How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest strength: true over-ear design with active noise cancellation, 32mm dynamic drivers, and a claimed 40 hours of playtime, wrapped in a Clemson Tigers theme for fans.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest trade-off: it's a full-size headphone (1.2 lb shipping weight) meant for stationary listening, so it's the wrong tool for running, lifting, or anything that makes you sweat.
• GNMN Active Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: a sport-first earbud with ear hooks, IPX7 waterproofing, ANC plus a Transparency mode, and a huge 90-hour total figure when you count the charging case.
• GNMN Active Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear bud with a plastic build and hook-style fit, so it won't deliver the big, immersive over-ear feel some listeners want at home.
• Pick SOAR Collegiate Active if you want one pair of over-ear headphones for commuting, tailgating, and watching the game.
• Pick GNMN Active Noise Cancelling if you want workout-proof buds that disappear into your ears and rarely need a charge.
The SOAR Collegiate Active is a fan-first over-ear headphone. The headline feature is active noise cancellation, and the pitch is straightforward: block out the crowd, the traffic, or the noise of a loud bar so you can follow commentary or music without fighting the room. That's a genuinely useful thing for anyone who commutes, travels, or watches games in busy places.
Under the hood you get Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable wireless connection, a quick-charge cycle that fills the battery in roughly one to two hours, and 32mm dynamic drivers. The description also notes up to 40 hours of playtime plus a wired listening option, which is a nice fallback for anyone who doesn't want to think about battery at all. The over-ear cups with soft cushions and a lightweight frame are built around long sessions — the kind where you put them on at the start of a tailgate and keep them on through the postgame show.
Who should buy it? Clemson fans, first. The team-color theme and the model name make this an obvious pick if you want your gear to match your fandom. Beyond that, it suits anyone who prefers the feel of a full-size headphone: bigger cups, a headband, and sound that fills your ears rather than sitting inside them. It's also listed with a teen age range and a one-year manufacturer warranty.
GNMN Active Noise Cancelling: Who It's For
The GNMN Active Noise Cancelling is the opposite philosophy: small, secure, and built for movement. It's a true wireless earbud — model X19 — with flexible ear hooks that hold each bud in place during vigorous exercise. GNMN ships four pairs of rubber ear tips in XS, S, M, and L, which matters more than people admit: a proper seal is the difference between thin sound and full sound in any in-ear.
Noise control here is a two-mode system. ANC actively blocks surrounding noise, which GNMN frames around turning a loud gym into a quiet personal space. Transparency mode does the reverse — it lets the outside in so you can hear announcements or stay aware during outdoor sports. That's a smart pairing for anyone who trains near traffic or in shared spaces.
Battery is where the GNMN numbers get interesting. Each bud is rated for up to 8 hours of continuous listening, and the charging case brings the total to 90 hours. The case has a dual LED power display so you can see roughly where both the case and the buds stand. Audio comes from a 14.2mm dual-chamber dynamic driver, tuned for crisp, balanced sound with deep bass.
The build is plastic, the color is light purple, and the fit is in-ear with hooks. You get Bluetooth 5.3 with auto-pairing once you lift the buds from the case, a stated range of about 33 feet, and wide compatibility across iOS, Android, TVs, laptops, and smartwatches. There's no headphone jack, so this is wireless-only. Controls are worth calling out: separate multi-function and volume buttons, with full volume and track control available even when you're using just one bud. The charging case even has a one-key reset button. IPX7 waterproofing covers splashes and sweat, and GNMN backs it with a five-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it? Gym-goers, runners, cyclists, and anyone who wants earbuds that vanish into their ears and stay there. Who should skip it? If you want the physical feel of over-ear cups, or you mostly listen at a desk and don't care about waterproofing, the hooks and in-ear fit are solving a problem you don't have.
• Best for all-day over-ear comfort → SOAR Collegiate Active. Soft over-ear cushions and a lightweight frame are designed for long sessions; earbuds simply aren't.
• Best for workouts and sweaty training → GNMN Active Noise Cancelling. IPX7 waterproofing plus secure ear hooks are built for exactly this.
• Best for total battery headroom → GNMN Active Noise Cancelling. 8 hours per bud and a 90-hour total with the case beats a 40-hour single-charge figure for sheer time between plug-ins.
• Best for a single long session without charging → SOAR Collegiate Active. 40 hours in one pair of headphones means you can go days of normal use without thinking about the cable.
• Best for fan gear and team pride → SOAR Collegiate Active. Clemson team colors and a sports theme are the whole point of this model.
• Best for hearing your surroundings while wearing them → GNMN Active Noise Cancelling. Transparency mode is the feature SOAR doesn't list.
• Best for pocketable, go-anywhere use → GNMN Active Noise Cancelling. A charging case you can drop in a pocket beats a full-size headphone you have to carry or wear.
• Best for wired fallback → SOAR Collegiate Active. It's the one of the two that offers wired listening alongside wireless.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to shape, not specs. If I wanted one pair of headphones for the couch, the commute, and game day — and I cared about the team theme — I'd take the SOAR Collegiate Active. The over-ear fit, 32mm drivers, ANC, 40 hours, and wired option make it a genuinely comfortable all-rounder for stationary listening.
If I trained regularly, I'd take the GNMN Active Noise Cancelling without hesitating. Ear hooks, IPX7, Transparency mode, per-bud 8 hours, a 90-hour case, and independent volume buttons are a spec sheet written by someone who actually works out in their earbuds. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit — that's the one number that should decide it.
FAQ
SOAR lists up to 40 hours of playtime on a charge, with quick charging in about one to two hours. GNMN lists up to 8 hours per earbud, and up to 90 hours total when you include the charging case.
Both use active noise cancelling, so neither is a clear winner on paper. The difference is fit: the GNMN's in-ear seal plus four ear-tip sizes gives you passive isolation on top of ANC, while the SOAR's over-ear cups rely on the cushions and the ANC circuit. GNMN also adds a Transparency mode for hearing your surroundings.
Yes. GNMN states wide compatibility with most iOS and Android smartphones, plus TVs, computers, laptops, and smartwatches, over Bluetooth 5.3 with roughly 33 feet of range. There's no headphone jack, so it's wireless only.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.