If you want sound-focused Bluetooth in-ear headphones for commuting, choose Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX; if you need sports-oriented earbuds with longer stated total battery life and extra listening options, choose SOAR NFL. For my commute pick, I favor the Sennheiser’s app-based sound controls and four ear-adapter sizes, while SOAR’s appeal is its 32-hour total battery claim and FM, USB, and AUX listening options.
• Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX — biggest strength: 7 mm TrueResponse drivers, support for AAC, aptX, and SBC codecs, and app-based EQ and control customization. Trade-off: IPX4 splash resistance, not the higher water-protection level some shoppers may be seeking.
• SOAR NFL — biggest strength: Up to 32 hours of total battery life and listening options that include Bluetooth, FM radio, USB, and AUX. Trade-off: No noise control is specified, and its listed Bluetooth version is 5.0.
• Choose Sennheiser if you want adjustable music and call controls, passive noise cancellation, and several ear-tip sizes for a more tailored fit.
• Choose SOAR if you want a sports-themed option with longer stated total battery life and ways to listen beyond Bluetooth.
Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX is the more sound-focused choice. Its 7 mm TrueResponse drivers work with AAC, aptX, and SBC Bluetooth codecs, and the Smart Control app lets you adjust controls and activate a bass-boost preset. That gives music listeners more ways to shape everyday listening than the SOAR’s listed feature set does.
For commuting, the CX has a practical mix of features: passive noise cancellation, touch controls, and four included ear-adapter sizes, from XS through L. The different sizes can help you seek a secure, comfortable fit, though the product information does not specify active noise cancellation. Its stated battery life is up to 27 hours with the charging case; the earbuds themselves are listed at an average of nine hours.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The compromise is water resistance. The CX is rated IPX4, which indicates splash resistance, not the IPX7 rating someone might have in mind when searching for IPX7 waterproof headband headphones for commuting. It is also a true-wireless in-ear design, not a headband style. I’d skip it if an IPX7 rating or a headband is a must-have; otherwise, it fits someone who wants app-adjustable audio and passive noise reduction in compact earbuds.
SOAR NFL puts its emphasis on sport-themed design, convenience, and listening flexibility. It uses Bluetooth 5.0, supports auto-pairing, and comes with silicone in-ear gels and a charging case. Its listed total battery life is 32 hours, exceeding the CX’s stated 27 hours with its case, though the product information does not break down how that total is divided between the earbuds and case.
Its most distinctive advantage is the range of audio options. Alongside Bluetooth, the feature list names FM radio, USB, and AUX. That could suit someone who values access to different sources, such as game commentary or other audio, more than app-based EQ customization. The team-color design also gives it a sports-oriented identity.
The trade-offs matter for commuting. SOAR specifies no noise control, while the CX includes passive noise cancellation, and the SOAR feature list does not mention codec support or a companion app for adjusting sound. It may suit listeners who prioritize extra connections and longer stated total battery life, but I would not pick it for a commute where passive noise reduction and more detailed sound customization are the main priorities.
• Best for passive noise reduction on a commute → Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX. It specifies passive noise cancellation; SOAR lists no noise control.
• Best for longer stated total battery life → SOAR NFL. Its listed total is 32 hours, compared with up to 27 hours for the CX with its case.
• Best for sound customization → Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX. Its Smart Control app offers customizable controls and a bass-boost EQ preset.
• Best for Bluetooth codec choice → Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX. It lists AAC, aptX, and SBC support.
• Best for listening options beyond Bluetooth → SOAR NFL. Its feature list includes FM radio, USB, and AUX.
• Best for choosing among ear-adapter sizes → Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX. Four sizes are included, from XS to L.
• Best for auto-pairing → SOAR NFL. Its listed features specifically include automatic pairing.
• Best for someone searching “crystal clear calls gaming headset for commuting” → Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX, with a caveat. It is listed for music and calls and has adaptable call controls, but neither product’s provided details establish gaming-headset features or a specific call-clarity performance.
The CX has a Bluetooth range listed as 10 meters, but the SOAR information does not provide a range figure, so that point cannot be compared directly. Both are wireless, true-wireless in-ear products with dynamic drivers and a stated frequency range from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Those shared specifications do not, by themselves, establish which one sounds better to every listener.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Sennheiser Consumer Audio CX for commuting because its passive noise cancellation, multiple ear-adapter sizes, and adjustable app controls make the feature set more suited to focused everyday listening. I also value its listed support for AAC, aptX, and SBC.
SOAR NFL makes more sense if its 32-hour total battery claim and FM, USB, and AUX options are your priorities. But for my commute, I’d rather have the CX’s added sound and fit adjustments than those extra listening modes.
I’d choose the Sennheiser CX for a commute where passive noise cancellation and app-based sound adjustments matter. SOAR NFL is the stronger fit if longer stated total battery life and FM, USB, or AUX listening matter more.
The listed feature is passive noise cancellation, not active noise cancellation. Its ergonomic fit and included ear-adapter sizes support that passive approach, but the product information does not claim electronic active noise cancelling.
Which has longer battery life?
The CX is rated IPX4 for splash resistance, not IPX7. The SOAR NFL information provided does not state an IPX water-resistance rating, so I would not assume either meets an IPX7 requirement.
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