
what is the best gaming earbuds for pc
For PC, the KZA COUSTICS Axas is the stronger fit in my opinion, since its 3.5 mm wired connection, 20 ohm impedance and IEM sealing suit positional audio in shooters — as long as you already have a separate mic, because this version ships without one. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit to either.
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