How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• ibrain Air Tube Headphones — biggest strength: A true over-the-ear air tube design where the sound travels through a tube instead of a speaker sitting in your ear canal, plus a 3.5mm jack, in-line volume/call control, and a foldable adjustable headband.
• ibrain Air Tube Headphones — biggest trade-off: It is wired only and needs a 3.5mm jack, so phones without one will need an adapter.
• Serounder Success Type C — biggest strength: An ergonomic ear hook that stays put during running, cycling or commuting, a 14mm air conduction driver for HiFi stereo sound, and a built-in noise-canceling mic for hands-free calls.
• Serounder Success Type C — biggest trade-off: "Type C" is in the name, but the connectivity field on the sheet lists ethernet, so you absolutely must confirm the actual jack/connector before buying.
• Who each pick is for: ibrain Air Tube Headphones for anyone who wants a non in ear, over-the-ear air tube set for long listening sessions at a desk or on a walk; Serounder Success Type C for athletes and commuters who want a featherweight ear-hook headset for workouts and calls.
This is the pair I would point to first if your whole reason for shopping is the phrase "non in ear headphones." The ibrain design puts no loudspeaker inside the earplug at all. Instead, the sound is carried through an air tube, and the earpiece simply rests over the ear. That structural distance between the driver and your ear canal is the entire point of the product, and it is the cleanest example of air tube technology in this comparison.
Buy it if you want a wired over-ear air tube headset for commuting, office work, studying or casual listening, and you like the idea of physical in-line controls. Skip it if your phone has no 3.5mm jack and you would rather not deal with an adapter, or if you need something that survives sprint intervals and heavy sweating. This is a comfort-and-safety-first headset, not a gym headset.
Serounder Success Type C: Who It's For
The Serounder Success Type C is aimed at a completely different buyer: the person who wants audio while moving hard. The headline feature is the ergonomic ear hook. It is built to stay locked to your ear through sprints, cycling and general high-intensity work, and the fit is described as accommodating different ear shapes while staying barely noticeable. If your old earbuds fall out the moment you start running, that design choice is the reason to look here.
Sound is handled by a 14mm air conduction driver, delivering what the sheet calls HiFi stereo with punchy bass and crisp treble. The integrated microphone is noise canceling, which is the part that matters for real life — taking a call on a busy street or in a noisy gym and still being heard. The in-line remote is deliberately simple: physical buttons for answering and ending calls, volume and track skipping, no app and no touch gestures. That makes it genuinely friendly for older users or anyone who just wants buttons that work.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for non in ear listening → ibrain Air Tube Headphones. No speaker in the earplug, sound carried by air tube, earpiece resting over the ear.
• Best for workouts and running → Serounder Success Type C. The ergonomic ear hook is designed specifically to stay put during vigorous exercise.
• Best for hands-free calls in noisy places → Serounder Success Type C. It has a built-in noise-canceling microphone.
• Best for all-day comfort and shared use → ibrain Air Tube Headphones. Adjustable headband fits adults and kids, with soft on-ear pads.
• Best for portability → ibrain Air Tube Headphones. The frame folds flat enough to drop into a backpack.
• Best for simple, button-based control → Serounder Success Type C. One-key answer/end, volume and track skip, no screen required.
• Best for older phones and computers → ibrain Air Tube Headphones. The 3.5mm jack is the most widely compatible wired connection on the market.
• Best if you want a cable-free feel with a secure fit → Serounder Success Type C. The ear hook keeps weight off the top of your head.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison should buy the ibrain Air Tube Headphones. The reason is simple: if the phrase "non in ear headphones" is what brought you here, the ibrain is the product that actually delivers that experience, with a real air tube, no in-ear speaker, over-ear comfort, folding storage and a universal 3.5mm plug. The Serounder is the better pick only for a narrower, very specific job — running, cycling and hands-free calls — where the ear hook and noise-canceling mic earn their place. If you split your time between a desk and a treadmill, the ibrain is the safer single purchase; if you are buying specifically for sport, go Serounder.
how do non ear headphones work
Air tube models like the ibrain do not put a speaker inside your ear. The driver sits away from the ear and the sound travels through an air tube to an earpiece that rests over the ear, so nothing is inserted into the ear canal.
what are non in ear headphones called
They go by a few names — air tube headphones, air conduction headphones, over-ear headphones and open ear headphones. The ibrain is an air tube, over-ear design; the Serounder is an air conduction ear-hook design. Both avoid sitting inside the ear canal.
what are the best open ear headphones
That depends on your use. For long, comfortable, non in ear listening with a 3.5mm wired connection, I would pick the ibrain Air Tube Headphones. For running, cycling and calls, I would pick the Serounder Success Type C because of its ear hook and noise-canceling mic.
how to wear in ear headphones
In-ear models are inserted so the tip seals the ear canal. Neither product here is worn that way, which is the whole appeal — the ibrain rests over the ear on an adjustable headband, and the Serounder hooks over the ear without plugging the canal.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: MUSICOZY 5.4 vs TOZO NC2, ZIHNIC Headphones Over-Ear vs DOQAUS Headphones Over Ear, SAMSON Meteor Mic USB vs OneOdio A70, Ltinist Earbud vs EXZHIG Earbuds