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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight, kid-friendly on-ear headset tuned for Nintendo Switch with an easy flip-to-mute mic, choose PDP Gaming LVL40; if you need a bigger over-ear headset with larger drivers and wide multi-platform support for PC, PlayStation and Xbox, choose IMYB A36.
• PDP Gaming LVL40 — biggest strength: genuinely light build (0.1 kg) with breathable foam cushions, on-ear volume control and a mic that flips up to mute. Biggest trade-off: 40 mm drivers and an on-ear fit that leaks more ambient sound than a sealed over-ear cup.
• IMYB A36 — biggest strength: 50 mm neodymium drivers, over-ear cushions and a broad 3.5 mm multi-platform list including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and mobile. Biggest trade-off: heavier at 0.77 lb, and older Xbox pads need an adapter.
• Both are wired 3.5 mm headsets. Neither is truly wireless — the "wireless" label shoppers search for doesn't apply to either product here.
• Pick PDP Gaming LVL40 if you want something light enough to forget you're wearing it, mostly for Switch handheld sessions.
• Pick IMYB A36 if you want bigger drivers, a sealed over-ear fit and one headset that moves between several platforms.
This is the headset you hand to someone who plays in short-to-medium bursts and hates the feeling of a heavy can clamped on their head. At roughly 0.1 kg, the LVL40 is about as light as a gaming headset gets, and PDP leans into that with deluxe comfort padding, an adjustable headband and breathable soft foam cushions. The ear cups are round and on-ear rather than over-ear, with a plastic and PU build in a blue-and-red Mario-style colorway that reads clearly as a family, kid-oriented product — the spec sheet literally lists the age range as "Kid."
Sound-wise you get 40 mm dynamic drivers, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and 40 ohm impedance. That impedance figure matters: 40 ohms is easy enough to drive from a Switch, a laptop or a phone without a separate amp, and PDP is upfront that the tuning favors strong bass and crisp highs rather than flat, analytical reproduction. For Mario Kart, Splatoon or a round of Fortnite on the couch, that's the right call.
IMYB A36: Who It's For
The A36 goes the other direction: bigger, broader and more ambitious. The headline number is the driver size — 50 mm neodymium magnets versus the LVL40's 40 mm. Larger drivers generally move more air and can produce deeper, more full-bodied low end, and IMYB explicitly frames the sound as a "surrounding stereo subwoofer" experience aimed at depth and detail in voice playback. With 32 ohm impedance and a stated 20 Hz–20 kHz range, it's also easy to drive from a standard 3.5 mm jack.
The fit is over-ear with soft, skin-friendly cushions, a flexible headband with thickened padding, and an ABS/faux-leather build in plain black. It weighs 0.77 lb — heavier than the PDP, but that weight is spread across a larger over-ear frame, which is usually the more comfortable arrangement for longer sessions if you don't mind the bulk. Over-ear cups also naturally block more outside noise than on-ear pads, and IMYB lists sound isolation as the noise-control method.
Where the A36 clearly wins on paper is flexibility. The compatibility list runs PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo 3DS, Switch, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad, computer and mobile — and IMYB throws in a 1-to-2 3.5 mm splitter cable so you can separate headphone and mic plugs on a desktop. The cable is 6.5 ft, braided and anti-tangle, with rotary volume and a button mic mute. The mic is omnidirectional with noise isolating, which is a different approach from the PDP's flip boom.
Skip the A36 if you specifically want the lightest possible headset, if you're buying for a young kid who'll find 0.77 lb heavy, or if you own an older Xbox One controller — that needs an adapter for the mic to work properly.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for bigger, fuller sound → IMYB A36 (50 mm neodymium drivers vs 40 mm).
• Best for blocking out a noisy room → IMYB A36 (over-ear sealed fit rather than on-ear).
• Best for younger players → PDP Gaming LVL40 (kid-oriented design, light frame, simple flip-to-mute mic).
• Best for one headset across many devices → IMYB A36 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, mobile, plus a splitter cable).
• Best for quick in-game volume changes without looking → PDP Gaming LVL40 (on-ear-cup volume control).
• Best for a clean desktop setup → IMYB A36 (6.5 ft anti-tangle braided cable, rotary volume, button mute).
• Best for Nintendo Switch handheld specifically → PDP Gaming LVL40 (built for Switch/Lite/OLED, low 40 ohm impedance).
In my opinion, the IMYB A36 is the stronger all-round buy for most people. The 50 mm drivers, over-ear isolation, broad platform compatibility and included splitter cable make it a single headset that covers a desk PC and a console in one go. I'd only steer you to the PDP Gaming LVL40 if weight and simplicity are the priority — a young Switch player, or anyone who wants the lightest possible on-ear set with an obvious flip-to-mute mic. Both are wired 3.5 mm headsets, so if wireless freedom is what you're after, neither is the right product and you should look at a Bluetooth model instead. Before deciding, check the current price on Amazon, since the value gap between these two shifts with whatever each is going for.
how to connect wireless stereo headphones
These two aren't wireless, so that's worth clearing up first. Both the PDP LVL40 and IMYB A36 connect over a 3.5 mm jack — plug the cable into your controller, handheld or PC and you're done. For a genuinely wireless headset you'd need a Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz model, which is a different product category entirely.
how to connect celly wireless stereo headphones
There's no Celly model in this comparison, so I can't speak to that brand. The general rule for any 3.5 mm headset — including both of these — is to plug the jack into the audio output, then select that output in your device's sound settings. If your desktop has separate mic and headphone ports, the IMYB A36's included 1-to-2 splitter cable is what you need.
how to use celly wireless stereo headphones
Again, Celly isn't part of this matchup. For the two headsets here, usage is straightforward: the PDP LVL40 uses a volume control on the ear cup and a mic that flips up to mute, while the IMYB A36 uses a rotary volume knob and a button mute on its braided cable. In both cases the mic and audio work as soon as the 3.5 mm plug is seated.
how to connect anc wireless stereo headphones
Neither of these has active noise cancellation — both use passive sound isolation. The PDP LVL40 relies on on-ear noise-isolating cups, and the IMYB A36 on its over-ear sealed cushions. If ANC is a hard requirement, you'll need to look outside this pair, because the spec sheets here list sound isolation only, not active cancellation.
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