How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want team-spirited, all-day over-ear listening with true wireless freedom, choose SOAR Collegiate Active; if you need compact, wired, sweat-resistant earbuds with EQ control for commuting and travel, choose Belkin ANC. These two solve different problems, and picking the wrong one means living with the wrong form factor every single day.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest strength: Wireless Bluetooth 5.3 over-ear design with ANC, 32mm drivers, up to 40 hours of claimed playtime, and a lightweight, pressure-free fit built for long sessions.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest trade-off: It's a bulky over-ear headphone in a single team colorway, so it's less pocketable and less discreet than earbuds.
• Belkin ANC — biggest strength: Wired USB-C in-ear buds with ANC, three EQ presets, Hi-Res Audio, IPX5 sweat resistance, and a built-in mic — no charging anxiety, no pairing.
• Belkin ANC — biggest trade-off: The 4ft flat cable ties you to your device, and in-ear fit is more personal — some ears just don't love buds for hours.
• Choose SOAR Collegiate Active if you want wireless over-ear comfort for game days, tailgates, and long listening sessions.
• Choose Belkin ANC if you want a compact, tangle-resistant, sweat-friendly wired option for commutes, workouts, and calls.
The SOAR Collegiate Active is a Clemson Tigers-themed over-ear headphone built around one clear idea: game-day audio that doesn't quit. Active Noise Cancelling is the headline, and it's aimed squarely at loud environments — a packed stadium, a noisy sports bar, traffic on the way to the game. The pitch is that ANC lets you hear commentary or music clearly even when everything around you is chaos. That's a sensible use case, and the over-ear form factor is the right shape for it.
The spec sheet backs up the "long session" angle. You get Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable wireless connection, quick charging that tops the battery up in roughly 1–2 hours, 32mm dynamic drivers, and a claimed 40 hours of playtime. There's also a wired listening option, which matters more than people expect — if the battery dies mid-game, you're not stuck. The 1.2-pound build with super-soft ear pads and a lightweight, pressure-free fit is designed for all-day wear, and the manufacturer covers it with a 1-year warranty. It's listed for teens and up, which fits the collegiate theme.
Who should buy it? If you're a Clemson fan who wants your headphones to match your gear, and you mainly listen at home, on the couch, at a tailgate, or during a commute where over-ear isolation actually helps — this is the natural pick. The team colorway is part of the appeal, not an afterthought. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants something that disappears into a pocket, anyone who sweats heavily during workouts, and anyone who hates the feeling of a headband. Earbuds win those fights, and this isn't trying to be earbuds.
The Belkin ANC is a different animal entirely: wired, in-ear, USB-C, and clearly designed for life on the move. It's a SoundForm Active Noise Cancelling earbud with a USB-C connector, which means it plugs straight into modern phones, tablets, and laptops — no dongle, no pairing screen, no battery percentage to babysit. For a lot of people, that simplicity is the whole point.
The audio side is more customizable than you'd expect from a wired bud. You get 12mm dynamic drivers, a 20Hz–40kHz frequency range, Certified Hi-Res Audio, and three EQ presets: Bass Boost, Belkin Signature Sound, and Balanced. There's also ANC plus HearThru and Standard modes, so you can toggle between blocking the world out, letting it in, or neither. A built-in mic with noise reduction handles calls, and the 4ft/1.2M flat cable resists tangling so you can throw it in a bag without untangling a bird's nest later.
Then there's durability and fit. IPX5 sweat resistance means workouts and humid commutes aren't a dealbreaker, and the three sizes of ear tips (S, M, L) let both kids and adults dial in comfort and passive noise isolation. Belkin covers it with a 2-year manufacturer warranty and rates it for adults, teens, and kids. The 18.14g weight is light enough to forget you're wearing them.
Who should buy it? Commuters, travelers, students, gym-goers, and anyone who takes a lot of calls and wants a wired connection they can trust. Who should skip it? If you hate cables, or you want the immersive, room-filling feel of over-ear cups, this will feel small and tethered by comparison. And if your device still uses a headphone jack instead of USB-C, this simply won't plug in.
• Best for wireless freedom → SOAR Collegiate Active. Bluetooth 5.3 with no cable at all, plus a wired fallback.
• Best for plug-and-play reliability → Belkin ANC. USB-C wired means zero pairing, zero charging, zero dropouts.
• Best for all-day comfort on your head → SOAR Collegiate Active. Over-ear cups with soft pads and a pressure-free, lightweight design.
• Best for workouts and sweaty commutes → Belkin ANC. IPX5 sweat resistance and a lightweight 18.14g in-ear build.
• Best for customizable sound → Belkin ANC. Three EQ presets and a 20Hz–40kHz range give you more tuning options out of the box.
• Best for game day and team spirit → SOAR Collegiate Active. The Clemson colorway and sports theme are the entire point.
• Best for calls in noisy places → Belkin ANC. The built-in mic with background-noise reduction is built for exactly that.
• Best for kids and shared use → Belkin ANC. Three ear-tip sizes and a fit rated for kids, teens, and adults.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Belkin ANC for most people. Here's my reasoning: it adapts to more situations — commuting, calls, workouts, travel — and it does it without you ever thinking about battery life. The EQ presets, IPX5 rating, tangle-free cable, and 2-year warranty make it the more versatile everyday tool.
That said, I'd recommend the SOAR Collegiate Active without hesitation if you're a Clemson fan who wants over-ear immersion, wireless convenience, and a form factor that feels like an event rather than a utility. Match the tool to the job and you'll be happy either way. If you want to see what each one currently costs, check the latest price on Amazon before you decide.
FAQ
It's primarily wireless via Bluetooth 5.3, but it also supports wired listening. That gives you a backup if the battery runs low during a long session.
It depends on your connector. The Belkin ANC uses a USB-C plug, so it fits USB-C devices directly. If your phone uses Lightning or a 3.5mm jack, you'd need the right adapter.
The Belkin ANC, in my opinion. It's rated IPX5 sweat resistant, weighs 18.14g, and has a tangle-free cable — all better suited to movement than a 1.2-pound over-ear headphone.
The spec sheet lists up to 40 hours of playtime, with a charge time of about 1–2 hours. Real-world results vary with volume and ANC use, but that's the stated figure.
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