How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• OYIB Earbuds biggest strength: a 4-mic ENC array that suppresses up to 80% of background call noise, plus Bluetooth 5.3 with latency under 65 ms and hall-switch auto pairing when the case opens.
• OYIB Earbuds biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear, IP7, plastic-bodied bud weighing just 4 g per earpiece — brilliant for workouts, but it does sit inside your ear canal rather than leaving it open.
• Monster Open AC601 biggest strength: open-ear clip-on comfort with Bluetooth 5.4, a 13 mm PVK composite sound film driver, ENC calling and a 32-hour total battery including the case.
• Monster Open AC601 biggest trade-off: the open-ear design lets ambient sound in by nature, and the sheet lists active noise cancellation rather than a sealed, isolating fit — so it's a "stay aware" bud, not a "block the world out" bud.
• Who each is for: OYIB for commuters, call-heavy users and gym-goers who want a snug in-ear fit and single-ear mode; Monster Open AC601 for runners, cyclists and long-session listeners who hate the plugged-up feeling.
The OYIB story is built around the microphone and the fit. Each earpiece carries two built-in mics — four total — and the Environmental Noise Reduction processing is claimed to cut around 80% of interfering background noise while boosting the human voice. In practice, that's the spec that matters if you spend your day on calls from a busy street, a shared office or a train platform. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps latency under 65 ms and the spec sheet specifically calls out fewer dropouts in crowded environments like subways and buses, which is exactly where cheaper buds fall apart.
Then there's the everyday mechanics. A 13 mm dynamic driver covers 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz through a semi-in-ear acoustic structure, so you get a bit of passive isolation without a deep seal. The 4 g earpieces and pocket-sized case are the kind of thing you forget you're carrying. You get five hours per charge and up to 25 hours with the case, and the case refills over USB-C in about an hour. Touch controls handle playback, volume, calls and your voice assistant — and crucially, you can pull one bud out and run Single Ear Mode, then switch back to Double Mode on the fly.
I'd point you to the OYIB if you want touch control headphones that multitask: take a call on one ear while the other stays free, then go stereo for a workout. Skip it if you specifically want an open-ear design — this one goes in your ear, and that's a feel you either like or you don't.
The AC601 is the opposite philosophy. Instead of sealing anything, it clips on and leaves your ear canal open, which is why runners and cyclists tend to gravitate to this shape — you keep traffic, footsteps and conversation audible while music plays alongside them. The 13 mm PVK composite sound film driver is the headline audio part, and Monster frames the tuning as a lively, high-fidelity presentation. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newer wireless generation here, aimed at a stable connection and synchronized audio-visual playback for gaming and calls.
Battery is the AC601's other argument: 32 hours total with the charging case, which is a meaningful step up from the 25 hours the OYIB offers. The IPX5 rating covers rain and sweat, so workouts and commutes are fair game, and Monster's own note flags that a few less common phone models may run into compatibility quirks — worth knowing before you commit. Touch controls cover calls, track skipping and volume with what the sheet describes as enhanced sensitivity for quicker feedback, and the clip-on design is meant to stay put during intense activity.
So who should buy it? Anyone who finds in-ear buds uncomfortable after an hour, anyone who wants to stay aware of their surroundings, and anyone who'd rather charge less often. Who should skip it? If your priority is maximum noise isolation or you want a single-ear mode for calls, the OYIB is the better-shaped tool.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → OYIB Earbuds (4 mics, ENC, up to 80% background noise suppression).
• Best for longer battery between charges → Monster Open AC601 (32 hours total vs 25 hours).
• Best for staying aware of traffic and surroundings → Monster Open AC601 (open-ear clip-on fit).
• Best for a snug, ultra-light in-ear fit → OYIB Earbuds (4 g per bud, semi-in-ear, IP7).
• Best for the newest wireless standard → Monster Open AC601 (Bluetooth 5.4 vs Bluetooth 5.3).
• Best for lowest stated latency → OYIB Earbuds (under 65 ms, with anti-interference tuning for crowded places).
• Best for one-ear use and quick switching → OYIB Earbuds (Single Ear Mode and Double Mode on the fly).
• Best for sweaty, splash-heavy workouts → Monster Open AC601 (IPX5) — though OYIB's IP7 nano-coating also handles sweat and rain.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the OYIB Earbuds. In my opinion, the combination of a four-mic ENC array, sub-65 ms latency, single-ear mode and a 4 g in-ear fit makes it the more versatile pair of touch control headphones for the way most people actually use buds — calls, music, gym, commute. The Monster Open AC601 is the better pick if open-ear comfort and a 32-hour total battery matter more to you than isolation. Two different jobs; pick the one that matches yours.
Touch control means you tap or swipe the earpiece itself instead of pressing a physical button. On the OYIB you can touch either bud to handle music, volume, calls and the voice assistant; the Monster Open AC601 uses the same idea for calls, track changes and volume, with enhanced sensitivity for quicker feedback.
How to disable touch controls on headphones?
Because touch control headphones send commands over Bluetooth just like a remote — a tap maps to play/pause, a double tap to track skip, and so on. If your OYIB or AC601 seems to be doing something unexpected, it's usually an accidental brush against the touch surface rather than a fault. Adjusting how the bud sits in or on your ear often fixes it.
That's handled through Sony's own app and model-specific settings, and it has nothing to do with the OYIB or Monster buds covered here. If you're cross-shopping, treat it as a reminder to check whether a brand offers gesture customization before you buy. Neither of these two lists that feature in its spec sheet.
If budget is your deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon for each — the page's button takes you straight there — and weigh it against the battery and fit differences above.
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