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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want over-ear active noise cancelling built for game day and long, comfortable listening sessions, choose SOAR Collegiate Active; if you need pocket-sized earbuds with stronger noise cancellation, a waterproof build and a smart touch-screen case, choose Thunelec Earbuds. Both are ANC headphones in the broad sense — one cancels noise around an arena, the other cancels noise around your commute. The right pick comes down to how you actually listen.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest strength: over-ear ANC with 32mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.3, a 3.5mm wired fallback and up to 40 hours of playtime in a lightweight, pressure-free fit.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest trade-off: it is over-ear and team-themed, so it is bulkier to carry and not built for workouts or rain; its noise control is active cancellation without a transparency mode listed.
• Thunelec Earbuds — biggest strength: up to 45dB of active noise cancellation plus ENC call clarity, IPX7 waterproofing, 48 hours of total battery with the case, five EQ modes and a full-color touch-screen charging case.
• Thunelec Earbuds — biggest trade-off: in-ear only, no wired jack, no direct on-bud volume control, and the real battery story depends on the case, not the buds alone.
• Who SOAR fits: sports fans, students and home listeners who want headphones on their head for hours.
• Who Thunelec fits: commuters, gym-goers and call-heavy workers who want tiny buds and maximum noise blocking.
The SOAR Collegiate Active is an over-ear wireless headphone built around one clear idea: keep your audio clean while everything around you is loud. The active noise cancelling is the headline feature, and it is aimed squarely at crowds, traffic and noisy sports bars — the kind of environments where you want commentary or music to cut through without cranking the volume. That is a genuinely different job from "block out a plane engine," and the design reflects it. The Michigan State Spartans theme and team-color finish make this a piece of fan gear as much as a pair of headphones.
The hardware is sensible rather than exotic. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless connection, and quick charging tops the battery up in roughly one to two hours. Inside are 32mm dynamic drivers tuned to deliver deep, powerful sound — a spec that suits loud game audio, commentary and bass-forward music rather than clinical studio monitoring. There is also a 3.5mm jack, which matters more than people expect: if the battery runs down or you want zero latency while watching on a device with a headphone port, you simply plug in. The over-ear build with super-soft ear pads is explicitly designed for long sessions, so a full game day or a tailgate does not turn into an earache.
Thunelec Earbuds: Who It's For
The Thunelec Earbuds attack the same problem from the opposite end of the form factor. These are true wireless in-ear buds, and the noise cancellation spec is the attention-grabber: up to 45dB of active cancellation, described as blocking roughly 90% of distractions like blower noise, traffic and office chatter. On top of that, ENC (environmental noise cancellation) works on the microphone side, suppressing static and sharpening your voice so callers hear you clearly instead of a muffled mess. For trains, buses, open-plan offices and daily calls, that combination is the whole point.
Battery is the second pillar. You get 6 to 8 hours per charge in the buds, extending to 48 hours total with the charging case, and the case itself refills in about 1.5 hours. A smart indicator shows battery levels so you are not caught out mid-shift. The fit is ergonomic with three sizes of soft silicone tips (S/M/L), and the IPX7 waterproof rating means sweat, rain and splashes are not a death sentence — this is a pair you can genuinely take to the gym or on a rainy walk. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newest version here, paired with a transparency mode that lets outside sound in when you need situational awareness, like crossing a street or ordering coffee.
The distinctive extra is the full-color touch-screen charging case. Instead of digging through an app, you tap the case to control playback, tracks, calls and noise cancelling. It also handles wallpaper customization, brightness, a seven-language menu, a timer and a headphone-find function. Audio comes from 14.2mm bio-carbon fiber dynamic drivers with bass reaching down to 50Hz, and there are five EQ modes — standard, classic, jazz, rock and pop — to reshape the sound. Two honest caveats from the spec sheet: the buds do not support direct volume control (you adjust it on the case screen or your device), and the charging case is doing a lot of the battery heavy lifting.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for maximum noise cancellation → Thunelec Earbuds. Up to 45dB of ANC is the stronger blocking figure between the two.
• Best for all-day comfort on your head → SOAR Collegiate Active. Over-ear with soft pads and a lightweight, pressure-free fit built for long sessions.
• Best for total battery with a case → Thunelec Earbuds. 6–8 hours per charge and 48 hours total with the case.
• Best for workouts and bad weather → Thunelec Earbuds. IPX7 waterproofing and a secure in-ear fit handle sweat and rain; the SOAR pair does not claim that.
• Best for clear phone calls → Thunelec Earbuds. The ENC microphone processing is specifically there to keep your voice clean.
• Best for wired listening and zero latency → SOAR Collegiate Active. That 3.5mm jack is a real advantage for gaming, TVs and old-school devices.
• Best for customization and on-case controls → Thunelec Earbuds. Five EQ modes and a touch-screen case versus a straightforward over-ear design.
• Best for game-day fan gear → SOAR Collegiate Active. Team colors and a sports theme are part of the product.
If I had to pick one for myself, I would take the Thunelec Earbuds. In my opinion, the combination of up to 45dB ANC, IPX7 waterproofing, ENC call clarity, 48 hours of case-backed battery and five EQ modes covers more of daily life — commuting, calls, workouts, travel — than any single over-ear pair can. That said, if your listening happens mostly at home, on the couch or at a tailgate, and you value a comfortable over-ear fit, a wired option and long 40-hour playtime, the SOAR Collegiate Active is the more natural buy, and the team theme is a bonus. Match the form factor to your routine and you will not regret either. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that is the one variable I cannot weigh for you.
how to bluetooth anc headphones
Turn the headphones on and put them in pairing mode, then open your phone or laptop's Bluetooth settings and select the device from the list. The SOAR Collegiate Active uses Bluetooth 5.3 and the Thunelec Earbuds use Bluetooth 5.4; both pair wirelessly and reconnect to previously used devices. If a connection drops, remove the device from your Bluetooth list and pair again.
how to headphones cancel noise
ANC headphones use microphones to sample the noise around you, then play an inverted sound wave through the drivers to cancel it out. The Thunelec Earbuds describe this directly, emitting reverse sound waves to reduce distractions by up to 45dB. The SOAR Collegiate Active applies the same active noise cancelling principle to block crowd, traffic and bar noise.
how to active noise cancelling on headphones
On most ANC headphones you enable it with a button or control on the device itself. The Thunelec Earbuds let you toggle noise cancelling with a tap on the charging case screen or the buds, and they also offer a transparency mode when you want to hear your surroundings. The SOAR Collegiate Active lists active noise cancellation as its noise control method, so it engages as part of normal operation.
how does anc headphones work
Active noise cancelling works by capturing ambient sound with tiny microphones and generating an opposite-phase signal that cancels much of the low-frequency rumble — engines, fans, traffic. It is most effective on steady, droning noise and less so on sudden sharp sounds like a shout. Both products here rely on that same active cancellation approach, with the Thunelec pair pairing it with ENC for clearer calls.
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