If you want over-ear headphones with stereo, mono, and midrange-focused Mix modes for remote work, choose Avantone Pro MP1; if you need compact wired in-ear monitors with passive sound isolation and multiple ear-tip sizes, choose NFACOUS NM20. For a desk-based setup where switching listening modes matters, I’d pick the MP1; for a small, portable listening setup, I’d choose the NM20.
• Avantone Pro MP1 strength: Three listening modes, including mono and a midrange-focused Mix mode. Trade-off: It is over-ear and wired, with no listed noise-control feature.
• NFACOUS NM20 strength: In-ear fit, passive sound isolation, and four pairs of tips in sizes XS through L. Trade-off: It is a wired single-dynamic-driver earphone without the MP1’s selectable mono and Mix modes.
• For remote work at a desk: The MP1’s over-ear format and mode choices may suit someone who wants to check audio in stereo, mono, and a midrange-focused presentation.
• For portability and a closer-fitting seal: The NM20’s in-ear design and included tip sizes offer a different, more compact approach.
• My short version: Choose the MP1 for its listening-mode flexibility; choose the NM20 for in-ear sound isolation and fit options.
• These are both wired listening products, but they solve different problems. The MP1 is a pair of closed-back, over-ear headphones built around changing how you hear a mix. The NM20 is an in-ear monitor designed around a dynamic driver, an ergonomic shape, and passive isolation. Neither product sheet lists a built-in microphone, so I wouldn’t treat either as a complete headset for calls without checking what your remote-work setup requires.
The MP1’s standout feature is Vari-Voice: you can switch among standard stereo, mono, and a Mix mode that emphasizes the midrange. That gives it a clear role for someone who wants to assess audio in more than one listening presentation. The Mix mode is specifically described as focusing attention on midrange frequencies, while mono offers another way to check a mix.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Its over-ear, closed-back design may make more sense for a desk than an in-ear monitor if you prefer headphones that sit around your ears. The MP1 includes pivoting earcups and a padded head strap, features intended to support extended listening. It also comes with a straight cable and a coiled cable, both with 1/8-inch connectors and threaded 1/4-inch adapters. That gives you two cable styles to consider when setting up at a workstation.
I’d look at the MP1 if switching between stereo, mono, and a midrange-focused mode is useful to your listening routine. I’d skip it if you specifically want in-ear isolation, several included tip sizes, or a microphone for calls: none of those are listed for this model. It is wired, and its listed noise-control setting is none, so it is not the choice here for someone who prioritizes passive sound isolation.
The NM20 is a wired in-ear monitor with a single dynamic driver. NFACOUS describes a tuning approach intended to support detailed sound and stronger low-frequency performance below 100 Hz. Its design also includes a dual acoustic chamber and a cavity structure intended to manage air pressure. Those are the product’s central audio-design details; the sheet does not provide a direct comparison test against the MP1.
Fit is a major part of the NM20’s proposition. It comes with four pairs of ear tips in XS, S, M, and L, and its described shape includes a curved nozzle and contours intended to reduce pressure and add support. The earphone housing uses high-strength polycarbonate with CNC-carved aluminum decorative parts. Its cable connects through a 0.78 mm, 2-pin connector, and the package includes a 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter.
I’d consider the NM20 if you want a compact in-ear option with passive sound isolation and a range of tip sizes to work with. It may also suit someone who wants wired earphones for listening or monitoring rather than a large over-ear set. I’d pass if selectable stereo, mono, and midrange-focused listening modes are essential; the NM20’s listed features don’t include those. And, like the MP1, it has no microphone listed, so it is not a microphone-equipped work headset based on the supplied specifications.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for switching listening modes → Avantone Pro MP1. It offers stereo, mono, and a midrange-focused Mix mode; the NM20’s sheet does not list selectable modes.
• Best for in-ear use → NFACOUS NM20. It is an in-ear monitor, while the MP1 is an over-ear headphone.
• Best for passive sound isolation → NFACOUS NM20. Sound isolation is listed for the NM20; the MP1’s listed noise control is none.
• Best for a midrange-focused check → Avantone Pro MP1. Its Mix mode is designed to draw attention to midrange frequencies.
• Best for choosing among included ear-tip sizes → NFACOUS NM20. The box includes XS, S, M, and L tips.
• Best for a detachable-style 2-pin connection → NFACOUS NM20. Its cable uses a 0.78 mm, 2-pin connector.
• Best as a complete microphone headset for work calls → Neither, based on the listed features. Neither product sheet specifies a built-in microphone.
That last point matters for the search for earphones for remote work. If you mainly need something to hear meetings through, either wired product could be part of a setup, provided your computer or other device supports its 3.5 mm connection. But listening equipment and a call headset are not interchangeable by default. Since neither sheet names a microphone, don’t assume either one will capture your voice for meetings.
The phrase “best true wireless earbuds for remote work” also points to a different category: both of these are wired, not true wireless. The MP1’s appeal is its over-ear format and listening modes; the NM20’s is its in-ear fit and isolation. If your priority is wireless convenience or a built-in call microphone, the listed features don’t establish either as a match.
For families considering the “best with microphone kids headset for remote work,” there is another mismatch. The available details describe adult listening products and do not list a microphone for either one. I wouldn’t choose between them on the assumption that one is a child-focused call headset.
My Verdict
I would buy the Avantone Pro MP1 for remote work if my main priority were comfortable over-ear listening and the ability to switch among stereo, mono, and a midrange-focused mode. That combination gives it a more distinctive role at a desk.
I’d choose the NFACOUS NM20 instead if I specifically wanted in-ear monitors, passive sound isolation, and several tip sizes. My pick is the MP1 for mode flexibility—not because it has a microphone or is a complete call headset.
FAQ
For desk listening, I’d lean toward the MP1 if its stereo, mono, and Mix modes matter to you. The NM20 is the clearer fit if you prefer in-ear monitors with passive sound isolation. Neither product sheet lists a microphone.
A microphone is not specified for either model in the product details provided. If you need to speak during work calls, confirm that your setup has another microphone or choose a product that explicitly lists one.
Which is better for noise isolation?
The NM20 lists sound isolation, making it the more suitable choice of these two if passive isolation is a priority. The MP1’s listed noise-control feature is none, so I would not select it for isolation based on the supplied details.
No. Both are listed as wired products with a 3.5 mm jack. The MP1 includes straight and coiled cable options; the NM20 uses a 0.78 mm, 2-pin cable connection.
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