When it comes to some branded Nintendo merch, you can’t go wrong with a good set of wired headphones. Sure, Bluetooth might be the modern standard when it comes to listening to your personal devices, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception, but if you’re buying these for a kid, or you just prefer wired audio, then the PowerA Mario Kart Wired Ear Buds for Nintendo Switch are the perfect piece of tech for you.
What Are the PowerA Mario Kart Wired Ear Buds for Nintendo Switch?
The name of this product should probably have been a pretty big clue, but these are a set of Mario Kart-branded, wired earbuds that are designed to fit perfectly with your Nintendo Switch. As well as being some high-quality earbuds, you also get a selection of different bud sizes so you can be sure they’ll fit your ears no matter what size they are, as well as a really nice little carry case that is also covered in Mario Kart-centric branding.
As with any modern set of earbuds, wired or otherwise, you also get a microphone on the left earbud wire that you can use as a headset while you’re gaming. Even better, there’s a physical mute switch that prevents you from being heard when you don’t want to be, so you can be pretty sure you’re safe while you’re online. The final big point to note is that while this is obviously designed for the Nintendo Switch, you can use it on pretty much any console or handheld device going.
How Do They Feel?
If, like me, it’s been a while since you last used a set of wired earbuds, then you might be pleasantly surprised by the feeling of these earbuds. As long as you select the right size of rubber insert for the headphones, you end up with a pretty comfortable experience. These buds are chunky but mostly in the area around the centre of your ear rather than the part that sits directly in them. This makes them quite easy to adjust, though the added weight can also cause them to fall out of your ears occasionally.
The mic is also in a good position, though there’s no clip to keep it close to your mouth while using it. When it comes to the quality of the mic, it’s also surprisingly decent, and the hardware mute slide is a nice touch, especially when you’re gaming. In a tough lobby or just a slightly toxic environment, it’s always nice to know that you can just hardware-mute yourself immediately without having to navigate to a mute option in the game itself.
Sound Quality
When it comes to the sound quality, the PowerA Mario Kart Wired Earbuds are pretty top-notch. Sure, it’s not likely to match your £200 headset, but when it comes to playing music or just hearing the in-game sounds, these earbuds work perfectly fine for what they’re intended. The 8mm sound drivers provide decent quality without becoming too much for you to wear over a protracted gaming session. You’ll also get insanely high volume levels, but honestly, when they’re pointed directly into your eardrums, that’s a pretty good thing.
The microphone quality is also pretty good for a mid-range set of wired earbuds. You get some amount of voice isolation, meaning you end up with a recording that is almost entirely devoid of background hum, whine or hissing. Obviously, it’s not going to achieve the same level of quality you’d get from a dedicated microphone, but it’ll handle your team chat easily enough, and you can probably even use it for social media videos without worrying that no one will be able to understand you.
The Verdict
The PowerA Mario Kart Wired Earbuds are a great choice for the Mario fan in your life who needs some new wired earbuds. They offer a great level of quality for the price and can handle everything from your in-game chats to the TikTok rant you post at 3 AM because someone beat you on Rainbow Road (N64) again. With a choice of 3 earbud sizes, a nice-quality drawstring storage bag, and a high build quality, you can certainly do worse for headphones, especially ones that have a nice bit of visual design behind them.
