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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• XOX KG01 – biggest strength: 11mm dynamic drivers paired with a DAC decoding chip and 4D surround processing, built specifically around sound localization so you can pick out footsteps and directional cues. The detachable omnidirectional mic is the standout feature.
• XOX KG01 – biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear design with ear hooks, and it's wired only. There's no wireless option here. If you hate things sitting inside your ear canal for hours, this isn't your format.
• IMYB A36 – biggest strength: 50mm neodymium drivers in a full over-ear shell, with a lightweight build (about 0.77 lb), soft ear cushions, and a rotary volume knob with a mic mute button right on the cable.
• IMYB A36 – biggest trade-off: It's bulkier and more desk/sofa-bound than a pair of earbuds, and it uses a fixed boom mic rather than a detachable one. Xbox One Series X/S on older versions needs an adapter.
• Choose XOX KG01 if you play on a phone, PlayStation, PC or handheld and want a compact, precise, mic-flexible setup you can also use as plain earphones.
• Choose IMYB A36 if you want a classic over-ear gaming headset for long sessions at a PC or console, with simple hardware controls and a wider soundstage feel.
The KG01 is a gaming-first in-ear monitor. XOX built it around one idea: helping you hear where things are. The 11mm dynamic driver handles the low end, a DAC decoding chip cleans up the signal path, and the "4D surround" processing is aimed squarely at positional awareness in competitive shooters. If you've ever lost a firefight because you couldn't tell whether the footsteps were left or right, this is the problem the KG01 is designed to solve.
The other half of the story is the detachable microphone. It's a flexible, bendable boom that uses omnidirectional pickup, and XOX claims it suppresses background and side noise while filtering out current noise. The practical upshot: you get a real boom mic for team chat, then unplug it and the KG01 becomes an ordinary pair of wired earphones for music, calls or commuting. That two-in-one flexibility is genuinely useful and it's rare at this format.
Specs worth knowing: 16 ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity, which means it's easy to drive from a phone or controller jack without a separate amp. Frequency response runs 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The cable is a 4 ft braided design, which XOX says reduces electromagnetic interference and improves durability. Controls are inline push-button, and noise control is passive — so isolation comes from the seal, not from active circuitry.
Who should buy it: mobile and handheld gamers, PS5/PC players who want accurate directional audio in a pocketable format, and anyone who wants one wired set that doubles as earphones. Who should skip it: people who find in-ear tips uncomfortable over multi-hour sessions, or anyone who wants a big over-ear cup experience and a permanently attached mic.
IMYB A36: Who It's For
The A36 is the traditional gaming headset formula, executed with some real substance. The headline number is the driver: 50mm neodymium magnet drivers, which is a large diaphragm for a headset and is the main reason this thing can push a fuller, deeper low end than a typical earbud. IMYB describes the tuning as a "surrounding stereo subwoofer" approach — the goal is expressiveness and a sense of depth in the mix, which is exactly what you want for cinematic single-player games and for picking out a low rumble you can't quite place.
Comfort is clearly a priority. The A36 uses soft, skin-friendly ear cushions, a flexible headband with thickened padding, and comes in at roughly 0.77 lb. That's light for an over-ear headset, and the oval over-ear cups in ivory ABS with faux leather trim are built for long sessions rather than a quick match.
The mic is a fixed omnidirectional boom with a noise-isolating function, and IMYB rates it at -38±3 dB sensitivity with 2.2KΩ impedance. The control scheme is hardware-based and simple: a rotary volume knob plus a button for mic mute on the cable. No software, no drivers, no fuss. The cable is 6.5 ft of high-tensile, anti-tangle braided wire, which gives you plenty of slack to lean back from a desk or sit across the room from a console.
On audio specs, the A36 is 32 ohm impedance, 42 dB sensitivity, and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency response, with a hybrid driver type. It's wired only, 3.5mm jack, and IMYB bundles a 1-in-2 3.5mm Y-splitter cable plus a user manual. Platform support is broad: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One Series X/S (older versions need an adapter), Nintendo Switch and 3DS, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad, computer and mobile. IMYB backs it with a three-year limited hardware warranty — notably longer than the KG01's one year.
Who should buy it: PC and console players who want a sit-down headset with big drivers, a boom mic and physical controls, plus anyone who values a long warranty and a generous cable. Who should skip it: players who need something pocketable, or who specifically want a detachable mic so the headset can double as normal headphones.
• Best for positional accuracy in shooters → XOX KG01. The whole design is oriented around sound localization, with 4D surround processing and a DAC chip dedicated to it.
• Best for raw low-end weight and immersion → IMYB A36. 50mm neodymium drivers in over-ear cups will simply move more air than 11mm in-ear drivers.
• Best for a detachable, flexible mic → XOX KG01. The boom unplugs, so the earbuds work as normal earphones when you're done gaming.
• Best for long-session comfort in a big format → IMYB A36. Roughly 0.77 lb, soft cushions and a padded flexible headband are built for marathon sessions.
• Best for easy driveability from a phone or controller → XOX KG01. At 16 ohm and 105 dB, it needs very little power to get loud.
• Best for simple hardware controls → IMYB A36. A rotary volume knob and a dedicated mic mute button beat hunting for an inline remote.
• Best for cable length and desk freedom → IMYB A36. The 6.5 ft braided cable is noticeably longer than the KG01's 4 ft.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → IMYB A36. Three years versus one.
• Best for a compact travel-friendly setup → XOX KG01. In-ear plus detachable mic is a bag-friendly combination.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the IMYB A36. In my opinion the 50mm drivers, the lightweight over-ear build, the rotary volume and mute controls, the longer cable and the three-year warranty make it the more forgiving, more comfortable everyday headset for PC and console players. The XOX KG01 is the sharper tool for one specific job — competitive, direction-focused gaming on a phone, PS5 or PC where you want a detachable mic and a tiny footprint — and if that's your exact use case, it's the better call. But for most people most of the time, the A36 is the safer, more versatile pick.
FAQ
For directional awareness, yes in my opinion — XOX built the KG01 around sound localization and 4D surround processing, which is exactly what competitive shooters reward. The A36 counters with bigger drivers and a fuller, deeper sound, which is great for immersion but not tuned specifically for pinpoint cues.
Yes. IMYB lists PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One Series X/S, Switch, laptop, tablet, iPad, computer and mobile support via 3.5mm. Note that older Xbox versions require an adapter, and a 1-in-2 3.5mm splitter cable is included for setups that separate headphone and mic jacks.
Yes. The microphone is detachable, so you can pull it off and use the KG01 as standard wired in-ear headphones for music, calls or travel. That flexibility is one of its main advantages over the A36.
The IMYB A36 is designed for that scenario — roughly 0.77 lb, soft ear cushions, a flexible padded headband and oval over-ear cups. The XOX KG01 is lighter overall but sits inside your ear canal, which some people find less comfortable over several hours. If in-ear tips bother you, go with the A36.
I don't quote prices here because they change constantly. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page for both the XOX KG01 and the IMYB A36 to see today's numbers before you decide.
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