How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a pair of sport earbuds built around long battery life, simple auto-pairing and a team-color look for game days, choose SOAR NBA; if you need adjustable hooks, active noise cancelling with an ambient mode, IP57 water resistance and app-based EQ, choose JVC Fitness Series True.
• SOAR NBA — biggest strength: 32 hours of total battery life plus auto-pairing and Bluetooth 5.0, with unusual extra audio options like FM radio and USB/AUX input.
• SOAR NBA — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancelling, no water-resistance rating and no adjustable hooks, so it leans casual rather than heavy-training.
• JVC Fitness Series True — biggest strength: Adjustable flexible hooks, active noise cancelling with ambient mode, IP57 dust/water resistance and a 40-hour total battery (10 + 30 in the case).
• JVC Fitness Series True — biggest trade-off: The fit system and touch controls take a little more fiddling to set up the way you want, and the ANC/ambient switching is another thing to manage mid-workout.
• Who each pick is for: SOAR NBA suits sports fans who want easy, long-lasting earbuds for casual listening and game commentary; JVC Fitness Series True suits people who sweat hard, train outdoors and want control over noise and sound.
The SOAR NBA is a true wireless earbud built around convenience and stamina. Its headline number is 32 hours of battery life, which means you can get through multiple gym sessions, commutes and game days before you think about the charging case. Bluetooth 5.0 handles the wireless connection, and auto-pairing means you open the case and your device finds it without menu-diving. For anyone who has ever stood at the gym entrance fighting a pairing screen, that matters more than it sounds.
What makes this pair genuinely different is the audio flexibility. On top of normal Bluetooth streaming, the SOAR NBA offers FM radio for live game commentary and USB or AUX connections for additional audio sources. That's an unusual combination in a true wireless earbud, and it's clearly aimed at the sports fan who wants to catch the broadcast without draining phone data or juggling apps. The silicone in-ear gels give a secure, comfortable fit, and the included charging case keeps everything portable. The plastic enclosure and team-color finish round out a product that's styled as much for the stands as for the treadmill.
Who should buy it: casual to moderate exercisers, sports fans, and anyone who wants simple pairing, long runtime and the option of radio or wired-in audio sources. Who should skip it: if your workouts are sweaty, outdoor and intense, or if you want to block out gym noise, the SOAR NBA doesn't list a water-resistance rating or active noise cancelling, so it isn't the tool for that job. It's a comfort-and-convenience pick first, a hard-training pick second.
The JVC Fitness Series True is the more training-focused of the two. Its most distinctive feature is the fully adjustable, flexible hooks that mold to your ears instead of forcing your ears to adapt to a fixed shape. If you've ever had an earbud pop loose mid-sprint, you know why that design choice exists. Combined with four sets of eartips (S/M/L/XL), the fit is meant to be personalized rather than one-size-fits-most.
The spec sheet reads like a workout checklist. Active Noise Cancellation lets you shut out the gym or the street, and Ambient Sound Mode brings the outside back in with a tap so you stay aware of traffic or training partners. IP57 dust and water resistance means sweat and rain aren't a problem. Battery life is listed at 10 hours per charge plus 30 more in the case, for 40 hours total, with a 2-hour charge time. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 30-foot range covers the wireless side, and the AAC codec supports better-quality streaming and clearer calls than a basic SBC-only setup.
Sound is adjustable too: three sound modes plus app EQ let you tune the signature for different kinds of listening, and a 6 mm dynamic driver with a 16-ohm impedance and a frequency response up to 20,000 Hz gives you the underlying hardware for that tuning. Touch controls handle volume and playback. The Violet colorway, 1.92-ounce total weight and compact case (about 2 x 3 x 1.5 inches) make it easy to toss in a bag.
Who should buy it: runners, gym regulars, hikers and anyone who trains outdoors or in noisy environments and wants noise control, a locked-in fit and water resistance. Who should skip it: if you want the simplest possible earbud with no app, no mode switching and no hook adjustment, this one asks a little more of you.
• Best for total battery life → JVC Fitness Series True (40 hours total versus 32 on the SOAR NBA).
• Best for long single sessions → JVC Fitness Series True (10 hours per charge, versus a 32-hour total figure that doesn't break out per-charge time on the SOAR sheet).
• Best for secure fit during hard training → JVC Fitness Series True (adjustable flexible hooks plus four eartip sizes).
• Best for blocking out noise → JVC Fitness Series True (active noise cancelling with an ambient awareness mode).
• Best for sweat and rain → JVC Fitness Series True (IP57 dust and water resistance).
• Best for sound customization → JVC Fitness Series True (three sound modes plus app EQ, AAC codec, 6 mm dynamic driver).
• Best for game-day listening and radio commentary → SOAR NBA (FM radio plus USB/AUX input options).
• Best for the simplest setup → SOAR NBA (auto-pairing and Bluetooth 5.0 with no app required).
• Best for a team-styled, casual look → SOAR NBA (team-color finish, silicone in-ear gels, bundled charging case).
In my opinion, the JVC Fitness Series True is the better buy for most people shopping this comparison. It covers the hard cases — sweaty workouts, rain, noise, fit security — with IP57, ANC, ambient mode and adjustable hooks, and it pairs that with more battery and more sound control. The SOAR NBA is a genuinely appealing alternative if your priority is casual convenience, radio commentary and hassle-free pairing, and I'd recommend it to sports fans who mostly listen at home or in the stands. But if you're buying one pair for training, I'd take the JVC.
FAQ
Yes. They list Active Noise Cancellation plus an Ambient Sound Mode you can switch between with a tap, so you can block out the gym or let outside sound in when you're running near traffic.
The JVC Fitness Series True lists 40 hours total (10 hours per charge plus 30 in the case). The SOAR NBA lists 32 hours total. JVC also states a 2-hour charge time.
I don't quote prices here, since they change often — check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page. On features alone, the JVC Fitness Series True gives you more for training, while the SOAR NBA is the simpler, more casual option.
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