How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• August Over Ear — biggest strength: 50mm dynamic drivers with a 60Hz–20KHz range, aptX Low Latency, NFC tap-to-pair, multipoint for two devices, and a free EQ app on Android and iOS.
• August Over Ear — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancellation — just sound isolation — plus a shorter rated battery life and a slower charge cycle.
• TJ Active Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: A real ANC chip with up to 25dB of noise reduction, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C charging, and a longer playback window.
• TJ Active Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: A narrower 20Hz–20,000Hz dynamic driver setup with no app-based EQ, and no low-latency codec to speak of.
• Pick August Over Ear if you watch a lot of video, game on PC or Switch, juggle two devices at once, and like to shape your own sound.
• Pick TJ Active Noise Cancelling if you're drowning out traffic, office chatter, or a loud household and want the headset to last through a long day.
The August EP650 is built around one idea: give you a lot of sound-shaping control without making you think about it. The 50mm dynamic drivers are the headline spec here, paired with a 60Hz–20KHz frequency range and 50-ohm impedance. In plain terms, that's a headphone tuned to push bass and keep mids and treble present — good for movies, games and bass-forward music. The free August Audio EQ app for Android and iOS is what separates it from most budget over-ears: you can nudge the sound toward deep bass, a balanced curve, or brighter highs instead of living with whatever the factory decided.
The connectivity list is where this thing quietly punches above its weight. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Low Latency means audio and video stay in sync on compatible gear — the kind of thing you notice the moment you stop noticing it. NFC lets you tap to pair instead of digging through menus. Multipoint lets it sit on your phone and your laptop at the same time, so a call pauses your music and playback resumes when you hang up. And the 3.5mm jack means it works as a plain wired headset when the battery runs down or when you want zero wireless fuss.
Battery is the honest weak spot. The sheet lists around 10 hours of average life and a 2-hour charge time, which is a full workday at best and not a multi-day travel companion. It's also sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so a plane cabin or a busy café will still bleed through. Buy it if you want customizable sound, low-latency video, and two-device juggling on a lightweight 235g frame. Skip it if blocking out a noisy room is your number one job.
The TJ headset leads with active noise cancellation, and the description is specific about how it works: a built-in ANC chip generates an anti-noise signal rather than relying on thick foam to muffle sound, targeting up to 25dB of reduction. That's the difference between "quieter because the cushions are dense" and "quieter because the electronics are fighting the noise." For a home office, a train, or a shared room, that's the feature you're actually paying for.
The rest of the package is built for long sessions and device flexibility. The 40mm dynamic drivers cover a 20Hz–20,000Hz range at 32 ohms and 96dB sensitivity, which is an easy load for a phone to drive. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless side, and the aux cable flips it into a zero-latency wired mode that auto-switches when you plug in — handy for competitive gaming or any device that only has a 3.5mm jack. Battery is rated around 27 hours, with USB Type-C fast charging to top it back up.
Comfort leans on supersoft leather cushions and an adjustable headband, and the design folds for storage. The ANC microphone is tuned for calls — Zoom, Teams, Discord, hands-free phone — filtering background noise so your voice lands cleanly. It's also offered in multiple color variants, and every variant carries the same ANC, drivers and battery. Buy it if noise is your problem and you want one headset for calls, commuting and gaming. Skip it if you want to fine-tune your own EQ curve, since there's no app for that here.
• Best for noise cancellation → TJ Active Noise Cancelling. Up to 25dB of active reduction versus sound isolation only.
• Best for battery life → TJ Active Noise Cancelling. Around 27 hours rated versus roughly 10 on the August.
• Best for video and gaming sync → August Over Ear. aptX Low Latency keeps audio and picture aligned on compatible devices.
• Best for wired gaming on a console → TJ Active Noise Cancelling. The included aux cable delivers zero-latency audio and auto-switches the headset.
• Best for custom sound → August Over Ear. The EQ app lets you tune bass, balance or treble yourself.
• Best for switching between two devices → August Over Ear. Multipoint keeps a phone and a computer connected at once.
• Best for long workdays and calls → TJ Active Noise Cancelling. The ANC call mic plus Type-C charging suits back-to-back meetings.
• Best for a lighter, simpler setup → August Over Ear. 235g, NFC tap-to-pair, and a 3.5mm fallback for when the battery is empty.
If I'm buying one, it's the TJ Active Noise Cancelling. In my opinion, active noise cancellation plus roughly 27 hours of playback plus Type-C charging is the combination that matters most in daily life, and the wired zero-latency mode covers gaming without a second headset. The August is the better pick only if you specifically want to sculpt your own EQ and keep two devices connected at once, and you're fine with sound isolation instead of ANC and a shorter battery. Everyone else — commuters, students, home-office callers — should take the TJ.
FAQ
No. Its noise control is listed as sound isolation, not active cancellation. Its real strengths are the 50mm drivers, aptX Low Latency, NFC, multipoint and the EQ app.
TJ Active Noise Cancelling, by a wide margin. Its battery is rated around 27 hours, while the August is listed at roughly 10 hours with a 2-hour charge time.
Yes, both. Each has a 3.5mm jack. On the TJ, plugging in the aux cable switches it to wired mode automatically for zero-latency audio.
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