How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a familiar, ultra-light pair for workouts and travel that hooks over your ears and folds away in a pocket, choose RCA HP245; if you need open-ear headphones that keep you aware of traffic, family and coworkers while adding a mic and inline controls, choose Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm.
• RCA HP245 — biggest strength: a folding neckband design with on-ear hooks that stays put during running, biking or hiking, plus a lightweight body that compacts for a pocket or purse.
• RCA HP245 — biggest trade-off: it's a closed, on-ear fit with sound isolation, so it blocks outside noise rather than letting it in, and the cable is a fixed 3 feet with no inline microphone listed.
• Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm — biggest strength: a true open-ear fit that rests on the ear instead of inside the canal, with a built-in mic, inline remote and three sizes of silicone hanger for a customized, hygienic wear.
• Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: open-ear means no sound isolation at all, and the narrower 60–18,000 Hz frequency range plus lower 95 dB sensitivity won't suit anyone chasing maximum loudness.
• Who each pick is for: RCA HP245 for the mover who wants a snug, isolating, packable wired headphone; Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm for the walker, cyclist, driver or remote worker who wants to hear the world while listening.
The RCA HP245 is a behind-the-neck wired headphone built around movement. The neckband is designed to stay in place so you can run, bike or hike without constantly repositioning, and the foldable band collapses the whole thing down so it slips into a pocket or purse. That combination — secure on-ear hooks plus a folding frame — is the entire personality of this model.
On the audio side, RCA lists a dynamic driver with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range and 98 dB sensitivity. In plain terms, that's a full-range driver spec and a fairly sensitive one, which pairs well with the modest output of a phone, tablet or MP3 player. Sound isolation is listed as a noise-control feature, so the on-ear fit is meant to shut out some of the room around you. The 3-foot cable is short and tidy, and RCA includes media controls on the cable so you can pause and skip without reaching for your device. It plays at up to 98 decibels.
Buy it if you want a lightweight, packable wired headphone for workouts, commutes and handheld gaming, and you're fine with an on-ear fit that muffles the world a little. Skip it if you need to stay aware of traffic or talk to people around you while listening — the isolating design works against that — or if you specifically need an inline microphone for calls, which isn't listed here.
The Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm is the opposite philosophy. It hangs on the ear rather than sealing into the canal, so your ear stays open to the environment. If you've ever pulled an earbud out to hear someone at the door or a car approaching, this is the design that saves you that step. Hawk Scope also frames it as the more hygienic option: no plug pressing against the ear canal, so less pressure and less of that thudding "stethoscope effect" you get from sealed buds.
The practical extras are what make it a daily driver. There's an inline remote with a built-in microphone on the cord, so you can take hands-free calls from a compatible smartphone and use it with a laptop or PC for video meetings. The same remote handles volume, playback and answering or ending calls. The fixed portion is soft silicone, and the hanger comes in large, medium and small so kids and adults can each find a fit. Impedance is 16 ohms, sensitivity is 95 dB SPL, and the frequency response runs 60 Hz to 18,000 Hz.
Buy it if you want awareness over isolation: walking, cycling, driving, shopping with kids, or working while staying reachable. Skip it if you need to block out a noisy train or plane, or if you want deep bass extension — the 60 Hz low end simply won't reach as far down as a full-range driver.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm. The open-ear fit leaves the canal clear by design, and that's the whole point.
• Best for workouts and travel → RCA HP245. The neckband stays put, the on-ear hooks hold firm, and the foldable frame packs flat.
• Best for calls and video meetings → Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm. It has the built-in mic and inline remote; the RCA sheet lists media controls but no microphone.
• Best for sound isolation → RCA HP245. Isolation is an explicit feature, and the sealed on-ear fit is built for it.
• Best for full-range audio spec → RCA HP245. 20 Hz–20,000 Hz versus 60 Hz–18,000 Hz; the RCA reaches lower and higher.
• Best for louder output on a weak source → RCA HP245. 98 dB sensitivity versus 95 dB SPL means it needs less power for the same volume.
• Best for sharing with kids or multiple users → Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm. Three silicone hanger sizes in one box, and the open fit is the safer choice near roads.
• Best for a no-fuss wired connection → either. Both use a standard 3.5 mm plug and work with phones, tablets, laptops and handheld gaming devices.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm. In my opinion, the mic, the inline remote and the open-ear awareness make it the more useful everyday headphone for commuting, working and being around other people — and the three silicone sizes mean it actually fits. The RCA HP245 is the better pick only if your priority is isolation, a secure neckband during exercise, and a full 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range. Pick based on whether you want the world in or out.
FAQ
how do non ear headphones work
what are non in ear headphones called
They're usually called open-ear, on-ear, clip-on or bone-conduction headphones, depending on the design. The RCA HP245 is an on-ear neckband style with ear hooks, while the Hawk Scope is explicitly listed as open-ear.
what are the best open ear headphones
There's no single answer — it depends on your priorities. For awareness plus calls, the Hawk Scope Open-Ear 3.5mm is a strong wired option with a mic and inline remote. If you'd rather have isolation and a secure neckband for exercise, the RCA HP245 fits that job better.
how to wear in ear headphones
In-ear models sit inside the canal, which is exactly the fit both of these products avoid. The RCA HP245 hangs its ear hooks over your ears with the band behind your neck; the Hawk Scope rests the silicone hanger on your ear and comes in large, medium and small so you can size it correctly.
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