We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a proven on-ear Bluetooth headphone for long listening sessions with a foldable travel-friendly build, choose JVC HA-S23W; if you need an over-ear model with multiple playback modes (Bluetooth, FM radio, and SD card) and USB-C fast charging, choose Gabba Goods Over-Ear Headphones. These two sit in different corners of the budget wireless world, and the specs make that split clear the moment you line them up.
• JVC HA-S23W — biggest strength: 17-hour battery life plus a lightweight, flat-folding swivel design that's easy to stash in a bag.
• JVC HA-S23W — biggest trade-off: On-ear fit with no wired jack and none of the extra playback modes (no FM, no SD card).
• Gabba Goods Over-Ear Headphones — biggest strength: Three ways to play (Bluetooth 5.4, FM radio, SD card) with larger 40mm drivers and USB-C fast charging.
• Gabba Goods Over-Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: Shorter 6-hour playtime per charge and a bulkier over-ear shape.
• Who JVC HA-S23W is for: Anyone who wants a simple, light, all-day wireless headphone for commutes, calls, and voice-assistant use.
• Who Gabba Goods is for: Listeners who want over-ear comfort, deeper bass, and offline options like FM radio and SD card playback.
The JVC HA-S23W is a Bluetooth 5.0 on-ear headphone built around simplicity and stamina. The headline number is the 17-hour rechargeable battery — that's a full workday of listening plus a commute on either end, and it's the single most useful spec here if you hate charging things. It's also genuinely light, with soft ear pads and an adjustable headband, and the flat-folding swivel design lets it collapse into a flat package for a backpack or jacket pocket.
Day to day, this is a "grab it and go" headphone. The 3-button remote with a built-in microphone handles volume up/down, play/pause, and answering calls, so you're not constantly pulling out your phone. It's also voice-assistant compatible, which means you can trigger your phone's assistant without touching the screen — handy while walking or carrying bags. Audio runs a 16-ohm impedance with a dynamic driver and a 20–20,000 Hz frequency range, so it's tuned for easy, efficient playback rather than power-hungry amplification.
Who should buy it? If you want one wireless headphone that just works for podcasts, calls, and casual music on the move — and you value not thinking about the battery — this is the sensible pick. Who should skip it? If you want over-ear cups that fully surround your ears, a wired fallback, FM radio, or SD card playback, this isn't that headphone. It's wireless only, with no headphone jack, and it's on-ear by design, which some people find less isolating than over-ear cups.
The Gabba Goods Over-Ear Headphones take the opposite approach: more features, more ways in. The 40mm speaker unit paired with a 20Hz–20kHz range is the core of the pitch here — bigger drivers generally mean more low-end presence, which lines up with the "deep bass" framing. Impedance is listed at 60 ohm, which is higher than the JVC's 16 ohm, so these are a bit more demanding to drive, though Bluetooth amplification handles that internally. The over-ear design also means the cups sit around your ears rather than pressing on them, and the sheet lists sound isolation as the noise-control approach — passive isolation from the cup seal, not active noise cancellation.
The real differentiator is the three playback modes: Bluetooth 5.4 streaming with a stated 10-meter range, FM radio, and SD card playback. That last pair matters more than it sounds. FM radio means you can listen without your phone at all, and SD card playback means you can carry a card full of music and leave your phone in your pocket — or leave it at home. Bluetooth 5.4 is also the newer wireless standard of the two.
Battery is where it gives ground. The 150mAh lithium-ion battery is rated for up to 6 hours of playback or calls, and recharges in about 1.5 hours over USB-C. That's a shorter window than the JVC, but USB-C is the more convenient, more universal charging port, and the faster top-up offsets some of that gap. Build-wise you get a plastic, fabric, and silicone mix, a foldable design, LED charging indicators, and low-battery voice prompts. Age range covers child, teen, and adult, so it's positioned as a household headphone rather than a single-user one.
Who should buy it? If you want over-ear comfort, deeper bass, and the freedom to listen via radio or a memory card without a phone, this is the more versatile tool. Who should skip it? If your priority is maximum battery per charge or an ultra-light, ultra-packable on-ear, the JVC is the better fit.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for sound hardware → Gabba Goods. 40mm drivers and a stated deep-bass tuning versus the JVC's dynamic driver — bigger drivers usually mean more low-end.
• Best for fit and comfort over long sessions → Gabba Goods. Over-ear cups surround the ear; the JVC is on-ear, which presses against it.
• Best for portability and weight → JVC HA-S23W. Lightweight build with a flat foldable swivel design that packs down flat.
• Best for playback flexibility → Gabba Goods. Bluetooth 5.4, FM radio, and SD card playback give you three ways to listen.
• Best for newer Bluetooth and charging convenience → Gabba Goods. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-meter range, and USB-C charging that tops up in about 1.5 hours.
• Best for calls and hands-free control → Tie, leaning JVC. Both have a built-in mic and multi-function controls; JVC adds voice-assistant compatibility.
• Best for a phone-free listening setup → Gabba Goods. FM radio and SD card playback mean you don't need a paired device at all.
In my opinion, the JVC HA-S23W is the better buy for most people, and it's the one I'd pick. The 17-hour battery, lightweight on-ear build, flat-folding design, and voice-assistant-compatible controls cover the everyday job of a wireless headphone — music, podcasts, and calls — without asking you to think about charging or packing. If, however, you specifically want over-ear cups, bigger 40mm drivers, and the freedom of FM radio and SD card playback, I'd point you to the Gabba Goods Over-Ear Headphones instead. Match the battery-and-portability profile to JVC; match the features-and-flexibility profile to Gabba Goods. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
FAQ
The specs point to more low-end from the Gabba Goods, thanks to its 40mm drivers and deep-bass tuning, versus the JVC's dynamic driver. Both cover a 20Hz–20kHz range, so the frequency spread is similar — the difference is driver size and the intended bass emphasis, not a wider range.
No. The JVC HA-S23W is wireless-only with no headphone jack, so you'll need a Bluetooth device to listen. If you want to play music without any paired device, the Gabba Goods' FM radio and SD card modes are the alternative.
Both fold for travel, but they trade off differently. The JVC is lighter with a flat-folding swivel design that packs flat and lasts 17 hours per charge. The Gabba Goods is bulkier but adds USB-C fast charging (about 1.5 hours) and the option to listen via radio or SD card when you don't want to use your phone.
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