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If you want a multi-pack of lightweight wired earbuds you can stash in several bags at once, choose Rayleigh Earbuds; if you need a single over-ear gaming headset with a boom mic and a big 50mm driver, choose IMYB A36.
• Rayleigh Earbuds — biggest strength: You get five pairs of 3.5mm in-ear buds with inline mics, a multi-function button, and color-coded options, so you can keep one in every bag, pocket, or drawer.
• Rayleigh Earbuds — biggest trade-off: They're wired only, in-ear only, and built around sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation — no over-ear cups, no boom mic.
• IMYB A36 — biggest strength: A 50mm neodymium dynamic driver, an omni-directional noise-isolating boom mic, and a rotary volume knob with a mute button make it a purpose-built gaming headset.
• IMYB A36 — biggest trade-off: It's one headset, it's over-ear and bulky (0.45 kg), and it needs a 3.5mm jack — Xbox One models may need an adapter.
• Who each is for: Rayleigh for commuters, students, and families who want cheap spares and simple wired listening; IMYB A36 for PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch players who talk while they play.
Rayleigh's angle here is volume and simplicity. This is a five-pack of wired in-ear buds, each with a 3.5mm jack, a built-in microphone, and a multi-function button on the cable. The drivers are dynamic, impedance is 32 ohm, and the frequency range runs 20 Hz to 20 kHz — a standard full-range spec that covers music, podcasts, calls, and video without fuss.
The design is deliberately plain in the best way. Rounded tips, a thermoplastic elastomer and copper enclosure, and a tangle-free cable. Sound isolation is the noise strategy, which is exactly what you'd expect from an in-ear fit. Colors vary across the pack — black/red, white/blue, black/gold, white/red, and blue/black combinations — and Rayleigh lists the theme as cartoon, movie, video game, and sports, which tells you this is aimed at everyday entertainment rather than studio work. Age range covers adults, kids, and teens, and a one-year warranty is listed.
IMYB A36: Who It's For
The IMYB A36 is a different animal entirely. It's a single over-ear gaming headset in white, with ABS and faux leather construction, oval ear cushions, and a flexible headband with thickening pads. At 0.45 kg it's light enough to wear for a long session, but it's still a full-size headset — not something you'll forget you're wearing.
The audio side is the headline. A 50mm neodymium magnet dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance, 42 dB sensitivity, and a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range. IMYB describes the tuning as a "surrounding stereo subwoofer" character meant to add depth and expressiveness to voice and effects — in plain terms, this is a headset tuned for games and media rather than flat monitoring. The integrated omni-directional microphone is noise-isolating, so your voice goes out clearly while you play.
Practically, the A36 is built around compatibility and control. It works with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S (older Xbox versions need an adapter), Nintendo 3DS, Switch, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad, computer, and phones — anything with a 3.5mm jack. The cable is a 6.5ft anti-tangle braided one, and there's a rotary volume knob plus a microphone mute button on the remote. Passive noise cancellation comes from the closed over-ear fit. Included in the box: the headset, a 1-to-2 3.5mm audio jack splitter cable, and a user manual. IMYB backs it with a three-year limited hardware warranty.
Buy this if you play on a console or PC and want one headset that handles game audio and voice chat in a single cable. Skip it if you want something pocketable, if you mainly listen on a phone in the street, or if you need wireless — the A36 is wired, and its wireless technology field is listed as "Not."
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gaming and voice chat → IMYB A36. The omni-directional noise-isolating boom mic and rotary mute button are made for talking while you play.
• Best for immersive, bass-forward audio → IMYB A36. A 50mm neodymium driver moves far more air than a small in-ear driver.
• Best for portability → Rayleigh Earbuds. In-ear buds with a tangle-free cable disappear into a pocket; the A36 is a 0.45 kg over-ear headset.
• Best for long wear sessions → IMYB A36. Soft skin-friendly ear cushions and a padded flexible headband are designed for hours, while in-ear tips can fatigue some ears.
• Best for kids, teens, and shared households → Rayleigh Earbuds. A five-pack with adult/kids/teens age range and multiple colors suits families better than one headset.
• Best for console compatibility → IMYB A36. It covers PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and more in one package, adapter aside for older Xbox models.
• Best for call clarity in a noisy room → IMYB A36. Passive noise cancellation plus a noise-isolating mic beats in-ear sound isolation alone for outgoing voice.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the IMYB A36 — but only because my use case is gaming and voice chat on a console or PC, where the 50mm driver, boom mic, mute button, and 6.5ft braided cable actually matter. It's the more capable piece of hardware for that job. That said, if you don't game with a mic, the Rayleigh five-pack is the smarter buy: you get five working pairs, multiple colors, and a simple wired design that never needs charging. In my opinion, these two barely compete — pick by how you'll use them, not by which sounds fancier on paper. If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to wireless headphones work
They work by receiving an audio signal over a radio link, usually Bluetooth, from your phone or computer instead of through a cable. Neither the Rayleigh Earbuds nor the IMYB A36 is wireless — both are wired 3.5mm products, so this question doesn't apply to either one.
how to connect wireless headphones
You'd typically pair wireless headphones by putting them in pairing mode and selecting them in your device's Bluetooth menu. Again, both of these products connect by plugging a 3.5mm jack into your device — the A36 also ships with a 1-to-2 splitter cable for separating audio and mic inputs.
how to use wireless headphones
Wireless headphones need charging and pairing before use. With the Rayleigh Earbuds and the IMYB A36, there's nothing to charge or pair: plug in the 3.5mm jack, and on the A36 use the rotary knob for volume and the button for mic mute.
For gaming, the IMYB A36 is the better fit on specs alone: a 50mm neodymium driver, an omni-directional noise-isolating boom mic, remote volume and mute controls, and broad console support. The Rayleigh pack is better as a backup or a second pair for casual listening, not as a primary gaming headset.
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See also: IMYB A36 vs syndesmos PS5: Surround Sound Headphones, Koss KTXPro1 vs Fhumsh Earbuds: Stereo Headphones, Btootos Earbuds vs DESOBRY: Bluetooth Stereo Headphones