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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, sweat-resistant in-ear headphone that plugs straight into a controller and never needs charging for gaming headphones for PS5, choose Granvela GV1; if you need a wireless open-ear clip-on with long battery life and call noise reduction for open ear earbuds for PS5, choose Monster Earbuds Open AC601. Both carry an IPX5 water-resistance rating, so the real decision comes down to fit, connection type and how you actually listen.
• Granvela GV1 — biggest strength: a memory-wire over-ear hook and angled in-ear nozzles give a locked-in, noise-isolating fit, and the 3.5mm plug works with anything that has a headphone jack, including a PS5 controller.
• Granvela GV1 — biggest trade-off: it's wired and in-ear, so you're tethered to your device and you're blocking outside sound rather than hearing your surroundings.
• Monster Earbuds Open AC601 — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 wireless freedom, an open-ear clip-on design that leaves your ear canal open, and 32 hours of total battery life with the charging case.
• Monster Earbuds Open AC601 — biggest trade-off: it's wireless only (no jack), so it depends on a Bluetooth source and needs recharging, and the open design lets ambient noise in by nature.
• Pick Granvela GV1 if you want a plug-and-play wired set for a 3.5mm controller, gym sessions and focused listening.
• Pick Monster Earbuds Open AC601 if you want wireless convenience, situational awareness and all-day battery for commutes, calls and open ear listening.
The Granvela GV1 is built around one idea: stay put. The memory-wire earhook bends to hold the bud over your ear, and the angled nozzles are shaped to sit at the natural angle of your ear canal. In practice that means fewer mid-run adjustments and a stable seal — which is exactly what you want if you're moving around. The 9mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets are tuned for clear highs and punchy bass, and the specs list a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, 16 ohm impedance and 90dB sensitivity, so they're easy to drive from a phone, laptop or controller.
Who should skip it? If you want to hear traffic, coworkers or your surroundings while you listen, the in-ear seal works against you — it's designed for passive noise isolation, not awareness. And if your only source is a phone or console with no headphone jack, you'd need an adapter, which isn't included.
Monster Earbuds Open AC601: Who It's For
The Monster Earbuds Open AC601 takes the opposite approach. Instead of sealing your ear, it clips on and sits outside the canal, so sound reaches you while the outside world still gets through. That's the whole appeal of open ear buds: you can hold a conversation, hear a doorbell or stay aware on a run without pulling anything out. Monster pairs that with a 13mm PVK composite sound film driver and a 20Hz–20kHz range, aiming for Hi-Fi stereo sound with strong bass and clean highs.
The wireless side is where it earns its keep. Bluetooth 5.4 is the current mainstream standard, and Monster specifically calls out a stable connection and synchronized audio-video playback with low latency — useful for gaming or streaming where lip-sync and input lag matter. Total battery life is listed at 32 hours including the charging case, which is a genuinely long runway compared to a wired set that never needs power but also never leaves your device. Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) is aimed at calls, not music — it works on your voice so the person on the other end hears you more clearly over background noise.
Controls are touch-based for calls, tracks and volume. The trade-off is real: no jack means you're dependent on a Bluetooth host, and the open design means you'll hear the room. For a PS5, that means pairing to a Bluetooth source rather than plugging into the controller — fine for casual listening, less ideal if you want the simplest possible hookup.
• Best for wired, zero-hassle PS5 hookup → Granvela GV1, thanks to the 3.5mm plug that goes straight into a controller.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Monster Earbuds Open AC601, with its 32-hour total playtime including the case.
• Best for gym and running stability → Granvela GV1, because the memory-wire earhook and angled nozzles are designed to stay locked in during movement.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Monster Earbuds Open AC601, since the open-ear clip-on design doesn't seal the canal.
• Best for clear calls → Monster Earbuds Open AC601, which uses Environmental Noise Cancellation for voice pickup.
• Best for low-latency wireless audio → Monster Earbuds Open AC601, with Bluetooth 5.4 and synchronized audio-video playback.
• Best for passive noise isolation → Granvela GV1, whose in-ear seal blocks outside sound for commuting and focused listening.
• Best for simplicity and no charging routine → Granvela GV1, a passive wired set with in-line one-button control.
• Best for driver size → Monster Earbuds Open AC601, with a 13mm driver versus the GV1's 9mm.
For most people asking about IPX5 waterproof headphones, I'd lean toward the Monster Earbuds Open AC601. In my opinion, the combination of Bluetooth 5.4, open-ear comfort, ENC call clarity and 32 hours of total battery makes it the more versatile everyday pair — especially if you want open ear earbuds for PS5 and don't mind pairing wirelessly. That said, if your priority is the simplest possible PS5 setup with no charging and a secure, isolating in-ear fit, the Granvela GV1 is the smarter buy; the 3.5mm plug and memory-wire hook do exactly one job very well. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable that can flip the call for your budget.
are headphones waterproof
No — and neither of these is. Both the Granvela GV1 and the Monster Earbuds Open AC601 are rated IPX5, which covers sweat and splashes from rain or spills, but not submersion in water. Don't swim or shower with either one.
are headphones water resistant
Yes, both of these are. IPX5 is a water-resistance rating, meaning they'll shrug off heavy perspiration, rain and splashes during workouts or commutes. Just wipe them dry before storing them.
Yes, via the 3.5mm jack on the controller. It's a wired set, so there's no pairing or charging involved — plug in and the in-line one-button control handles calls and playback.
Monster lists Bluetooth 5.4 with synchronized audio-video playback and low latency, which suits casual gaming and streaming. Since it has no jack, you'd connect it to a Bluetooth source rather than plugging into a controller.
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