How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• MAS CARNEY biggest strength: You get two pairs in one pack with an inline mic, so you can keep one at home and one in your carry-on.
• MAS CARNEY biggest trade-off: No noise control and no touch controls — just a plain wired connection and voice pickup.
• LUDOS Zenith biggest strength: Sound isolation plus touch and button call controls, wrapped in a minimalist white design with a long warranty.
• LUDOS Zenith biggest trade-off: It's a single pair, so there's no backup if one gets lost or damaged.
• Who MAS CARNEY is for: The budget-minded flyer who wants a spare set and doesn't care about fancy controls.
• Who LUDOS Zenith is for: The frequent traveler who wants one well-finished pair with isolation and on-ear controls.
The MAS CARNEY TH9 is about as straightforward as USB-C audio gets. It's a wired, in-ear set with a Type-C jack, a dynamic driver, a 20–20,000 Hz frequency range, and a 120-ohm impedance. That impedance figure is worth noting: higher-impedance earbuds like these tend to need a bit more power to reach the same volume, which matters if you're plugging into a phone rather than a laptop. In practice, that usually means you'll nudge the volume up a little more than you would with lower-impedance buds.
Compatibility is where this set shines. The listing covers iPhone 15 and 16 series, iPad, Samsung Galaxy S25/S24/A53 and many other Galaxy models, Google Pixel, Xiaomi Redmi, Huawei Honor, OPPO, and Vivo. It also names a long list of MacBook and iPad Pro models, which is handy if you split your listening between a phone and a laptop. There's an integrated microphone for calls, so it doubles as a headset for meetings or a quick chat at the gate.
The headline feature, though, is that it comes as a pack of two. For flights, that's genuinely useful. You can leave one pair permanently in your travel pouch and keep the other at your desk, or hand the spare to a travel companion. If you're someone who constantly misplaces earbuds, having a second set softens the blow.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants active noise cancellation or touch controls. The MAS CARNEY set has no noise control and uses voice as its only control method, so all your adjustments happen on the device. If you like tapping your earbud to pause a podcast, this isn't that product. It's a simple, functional wired earbud — nothing more, and that's the point.
The LUDOS Zenith takes the same USB-C wired formula and dresses it up. It's an in-ear design in white, made with thermoplastic elastomer, and LUDOS describes it as a blend of minimalist style and performance. The spec sheet backs up the "performance" half with a 32-ohm impedance and a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz–20,000 Hz. That lower impedance is a meaningful difference from the MAS CARNEY pair: 32 ohms is easier to drive, so you're more likely to get satisfying volume straight out of a phone without cranking the slider.
The control setup is the bigger separation. The Zenith has sound isolation and both touch and button controls, with call control built in. That combination is what you actually feel day to day. Sound isolation helps take the edge off engine drone and cabin chatter on a flight — not the same as active noise cancellation, but a real improvement over an open, unsealed fit. Touch and button controls mean you can answer a call or adjust playback without digging your phone out of a seat pocket, which is exactly the kind of small convenience that matters at 30,000 feet.
Compatibility is broad and clearly enumerated: iPhone 17/16/15 families, a wide spread of iPads, MacBook Pro 14" and 16", MacBook Air (M1), Samsung Galaxy S24 down through S20 plus the A-series and Z Flip/Fold lines, Google Pixel 10 through Pixel 4, Motorola Edge 2021, and laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. The listing also mentions a warranty of up to five years and 24/7 customer support, which is a strong signal for anyone who's been burned by earbuds that die in a few months.
The catch is simple: it's one pair. There's no spare in the box, so if you're the type who loses earbuds on a trip, you're back to buying another set. It's also a single-item package with a cable and the Zenith earphones themselves — no second unit to stash elsewhere.
• Best for a backup pair → MAS CARNEY USB C Earbuds. Two pairs in one pack means one for the bag, one for home.
• Best for cabin noise → LUDOS Zenith USB C. Sound isolation is a real advantage on a flight.
• Best for on-ear control → LUDOS Zenith USB C. Touch and button controls plus call control beat voice-only adjustment.
• Best for easy volume from a phone → LUDOS Zenith USB C. At 32 ohms it's easier to drive than the 120-ohm MAS CARNEY set.
• Best for sharing or gifting → MAS CARNEY USB C Earbuds. The two-pack makes it easy to split between two people or two devices.
• Best for long-term peace of mind → LUDOS Zenith USB C. The five-year warranty and 24/7 support are hard to ignore.
• Best for minimalist looks → LUDOS Zenith USB C. The white TPE build is the more design-forward of the two.
• Best for the lowest-commitment try → MAS CARNEY USB C Earbuds. If you just want cheap, working USB-C audio, the two-pack covers you.
If I were packing for a long-haul flight and could only take one, I'd take the LUDOS Zenith USB C. In my opinion, the sound isolation, the touch and button controls, and the 32-ohm impedance that plays nicely with a phone make it the more comfortable travel companion — and the long warranty softens the risk. That said, I'd happily recommend the MAS CARNEY two-pack to anyone who wants a spare set for flights and doesn't care about controls. If you're debating on price, check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
how to connect usb c wired headphones
Plug the USB-C connector directly into your device's USB-C port. There's no pairing and no battery — the earbuds draw power from the device, so audio should route automatically once inserted. If sound doesn't switch over, check your device's audio output settings.
how to use usb c wired headphones on mac
Connect the USB-C plug to a USB-C port on your MacBook or Mac. Both the MAS CARNEY set and the LUDOS Zenith list MacBook compatibility, and macOS should detect them as an output device. You then select them under Sound settings if the Mac doesn't switch on its own.
how to connect usb wired headphones to xbox
This depends on your controller and console ports. Neither data sheet lists Xbox compatibility, so treat console use as unconfirmed. A USB-C headset generally needs a USB-C port that supports audio, and many Xbox controllers use a different connection.
how to connect usb wired headphones to macbook
Plug the Type-C connector into any USB-C port on the MacBook. Both products are wired USB-C earbuds, so no adapter is required on USB-C MacBooks. If audio stays on the speakers, open Sound settings and pick the earbuds as the output.
• ACEFAST AceFit Pro Open-Ear vs ZIUTY Earbuds
• MAIRDI Bone Conduction Headphones vs Rakklor Bone Conduction Headphone
• realme Air 6 vs Waxop Headset
• TJZXGUI USB C Kids vs Wooask AI Translation Earbuds
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.