How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• JVC Black — biggest strength: a "Nozzle Fit" in-ear design with two sizes of nozzles included, so you can tune the seal and the earbuds stay put during sweaty movement. Sweat and splash resistant, with a 3.3 ft color-matched cord.
• JVC Black — biggest trade-off: it is wired and has no noise control at all. You are tethered to your device, and you will hear everything around you.
• GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: an open, ventilated ear-hook design with Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint, a 16mm dynamic driver, IPX5 nano waterproof coating, and active noise cancellation.
• GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: it is a wireless set that depends on charging, and the open-ear shape means it will never seal off outside sound the way an in-ear bud can.
• Who each pick is for: JVC Black for the runner, gym-goer or commuter who wants zero charging, zero pairing and a snug in-ear fit; GGSTOPWATER for the cyclist, outdoor runner or multi-device worker who wants open ears, situational awareness and wireless freedom.
The JVC Black (model HA-ENR15B) is a straightforward, old-school pair of sport earbuds, and in my opinion that simplicity is exactly the point. JVC calls the earpieces "Nozzle Fit," which basically means a rounded-tip in-ear shape that pushes into the ear canal and stays there when you move. Two sizes of nozzles ship in the box, so you can swap until you get a fit that does not slide around mid-run. The enclosure is plastic, the color is black, and the whole earbud weighs about 4.8 grams — light enough that you forget it is there.
The feature list is short and honest. Sweat and splash proof, so it is built to survive the gym and light rain rather than a pool. A 3.3 ft color-matched cord with a standard 3.5mm stereo jack. A single-button remote with a built-in mic for taking calls and pausing tracks without pulling out your phone. Dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range, which is the standard full-range spec. And that is it — no noise cancellation, no app, no battery, no firmware.
Who should buy it: anyone who is tired of charging earbuds, or who has a device with a headphone jack they actually want to use — an older phone, a laptop, a handheld console, a gym treadmill with an audio out. If your priority is "put them in and go," this is that product. The 1-year parts and labor warranty is a reasonable safety net on top.
Who should skip it: if you want wireless freedom, active noise cancellation, or an open-ear fit that lets outside sound in by design, this is the wrong tool. Wired means a cable snagging on your arm or your jacket. And with no noise control, a loud gym or a windy road will compete with your music. In my opinion, the JVC Black is a specialized pick, not a universal one.
The GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones (model JM13, khaki colorway) take the opposite approach entirely — they are designed to sit outside your ear canal rather than inside it. The earpiece shape is an ear hook, the enclosure is soft silicone, and the whole thing is built around an open, ventilated design that does not press on the ear. If you have ever finished a long run with sore, hot ears from sealed in-ears, this is the category that solves that, and GGSTOPWATER leans into it hard.
The spec sheet is genuinely more modern than the JVC's. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connection, so you can pair to your phone and your laptop at once and jump between them — the brand lists iOS, Android and Windows compatibility. A 16mm dynamic driver pushing what GGSTOPWATER describes as 360° Hi-Fi stereo sound, with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range and 32-ohm impedance. IPX5 waterproof and dustproof with a nano coating, which is rated for sweat and rain rather than submersion. And active noise cancellation, which is unusual to see on an open-ear design.
Two features stand out for sports specifically. First, safety: because your ear canal stays open, you can hear traffic, other runners and people approaching — that is the entire argument for open-ear buds on a road or a bike path. Second, the fit: soft ear hooks hold the buds in place for fitness, running and general training. Rounding it out, there is a charging case, a Type-C cable, a manual, and a same-color silicone lanyard so you can hang the case off a backpack. The warranty is 6 months, which is shorter than JVC's 1-year coverage — worth knowing going in.
Who should buy it: outdoor runners, cyclists, walkers and anyone who works out near traffic or on shared paths. Also anyone juggling multiple devices, or anyone who finds in-ear tips uncomfortable or prone to falling out.
Who should skip it: if you want maximum isolation and thumping bass in a noisy gym, an open-ear design is working against you — it lets the world in on purpose. And if you dislike managing battery charge, the JVC's wired simplicity is the better fit.
• Best for battery-free reliability → JVC Black. No charging case, no battery, no pairing — plug in and go.
• Best for wireless freedom → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. Bluetooth 5.4, no cable to snag on anything.
• Best for staying aware of traffic while running → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. The open-ear design keeps your surroundings audible by design.
• Best for a secure in-ear seal with swappable tips → JVC Black. Two nozzle sizes are included to dial in the fit.
• Best for multi-device switching → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. Multipoint connection across phone, laptop and other Bluetooth devices.
• Best for ear comfort over long sessions → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. Open, ventilated and non-pressing, per the manufacturer's design notes.
• Best for use with older or non-Bluetooth gear → JVC Black. The 3.5mm stereo jack works with anything wired.
• Best for water and sweat resistance rating → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. IPX5 waterproof and dustproof against the JVC's sweat and splash proofing.
• Best for active noise cancellation → GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. The JVC has no noise control at all.
If I were buying for myself and my training was outdoors — roads, paths, anywhere near cars or other people — I would buy the GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones. In my opinion the open-ear design plus Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint and IPX5 protection is simply the more capable sports package, and the safety argument for keeping your ears open is the one that matters most when you are moving fast outdoors. I would only pick the JVC Black instead if I specifically wanted a wired, zero-charge pair, or if the device I am plugging into has no Bluetooth at all. Both are legitimate sport earbuds; they just solve different problems. Worth checking the current price on Amazon for whichever one you land on, since that is the one spec this page does not cover.
It depends on the style. The JVC Black is a traditional in-ear bud, so you push the rounded nozzle tip into your ear canal and rotate slightly for a seal — swap in the other included nozzle size if it feels loose. The GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones are worn differently: the ear hook rests over the top of your ear and the speaker sits outside the canal, not inside it. Open-ear buds should feel light and non-pressing rather than plugged in.
Bose-specific pairing steps are not something these two products share — neither one is a Bose product. For the GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones, the process is standard Bluetooth: power the buds on, open your phone's Bluetooth menu, and select the headset from the list of available devices. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint means it can hold connections to more than one device at a time, so check both devices' Bluetooth menus if it does not appear where you expect.
Again, that is a Bose procedure and does not apply here. If you need to restart the GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones, the practical approach is to turn them off, put them back in the charging case, and re-pair from scratch by removing the old entry from your phone's Bluetooth list. The JVC Black has no firmware or pairing state to reset at all — it is a wired 3.5mm headphone, so a reset is not a concept that applies.
Same caveat: these are not Bose earbuds, so Bose pairing instructions will not map onto them. For the GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones, pairing is the universal Bluetooth flow — put the buds in pairing mode, open Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, laptop or TV, and tap the device name. It supports iOS, Android and Windows, so the steps look nearly identical across all three.
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: JLab vs crowm Third-generation Open Headphones, LavChic A80 vs Paekole Clip: LED Digital Display Earbuds, Uigsas Headset vs FBLFOBELI Hard Case Replacement, QMHL Swimming Headphones vs DOOGEEEco Bone Conduction Headphones