If you want deep, immersive sound and long battery life for a traditional over-ear listening experience, choose Bose SoundLink Around Ear; if you need an open-ear design specifically optimized for TV dialogue clarity while staying aware of your surroundings, choose Avantree Medley Air.
• Bose SoundLink Around Ear: Delivers rich, full-range audio with 15 hours of playtime but is heavier and creates a closed-off environment that blocks outside noise. Best for music lovers and travelers who prioritize immersion.
• Avantree Medley Air: Features a lightweight, open-ear design perfect for watching TV without blocking ambient sounds, though it offers only 8 hours of battery life and lacks bass depth. Best for home viewers who want to hear their family or household noises.
The Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II are built for the listener who wants to disappear into their media. The design places earcups directly over the ears using angular shaping, creating a sealed acoustic environment that relies on TriPort technology and Active EQ to deliver sound that is crisp and strong at any volume. This isn't just about loudness; it is about getting a wide frequency range from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz out of a pair of dynamic drivers. If you are looking for a headphone for sleeping that allows you to block out the world and focus entirely on a podcast or album, this is the engineering philosophy behind these cans.
These headphones are ideal for people who value versatility in their connectivity. They support Bluetooth 4.2 with a wireless range of up to 30 feet, allowing you to move around your living room without losing connection. A standout feature for many users is the ability to switch between two connected devices seamlessly. You can be watching a movie on a tablet when a call comes in on your smartphone; the headphones will pause the video, answer the call, and resume the movie once you hang up. This level of multitasking is supported by an advanced microphone system designed to handle HD voice calls even in windy or noisy environments, ensuring your side of the conversation remains clear.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
However, there are trade-offs you must consider before buying. At 6.88 ounces, they are significantly heavier than many competitors, and the over-ear design means they do not let in outside air. While this provides isolation, it might feel too warm or claustrophobic for some during long sessions, especially if you wear glasses. Additionally, the charging time is three hours, which is longer than some modern fast-charging alternatives. If you need something ultra-lightweight for extended sleep sessions where pressure on the ears is a concern, or if you need to stay alert to your environment, this product might not be the right fit. They are engineered for impact resistance and durability, making them suitable for busy lives, but their bulkier form factor is a deliberate choice for superior sound isolation rather than maximum comfort for all-day wear.
The Avantree Medley Air takes a completely different approach, prioritizing situational awareness and specific use cases like television viewing. These are open-ear wireless earbuds that sit just outside the ear canal rather than covering it. This design utilizes air conduction technology to transmit higher treble frequencies, making them significantly lighter than other TV listening devices on the market, weighing only 42 grams. The rounded shape ensures they are comfortable for long TV sessions and are explicitly designed to be used with glasses, avoiding the pressure points common with traditional over-ear models. If you are searching for the best headband headphones for sleeping, this isn't it; but if you need a solution that lets you hear the TV clearly while still hearing your family walk by, this is a unique contender.
The primary strength of the Medley Air lies in its specialized tuning for dialogue. The audio is tuned to enhance speech clarity, which makes conversations, news broadcasts, and TV shows easier to follow without needing to crank up the overall volume. This is particularly useful for households where one person wants to watch a show while others want to talk or move around the room. The device includes a charging dock that doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter, connecting via Optical (TOSLINK) or AUX (3.5mm) outputs. This setup requires no Wi-Fi or apps, offering a simple plug-and-play experience. Once you finish watching, you simply place the headphones back onto the dock, which keeps them charged and ready.
There are limitations inherent to the open-ear design. Because the earpieces do not seal the ear canal, you will not get the deep bass or immersive isolation of over-ear headphones. The battery life is also more modest, offering up to 8 hours at normal volume, which may require mid-session recharging for very long marathons. Furthermore, the headband protrudes in the back, which can cause discomfort if you try to recline fully or lie down flat against a pillow. The unit is not adjustable, so those with larger head sizes (over 24.8 inches or XXL hat sizes) may find the fit too tight. It is a tool for sitting upright and watching TV, not a universal headset for every scenario.
• Best for immersive music and deep bass → Bose SoundLink Around Ear, thanks to its active EQ and sealed over-ear design.
• Best for watching TV while staying aware of the room → Avantree Medley Air, due to its open-ear construction and dialogue enhancement.
• Longest battery life → Bose SoundLink Around Ear, providing 15 hours compared to the 8 hours offered by the Avantree.
• Fastest charging speed → Avantree Medley Air, requiring only 1.5 hours to charge versus 3 hours for the Bose.
• Most versatile connectivity → Bose SoundLink Around Ear, featuring seamless switching between two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
• Best for TV passthrough compatibility → Avantree Medley Air, allowing others to listen through a soundbar while you wear the earbuds (optical passthrough only).
• Lighter weight and less heat buildup → Avantree Medley Air, weighing 42g with an open-air design that prevents sweating.
• Better for noisy environments/calls → Bose SoundLink Around Ear, with an advanced microphone system specifically rated for HD voice in wind and noise.
After analyzing the specifications and intended designs of both products, I would buy the Bose SoundLink Around Ear for general daily use. The combination of 15-hour battery life, the ability to switch between two devices, and the superior sound quality provided by the TriPort technology makes it a much more capable all-around device. However, if your specific goal is to find a headphone for sleeping or to watch TV late at night without waking others, I would pivot to the Avantree Medley Air. Its open-ear design is the only logical choice for someone who needs to hear their own breathing or a partner moving in the dark, despite the shorter battery life. Ultimately, the Bose wins on performance, but the Avantree wins on a very specific niche of shared living spaces.
Neither product is a dedicated "sleeping" headphone in the sense of a thin band, but the Avantree Medley Air is better suited for lying down due to its lighter weight and lack of large earcups that press against a pillow. The Bose SoundLink Around Ear is generally too bulky and heavy for comfortable side-sleeping.
No, the Avantree Medley Air does not require a Wi-Fi connection or a mobile app. It connects directly to your TV via an optical cable or a 3.5mm AUX cable using the included charging dock transmitter.
The Bose SoundLink Around Ear offers a wider frequency response and deeper bass because it seals the ear, making it better for music. The Avantree Medley Air focuses on enhancing speech clarity and treble frequencies, sacrificing bass depth for the ability to hear surrounding sounds.
Yes, the Bose SoundLink Around Ear includes a backup audio cable, allowing you to use them in wired mode if the battery dies or if you prefer a direct connection, whereas the Avantree is primarily wireless for TV use.
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