We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want immersive over-ear sound with custom EQ, aptX low-latency video sync, and a wired fallback for movies, gaming and music at home, choose August Over Ear; if you need OSHA-certified 29dB hearing protection you can wear all shift on a construction site or in a loud shop, choose MIPEACE Earplug Headphones.
• August Over Ear — biggest strength: 50mm dynamic drivers, a 60Hz–20kHz range and a free EQ app give you genuinely tunable, bass-forward sound, plus aptX Low Latency keeps audio and video in sync.
• August Over Ear — biggest trade-off: It's a bulky 235g over-ear headset with roughly 10 hours of playtime and a 2-hour charge, and it isolates sound rather than blocking it like a proper earplug.
• MIPEACE Earplug Headphones — biggest strength: A 29dB noise reduction rating paired with 20+ hours of battery, a 30g neckband and IPX6 sweat resistance — built for loud, sweaty, all-day work.
• MIPEACE Earplug Headphones — biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear earplug with passive noise cancellation and no wired jack, so it muffles the world by design and won't give you the open, spacious sound of over-ear drivers.
• Who each is for: August Over Ear suits home listeners, movie watchers and gamers who want rich sound and EQ control; MIPEACE suits tradespeople, factory workers and gym-goers who need hearing protection that also plays music.
The August EP650 is a traditional over-ear Bluetooth headphone, and its design brief is clearly sound and flexibility rather than protection. Inside are 50mm dynamic drivers with a 60Hz–20kHz frequency range and 50-ohm impedance, which is the kind of hardware that tends to produce full-bodied bass and a wide soundstage. If you mainly stream music, watch films or game at a desk, that's exactly the payoff you want. The free August Audio EQ app for Android and iOS lets you reshape the sound, so you can push the bass for hip-hop or flatten it out for podcasts without buying a second pair.
The feature list is unusually rich for a single headphone. aptX Low Latency matters most if you watch TV, YouTube or play games over Bluetooth, because it keeps lip-sync tight instead of that slightly delayed feel cheaper Bluetooth audio can have. Multipoint pairing lets it hold two devices at once — your phone and your laptop, say — so a call can interrupt your music and the music resumes afterwards. NFC gives you a quick tap-to-pair shortcut, and there's a 3.5mm jack so you can go wired when the battery runs out. A built-in mic and on-cup remote handle calls and track skipping, and it plays nicely with VOIP apps like Skype. Battery life is around 10 hours with a 2-hour charge, and Bluetooth range is quoted at 10 metres.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants one comfortable, adjustable over-ear headphone for music, movies, calls and light gaming, and who values EQ tinkering and low-latency video over ruggedised protection. The 235g weight and soft padding are aimed at long listening sessions on a sofa or at a desk. Who should skip it: if you work in genuinely loud environments and need your hearing protected, or you want something that survives sweat and rain, this isn't the tool. It's "sound isolation," not hearing protection, and there's no water-resistance rating in the specs. Also note the PS4 isn't supported for gaming mic use, per the description.
The MIPEACE MI04 is a different animal entirely: a neckband Bluetooth earplug built around a 29dB noise reduction rating. That's the headline. In loud environments — construction, manufacturing, industrial work, a busy workshop — the priority isn't audiophile tuning, it's lowering the noise hitting your ears while you still take calls and listen to music. The in-ear silicone tips create a passive seal, which is why the noise reduction figure is meaningful here rather than marketing fluff. The design is hidden in-ear with flexible joints, and the whole neckband weighs just 30g, so the weight sits on your neck instead of pressing into your ears.
Battery is the second big selling point: 20+ hours of continuous music or call time, which is realistically a full shift or more without hunting for a charger. Bluetooth 5.4 handles pairing and stability, and the quoted 20-metre (66-foot) range is generous — double the August's 10 metres — so you can leave your phone on a bench and keep working. IPX6 water resistance covers sweat, splashes and light rain, which matters if you're outdoors or in a gym. It ships with a compact protective case, and the frequency range is a standard 20Hz–20,000Hz.
Who should buy it: tradespeople, factory and warehouse workers, and anyone who wants music and hands-free calls without sacrificing hearing protection, plus gym users who sweat heavily. Who should skip it: if you want rich, spacious over-ear sound, EQ control or a wired option, this isn't it. There's no 3.5mm jack, the noise control is passive (sealing, not active cancellation), and the in-ear fit means you're deliberately muffling your surroundings — great for a job site, less ideal if you need to stay aware of everything around you. It comes with a 1-year warranty, per the specs.
• Best for hearing protection → MIPEACE Earplug Headphones. A 29dB NRR is the whole reason to buy it; August offers sound isolation only.
• Best for sound quality and tuning → August Over Ear. 50mm drivers, a 60Hz–20kHz range and the EQ app give you far more control over how music sounds.
• Best for battery life → MIPEACE Earplug Headphones. 20+ hours versus roughly 10 hours on the August.
• Best for watching TV, films and gaming over Bluetooth → August Over Ear. aptX Low Latency is designed to keep audio and video in sync; MIPEACE lists no low-latency codec.
• Best for all-day wear on a job site → MIPEACE Earplug Headphones. A 30g neckband with flexible joints and IPX6 sweat resistance is built for shifts; the August is a 235g over-ear for seated listening.
• Best for connectivity range → MIPEACE Earplug Headphones. Quoted up to 20 metres versus 10 metres on the August.
• Best for calls and multitasking at a desk → August Over Ear. Multipoint pairing, NFC, a built-in mic and a 3.5mm wired option make it the more versatile office companion.
• Best for working out or outdoor work → MIPEACE Earplug Headphones. IPX6 water resistance is the deciding factor; the August carries no water-resistance rating.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: are you protecting your ears or enjoying your music? If it's the first, I'd buy the MIPEACE Earplug Headphones — the 29dB noise reduction, 20+ hour battery, 30g neckband and IPX6 rating are exactly what a loud workplace or heavy gym session demands. If it's the second, I'd buy the August Over Ear for its bigger drivers, EQ app and aptX low-latency video sync. The August is the more enjoyable headphone; the MIPEACE is the more protective one. Buy for the environment you'll actually wear them in.
MIPEACE, clearly. It carries a 29dB noise reduction rating designed for construction, manufacturing and industrial settings. The August Over Ear is described as sound isolation, which reduces some background noise but is not hearing protection.
Do the MIPEACE Earplug Headphones block out all sound?
No. They use passive noise cancellation — the in-ear silicone seal cuts roughly 29dB of noise, but you'll still hear loud sounds and nearby voices. That's intentional in a work setting where some awareness matters.
I wouldn't. The specs list no water-resistance rating, and it's a 235g over-ear design. The MIPEACE is the one rated IPX6 for sweat and water, so it's the better fit for gyms and outdoor work.
MIPEACE, by roughly double. It's rated for 20+ hours of music or calls, while the August lists about 10 hours of average battery life with a 2-hour charge time. For full-day shifts, that gap matters.
Both sit at very different points in the market, so check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before deciding — I can't quote prices here, and the value math depends on whether you're buying hearing protection or a music headphone.
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