We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired over-ear headset with a boom mic for talking and listening at a desk, choose Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK; if you need a hard protective travel case for an on-ear Sony MDR-ZX110-series pair you already own, choose RIYADAone Case.
• Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK — biggest strength: it's a complete over-the-head headset with a noise-reducing gooseneck microphone, so you get audio in and voice out in one piece of gear.
• Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK — biggest trade-off: it's a wired 3.5 mm headset with passive noise reduction only, and the supplied description is oddly muddled with megaphone copy, so read the specs rather than the blurb.
• RIYADAone Case — biggest strength: a hard EVA shell with a mesh organizer bag that keeps a folding Sony on-ear headphone safe in a bag or backpack.
• RIYADAone Case — biggest trade-off: it is a case only. No headphones, no cable, no audio of any kind — buy it and you have a very nice empty box if you don't already own the matching Sony model.
• Who each pick is for: the Califone for remote workers, students and call handlers who need a headset with a mic; the RIYADAone Case for Sony MDR-ZX110 / MDRZX110AP / MDRZX110NC / MDR-ZX310AP owners who travel.
This is a fully wired communication headset, not a music-first headphone. The 3.5 mm stereo plug means it drops straight into desktops, laptops and tablets without an adapter dance, and the gooseneck microphone is built to reduce the noise around you so it picks up your voice rather than your neighbor's. If you've ever taken a call in a shared room or a busy kitchen, that's the exact problem this design is aimed at.
The fit side matters more than people expect. The padded headband is adjustable across sizes, and the circumaural earcups sit around the ear with replaceable leatherette cushions. Califone calls the ear placement "on ear" in the sheet and the earpiece shape "over-ear," which is the kind of labeling inconsistency that shows up in budget audio listings — what you're actually getting is a large cushioned cup that covers the ear. Passive noise cancellation means it blocks sound by sealing and padding, not by electronics, so it takes the edge off a noisy room without pretending to be active ANC. The 32 ohm impedance and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver are ordinary, workable numbers for voice and everyday listening on a laptop or phone output.
RIYADAone Case: Who It's For
This is a storage product, and the listing is refreshingly blunt about it: case only, headphones not included. The hard EVA shell is shockproof in the sense that it holds its shape and cushions impact, and it's lightweight at 100 g. Inside there's a mesh bag organizer for the cable and small accessories, which is the difference between a case that works and a case that becomes a tangle. At roughly the size of a folded on-ear headphone, it slides into a backpack or carry-on without eating much space.
The compatibility list is narrow and specific: Sony MDR-ZX110, MDRZX110AP, MDRZX110NC and MDR-ZX310AP from the ZX series. If that's your headphone, this is a straightforward, purpose-built home for it in grey EVA with a one-year warranty. If it isn't, this case is not for you — a different folding headphone may not seat properly in a molded interior, and there's no adjustable padding mentioned in the sheet.
Who should buy it: Sony ZX-series owners who commute, fly, or throw their headphones in a bag and are tired of crushed earcups and frayed cables. Students, frequent travelers and parents packing gear for kids all make sense here. Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own one of those four Sony models, and anyone shopping for actual audio gear — this adds zero sound to your life. If you're choosing between this and the Califone, you're not really choosing between two headphones; you're choosing between a headset and a box.
• Best for making calls and being heard → Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK. The gooseneck mic with noise-reducing pickup is the whole point.
• Best for protecting headphones you already own → RIYADAone Case. Hard EVA shell, mesh organizer, 100 g.
• Best for wired reliability with no charging → Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK. A 3.5 mm jack works as long as your device has a port.
• Best for tossing in a backpack → RIYADAone Case. Lightweight, rigid and shaped for travel; the Califone is the thing you'd want a case for, not the case itself.
• Best for long sessions at a desk → Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK. Adjustable padded headband and replaceable leatherette cushions are built for extended wear.
• Best for quieting a noisy room → Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK. Passive noise cancellation from the sealed circumaural cups, with volume kept at a safer level.
• Best for a specific Sony on-ear → RIYADAone Case. It's made for the MDR-ZX110 family and the ZX310AP, and that's it.
• Best if you own neither → Califone Headset Over-Ear W/GOOSENECK. A case with no headphones inside does nothing for you.
My Verdict
what are the best open ear headphones
"Open ear" usually means a design that doesn't seal over the ear canal, and neither product here is that — the Califone uses circumaural cups that cover the ear to help block noise, and the RIYADAone Case contains no headphones at all. If open-ear is genuinely what you want, this pair of products isn't the right shortlist. If you just want comfortable, adjustable on-ear/over-ear headphones with a mic for calls, the Califone fits that job.
are on ear headphones good
They can be, and the trade-off is simple. On-ear and over-ear designs like the Califone rest against or around the ear, which keeps you aware of your surroundings and avoids pushing tips into your ear canal, but they rely on passive noise cancellation rather than electronics. The Califone adds a padded, fully adjustable headband and replaceable leatherette cushions, which is what makes longer sessions bearable. For calls and desk work, that's a good setup.
are open ear headphones good
For awareness they're great; for blocking noise they're the wrong tool. The Califone takes the opposite approach — sealed circumaural earcups with passive noise cancellation so you can keep the volume at a safe level in a loud room. If you need to hear traffic or a coworker, open-ear is the better philosophy. If you need to focus on a call, the Califone's closed, padded design is the more sensible choice.
what are the best in-ear headphones
Nothing here is in-ear — the Califone is an over-the-head headset with earcups, and the RIYADAone Case is a storage shell for Sony on-ear headphones. In-ear models sit inside the ear canal and are usually the most portable option, but they can't match the Califone's gooseneck mic and large cushioned cups for all-day desk use. Decide whether you want maximum portability or a wired headset with a boom mic, then shop accordingly.
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See also: Califone Headset ON-Ear W/GOOSENECK vs Maeline 3.5mm, Edifier G2II vs Wentronic Y01: Over Ear Headset, over ear headset