How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to route one audio source between two outputs — or flip between two sources into one set of speakers — choose Sonshine Electronics Two channel Audio; if you need a ready-to-wear chat headset for Nintendo Switch with a boom mic and inline controls, choose HORI Gaming Headset Brown.
• Sonshine Electronics' biggest strength: True two-channel A/B switching in a passive box — no power, no delay, and a ground-isolating design that helps kill ground-loop noise. Works with TRS and TRRS 3.5mm plugs.
• Sonshine Electronics' biggest trade-off: It makes no sound of its own. You still need headphones, a speaker, and the right cables — none of which are included.
• HORI's biggest strength: A complete, officially Nintendo-licensed headset with a detachable flexible mic, onboard volume and mute, and an 8.2 ft extension cable in the box.
• HORI's biggest trade-off: It's built for Nintendo Switch voice chat, and it's a headset — not a switcher. It won't route audio between two sources or two outputs.
• Buy Sonshine Electronics if you have two devices (or two speakers) and you're tired of unplugging cables all day.
• Buy HORI if you want to hear your Switch game and talk to friends without hunting for a separate microphone.
The Sonshine Electronics Two channel Audio is a switch box, and that's the whole point. It takes a single 3.5mm signal and lets you toggle it between two outputs — or run it backwards and choose which of two inputs reaches your speakers or headphones. There's also a middle position that mutes everything, which sounds like a small detail until you're the person who wants silence without yanking a plug.
There are two spec details worth calling out. First, the switch supports both TRS (standard stereo) and TRRS (stereo plus mic) 3.5mm plugs, so it plays nicely with headsets that have a microphone, not just plain headphones. Second, because it switches and isolates the ground channel, Sonshine specifically positions it as a fix for ground-loop noise. If you've ever had a faint hum appear when two powered devices share an audio path, that design choice is aimed directly at you.
The trade-offs are real, though. It's passive — no batteries, no power, no latency — but that also means it does nothing on its own. You supply the headphones, the speakers, and every cable, and the cables are not included, so you'll need to budget for the right lengths before it's useful. It measures roughly 2 x 1 3/8 x 7/8 inches and weighs about 24 grams, so it's small enough to tuck behind a monitor or under a shelf. The ABS housing with a metal switch and brass contacts suggests a box meant to sit still and be flipped, not a gadget you'll baby.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to listen to something right out of the box. This is an accessory for people who already own good audio gear and want to manage it better.
HORI Gaming Headset Brown: Who It's For
The HORI Gaming Headset in Animal Crossing Wood Brown is the opposite kind of product: a finished, wearable headset. HORI built it for Nintendo Switch, it's officially licensed by Nintendo, and the design carries the Tom Nook look from Animal Crossing — so if you want your gear to match the game you're playing, that's the appeal right there.
Functionally, the important bits are the detachable, flexible microphone and the onboard audio controls. The mic detaches when you're playing solo and reattaches when you jump into voice chat, and the flexible boom means you can position it rather than hope it lands near your mouth. The onboard controls handle volume and mute, which matters more than people admit: reaching for a mute button on the headset beats digging through console menus mid-match.
HORI also notes a sound-blocking design, which is the headset equivalent of saying it quiets the room around you so game audio and chat come through clearly. The frame is described as sturdy yet lightweight and adjustable, so it's meant to survive regular use and fit a range of head sizes.
Compatibility is broad within Nintendo's ecosystem — it works with all Nintendo Switch systems — and it ships with an 8.2 ft extension cable plus a 3.5mm four-pole audio jack. That four-pole jack is what carries both audio and microphone over a single connection, and the extension cable is a genuinely practical inclusion for docked play where the console isn't sitting next to you. There's a one-year manufacturer warranty as well.
The trade-offs: this is a Switch-oriented headset. Its feature set is organized around game audio and voice chat, not around switching between sources. And it's a headset, so it can't do the one thing the Sonshine box does — route two devices into one output or one output into two destinations. If your problem is cable-swapping at your desk, this doesn't solve it.
• Best for switching between two audio sources or outputs → Sonshine Electronics Two channel Audio. That's its entire purpose, with dual A/B channels and a mute position.
• Best for plug-and-play listening and chat → HORI Gaming Headset Brown. It's a complete headset with a mic, no extra parts needed.
• Best for noise problems from ground loops → Sonshine Electronics, since it switches and isolates the ground channel by design.
• Best for Nintendo Switch voice chat → HORI, which is officially licensed by Nintendo and compatible with all Switch systems.
• Best for desk and streaming setups → Sonshine Electronics, which Sonshine positions for desktop, gaming station, streaming, and work-from-home audio management.
• Best for cable flexibility out of the box → HORI, thanks to the included 8.2 ft extension cable and 3.5mm four-pole jack.
• Best for headset-with-mic compatibility on a switcher → Sonshine Electronics, because it accepts both TRS and TRRS 3.5mm plugs.
• Best if you own no audio gear yet → HORI. The Sonshine box needs headphones or speakers and cables you supply yourself.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Sonshine Electronics Two channel Audio — but only because I already own headphones and speakers and my actual frustration is swapping cables between two machines. In my opinion, the ground-isolating design and the TRS/TRRS support make it the more flexible tool for a desk that's outgrown a single output jack. That said, if your goal is simply to hear your Switch and talk to friends, I'd recommend the HORI Gaming Headset Brown instead — it's the one that works the moment you open the box. Buy the Sonshine to fix a routing problem; buy the HORI to start playing and chatting tonight.
No. The Sonshine is a passive 3.5mm switch box that routes audio between sources or outputs. The HORI is a wearable gaming headset with a detachable mic and onboard controls. They only overlap in using a 3.5mm connection.
No. It's a passive switcher, so it requires no power and adds no signal delay. The trade-off is that it produces no audio itself — you supply the headphones or speakers and the cables, which aren't included.
HORI states it's compatible with all Nintendo Switch systems and officially licensed by Nintendo. It includes an 8.2 ft extension cable and a 3.5mm four-pole jack, and the mic is detachable for solo play.
They're not really competing on value because they do different jobs. If you need to stop unplugging cables, the Sonshine box is the cheaper way to solve that specific problem; if you need a headset with a mic for Switch chat, the HORI is the complete package. Check the current price on Amazon for each before deciding, since pricing shifts.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.