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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• EKSA H27 biggest strength: A purpose-built office headset — semi-open breathable ear cups, ENC noise-cancelling boom mic, in-line volume/mute/call buttons, and a generous 7.22-foot USB cable that reaches across a desk.
• EKSA H27 biggest trade-off: Its frequency range is narrow (200 Hz – 8 kHz) and it's USB-only — no 3.5mm analog jack, so it won't plug into a phone or a standard headphone port.
• MartiAudio biggest strength: Universal 2-in-1 connectivity — a gold-plated 3.5mm plug plus a built-in USB-C adapter, with a wide 20 Hz – 20 kHz range and 40mm dynamic drivers for general listening.
• MartiAudio biggest trade-off: It's headphones first, headset second — the inline mic is on the braided cable rather than an adjustable boom, and there are no call-answer/end buttons like the EKSA has.
• Who EKSA H27 is for: Anyone whose day is full of calls on a computer — call centers, remote workers, back-office and support teams.
• Who MartiAudio Over-Ear Headphones is for: A single pair of wired over-ears for commuting, classes, music, casual calls and shared use across devices.
The EKSA H27 is unapologetically a work headset. Everything about it is aimed at the person who sits at a computer and talks for a living. The semi-open acoustic design is the standout detail: air moves through the ear cups, so heat and moisture don't build up the way they do under a sealed cup. If you've ever pulled off a closed-back headset after a two-hour block of meetings and felt that clammy pressure around your ears, you'll understand why this matters. EKSA pairs that with ultra-soft cushions and an adjustable headband, and lists a 2-year warranty — the kind of spec sheet that says "this is meant to be worn eight hours a day."
The microphone side is where it earns its keep. EKSA's VoicePure tech with ENC (environmental noise cancellation) is designed to suppress background noise so your voice comes through clearly, and the adjustable boom mic lets you position the pickup precisely. For a support agent in a busy room, or a remote worker with a partner and kids in the next room, that's the whole point. The in-line controls handle the practical stuff — volume, mic mute, and answer/end calls — without you reaching for software. And the 7.22-foot cable means you can lean back, stand up, or pace while you talk.
Here's who should skip it. The EKSA H27 connects by USB-C or USB-A only. It won't plug into a phone's headphone jack, a game console controller, or a standard 3.5mm port. Its frequency range is 200 Hz – 8 kHz — a voice-optimized band, not a music band. Deep bass and shimmering treble aren't the goal here; intelligible speech is. If you want one pair of headphones for calls and Critical listening, this isn't that product.
The MartiAudio MA569 is built for flexibility. The headline feature is what MartiAudio calls universal 2-in-1 connectivity: a standard gold-plated 3.5mm plug plus an integrated USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, so the same pair of headphones works on a phone, tablet, laptop, or PC without hunting for a dongle. That one detail makes it a genuinely better fit for someone who moves between devices all day — a student going from laptop to phone, a commuter using it on the train then plugging in at a desk.
The audio side is wider than the EKSA's. MartiAudio lists 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, and describes crisp highs, detailed mids, and deep bass. That's a music-and-media tuning, not a voice-only band. The around-ear design seals out ambient noise naturally, so it does double duty as passive isolation on a noisy bus or in a shared office. A high-definition inline mic on the braided cable handles hands-free calls, with +/- volume control on the cable.
Durability is a stated focus: reinforced metallic joints and a heavy-duty braided cable, backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty. It's also fully wired — no charging, no pairing, no latency. The trade-offs are worth naming. The mic is inline, not a boom, so it sits on the cable rather than in front of your mouth; in a loud room it won't isolate your voice the way a boom mic can. There's no call-answer/end button, just volume. And there's no software-based noise cancellation — the "noise control" here is passive sound isolation from the sealed cups. For calls in a quiet space it's fine. For a busy contact center, it isn't the right tool.
• Best for all-day desk work and calls → EKSA H27. Semi-open breathable cups, boom mic, and 7.22-foot cable are designed for the desk, not the commute.
• Best for clear voice pickup in a noisy room → EKSA H27. ENC on a boom mic is purpose-built for speech; the MartiAudio's inline mic is not.
• Best for music and media → MartiAudio. A 20 Hz – 20 kHz range and 40mm drivers give you a full-range listening experience the voice-tuned EKSA doesn't target.
• Best for multiple devices → MartiAudio. The 3.5mm plug plus USB-C adapter covers phones, tablets, laptops and PCs; the EKSA is USB-only.
• Best for quiet hands-free calls → MartiAudio. The inline mic plus volume control is enough for a home office or a video call in a quiet room.
• Best for passive noise isolation → MartiAudio. The sealed around-ear design blocks ambient sound; the EKSA's semi-open design deliberately lets some in.
• Best for call handling without touching your screen → EKSA H27. In-line answer/end and mic mute are the difference between a headset and headphones.
• Best for durability and travel → MartiAudio. Reinforced metallic joints and a braided cable are stated build priorities; both carry a 2-year warranty.
If your job is talking on a computer — support, sales, remote meetings, a call center — I'd buy the EKSA H27. The boom mic with ENC, the in-line call controls, the breathable semi-open cups, and the long USB cable are all engineered for exactly that job, and the 2-year warranty seals it. If instead you want one wired pair of over-ears for music, classes, commuting and the occasional call across several devices, I'd buy the MartiAudio Over-Ear Headphones — the 3.5mm-plus-USB-C combo, wider 20 Hz – 20 kHz range, and sealed isolation make it the more versatile everyday pair. In my opinion, the deciding question isn't which is "better" — it's whether your desk has a boom mic on it or not. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits your day.
how do over ear headphones work
Over-ear headphones place the driver over the whole ear rather than on it. Both models here use dynamic drivers wired to your device: the EKSA H27 uses USB-C/USB-A and pipes audio over a digital connection, while the MartiAudio uses a standard 3.5mm analog plug plus a USB-C adapter. The physical difference matters too — the EKSA is semi-open (air flows through, so you hear your surroundings), the MartiAudio seals around the ear for passive isolation.
how long do over ear headphones last
It depends on build quality and how you treat them, but both manufacturers back their over-ear models with a 2-year warranty, which tells you something about their expected service life. The MartiAudio specifically lists reinforced metallic joints and a heavy-duty braided cable as durability features, and the EKSA's padded headband and soft cushions are aimed at withstanding daily office wear. Cable and cushion wear are the usual failure points on wired sets — treat the cable gently and both should run for years.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Any headphones can contribute to hearing damage if you listen too loudly for too long — that's about volume and duration, not headphone style. What's relevant here is isolation: the MartiAudio's sealed design blocks more outside noise, so you may naturally listen at lower volumes, while the EKSA's semi-open design lets more sound in, which can tempt you to turn it up. Keep levels moderate and take breaks, and you're managing the real risk factor.
what are the best over ear headphones
There's no single answer — it depends on your use. For computer-based calls and contact-center work, I'd point to the EKSA H27, because its ENC boom mic, in-line call controls and breathable semi-open design are built for that job. For music, commuting and switching between phones, tablets and laptops, I'd point to the MartiAudio Over-Ear Headphones, thanks to the 3.5mm/USB-C combo and 20 Hz – 20 kHz range. Match the headphones to your day, not to a single "best" label.
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