How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a light, foldable, music-first on-ear headphone you can also take calls on, choose Sony ZX Series; if you need a work-from-anywhere headset built around a noise-cancelling boom mic, choose JIAMQISHI USB Headset.
• Sony ZX Series — biggest strength: swiveling, folding on-ear design with a punchy 30 mm dynamic driver and a wide 12 Hz–22 kHz tuning, plus an inline remote and mic on the cord.
• Sony ZX Series — biggest trade-off: no active noise cancellation, and the mic lives on the cable, so it works best with phones that support inline controls rather than as a dedicated desk headset.
• JIAMQISHI USB Headset — biggest strength: a 270° unidirectional boom mic with noise-cancelling pickup, dual USB + 3.5 mm connection, and in-line mute controls with an indicator light.
• JIAMQISHI USB Headset — biggest trade-off: it's a bulkier on-ear computer headset with a 9-foot cord, so it's not the pick for pocketable, on-the-go listening.
• Pick Sony ZX Series if you mainly listen to music and want the occasional hands-free call on the move.
• Pick JIAMQISHI USB Headset if you spend your day in Zoom, Skype, online classes or call-center work and need your voice to come through clearly.
The Sony ZX Series is, at heart, a portable music headphone that happens to take calls. The 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give it a punchy, rhythmic character, and the stated frequency range of 12 Hz to 22 kHz points to deep bass with a rich midrange and clear highs. At 24 ohms impedance and 100 dB sensitivity, it's easy to drive straight from a phone or laptop — you won't need an amp to get usable volume.
The design is where it wins for travel. The earcups swivel and fold, so they collapse into a small shape you can toss in a bag, and at 4.16 ounces they're light enough to forget you're wearing them. Cushioned earpads and a closed-back, enfolding design help seal in sound and keep your music from leaking out into a quiet room. The L-shaped 3.5 mm plug and 1.2 m y-type cable are built to resist snags and tangles, which matters more than people expect when you're walking with a phone in your pocket.
JIAMQISHI USB Headset: Who It's For
The JIAMQISHI USB Headset is designed the other way around: the microphone is the point. It uses a 270° unidirectional boom mic that's meant to pick up your voice and reject background noise, and you can swing the boom to wear the headset on either ear. For anyone whose day is a string of calls — support queues, virtual meetings, remote classes — that single feature is the whole reason to buy it.
Comfort is clearly a priority too. The headband adjusts to fit adults and kids, the protein memory-foam earpads are made from breathable materials, and the brand states the materials are ROHS certified to help keep ears from overheating. It's an on-ear, closed plastic design in black, with 40 mm dynamic drivers and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range — bigger drivers than the Sony, which usually translates to more low-end weight and headroom for speech and media.
The connection story is unusually flexible. You get both a 3.5 mm jack and USB, with in-line audio volume control, mic mute and speaker mute, and a work indicator light that stays on while the headset is in use. Total cord length is 9 feet (the listing splits it as 5 + 4 feet), which is genuinely useful if your tower or laptop sits away from where you sit. It's listed as compatible with PC, Mac, laptop, tablet, iOS, Android and other devices, and it's aimed squarely at online courses, Skype, webinars, office work, conference calls and dictation-style software. Warranty is 24 months.
One spec worth reading carefully: the sheet lists active noise cancellation with a touch controller type, while the rest of the feature list describes button-based in-line controls. Treat the ANC line cautiously — the reliable, clearly described features are the noise-cancelling boom mic and the physical in-line controls. Buy the JIAMQISHI if your priority is being heard clearly on calls. Skip it if you want a headphone that disappears into a jacket pocket.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best microphone for calls → JIAMQISHI USB Headset. A 270° unidirectional noise-cancelling boom mic beats an inline cable mic for voice clarity.
• Best for portability and travel → Sony ZX Series. Swiveling, folding earcups and a 4.16-ounce build make it the one you actually carry.
• Best for long desk sessions → JIAMQISHI USB Headset. Breathable memory-foam earpads, adjustable headband and a 9-foot cord that reaches across a desk.
• Best for device flexibility → JIAMQISHI USB Headset. It supports both USB and 3.5 mm, so it works with a desktop tower and a phone.
• Best for muting quickly on a call → JIAMQISHI USB Headset. Dedicated mic mute, speaker mute and a work indicator light.
• Best for casual hands-free calls from a phone → Sony ZX Series. Inline remote and mic on the cord, with no extra dongle needed.
• Best for blocking your music from leaking in a quiet room → Sony ZX Series. The closed-back, enfolding design seals sound in.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: is the microphone the main event, or an extra? If you're buying for work, school or calls, I'd take the JIAMQISHI USB Headset — the boom mic, dual USB/3.5 mm connection, mute controls and long cord are exactly what a desk headset needs, and the 24-month warranty is reassuring. If you're buying for music you carry around and only occasionally take a call, I'd take the Sony ZX Series — lighter, foldable, and tuned for listening. Neither is the wrong answer; they're built for different jobs. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable that can tip a close call.
how to use headphones with mic on pc
Plug the headset in first, then let your operating system detect it. With the JIAMQISHI USB Headset, connect via USB for the in-line controls and mic to work, or use the 3.5 mm cable if your PC has separate headphone and mic jacks. Then open your sound settings and set the headset as both the input and output device.
how to connect headphones with mic on pc
For USB, plug the connector into any free USB port — no adapter needed. For 3.5 mm, use the matching jack on your laptop or, on a desktop with split jacks, a headset splitter. The Sony ZX Series uses a single 3.5 mm L-shaped plug, so it connects to a combined jack directly; the inline mic works on devices that support inline controls.
how to use headphones with mic on phone
Any 3.5 mm headset plugs into a phone's headphone jack, and the Sony ZX Series' inline remote and mic let you take hands-free calls from selected smartphones. The JIAMQISHI headset also supports 3.5 mm, and its in-line controls handle volume and mute. If your phone has no headphone jack, you'll need a suitable adapter.
how to test headphones with mic
Play audio and confirm both earcups produce sound, then check the mic: on the JIAMQISHI, the indicator light next to the speaker mute button stays on while the headset is in use. Open your computer's sound settings and watch the input level meter while you speak, or record a short clip and play it back to judge clarity and background noise.
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