How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a simple wired headset you can plug into a console or TV and wear for hours while watching TV, choose NUBWO U3; if you need a device that captures and streams console gameplay in 1080P 60FPS, choose Monster Video Capture Card. These two products sit in completely different corners of the gaming world, so the right pick comes down to one question: are you trying to hear your TV, or are you trying to record it?
• NUBWO U3, biggest strength: Wired 3.5 mm over-ear headphones with a flexible noise-canceling mic and in-line volume/mute control — one cable, no pairing, no charging.
• NUBWO U3, biggest trade-off: It is strictly a wired headset. There is no Bluetooth, no multipoint pairing, and no battery, so it lives wherever you plug it in.
• Monster Video Capture Card, biggest strength: 4K HDMI pass-through with 1080P 60FPS recording over USB 3.0, plus built-in mic and headphone ports for live commentary.
• Monster Video Capture Card, biggest trade-off: It produces no sound on its own. Without a console, PC, and your own headset, it does nothing at all.
• Who each pick is for: NUBWO U3 is for someone who wants a comfortable wired headset for TV watching and gaming audio; Monster Video Capture Card is for someone who wants to record or stream gameplay.
The NUBWO U3 is a wired over-ear headset built around one idea: plug in and go. It uses a 3.5 mm jack, so it connects directly to a PS5, PS4, PC, laptop, tablet, phone, Switch, or a newer Xbox One controller — no dongle, no pairing screen, no battery to remember to charge. If you've ever sat down to watch a show and spent five minutes fighting a Bluetooth menu, that simplicity is the whole point.
For TV watching specifically, the design choices matter. The ear pads are soft, skin-friendly leather, and the headband is adjustable, so long sessions are the intended use case. The 50 mm dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20 kHz range with 32 ohm impedance and 95 dB sensitivity — an easy load for a TV headphone jack, a console controller, or a phone. Bass is emphasized, which suits movies, sports, and games where you want impact rather than flat studio accuracy. The in-line control lets you adjust volume and mute without touching the TV, and the flexible boom mic handles voice chat when you switch from watching to playing.
Who should skip it: if you want wireless freedom, multipoint Bluetooth earbuds that hop between your phone and TV, or active noise cancellation, this isn't that product — the U3 is wired, and its "noise control" is sound isolation from the closed ear cups, not electronics. Also note that an older Xbox One controller needs a separate Microsoft adapter, which isn't included. And while the cups are comfortable, the earpiece shape is rounded rather than a fully rotatable, flippable design, so if you specifically want rotatable ear cups to lay the headset flat, this is a fixed-position build.
Monster Video Capture Card: Who It's For
The Monster Video Capture Card is a capture device, not a listening device. Its job is to take the HDMI signal coming out of a console and send it two places at once: through to your TV or monitor at up to 4K, and into your computer at 1080P 60FPS for recording or streaming. That pass-through design means you keep playing on your normal screen with no added lag in your view, while your PC quietly records the same feed.
It's built for the current console generation. PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2 are all named as supported sources, and the hardware interface list covers HDMI, USB 3.0 Type A, 3.5 mm audio, and a headphone jack. The USB 3.0 connection is what makes the fast transfer to your PC possible. Setup is plug-and-play in the literal sense: console into HDMI in, USB out to your computer, done. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so you're not locked to one operating system.
The audio side is the detail that separates it from a bare-bones capture dongle. There are dedicated microphone and headphone ports on the unit itself, so you can plug in a mic for live commentary and a headset to monitor game audio in real time. For anyone building out a streaming setup, that means fewer adapters and a tidier desk.
Who should buy it: gamers and creators who want to record gameplay, save highlights, stream, or make tutorials from a console or PC, and who want commentary and audio monitoring handled by the same box. It's compact and lightweight at 3.2 ounces, so it travels well if you record at a friend's place.
Who should skip it: anyone who just wants to watch TV with better audio. This device has no speakers and no headphone output for passive listening — it's a capture pipeline. If your goal is hearing your TV late at night, this does nothing for you.
• Best for TV watching audio → NUBWO U3. Plug the 3.5 mm jack into your TV, console, or phone and listen privately, with in-line volume and mute.
• Best for recording or streaming gameplay → Monster Video Capture Card. 1080P 60FPS capture with 4K HDMI pass-through is the entire purpose of the device.
• Best for zero setup friction → NUBWO U3. No drivers, no software, no PC required.
• Best for live commentary and audio monitoring → Monster Video Capture Card. Dedicated mic and headphone ports on the unit.
• Best for console compatibility breadth → Monster Video Capture Card. PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, and PC are all covered, across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Best for long-wear comfort → NUBWO U3. Leather ear pads and an adjustable headband designed for extended sessions.
• Best if you want both jobs done → buy both. The U3 handles your ears; the Monster handles your broadcast. They don't overlap at all.
For TV watching, I'd buy the NUBWO U3. In my opinion, it's the honest pick for someone who wants a comfortable wired over-ear headset they can plug into a TV, console, or phone and forget about — no pairing, no charging, no software. The Monster Video Capture Card is genuinely good at what it does, but what it does is record gameplay, not play audio into your ears. If your actual goal is capturing and streaming, flip the recommendation and get the Monster. For everyone else reading this because they searched for the best on ear headphones for tv watching, the wired U3 is the one I'd reach for. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing specs can't tell you.
No. It's a wired headset using a 3.5 mm jack. There's no Bluetooth radio and no multipoint pairing, so if you specifically want multipoint Bluetooth earbuds for TV watching, this isn't the right product.
No. It needs a host PC or laptop over USB 3.0 to capture and store footage. The HDMI pass-through lets you keep watching on your TV, but the recording itself requires a connected computer.
Yes for PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, Switch, laptop, tablet, phone, and newer Xbox One controllers. An older Xbox One controller needs a separate Microsoft adapter, which is not included.
The Monster Video Capture Card, clearly. The U3 gives you a mic and headphones for talking and listening, but it can't capture or broadcast anything. The Monster is the device that turns your console signal into a stream.
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