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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want maximum total listening time, a spare pair always on hand, and a neckband you can't drop, choose CXPSUE Neckband; if you need an open-ear fit that keeps your ears fully open to traffic and your surroundings, choose Monster Open AC601.
• CXPSUE Neckband — biggest strength: a neckband design that keeps the earbuds tethered around your neck, plus a stated 60-hour endurance figure and a 3-pack set so you always have a backup. Biggest trade-off: in-ear tips sit inside your ear canal, so you block more of the outside world and you're dealing with three sets rather than one.
• Monster Open AC601 — biggest strength: an open-ear clip-on design with Bluetooth 5.4, IPX5 water resistance and 32 hours of total battery life (charging case included). Biggest trade-off: open-ear means less isolation and less deep bass seal, and there's a single pair in the box.
• Who CXPSUE fits: commuters, desk workers and people who want a spare in the car, gym bag and office drawer.
• Who Monster fits: runners, cyclists and anyone who wants to hear traffic or a training partner while listening.
• In my opinion: pick on fit philosophy first (in-ear vs open-ear), then let the battery and extras break the tie.
The CXPSUE Neckband is a Bluetooth 5.4 neckband headset built around one idea: never lose an earbud and never run out of charge. The flexible collar rests on your shoulders, and because the earbuds are wired to the band, there's nothing to drop mid-commute or mid-squat. The specs list 60 hours of endurance on a single charge with USB-C, a 2-hour charge time, and 120 hours of average battery life. If you've ever pulled a dead earbud out of a bag, that number is the whole pitch.
Sound-wise, the sheet lists 6mm hybrid drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, 32-ohm impedance and 60 dB sensitivity, tuned for deep bass and clear vocals. ENC microphones handle calls, filtering background noise so your voice comes through in busy or windy spots. There's also passive noise cancellation, touch controls, a 33-foot Bluetooth range and a 60-millisecond latency figure. One detail worth flagging: the sound mode is selectable by double-clicking the power button, so you can switch between modes on the fly.
Who should buy it? Anyone who hates charging. Anyone who wants a pair in the car, one at the desk and one in the gym bag. Anyone who takes calls in noisy places and wants ENC doing the work. Who should skip it? If you dislike in-ear tips or you want to hear traffic while running, this isn't the design for you — the neckband keeps earbuds in your canal, and passive noise cancellation works against you outdoors.
The Monster Open AC601 is an open-ear clip-on earbud in white, and it's aimed at a different kind of listener. The earpiece shape is "bud" with an open-ear placement, and the clip-on design keeps it stable during vigorous activity. Nothing goes in your ear canal, so ambient sound stays with you — which is the point for runners, cyclists and gym-goers who need situational awareness.
The audio hardware is the headline here: 13mm PVK composite sound film drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, delivering what Monster describes as Hi-Fi audio with powerful bass and clear highs. Connectivity runs Bluetooth 5.4, which the sheet credits with improved transmission speed and low-latency audio-video sync for gaming and calls. ENC handles call noise reduction, IPX5 protects against rain, splashes and heavy sweat, and total battery life is 32 hours including the charging case.
Who should buy it? Runners and outdoor athletes. People who find in-ear tips uncomfortable after an hour. Anyone who wants touch controls for calls, track skipping and volume without touching a phone. Who should skip it? If you want maximum isolation for a noisy open-plan office or a long flight, open-ear is the wrong tool. And if you want a backup pair sitting in a drawer, this is one pair, not three.
• Best for total battery life → CXPSUE Neckband. 60 hours of endurance per charge, with a 120-hour average battery life figure in the sheet.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Monster Open AC601. Open-ear placement means nothing plugs your canal.
• Best for workouts with sweat and rain → Monster Open AC601. IPX5 waterproofing is explicit; the CXPSUE sheet lists no water-resistance rating.
• Best for never losing an earbud → CXPSUE Neckband. The neckband tethers both buds; there is nothing to drop.
• Best for charging convenience → Monster Open AC601. USB-C with a charging case you top up between sessions, versus a 2-hour full charge on the neckband.
• Best for sharing or keeping spares → CXPSUE Neckband. It's a 3-pack set, so a partner, car and gym bag can each get one.
• Best for newer Bluetooth and low-latency sync → Monster Open AC601. Bluetooth 5.4 with low-latency audio-video playback, versus Bluetooth 5 on the CXPSUE.
• Best for bigger drivers on paper → Monster Open AC601. 13mm PVK composite drivers versus 6mm hybrid drivers on the CXPSUE.
If I had to buy one, I'd buy the Monster Open AC601. In my opinion, open-ear is the more versatile fit for most days — it works at the gym, on a run, on a commute, and it keeps you aware of what's around you, with Bluetooth 5.4 and IPX5 backing it up. I'd steer toward the CXPSUE Neckband instead if battery endurance and sheer redundancy are what you actually want: three sets, 60 hours per charge, and earbuds that physically cannot fall out of your life. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, and let fit decide if you're still torn.
For pure stability, both are secure — the neckband tether means nothing drops, and the AC601's clip-on design is built for vigorous activity. But the AC601 adds IPX5 water resistance and open-ear awareness, which matters more for outdoor running. In my opinion, the AC601 is the better running pick.
The CXPSUE Neckband states 60 hours of endurance per charge, with a 120-hour average battery life figure. The Monster Open AC601 states 32 hours total including the charging case. On paper, the CXPSUE wins on raw endurance.
Differently. The CXPSUE Neckband uses in-ear tips plus passive noise cancellation, so it muffles surroundings. The Monster Open AC601 is open-ear with environmental noise cancellation focused on calls, so you still hear traffic and conversation around you.
That depends on what you count as value. The CXPSUE Neckband is a 3-pack set, so you're equipping three places at once. The Monster Open AC601 gives you one pair with Bluetooth 5.4, IPX5 and 13mm drivers. Compare the current prices on Amazon against how many pairs you actually need.
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