These $25 headphones with 3D surround sound are perfect for playing games and watching movies

Even though the future is wireless, it's still handy to keep a pair of wired headphones on you at all times. And for that, I think I've found a new favorite: the Moov 14 in-ear headphones from Vava, which only cost $25.

vava moov 14 headphones

I use in-ear headphones for two things, mainly: to hear music and notifications coming from my laptop when I'm working throughout the day, and to plug into my PlayStation 4 controller so I can play games or watch movies, particularly when my fiancée is asleep so as not to disturb her.

When I saw the Moov 14 headphones, I was instantly drawn by the polygonal design of the metal buds — a hint that they're to be used for gaming — and their deep red accents. They looked beautiful, but I was worried about comfort. I'm one of those people who usually feels in-ear headphones go too far into my ears to the point of discomfort; Apple's earbud design, which simply sits in your ear, feels much more comfortable to me. Still, I wanted to give these buds a try.

I was glad I did.

vava moov 14 headphones Though I didn't like the comfort of the original earbud tips that came on the headphones, Vava includes three other pairs of different-sized tips, so I tried the smallest tips Vava made — those are still by far my favorite. With those tips, I'd even go so far as to say the Moov 14 is the most comfortable pair of in-ear headphones I've tried that aren't made by Apple. (I still think Apple makes more comfortable in-ear headphones, but everyone's ears, and opinions, are different.)

As for the audio quality, the Moov 14 headphones do tend to favor the higher and mid-range frequencies, which is totally fine for most video games you'll play. You might lose some of the depth in some movies, but after using them for 5 minutes you won't notice a big difference. The most important thing here is that everything sounds clear, and volume isn't an issue at all. The big bonus here is 3D surround sound, which makes movies and games feel that much more immersive. It can sound like action is happening all around you, or just from a specific area — like directly behind you. It's a great effect.

Since these headphones can be used for gaming, they also include an integrated mic and button to skip tracks, if you're listening to music, or even take calls. Voice chat on the PS4 sounded comparable to other in-ear headphones I tried — clear but a little tinny — and my voice came through loud and clear. The microphone on Apple's in-ear headphones isn't compatible with the PS4 controllers, so the Moov 14 headphones win this round.

The only thing these headphones are not built for is exercise. Vava does make some exercise headphones, both wired and wireless pairs, but you might be better off going a bit more upscale with something like PowerBeats, where you get what you pay for in terms of both durability and performance.

My favorite aspect of the Moov 14 headphones, though, isn't even the headphones — it's the adorable palm-sized traveling case they come in, which manages to keep the headphones secure and the various eartips all organized. It's a great way to ensure you don't lose anything, and the case, with its sleek ambigram logo, is just really cool to boot.

vava moov 14 headphones

For $25, the Vava Moov 14 headphones are a great option if want a solid, immersive and comfortable audio experience while watching movies or playing games. You can buy them on Amazon right here.

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