We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want studio-style wired listening with a long coiled cord and passive isolation you never have to charge, choose Koss 154336; if you need wireless freedom with true active noise cancellation and a team-colored look for game day, choose SOAR NFL Active Noise. These two headphones barely compete for the same buyer — one is old-school analog, the other is modern Bluetooth — so the right pick comes down to how you actually listen.
• Koss 154336 — biggest strength: Wired, closed-back over-ear design with a detachable 8-foot coiled cord, 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch plugs, and a lifetime warranty. No battery, no pairing, no charging.
• Koss 154336 — biggest trade-off: It's wired and passive-only. The noise control is passive isolation from the leatherette cushions, not active cancellation, and it's a home/studio headphone, not a commuter gadget.
• SOAR NFL Active Noise — biggest strength: Real Active Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 40-hour battery life with 1–2 hour quick charge. Wireless and built for movement.
• SOAR NFL Active Noise — biggest trade-off: Plastic outer shell and fabric/foam pads, a 1-year warranty, and a 32mm driver that's smaller than a full-size studio driver. The team colorway also limits how neutral it looks.
• Who each is for: Koss 154336 is for the listener parked at a desk, mixing console, or home stereo who wants reliable wired sound. SOAR NFL Active Noise is for the fan on the move — commuting, tailgating, watching the game on a phone — who wants ANC and no cable.
The Koss 154336 (R-80) is a full-size, closed-back, over-ear headphone built around a very traditional idea: plug it in and listen. The detachable 8-foot single-entry coiled cord tells you a lot about intent. That's a long cord — long enough to reach across a room to a receiver, a desktop amp, or a keyboard setup without a tangle. It ships with both 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch stereo plugs, so it works with portable players and home stereo gear alike. The pivoting ear cups and adjustable headband are there to keep it comfortable over long sessions, which is exactly the use case the design is aimed at.
Who should buy it: Anyone who listens at a desk, in a home studio, or on a couch with a stereo, and who values a cord that won't run out of power. The lifetime warranty is a genuine long-term argument in its favor. Who should skip it: If you want Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, or you mostly listen on a phone while walking around, this isn't the tool. It's also heavy at 9.6 ounces, and the cord is a cord — it will catch on things. You should check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since value here depends on what wired studio-style sound costs you today.
SOAR NFL Active Noise: Who It's For
The SOAR NFL Active Noise is a wireless over-ear headphone with a sports theme and a team colorway (Green Bay Packers in the color field). It runs Bluetooth 5.3, which is the current mainstream standard for stable, low-friction pairing with phones and tablets, and it includes a 3.5 mm jack as a wired fallback. The headline feature is Active Noise Cancellation — actual electronics that reduce crowd noise, traffic, or bar chatter so you can hear commentary or music. If your listening happens in loud, busy places, that's a fundamentally different capability than the Koss's passive seal.
The spec sheet lists a 40-hour battery life with a 1–2 hour charge time, which is a lot of runway for a wireless headphone — enough to cover many game days or a week of commuting between charges. The 32mm dynamic drivers are smaller than full-size studio drivers, and the framing ("deep, powerful sound... perfect for the loud roar of the crowd") suggests a consumer tuning aimed at impact rather than flat reference monitoring. The build is plastic outer shell and headband with fabric/foam ear pads — designed to be lightweight and pressure-free for all-day sessions, but the materials read as casual-use rather than pro-grade.
Who should buy it: The fan or commuter who wants ANC, wireless convenience, long battery, and a team look — someone who watches the game on a phone, rides transit, or tailgates. Who should skip it: If you need reference-grade flat sound, a rugged pro build, or you hate charging things, look elsewhere. The 1-year manufacturer warranty is also much shorter than the Koss lifetime coverage, and the 1.2-pound listed weight is heavier than the Koss figure, so "lightweight" is relative here. As with the Koss, check the current price on Amazon — don't assume it's cheap just because it's team-branded.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for active noise cancellation → SOAR NFL Active Noise. It has ANC; the Koss only has a passive physical seal.
• Best for wireless freedom → SOAR NFL Active Noise. Bluetooth 5.3 and a 40-hour battery versus a fixed cord.
• Best for home stereo / studio use → Koss 154336. 8-foot coiled cord plus 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch plugs and 60-ohm drivers suit desk and rack gear.
• Best for low-end reach and isolation by design → Koss 154336. 16 Hz–22 kHz rated range with closed leatherette cushions built to enhance bass and cut ambient noise.
• Best for game-day/team vibe → SOAR NFL Active Noise. Sports theme and a specific team colorway.
• Best for long-term ownership confidence → Koss 154336. Lifetime warranty versus a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for lightweight, casual all-day wear → SOAR NFL Active Noise. Fabric/foam pads and a pressure-free fit design.
In my opinion, this isn't close — it's a fork in the road. If I wanted one headphone for a desk, a stereo, or any serious wired listening, I'd buy the Koss 154336. The 8-foot detachable coiled cord, the dual 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch plugs, the 16 Hz–22 kHz range, and the lifetime warranty make it the more substantial, longer-lasting piece of gear for stationary listening.
But if my life is mobile — commuting, tailgating, watching the game on my phone in a noisy room — I'd buy the SOAR NFL Active Noise without hesitation. Real ANC, Bluetooth 5.3, and 40 hours of battery solve problems the Koss simply can't. Pick by how you listen, not by which looks nicer.
No. It's a wired headphone with a detachable 8-foot single-entry coiled cord and 3.5 mm plug, plus 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch stereo plugs for home and portable use. There's no Bluetooth.
Yes. It lists Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, which actively blocks crowd, traffic, and bar noise. The Koss, by contrast, only isolates passively through its closed leatherette ear cushions.
The SOAR NFL Active Noise, because it's the only one with a battery — a listed 40-hour average life with a 1–2 hour charge time. The Koss 154336 has no battery and needs no charging at all.
That depends on your use. For wired home/studio listening, the Koss's lifetime warranty and studio-style design make it the stronger long-term buy in my opinion; for wireless ANC and portability, the SOAR is the one that delivers features the Koss lacks. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
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.