We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete, self-contained USB-C wired earphone with a detachable mic and virtual surround for gaming and calls, choose targeal USB C; if you need to turn a Bose QC35 or QC35 II headset you already own into a USB-C boom-mic headset, choose Tobysome QC35.
• targeal USB C — biggest strength: it's a finished product. Earbuds, aluminum housing, detachable boom mic, in-line volume control and 7.1 virtual surround, all in one box with S/M/L ear tips.
• targeal USB C — biggest trade-off: it only works with devices that have a USB-C port, and it's a passive-noise-cancellation design, so isolation comes from the ear tip fit rather than active circuitry.
• Tobysome QC35 — biggest strength: a 1.2m USB-C to 2.5mm cable with a flexible, detachable boom mic and an in-line mute switch — it upgrades headphones you already own instead of replacing them.
• Tobysome QC35 — biggest trade-off: it's a cable, not a headset. No Bose QC35 or QC35 II, no sound. It does nothing on its own.
• Who each is for: the targeal earbuds suit someone who wants one USB-C audio solution for PC, console and phone; the Tobysome cable suits a Bose QC35 owner who wants a proper boom mic for gaming, calls or streaming.
The targeal USB C is best understood as an all-in-one wired in-ear headset. It uses a dynamic driver with a magnetic neodymium magnet and 32-ohm impedance, and the headline feature is 7.1 virtual surround sound, which the brand describes as creating a 360-degree soundfield. In practice, that's a positioning feature: it's designed to help you judge where a sound is coming from, how far away it is and how deep the mix sits. For shooters, that's a genuine quality-of-life difference over plain stereo earbuds. For music, it's more of a taste call — some listeners like the widened staging, others prefer a straight stereo image.
The detachable microphone is the second thing that matters here. Because it detaches, you can position it close to your mouth when you need clean voice pickup and reduce background noise by proximity, then unplug it and use the earbuds as plain earphones. The ergonomic in-ear shape with rounded tips and S/M/L silicone caps means fit is adjustable rather than fixed, which is the main lever you have over comfort and how much outside noise gets in. Noise control is passive — that's the ear tip seal doing the work, not electronics. The aluminum enclosure in black should feel more substantial than a plastic shell, and there's an in-line volume control plus a 3-month warranty.
Compatibility is unusually wide for a wired USB-C product: mobile gaming, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation and PC, plus a long list of Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, OnePlus, Google Pixel, MacBook Pro 13/14/16-inch and iPad models. If you own a mix of those devices, that matters — one set of earbuds covers your console, laptop and phone.
Who should buy it: someone who wants a single wired USB-C headset for gaming and calls, who values a removable mic, and who doesn't want to buy headphones and a separate cable. Who should skip it: anyone with a device that only has a 3.5mm jack and no USB-C port, anyone who needs active noise cancellation for flights or a loud office, and anyone who wants a wireless solution. Also skip it if you already own a Bose QC35 and are happy with the sound — you'd be buying a second headset instead of upgrading the one you have.
The Tobysome QC35 is a different category of product entirely, and it's important to be clear about that before comparing. It's a replacement audio cable: USB Type-C male on one end, 2.5mm male on the other, 3.9ft / 1.2m long, with a TPE protective cover and oxygen-free copper inner wire. The 2.5mm end is designed specifically for the Bose QuietComfort 35 and QuietComfort 35 II. Nothing else. The USB-C end plugs into iPhone 17/Air/16/15, iPad, Samsung, Android smartphones, laptops and other USB-C devices.
What you're actually buying is a boom microphone upgrade. The cable has a flexible gooseneck boom that adjusts up to about 120 degrees so you can put the mic where your voice actually is, and it's detachable — so when you just want to listen to music, the mic isn't hanging in front of your face. There's an in-line mute switch you slide up and down, which cuts your voice without forcing you to mute yourself inside the game or call app. The mic capsule is a unidirectional cardioid design with noise-cancelling and high sensitivity, aimed at voice clarity over background noise. The 2.5mm plug is gold-plated for a secure connection and stable transmission.
This is the pragmatic pick for a specific person: someone who already owns QC35 or QC35 II headphones, likes how they sound and fit, and wants to convert them into a wired headset for gaming, business calls, Skype/VoIP or podcasting. It also solves a real modern problem — those headphones are otherwise awkward to use with a USB-C-only phone or laptop, and this cable bridges that gap directly.
Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own QC35 or QC35 II. The 2.5mm jack won't fit other headphones, and the product has no function without the headset. Also skip it if you want a wireless mic setup — this is a cable, and it tethers you to your device. And if you need a full headset including earphones, this isn't it.
• Best for a complete, ready-to-use headset → targeal USB C. Earbuds, mic, tips and controls arrive together.
• Best for upgrading headphones you already own → Tobysome QC35. It turns existing Bose QC35/QC35 II into a boom-mic headset.
• Best for virtual surround and positional audio → targeal USB C. The 7.1 surround feature is built in; the Tobysome cable passes audio through without adding processing.
• Best for a mute control you can hit instantly → Tobysome QC35. The in-line mute switch is on the cable; the targeal instead gives you in-line volume control with a detachable mic you physically remove.
• Best for mic positioning flexibility → Tobysome QC35. The 120-degree adjustable gooseneck is the most precise aiming tool of the two.
• Best for phone and tablet use with USB-C → both work, but the targeal covers more ground overall, including Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation; the Tobysome is aimed at USB-C phones, tablets and laptops.
• Best for music listening without a mic in the way → targeal USB C (unplug the mic) or Tobysome QC35 (detach the boom) — both let you strip the mic off.
• Best for people who dislike in-ear fit → Tobysome QC35, because it uses your existing over-ear QC35 rather than silicone tips.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon for both before committing — the page has a button for that, and I won't guess at numbers.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on what's already on your desk. If you own Bose QC35 or QC35 II and you like them, I'd buy the Tobysome QC35 cable — it's the cheaper-feeling move in the sense that you're upgrading an asset instead of replacing it, and the flexible boom plus in-line mute is exactly what a headset needs. If you don't own QC35s, I'd buy the targeal USB C earbuds. They're the complete package: surround processing, a detachable mic, adjustable tips and a huge compatibility list. Neither is "better" in the abstract — one is a headset, one is a cable that makes your headphones into one.
FAQ
No. It has passive noise cancellation, meaning isolation comes from the in-ear seal and the S/M/L silicone caps. It also has a noise-cancelling microphone, which is a separate thing — that's about your voice on calls, not about blocking sound around you.
Both. The 7.1 virtual surround is the gaming-oriented feature, but the earbuds work as regular in-ear headphones, and you can detach the microphone for plain listening. The in-line volume control stays useful either way.
If you already have QC35 or QC35 II, the Tobysome cable gives you a boom mic that gets close to your mouth plus a quick mute switch — that's a strong call setup. If you don't, the targeal USB C gives you the mic and the earbuds together in one purchase.
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