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If you want a simple, wired, plug-and-play in-ear headphone for music, calls and everyday listening, choose Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH; if you need tiny wireless earbuds built for side sleepers with a touchscreen case and a sleep mode, choose ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. These two products sit in the same "in ear headphones" category but solve completely different problems — one is old-school reliability, the other is a purpose-built sleep gadget.
• Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH — biggest strength: a wired 3.5 mm connection with an in-line remote and mic, so there is nothing to charge, pair or update. Just plug in and listen.
• Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH — biggest trade-off: it is a corded design with no Bluetooth, no touchscreen case and no sleep-specific features, so it is not the pick for side sleepers or cable-free listening.
• ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds — biggest strength: an ultra-light 3.0 g per-ear design with a sleep mode that silences low-battery and shutdown alarms, plus a full-color touchscreen charging box.
• ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds — biggest trade-off: it depends on Bluetooth and battery power, so you have to keep it charged and you are tied to a wireless connection that can run out mid-night.
• Who Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH is for: listeners who want fuss-free wired audio, remote control of calls and music, and a white in-ear set they can leave in a bag.
• Who ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds is for: side sleepers and nighttime listeners who want wireless earbuds small enough to wear all night, with app-free touchscreen control.
The ATH-CLR100iSWH is a wired in-ear headphone with a 3.5 mm jack, a dynamic driver and a frequency range of 20–25,000 Hz. Impedance is rated at 16 ohms, which is a low, easy-to-drive figure — the kind of spec that tells you this set is designed to run happily straight out of a phone, laptop or tablet headphone port without needing any extra amplification. It uses sound isolation as its noise-control approach, so the rounded-tip silicone and rubber enclosure is there to physically block outside noise rather than cancel it electronically.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is for the person who is tired of charging things. If you want headphones that live in a jacket pocket and work the instant you plug them in, this is the design logic you are after. It also suits anyone who still has a 3.5 mm jack on their phone, laptop or handheld console, since there is no pairing step and no battery to monitor. The adult age range and the "Music" theme positioning suggest a general-purpose listening set, not a specialist tool.
Who should skip it? Anyone who sleeps on their side, wants zero cables, or expects a wireless connection. There is no Bluetooth here, no charging case, no touchscreen and no sleep mode. If a cord snagging on a pillow or a doorknob sounds like a dealbreaker, this is the wrong product for you. It is also not the pick if you want multiple EQ presets — that is simply not part of this design.
ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds: Who It's For
The ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds are built around one idea: making earbuds you can forget about overnight. Each earbud weighs just 3.0 grams, and the shape is described as polished and ear-fitting, so the pressure point that normally wakes side sleepers is reduced. The charging box is deliberately small enough to slip into a pocket. On top of that, there is a sleep mode that turns off the low-battery and shutdown alarms — a detail that matters more than it sounds, because a voice prompt at 3 a.m. defeats the whole purpose of sleep earbuds.
The control scheme is unusual for this category. Instead of an app, you get a full-color LED touchscreen charging box. From there you can play or pause, adjust volume, switch tracks and answer calls, and you can also toggle sleep mode, pick from 7 language options, and adjust wallpaper and brightness. That is a genuinely different approach from the tap-and-guess gestures most wireless earbuds use.
Who should buy it? Side sleepers first, without question. Also anyone who wants wireless earbuds with an on-case screen rather than an app, and travelers who want a pocketable case and long total playtime. Who should skip it? People who dislike charging routines, and anyone who wants a wired, always-ready set. The manufacturer itself flags the key caveat: check your battery level before you fall asleep, because these run on power, not a cable.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for cable-free listening → ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.4 wireless, no cord to catch on anything.
• Best for zero-charge reliability → Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH. Wired 3.5 mm, nothing to top up.
• Best for side sleeping → ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. 3.0 g per ear, polished ear-fitting shape, plus a sleep mode that kills low-battery and shutdown alerts.
• Best for taking calls without touching your phone → Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH. The in-line remote and mic live on the cable.
• Best for total playtime → ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. Up to 48 hours of playtime with USB-C charging in about 1.5 hours.
• Best for sound tweaking → ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. Five EQ modes versus a single fixed tuning.
• Best for pocketable, app-free control → ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds. The full-color touchscreen case handles playback, volume, sleep mode, brightness and 7 languages.
• Best for a simple, warrantied everyday set → Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH. One item, a carrying case and a U.S. two-year limited end-user warranty.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds — but only if sleep and side-sleeping comfort are actually your goal. The 3.0 g per-ear weight, the alarm-silencing sleep mode and the 48-hour total playtime are a coherent package for that specific job, and the touchscreen case removes the app dependency I find annoying on most wireless earbuds. If, on the other hand, you just want dependable in-ear headphones that never need charging and give you an in-line mic, I would take the Audio Technica ATH-CLR100iSWH instead. Two good products, two different jobs — match the job, not the brand.
FAQ
how to fit in ear headphones
how to clean in ear headphones
The main job is keeping the tip and the sound nozzle free of earwax and oil. Wipe the rounded silicone tip of the ATH-CLR100iSWH with a dry cloth after use, and do the same for the ZYHKON earbuds — but keep moisture away from the ZYHKON charging box and its touchscreen, since that is an electronic component, not a washable part.
how to open in ear headphones
If you mean getting them out of the packaging, the ATH-CLR100iSWH ships as a single item with a carrying case, so opening it is just unboxing the set. The ZYHKON box contains the two earbuds, a USB-C cable, the charging box and a manual; the earbuds connect the moment you open the case, so there is no setup step.
how to ear headphones
This usually means how to wear them properly. For the wired ATH-CLR100iSWH, plug the 3.5 mm jack in, seat the rounded tips, and use the in-line remote for calls and playback. For the ZYHKON earbuds, seat one in each ear, then set your volume, EQ mode and sleep mode from the touchscreen case before you lie down.
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See also: Audio Technica ATH-M40x vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, ROLLS PM351 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M40x: Studio Monitor, GOGOSINIS Teens vs ZYHKON Sleep Earbuds: Ergonomic Earbuds