We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to add working volume control to headphones you already own — including the ones plugged into a seat-back screen on a flight — choose Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control; if you need a complete USB-C earbud with its own mic, inline remote and a digital DAC built in, choose APETOO USB C Headphones. One is a small adapter that fixes a volume problem; the other replaces the whole headphone. They solve different jobs, so the right pick comes down to whether your issue is control or connection.
• Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control — biggest strength: it plugs between any sound source and any 3.5 mm headphone and adds a local volume wheel, which is exactly what you want when a device's output is too hot, too quiet, or has no volume control of its own.
• Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control — biggest trade-off: it is 3.5 mm only, it does nothing for USB-C phones, and it is purely a pass-through control — no mic, no drivers, no sound of its own.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest strength: an all-in-one USB-C earbud with a built-in digital DAC, a mic, button-based volume and track control, silicone tips for noise isolation, plus a case and spare ear tips in the box.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it only works with devices that have a USB-C audio port, and some platforms need a quick settings tweak before audio routes correctly.
• Who each is for: Stellar Labs for people keeping their existing wired headphones and needing control over the signal; APETOO for people whose phone or tablet has no headphone jack at all.
The Stellar Labs unit is a tiny in-line controller — about 4.5 grams, plastic body, black — that sits in the cable run between your source and your headphones. It takes a 3.5 mm plug into the device and gives you a 3.5 mm jack for your existing headphones, with a volume control in the middle. That's the entire proposition, and it's a genuinely useful one. The control type is listed as volume control with a touch method, so adjustments happen on the unit itself rather than on your phone or player.
The scenario where this earns its place is when the source is the problem. Devices with unusually high output levels can make low-impedance headphones sound harsh or overloaded; an inline attenuator lets you dial that back at the cable instead of fighting a software slider. The classic case is airline in-flight entertainment — those seat-back jacks are built for higher loads, and a controller like this makes ordinary headphones behave properly. Same story for older audio gear, receivers, or anything where the volume knob is awkward to reach.
APETOO USB C Headphones: Who It's For
APETOO's offering is a full wired earbud built around a USB-C plug. Inside is a digital DAC chip, which is the part that matters: it converts the digital audio signal and pushes high-fidelity stereo sound out without needing your phone's internal converter. The dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range at 32 ohm impedance, which is a normal, easy-to-drive spec for a wired in-ear. The oval-shaped silicone tips are there to isolate ambient noise — passive isolation, not active cancellation, so expect them to soften background rumble rather than erase it.
Control lives on the cable: a remote with buttons handles volume and playback. There's a microphone built in for calls. In the box you get the earbuds in Sky-Grey, a mini zipper storage case, and two extra pairs of ear tips in small and large so you can actually get a seal. The housing mixes ABS, alloy, copper and TPE, so it's a plastic-and-metal build rather than a flimsy all-plastic one.
Compatibility is the big consideration, and the list is long: iPhone 15 through 17 series, most recent Samsung Galaxy S and Note models, Galaxy A and Z series, Google Pixel, iPad, MacBook, OnePlus, Motorola, and more — but always on the condition that the device has a USB-C audio port and no 3.5 mm jack. Two practical notes from the manufacturer: on Macs and laptops you may need to select "USB" as the sound output, and on iPhone 15/16/17 you may need to choose "Headphones" the first time. If audio doesn't appear, unplugging and flipping the connector usually resolves it.
Buy these if you've moved to a USB-C phone or tablet and want a wired option with a mic and cable controls. Skip them if you're still on a 3.5 mm device, or if you want to keep using headphones you already own — that's not what these do.
• Best for adding volume control to headphones you already own → Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control. It's the only one of the two that works with your existing 3.5 mm cans.
• Best for a phone with no headphone jack → APETOO USB C Headphones. The USB-C plug and built-in DAC are the whole point.
• Best for flights and seat-back entertainment → Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control. Taming a high-output airline jack is squarely what it's designed for.
• Best for calls and voice chat → APETOO USB C Headphones. It has a microphone; the Stellar Labs unit has none.
• Best for noise isolation → APETOO USB C Headphones. The silicone tips are designed to block ambient noise; Stellar Labs lists noise control as none.
• Best for people who dislike touch controls → APETOO USB C Headphones. Its remote uses physical buttons, while Stellar Labs uses a touch method.
• Best for keeping your bag light → Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control. At roughly 4.5 grams it's the smaller, simpler thing to carry.
• Best for a complete out-of-the-box setup → APETOO USB C Headphones. Case, spare tips and mic are all included.
In my opinion, most people reading this should decide based on one question: do you already own headphones you like? If yes, and your problem is that the volume is wrong or uncontrollable at the source, I'd buy the Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control — it's a focused fix for a real, specific annoyance, and it costs you nothing in sound quality because it isn't generating any sound. If your phone or tablet simply has no 3.5 mm jack and you need a wired earbud with a mic, buttons and a DAC, I'd buy the APETOO USB C Headphones instead. They're not competitors so much as two answers to two different questions.
how to disable volume control on wired headphones
If your headphones have their own inline remote, you generally can't switch that control off — you'd bypass it by using a plain cable or a different pair. With an accessory like the Stellar Labs inline controller, you'd simply remove it from the chain. The APETOO remote's buttons are part of the cable, so there's no separate disable setting.
do earbuds have volume control
Some do, some don't. The APETOO USB C Headphones have a remote with button-based volume control built into the cable. The Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control isn't an earbud at all — it's an adapter that adds volume control to headphones that lack it. Many basic wired earbuds have no inline control whatsoever, which is exactly the gap these two products address.
will the APETOO USB C Headphones work with my phone
They work with devices that have a USB-C audio port and no 3.5 mm jack — the compatibility list covers iPhone 15 through 17 series, most recent Samsung Galaxy models, Pixel, iPad, MacBook and many others. On laptops you may need to set the sound output to "USB," and on iPhone 15/16/17 you may need to select "Headphones" the first time. If there's no sound, unplugging and flipping the connector usually fixes it.
does the Stellar Labs inline control work with USB-C headphones
No. It uses a 3.5 mm jack on both ends — one plug into the source, one jack for your headphones. It's designed for analog wired headphones and for sources with unusually high output levels, such as in-flight entertainment systems. For USB-C audio you'd want something like the APETOO earbuds instead.
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.
See also: Stellar Labs Inline Volume Control vs iMangoo USB C Headphones, APETOO USB C Headphones vs AOVOCE Earbuds: Headphones for, iJoy Disney Lilo & vs Eekontz Kids: Bluetooth Foldable