If you want a discreet mono earbud for calls and device switching, choose Nokia Solo Bud 2; if you need open-ear listening that keeps nearby sounds accessible, choose Monster AC228. For DJ use, the Monster’s open-ear design is the more natural fit for staying aware of people and activity around you, while the Nokia is better suited to hands-free communication and longer talk sessions.
• Nokia Solo Bud 2’s biggest strength: A mono design with environmental noise cancellation for calls, multipoint connectivity for two devices, and up to 20 hours of talk time with its charging case. Its trade-off is that one-ear listening is not the same as a dedicated open-ear pair for music.
• Monster AC228’s biggest strength: An open-ear clip-on design, up to 24 hours of stated total battery life, and IPX5 water resistance. Its trade-off is that it has no noise-control feature, so it is not the pick for isolating yourself from surrounding sound.
• Choose Nokia Solo Bud 2 if calls, switching between devices, and keeping one ear free for awareness are your priorities.
• Choose Monster AC228 if you want open-ear listening for movement, music, and staying attentive to nearby conversation.
• For DJ-related use, the key distinction is call-focused mono listening versus open-ear listening; neither product is described as dedicated DJ monitoring equipment.
The Nokia Solo Bud 2 is a single mono Bluetooth earbud designed around calls and everyday media. Environmental noise cancellation is intended to reduce background noise and improve voice reception during calls. The case supports up to 20 hours of talk time in total, while the earbud itself is specified for up to 6.5 hours of talk time. That makes it a practical option for someone whose day revolves around conversations rather than extended, immersive music listening.
Multipoint connectivity lets it pair with and switch between two devices. That is useful if you regularly move between a phone and another compatible device, such as a computer, without wanting to manage a fresh connection each time. Google Fast Pair is included for pairing with Android devices. The earbud also has IPX4 sweat and splash resistance, which offers some protection for everyday activity, though it is a lower water-resistance rating than the Monster’s IPX5.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
I’d consider the Nokia for hands-free calls, work conversations, and occasional podcasts or media. It could also make sense for someone who wants one ear covered and the other free. Skip it if your main goal is a pair of open-ear headphones for music or a more secure listening setup during active movement. Its listed focus is mono calls and media, not DJ cueing or mixing.
Monster specifies around eight hours of listening on a single charge, with the case providing additional recharges. The AC228 also has an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which is a step up from the Nokia’s IPX4 rating for sweat and splashes. Its flexible clip-on construction uses skin-friendly silicone and a nickel-titanium memory alloy, with the design intended to adapt to different ear shapes and stay in place.
I’d look at the Monster if open-ear listening and awareness are more important than call-focused features. It is the more plausible of these two for someone searching for open ear earbuds for DJ work, particularly when the setting calls for hearing people nearby. But it does not offer noise control, and the supplied information does not describe DJ-specific monitoring features. If you want a single earbud focused on calls, environmental noise cancellation, and two-device switching, the Nokia is a closer fit.
• Best for hands-free calling → Nokia Solo Bud 2. Its environmental noise cancellation is specifically described as reducing background noise and helping with voice reception.
• Best for open-ear listening → Monster AC228. Its design leaves the ears open, making it easier to remain attentive to nearby sounds and conversation.
• Best for switching between two devices → Nokia Solo Bud 2. It supports Bluetooth multipoint connectivity for two devices.
• Best for stated total battery life → Monster AC228. Its listed total is up to 24 hours, compared with up to 20 hours of talk time for the Nokia with its case. These figures describe different use cases, so they are not a direct apples-to-apples battery test.
• Best for a higher water-resistance rating → Monster AC228. It is rated IPX5, while the Nokia is rated IPX4 for sweat and splashes.
• Best for Android Fast Pair → Nokia Solo Bud 2. Fast Pair is included for Android devices.
• Best for kids headphones for DJ settings where awareness matters → Monster AC228, with a caveat. Its open-ear form may make nearby conversation easier to hear, but the listed age range for both products is adult, and neither is specified as a children’s headset.
• Best for DJ call coordination or quick phone conversations → Nokia Solo Bud 2. Its mono format and call-oriented features are a better match for communication than open-ear listening alone.
For a DJ, the choice depends on the task. Someone managing music while needing to hear a room or speak with other people may prefer the Monster’s open-ear design. Someone taking calls between devices may get more practical value from the Nokia’s multipoint connection and call features. Neither sheet provides details about latency, a dedicated microphone setup for performance work, or mixing controls, so I would not treat either as a purpose-built DJ headphone.
My Verdict
In my opinion, I’d choose the Monster AC228 for DJ use when the priority is open-ear listening and staying aware of nearby people. Its 24-hour stated total battery life and IPX5 rating strengthen that case. I’d choose the Nokia Solo Bud 2 instead for calls, two-device switching, and Android Fast Pair. For DJ use specifically, I would buy the Monster, while keeping in mind that neither product is described as dedicated DJ monitoring gear.
For open-ear listening and awareness of nearby activity, the Monster AC228 is the more suitable match. The Nokia is better aligned with mono calls, environmental noise cancellation, and switching between two devices.
Monster lists up to 24 hours of total battery life, with around eight hours on a single charge. Nokia lists up to 20 hours of talk time with its case and up to 6.5 hours of talk time from the earbud. The stated figures refer to different usage descriptions, so they should not be treated as identical measures.
The AC228 supports calling as part of its Bluetooth use, but its listed standout design is open-ear listening, and it has no noise-control feature. The Nokia is the more call-focused choice because it includes environmental noise cancellation and multipoint connectivity.
Both are listed with an adult age range, so the available information does not establish either as a children’s headset. The Monster’s open-ear design may suit a supervised setting where awareness matters, while the Nokia’s mono form may suit hands-free communication. RECOMMENDED_ASIN: B0GGQCWHLN
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