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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• EXMAX 3.5mm — biggest strength: A speech-tuned single-ear design that mixes both stereo channels into one earpiece, so you hear everything while keeping one ear open to traffic, coworkers, or a room.
• EXMAX 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: It deliberately has no bass. If you want thumping music, this is the wrong product, and it doesn't include a microphone.
• Mchoi Hard Travel Storage — biggest strength: A rigid EVA shell that's shockproof, waterproof and dustproof, sized at 7.4 x 5.1 x 2.3 inches with a 360-degree zipper and a carry strap.
• Mchoi Hard Travel Storage — biggest trade-off: It's an empty case only. No headphones, no cable, no extras — and it's fitted to specific Sony ZX-series wired on-ear models.
• Who EXMAX 3.5mm is for: Runners, cyclists, drivers, warehouse and office staff, transcriptionists, radio and talk-radio fans, and anyone who listens in bed.
• Who Mchoi Hard Travel Storage is for: Owners of Sony MDR-ZX110 / ZX110AP / ZX110NC / ZX310AP wired on-ear headphones who want to toss them in a bag without crushing them.
The EXMAX 3.5mm is best understood as a tool, not a toy. Its whole design brief is human speech clarity. The audio profile is intentionally thin and bright — the product materials describe it as a no-bass, "tinny" sound tuned for speech-first content. That's not a defect; it's the point. Stripping out rumbling low frequencies is what makes talk radio, news, podcasts, sports commentary and faint nighttime AM stations easier to follow at low volume. If you've ever strained to catch a referee's announcement or a late-night broadcast, that's the exact scenario this earpiece is built for.
The other half of the story is the single-ear hook. It hangs over one ear with a soft foam pad and a flexible rubber hook that pivots 360 degrees, so you can angle it to actually sit where it's comfortable. The cable is about 115 cm of sweat-proof, tangle-resistant TPE — the materials note it won't absorb moisture the way fabric-wrapped cables do, which matters if you're running or cycling. And crucially, the ear stays open to the environment. That's the entire safety argument for runners, bikers and walkers, and it's also why drivers, warehouse staff, teachers and court reporters gravitate to this style. You can hear your audio and the world at once.
Mchoi Hard Travel Storage: Who It's For
The Mchoi Hard Travel Storage case is a different kind of product entirely, and it's important to be clear about that: it holds headphones, it isn't one. It's an empty protective case, sold alone, made from hard EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) — a foam-like plastic that's rigid enough to resist crushing but light enough to carry. The shell is rated shockproof, waterproof and dustproof, which covers the three things that actually kill travel headphones: getting sat on, getting rained on, and getting grit into the hinges and drivers.
The dimensions are the practical heart of it: 7.4 x 5.1 x 2.3 inches. That's a compact, slim footprint — the kind that slides into a backpack laptop sleeve, a carry-on, or a drawer without dominating the space. The 360-degree zipper runs smoothly around the rigid body so you can open it flat and pull the headphones out without wrestling, and the sturdy hand strap means you can carry it standalone rather than burying it in a bag.
Who should buy it? Owners of the Sony MDR-ZX110, ZX110AP, ZX110NC and ZX310AP wired on-ear headphones. Those are exactly the compact on-ear models this case is cut to fit. If you own one of those and you commute, travel, or just want your headphones to survive a life of being stuffed into bags, this is the sensible purchase. Who should skip it? Anyone who doesn't own those specific models, and anyone expecting headphones in the box — the case ships empty, with no headphone, cable or accessories included. There's also no manufacturer warranty listed, so treat it as a simple, durable shell rather than a supported electronics product.
• Best for speech and talk radio → EXMAX 3.5mm. Its no-bass tuning is engineered for vocal clarity, not music depth.
• Best for running, cycling and walking → EXMAX 3.5mm. The open-ear hook keeps you aware of traffic and surroundings.
• Best for listening in bed → EXMAX 3.5mm. Lay the other ear on the pillow and still hear the audio clearly.
• Best for driving, warehouse or office work → EXMAX 3.5mm. One ear open, one ear working, all day without pressure.
• Best for protecting compact on-ear Sony headphones → Mchoi Hard Travel Storage. Hard EVA, shockproof, waterproof, dustproof.
• Best for travel and tight spaces → Mchoi Hard Travel Storage. The 7.4 x 5.1 x 2.3-inch body is slim and slides into smaller compartments.
• Best for portability with a strap → Mchoi Hard Travel Storage. The 360-degree zipper and hand strap make it easy to grab and go.
• Best for music lovers who want bass → neither. The EXMAX has no bass by design, and the Mchoi makes no sound at all.
The cleanest way to read this pair: they're complements, not competitors. If you own Sony ZX-series wired on-ear headphones, the Mchoi case protects them and the EXMAX answers a totally separate need — one-ear speech listening. Buying both isn't redundant. Buying either one for the other's job is a mistake.
In my opinion, if you're asking which product to actually buy for listening, the answer is the EXMAX 3.5mm. It's the only one of the two that produces sound, and it does one job exceptionally well: clear speech with one ear open to the world. I'd recommend it without hesitation for runners, drivers, radio fans, transcriptionists and anyone who wants to stay aware while they listen.
The Mchoi Hard Travel Storage case earns a clear second recommendation — but only for a specific buyer: someone who already owns Sony MDR-ZX110, ZX110AP, ZX110NC or ZX310AP wired on-ear headphones and wants a hard, waterproof, dustproof shell to keep them safe. If that's you, it's a smart, well-sized protective buy. If it isn't, it's just an empty box. Match the product to the problem, and you'll be happy with either.
what are the best open ear headphones
I don't hand out absolute "best" labels, but if you want an open-ear option for speech-first listening, the EXMAX 3.5mm fits that description well. It uses a single ear-hook design that leaves one ear open to your surroundings, and its stereo-to-mono circuitry folds both channels into the one earpiece so you don't lose audio. It's tuned for vocals, not bass, so it suits talk radio, podcasts and sports commentary more than music.
are on ear headphones good
That depends on your priorities. On-ear headphones like the Sony ZX-series models are compact, which is exactly why the Mchoi case is built to a slim 7.4 x 5.1 x 2.3-inch footprint for them. They're a practical size for travel and everyday use. Whether they're "good" for you comes down to fit, comfort and the sound you want — the EXMAX, by contrast, is a single-ear hook design, not a traditional on-ear pair.
are open ear headphones good
For the right use case, yes. The EXMAX 3.5mm is an open-ear design, and its main advantage is safety and awareness — you keep one ear free to hear traffic, coworkers or a room while still listening. The trade-off is sound isolation: you won't get the sealed-in quiet of a closed headphone. If awareness matters more than isolation, an open-ear design like this is a strong choice.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Comfort is personal, but the design details give clues. The EXMAX uses an extra-soft foam ear pad and a flexible rubber hook that pivots 360 degrees, with a lightweight build intended for all-day wear in one ear. Its materials do note that seating it at the right spot for both comfort and volume can take a little adjusting. For the Sony ZX-series on-ear models, a hard case like the Mchoi helps protect the pads and frame so they stay comfortable over time.
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