We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a cable-free, Xbox-first headset with on-earcup controls and a detachable boom mic, choose PowerA LucidSound LS15X; if you need one inexpensive wired headset that plugs into almost anything you own, choose IMYB A36. That's the short version. The long version comes down to one question: do you value freedom from cables, or do you value plug-and-play versatility across a pile of different devices? Everything else in this comparison flows from that.
• PowerA LucidSound LS15X — biggest strength: Wireless freedom plus genuinely useful on-earcup controls (volume, game/chat balance, mic mute, game audio mute, mic monitoring) and a dual-mic system with a detachable boom mic.
• PowerA LucidSound LS15X — biggest trade-off: It lives in the Xbox ecosystem, and its 15-hour battery means you're managing a charge on long sessions.
• IMYB A36 — biggest strength: Wired 3.5mm compatibility across PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, tablet, phone and more, with a long anti-tangle braided cable and a 3-year limited hardware warranty.
• IMYB A36 — biggest trade-off: It's a wired headset, so you're tethered to your controller or device, and it leans on a single boom-mounted mic rather than a dual-mic system.
• Who each is for: LS15X for the Xbox player who wants clean wireless audio and in-game control; A36 for the multi-device player who wants one headset for everything.
The LS15X is built around one idea: keep your hands on the controller and your eyes on the screen. Every common adjustment — headset volume, game/chat balance, mic mute, game audio mute — sits on the earcups themselves. That sounds like a small thing until you've played a tense match and had to fumble through a console menu just to hear your teammates. The on-earcup layout also includes a mic monitoring feature, so you can hear your own voice and know how you sound to your squad. You can turn that off by holding the right earcup button for three seconds, and you can check battery level by holding the left earcup button the same way. Those small shortcuts tell you this headset was designed by people who actually thought about mid-game interruptions.
Audio-wise, the LS15X uses custom-tuned 50mm dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range and three EQ modes: Signature, Bass Boost and Neutral. It also supports Windows Sonic spatial sound, which is the feature that matters most for shooters — positional awareness, footsteps, callouts from a specific direction. The dual-mic system is the other standout. Use the flexible boom mic with its LED mute indicator for precision chat, or detach it entirely and the built-in backup mic takes over — handy if you also want to use the headset for casual listening or a quick call without a boom in your face.
Comfort gets real attention here too. The frame is ultra-lightweight, the earpads are memory foam, and the headset weighs 12.48 ounces. Wireless runs over a low-latency 2.4GHz-style connection with a USB transmitter, which is the right call for gaming — it avoids the lag that Bluetooth can introduce. Bluetooth 4.2 is also listed, along with a 30-foot range. If you're an Xbox Series X|S player who wants a tidier setup and doesn't want to think about cables, this is the headset's whole pitch.
Who should skip it? If you game across a PS5, a Switch, a laptop and a phone, and you don't want to think about charging, the wireless-first design is more overhead than you need. And if you prefer a wired connection for zero-latency certainty and no battery management at all, the LS15X is the wrong tool.
The A36 is the opposite philosophy, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a wired 3.5mm headset that works with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S (older Xbox versions may need an adapter), Nintendo 3DS and Switch, laptops, PSP, tablets, iPads, phones — basically anything with a 3.5mm jack. That's a genuinely broad net. If you own three or four systems and don't want three or four headsets, this is the practical answer. It even ships with a 1-to-2 3.5mm Y-splitter cable for devices that separate headphone and mic jacks, which is the detail that trips up a lot of budget buyers.
The audio specs are respectable for the category: 50mm hybrid drivers, 32-ohm impedance, 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range, and 42dB sensitivity. The lower impedance matters — it means the headset is easy to drive from a controller's headphone jack or a phone, without needing a separate amp. The description leans into the "surrounding stereo subwoofer" language, which is marketing speak, but the underlying point is fair: 50mm drivers in a closed over-ear design give you a fuller low end than tiny earbuds ever will. For FPS games where you want to hear footsteps and a bit of rumble, that's the right recipe.
The mic is an omnidirectional boom with a noise-isolating function and a flip-style mute button on the inline control. Volume is handled with a rotary knob on the cable — old-school, but reliable, and easy to find by feel. The cable itself is 6.5 feet of anti-tangle braided cord, which is longer than most controller cables and gives you room to move without yanking your controller off the couch.
Comfort is decent: soft, skin-friendly ear cushions, a flexible headband with thickened padding, and a total weight of 0.77 pounds — noticeably light. The enclosure is ABS plastic with faux leather pads, so it's built to a budget, but the 3-year limited hardware warranty is unusually generous for this price tier and suggests the brand stands behind the build.
Who should skip it? If you hate cables, or if you specifically want a detachable mic you can pull off for casual listening, the A36 will frustrate you. It's also a stereo headset, not a surround-processed one — no Windows Sonic-style spatial layer is mentioned, so positional audio depends on your platform's own processing.
• Best for Xbox Series X|S owners → PowerA LucidSound LS15X. It's designed around that console, with controls that match how you actually play.
• Best for multi-device households → IMYB A36. One 3.5mm headset covers PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, phone, tablet and more.
• Best for cable-free convenience → PowerA LucidSound LS15X. Wireless with a USB transmitter and a 30-foot range.
• Best for zero battery management → IMYB A36. Wired means it's always ready; no charging, no 15-hour countdown.
• Best for in-game control without menus → PowerA LucidSound LS15X. Volume, game/chat balance, mic mute and game audio mute all sit on the earcups.
• Best for positional audio in shooters → PowerA LucidSound LS15X. 50mm drivers, three EQ modes and Windows Sonic support give you the tools for directional awareness.
• Best for plugging into a controller jack → IMYB A36. Low 32-ohm impedance makes it easy to drive from almost any 3.5mm output.
• Best for long-term peace of mind on the build → IMYB A36. The 3-year limited hardware warranty is a strong signal at this tier.
If I were buying for myself and my main setup was an Xbox Series X|S, I'd take the PowerA LucidSound LS15X. The on-earcup controls and the dual-mic system are the kind of features that quietly improve every session, and going wireless removes a genuine annoyance. But I'll be honest: if I gamed across a PS5, a Switch and a laptop in the same week, I'd take the IMYB A36 without hesitation. It's the more flexible headset, and the 3-year warranty is reassuring. Pick based on your devices, not the spec sheet bragging rights.
FAQ
Yes, it's listed as compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S, though older Xbox versions may require an adapter. It also works with PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, tablets, phones and other 3.5mm devices.
The LS15X has the more advanced setup: a flexible boom mic with an LED mute indicator plus a detachable design that activates a built-in backup mic. The A36 uses a single omnidirectional boom mic with noise isolation and an inline mute button. For precise team chat, I'd lean LS15X.
The LS15X runs on a rechargeable battery rated for up to 15 hours per charge. The A36 is wired and has no battery at all, so it never needs charging — a real advantage if you don't want to think about power.
Both work on PC, but the A36's 3.5mm connection and bundled Y-splitter cable make it the simpler plug-and-play pick. If you want wireless freedom and Windows Sonic spatial sound, the LS15X is the better fit — just check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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