01Featured pick
Wired in-ear monitors
Soundbrenner
Wave Pro 2
Four drivers per ear, a compact fit, and a proper accessory kit. The pick this guide builds around.
Read the full breakdownGaming audio / Buying guide
Top 3 gaming
audio picks.
A closer listen to the games you love. Soundbrenner Wave Pro 2 leads this shortlist, with two familiar headsets for comparison.
Marc Houston / HoustonJPGGaming & tech · Updated October 9, 2026
Sponsored guide Produced with Soundbrenner. About this guide
Soundbrenner Wave Pro 2The in-ear pick / 3.5 mm wired audio
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01 / The shortlist
Three ways to hear your game.
In-ears, a wired headset, and a wireless headset. The format changes the setup as much as the specifications.
Soundbrenner
02Wired headset
HyperX Cloud III
An over-ear fit with a detachable boom mic and wired connection options.
Comparison notes03Wireless headset
SteelSeries Arctis
Nova 5 Wireless
An over-ear wireless format, USB-C dongle, and retractable microphone.
Comparison notes02 / The closer look
The case for Wave Pro 2.
Game audio deserves more than background status. The atmosphere, the dialogue, the little sounds between the big moments—it all belongs in the experience.
Sound & immersion
A design built around detail.
Wave Pro 2 combines two dynamic drivers with two planar drivers in each earpiece. Soundbrenner describes its tuning in terms of clarity and separation: keeping the different parts of a busy mix distinct.
That is an appealing starting point for gaming. Think dialogue over a soundtrack, the texture of a new environment, or small cues within a busy scene. The point is to give the listening side of the setup the same attention as the screen.
Driver count alone does not tell the whole story. The game’s audio mix, your output settings, and the seal in your ears all matter. Start with a comfortable fit and familiar audio before changing several settings at once.
Focus
Let the game take up the room.
An in-ear seal can reduce the outside sound reaching your ears. Wave Pro 2 includes foam tips alongside two silicone styles, giving you different ways to find that seal.
This is passive isolation, so fit does the work. It can help you settle into a game or soundtrack without adding full-size earcups to your setup. It is still worth leaving the volume at a comfortable level rather than turning it up to overpower the room.
The daily setup
Wired listening. Less to manage.
The standard 3.5 mm connection needs no earphone charging and no Bluetooth pairing. It also avoids adding a wireless audio link between the output and your ears.
Use it at a PC, a compatible controller, or a handheld with a suitable headphone output. If your device needs an adapter, check support first. For voice chat, keep your existing microphone or look at the optional compatible mic cable.
Built to stay in the setup
Small format. Useful details.
Wave Pro 2 puts the listening hardware in two small earpieces instead of a headband and earcups. The over-ear cable routing helps keep the cable in place, while a carrying case keeps the kit together away from the desk.
The detachable cable gives you a replacement route if the cable wears out. The included tip selection means you can work on comfort without immediately buying a second set of accessories. Those practical details are a large part of the package’s appeal.
Why it leads this shortlist
A compact in-ear format, a detail-focused hybrid design, and an included kit that gives you room to get the fit right. Wave Pro 2 brings those pieces together in one wired listening setup.
A note on the format
The setup should fit how you play.
Not every gaming setup looks the same. A desk mic and PC, a controller on the sofa, a handheld between sessions—the listening connection is only one part of it.
That is why this guide separates listening from voice chat, and fit from specifications. Wave Pro 2 is the featured option for a compact wired setup. Check the connection and mic route you actually need, then spend a few minutes finding a comfortable seal.
From the gear deskGet to know Marc
03 / The kit & the fit
A proper place to start.
The earphones are only part of the package. The included fit options, cable, adapter, and case make this a considered starting kit.
Included with Wave Pro 2
- 01Two quad-driver monitors
The compact listening hardware, with a hybrid driver array in each earpiece.
- 02A detachable 1.5 m cable
Over-ear routing, a 3.5 mm plug, and an included 6.35 mm adapter.
- 03Nine pairs of ear tips
Liquid Pro, foam, and double flange. Each in small, medium, and large.
- 04A carrying case
Keep the monitors and cable together between sessions.
Optional extras: the microphone cable and USB-C audio connector are sold separately. Start with the kit, then add what your devices need.
The first few minutes matter.
A comfortable, consistent seal is the starting point. Try the included styles rather than assuming the largest tip is the right one. Your left and right ears may need different sizes.
Liquid Pro
A firmer core and soft outer dome. A useful place to start when trying the supplied sizes.
Foam
Compress, insert, and let it expand in place, following the manual. Give it time to settle.
Double flange
A different contact shape to try if the other styles do not give you a stable, comfortable fit.
A simple check: play familiar audio at a comfortable level. If bass or balance changes when you move, reseat the tips or try another size before reaching for EQ.
One check before you order.
Use a suitable headphone output. Keep your existing desk or USB mic selected for chat.
Check the controller’s 3.5 mm socket and your console’s supported microphone route.
Use the headphone jack or a compatible audio adapter. A USB-C port alone is not a compatibility promise.
04 / Side by side
The format makes the difference.
The shortlist includes three different approaches. Here are the practical distinctions before you choose a setup.
Scroll sideways to see the full comparison.
| Product | Connection | Voice chat | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01Soundbrenner Wave Pro 2In-ear monitors | Wired · 3.5 mm | Separate mic / optional mic cable | No charging |
| 02HyperX Cloud IIIWired headset | 3.5 mm · USB-C · USB-A | Detachable boom mic | No charging |
| 03SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 WirelessWireless headset | 2.4 GHz · Bluetooth | Retractable boom mic | Up to 60 hours¹ |
¹ Manufacturer battery estimate; actual use and settings affect runtime.
02 / HyperX Cloud III
The wired Cloud III has 53 mm dynamic drivers, an over-ear fit, and a detachable boom mic. It connects through 3.5 mm, USB-C, or USB-A. It combines listening and chat in a headset; Cloud III Wireless is a separate model.
03 / Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
Nova 5 uses a 2.4 GHz dongle for gaming, with Bluetooth as a second connection. Quick-Switch changes between them rather than mixing both sources. It needs charging, and the Xbox-compatible version is Nova 5X.
Four more audio options consideredOpen the comparison notes
These products add context for other headset, in-ear, and open-back designs. They sit outside the ranked Top 3.
Analog headset context
Razer BlackShark V2 X
This is the analog BlackShark V2 X, with a 3.5 mm connection, 50 mm drivers and a built-in boom microphone. Unlike Wave Pro 2, it combines an over-ear listening format with a headset microphone. USB and Pro versions are different products.
Another in-ear design
Sennheiser IE 200
IE 200 uses a 7 mm dynamic driver and a detachable MMCX cable. Its standard package has no microphone. Its single-driver design and included tip options differ from the Wave Pro 2 package.
Open-back context
beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
The pictured DT 990 PRO is the 250-ohm version. Its open-back construction lets sound pass in and out, unlike the sealed in-ear fit Wave Pro 2 aims to provide. There is no built-in microphone; headphone-output and amplification needs also deserve attention.
Planar wireless context
Audeze Maxwell 2
Maxwell 2 uses 90 mm planar drivers and includes a detachable boom microphone, wireless and wired connections. Audeze lists it at 560 g. It is a full-size headset, with separate console variants; this comparison does not cover Maxwell 2 ANC.
05 / The buying decision
A smaller setup.
A serious audio option.
Wave Pro 2 brings the in-ear format, the detail-focused driver design, and the fit options into one package. For a wired gaming setup that keeps the listening hardware small, it is the featured pick here.
At Soundbrenner’s current listed price, the standard kit is worth a closer look. Just account for any adapter or microphone cable your setup needs.
Soundbrenner Wave Pro 2
See current priceStandard kit · Options at Soundbrenner
Check price at Soundbrenner Choose your options and purchase directly from Soundbrenner. Optional accessories cost extra.
30-day return window · See eligibility & terms06 / Before you buy
The practical questions.
The things to check once, before putting the kit in your setup.
Will Wave Pro 2 work with my gaming device?
A suitable 3.5 mm headphone output is the starting point. On a computer, select that output in your audio settings. For consoles, check your controller and console instructions. USB-C-only devices need a supported audio adapter; the optional Soundbrenner connector is sold separately.
What about voice chat?
The standard audio cable has no microphone. Use your existing supported desk or USB mic, or check the optional compatible microphone cable. Confirm console and adapter microphone support before buying accessories.
Will the ear tips be comfortable?
Fit is personal. The kit includes three styles in three sizes so you can try several combinations. Start with a comfortable seal, check each ear separately, and follow the manual. Avoid forcing a size that feels wrong.
Is the isolation active noise cancellation?
No. The seal and ear tips provide passive isolation. That is why a stable fit matters, both for reducing outside sound and for consistent listening.
Can I use them for music and videos too?
Yes. The standard wired monitors can play audio from a suitable output, whether it is a game, a playlist, or a film. The earphones do not need charging.
What is included at the listed price?
The standard kit contains the two monitors, detachable audio cable, nine pairs of tips, carrying case, and 6.35 mm adapter. The microphone cable and USB-C connector are optional purchases. Check the current kit and options on Soundbrenner’s page.
What should I know about returns and delivery?
Soundbrenner lists a 30-day return window. Voluntary returns generally require unused, unworn items and original packaging; shipping conditions apply. Read the eligibility terms and check the current delivery estimate for your selected version before ordering.
Read Soundbrenner’s return policyAbout this guide
This is a sponsored buying guide produced with Soundbrenner. Wave Pro 2 is the featured recommendation; the other products provide format and specification context.
Product descriptions are based on manufacturer information. The ranking reflects the compact wired setup discussed here. This page does not present lab measurements or a side-by-side listening test. Prices, accessories, availability, and purchase terms are set by the retailer.
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