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If you want a wired, IT-managed headset built for Microsoft Teams calls all day long, choose EPOS Impact 100; if you need a wireless, open-ear earbud with a rotating boom mic and long battery life for workouts, driving and gaming, choose AYI Open Ear.
• EPOS Impact 100 — biggest strength: a single-ear, wired USB-C headset with a Microsoft Teams-certified button, active noise cancellation and a flexible noise-cancelling boom mic — it's purpose-built for professional UC calling.
• EPOS Impact 100 — biggest trade-off: it's a mono, on-ear, wired design with no Bluetooth and no stated battery, so it tethers you to a laptop or phone and gives you one ear of audio.
• AYI Open Ear — biggest strength: wireless Bluetooth 5.3 with 11-hour playback, dual-device multipoint pairing, IPX5 sweat resistance and a 270° rotating boom mic.
• AYI Open Ear — biggest trade-off: its ENC is environmental noise cancellation aimed at your voice on calls, not active noise cancellation for the wearer, and the open-ear fit means you hear your surroundings instead of an isolated mix.
• Who each is for: EPOS Impact 100 for office, call-center and remote workers who live in Teams; AYI Open Ear for people who want one headset for calls, workouts, driving and gaming without a cable.
The EPOS Impact 100 MS is a mono, on-ear headset that connects over USB-C, with a USB-A adapter in the box so it works with laptops, desktops and mobile devices. What stands out is that it's Microsoft Teams certified: there's a dedicated Teams button and notification alerts, so you can answer, mute and manage meetings without hunting through software menus. The in-line controller is backlit with push buttons for volume, mute and Teams alerts — a small detail that matters when you're on back-to-back calls in a dim office.
The boom arm is flexible and the microphone is noise-cancelling, which is the whole point of a design like this: it filters office chatter and open-plan noise so your voice goes out clean. The single-ear build uses soft silicone side support to keep it secure, and because you only cover one ear, you keep awareness of what's happening around your desk. It weighs 51 g, uses a 40-ohm dynamic driver, and the enclosure mixes leather and silicone for the on-ear cushioning. EPOS backs it with a 2-year manufacturer warranty, and the package includes the adapter, cable, a protective case and a user manual.
So who should buy it? Anyone whose job is talking — call-center agents, support teams, recruiters, teachers running webinars, and remote workers who spend the day in Teams. If your employer standardizes on Microsoft Teams and you want a headset that just plugs in and works, this is the kind of tool you want. It's also the right pick if you dislike charging things and prefer a wired connection you never have to think about.
Who should skip it? If you want stereo music, wireless freedom, or a headset for the gym and the commute, this isn't it. It's mono, it's wired, and there's no Bluetooth. It's a work instrument, not an all-purpose audio device.
The AYI Open Ear is a wireless Bluetooth 5.3 headset built around an open-ear fit — the drivers rest around your ears rather than inside the canal, so there's no in-ear pressure and you stay aware of traffic, coworkers or whatever else is around you. The standout feature is the 270° rotating external boom microphone. Instead of a tiny built-in mic, you swing a real boom arm near your mouth, and it folds flat against the headband when you're done. That's a genuinely useful design for conference calls, online teaching and hands-free driving.
On the audio side, AYI pairs Smart ENC — environmental noise cancellation that targets background noise like wind, traffic and office chatter on your voice — with Dynamic Sound Enhancement for a fuller listening mix. Note the distinction: this is call-side noise reduction, not active noise cancellation for you as the listener. Because it's open-ear, you're meant to hear your environment.
Battery is where it pulls ahead of a wired headset: 11 hours of continuous playback, which covers a full workday, a long drive or a marathon training session. The IPX5 rating means sweat, rain and splashes won't kill it, so it survives workouts and outdoor use. Bluetooth 5.3 brings faster pairing and lower latency, and the 1-to-2 multipoint connection lets you stay linked to two devices at once — phone plus laptop, or phone plus tablet — switching between calls and music. It's also advertised as ultra-low latency for gaming, and it's designed to be compatible with glasses.
Buy it if you want one wireless headset that handles calls, music, workouts and gaming, and you value staying aware of your surroundings. Skip it if you need certified UC hardware for a corporate Teams deployment, or if you want active noise cancellation that blocks the world out for you rather than filtering your voice for the person on the other end.
• Best for Microsoft Teams and UC calling → EPOS Impact 100. It's Teams certified with a dedicated Teams button and notification alerts; the AYI has no UC certification.
• Best for battery freedom → AYI Open Ear. 11 hours of playback versus a wired headset you keep plugged in.
• Best for wireless and travel → AYI Open Ear. Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing and a folding boom mic; EPOS is USB-C wired.
• Best for the wearer's own noise cancellation → EPOS Impact 100. It lists Active Noise Cancellation; the AYI's ENC works on your outgoing voice.
• Best for workouts, gym and rain → AYI Open Ear. IPX5 sweat and water resistance; the EPOS sheet lists no water rating.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → both, for different reasons. EPOS is mono with silicone side support; the AYI is open-ear by design.
• Best for dual-device switching → AYI Open Ear. 1-to-2 multipoint lets you run phone and laptop together; the EPOS connects to one wired source at a time.
• Best for a dedicated desk setup → EPOS Impact 100. Backlit in-line call controls, USB-C plus a USB-A adapter, and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
If I had to pick one, it depends entirely on the job — but since I have to choose, I'd buy the EPOS Impact 100 if my calls run through Microsoft Teams and I want certified hardware, real active noise cancellation and controls I can hit without looking. The Teams button, the noise-cancelling boom mic and the USB-C-plus-adapter setup make it the more dependable work tool. I'd only switch to the AYI Open Ear if wireless freedom, all-day battery and a sweat-resistant open-ear fit matter more to me than UC certification. In my opinion, the EPOS is the safer buy for work; the AYI is the better buy for mixed personal use. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
No. It's a wired USB-C headset with an included USB-A adapter. There's no Bluetooth, so it stays tethered to your laptop, desktop or mobile device.
It has Smart ENC, which reduces background noise on your outgoing voice during calls. It does not offer active noise cancellation that blocks sound for you as the listener.
Yes. Its rotating boom mic and multipoint pairing suit conference calls, while the IPX5 rating and open-ear fit make it usable for workouts and outdoor activity.
The AYI Open Ear, with 11 hours of continuous playback. The EPOS Impact 100 is wired and lists no battery, so it runs off whatever it's plugged into.
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