We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a sweatproof, wire-free sport headphone that stays put through hard training, choose Jaybird Tarah; if you need a corded, ear-hook design that never needs charging and plugs straight into USB-C, choose Serounder Success Type C.
• Jaybird Tarah — biggest strength: true wireless freedom with IPX7 sweat and waterproof protection, six hours of playtime per charge, and app-based EQ you can tune to your taste.
• Jaybird Tarah — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear design with silicone tips seated in the ear canal, so it isn't a "non in ear" open fit, and it relies on battery power you have to remember to charge.
• Serounder Success Type C — biggest strength: an ergonomic ear-hook fit with a 14mm air conduction driver, so audio reaches your ear without sealing the canal — a genuinely non in-ear feel — and it's wired, so there's no battery to manage.
• Serounder Success Type C — biggest trade-off: it's a corded headset with no Bluetooth, so you're tethered to your device, and it's rated for a shorter 90-day warranty.
• Who each pick is for: Jaybird Tarah for the gym-and-running crowd who want wireless freedom and weatherproofing; Serounder Success Type C for anyone who wants an open, non in-ear fit, hates charging, or just wants a simple wired USB-C connection.
The Jaybird Tarah is built around one idea: stay in your ears and keep working while you sweat. The IPX7 rating is the headline here — that's full sweatproof and waterproof protection, so rain, heavy interval sessions and post-workout rinse-off aren't a concern. If your training happens outdoors in unpredictable weather, that spec alone separates it from a lot of sport headphones.
Battery life is straightforward: six hours of wireless playtime on a single charge, and a 10-minute fast charge buys you a full hour. That fast-charge detail matters more than it sounds — if you're the type who forgets to plug in until you're already dressed for the gym, ten minutes on the cable is enough to get through a session. Bluetooth range is listed at 10 meters, which is plenty for leaving your phone on a bench or in a bag while you move around a room or a rack.
The fit story is where it gets specific. Tarah is an in-ear headphone with rounded silicone tips, and it ships with three pairs of ultra-soft silicone ear gels, plus a combo secure-fit eargel set, a speed cinch and a shirt clip. That's a lot of adjustment hardware for a pair of earbuds, and it signals the intent: secure, customizable, distraction-free. The speed cinch and shirt clip let you shorten the cable and pin it down so it doesn't flail during a run. Sound runs on a dynamic driver covering 20Hz to 20,000Hz, and you can shape it yourself through the Jaybird iOS and Android app — crank bass or treble and save the profile to the earbuds. Google Fast Pair is enabled for quicker pairing on supported Android devices.
Who should buy it: gym-goers, runners and cyclists who want wireless, weatherproof, tunable audio and don't mind charging. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants a non in-ear, open-canal design, anyone who dislikes ear-tip pressure, and anyone who wants zero battery management in their life. It's also worth noting the color is Black/Flash and it works with any Bluetooth-enabled device — there's no wired fallback option listed.
The Serounder Success Type C goes the opposite direction, and that's exactly why it belongs in a non in-ear conversation. It's an over-ear-style, ear-hook wired headset that uses a 14mm air conduction driver. Air conduction means the sound is delivered toward your ear without plugging the canal — nothing is seated inside your ear. That's the defining difference from the Tarah, and for people who find in-ear tips uncomfortable, itchy, or prone to falling out, it's the whole reason to care.
The ergonomic ear hook is the other core feature. It's described as lightweight and stable, with a non-slip fit designed to accommodate different ear shapes and stay planted during vigorous exercise or sprints. If you've ever had an earbud pop loose mid-run, the hook architecture is the fix. Because it doesn't seal the canal, you also keep some awareness of your surroundings, which many runners and cyclists actively prefer on roads and trails.
Sound is pitched as HiFi stereo with punchy bass and crisp treble from that 14mm driver, and there's a built-in noise-canceling microphone for calls — useful if you take meetings or calls while commuting or moving. The inline remote is deliberately old-school: physical buttons for one-key answer and end, volume, and track skipping, all without touching your phone. That's a real advantage for anyone who finds touch controls fiddly, and the design is explicitly aimed at all ages, from young athletes to older users who just want buttons that click.
The trade-offs are honest ones. It's wired, so you're physically connected to your device — no Bluetooth, and the connectivity field lists USB-C/ethernet-style wired connection rather than wireless. There's no battery, which means nothing to charge, but also no untethered movement. The color is listed as #511, it's a single-item package, and the warranty runs 90 days, which is shorter than the Tarah's one-year limited hardware warranty. Who should buy it: anyone who wants a non in-ear, open fit, wants a wired USB-C connection, hates charging, or prefers physical buttons. Who should skip it: anyone who needs wireless freedom for lifting, rope work or fast footwork where a cable snags.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for non in-ear comfort → Serounder Success Type C. The air conduction driver and ear hook never seal the ear canal, which is the entire point of a non in-ear design.
• Best for wireless freedom → Jaybird Tarah. Bluetooth with a 10-meter range and no cable to snag during lifting, burpees or sprints.
• Best for never charging → Serounder Success Type C. Wired power means no battery, no charge time, no dead earbuds at the start of a session.
• Best for battery flexibility → Jaybird Tarah. Six hours per charge plus a 10-minute fast charge that yields a full hour.
• Best for tuning your sound → Jaybird Tarah. The Jaybird app's custom EQ lets you adjust bass and treble and save the profile to the earbuds.
• Best for simple physical controls → Serounder Success Type C. One-key inline buttons for calls, volume and tracks, no touch gestures to learn.
• Best for long-term coverage → Jaybird Tarah. One-year limited hardware warranty versus 90 days.
• Best for calls and commuting → Serounder Success Type C. The noise-canceling mic and inline remote are geared toward hands-free communication on the move.
In my opinion, the Jaybird Tarah is the stronger pick for most people training seriously — the IPX7 protection, six-hour battery with fast charge, and app EQ make it a more capable all-round sport headphone. But if your priority is genuinely a non in-ear fit, the Serounder Success Type C is the one I'd choose: air conduction delivery, a stable ear hook, wired USB-C simplicity and no charging routine at all. If you hate ear-tip pressure or keep forgetting to charge, go Serounder. If you want wireless freedom and can train in any weather, go Tarah. Before deciding, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, since that's the one variable that can flip the call either way.
how do non ear headphones work
Non in-ear headphones deliver sound toward the ear without sealing the ear canal. The Serounder Success Type C does this with a 14mm air conduction driver and an ergonomic ear hook, so audio reaches you while your canal stays open — which is why the fit feels different from a tipped in-ear design like the Jaybird Tarah.
what are non in ear headphones called
They're usually described as open-ear, air conduction, or bone conduction headphones, depending on the mechanism. In this comparison, the Serounder Success Type C is the non in-ear option — its ear-hook design and air conduction driver sit outside the canal rather than plugging into it.
what are the best open ear headphones
"Best" depends on your priorities, and I won't pretend one design wins for everyone. If you want an open, non in-ear fit with wired USB-C convenience and physical inline controls, the Serounder Success Type C fits that brief. If you'd rather have wireless freedom, IPX7 waterproofing and app-tuned sound, the Jaybird Tarah is my recommendation — though it is an in-ear design, not an open one.
how to wear in ear headphones
In-ear models like the Jaybird Tarah use silicone ear gels that seat inside the ear canal for a secure seal. Tarah ships with three pairs of ultra-soft silicone ear gels plus a combo secure-fit set, a speed cinch and a shirt clip, so you can size the tips to your ears and shorten the cable for a stable, distraction-free fit during training.
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: itayak Behind vs Wjjitan Wholesale Bulk Earbuds: Wrap Around, ZUJFPL EVA Hard Case vs IMYB V1, 4Gamers C6-100 vs Generic Gaming Headset, Piluyaa Earbuds vs New Bee Headset