How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SOAR NCAA biggest strength: 32 hours of total battery life plus Bluetooth 5.0 wireless freedom, with FM radio, USB and AUX input options stacked on top.
• SOAR NCAA biggest trade-off: No noise control at all, and no gaming-specific audio processing — it's a listening-first earbud, not a competitive tool.
• HyperX Cloud Earbuds III biggest strength: Wired USB-C with virtual surround sound, a noise-reducing MEMS mic, and four ear tip sizes for long sessions.
• HyperX Cloud Earbuds III biggest trade-off: It's wired only — no battery, no Bluetooth, no FM radio, so your phone or PC is always physically attached.
• Who SOAR NCAA is for: Sports fans, gym-goers and casual listeners who want wireless convenience and multiple audio sources.
• Who HyperX Cloud Earbuds III is for: Gamers on PC, handheld or mobile who want lag-free audio and clear team chat.
The SOAR NCAA is a true wireless in-ear bud built around one headline number: 32 hours of battery life. That figure is the total the earbuds and charging case are rated for, and it's the kind of endurance that makes them genuinely forgettable in the good way — you charge them, you toss them in a bag, and you don't think about power for a long stretch. The included charging case is what makes that portability work; it's a case you carry rather than a cable you hunt for.
What makes these unusual is the input list. Alongside Bluetooth 5.0 wireless, the SOAR NCAA supports FM radio, USB and AUX connections. That's a rare combination in an earbud. If you've ever wanted to catch live game commentary over FM without dragging a separate radio around, that's the specific itch this product scratches. Auto-pairing and Bluetooth 5.0 handle the wireless side, so setup is quick — you open the case, they connect, you're listening. The dynamic driver handles the audio, and silicone in-ear gels give you the secure in-ear fit that keeps the buds planted during a workout or a walk to the stadium.
The trade-offs are just as clear. There is no noise control of any kind — no active cancellation, no isolation mode. Whatever is happening around you comes through. Control is handled remotely rather than through on-bud buttons, which matters if you're used to tapping an earbud to skip a track. And despite the NCAA name and team-color finish, there's nothing gaming-specific here: no surround processing, no low-latency mode, no microphone positioning tuned for voice chat. It's a sports-and-music earbud, plain and simple.
So who should buy it? Sports fans who want wireless playback plus FM commentary, gym users who want a secure fit and long battery, and anyone who bounces between devices and sources. Who should skip it? Competitive gamers who need positional audio, and anyone who wants noise isolation on a commute or a flight. In my opinion, this is the pick for the fan in the stands, not the player at the desk.
The HyperX Cloud Earbuds III S is the opposite philosophy. It's a wired USB-C earbud, and that wire is the whole point. Because there's no battery and no Bluetooth, there's no pairing, no charging, no dropped connection and no lag between what happens on screen and what you hear. The angled connector is designed for true plug-and-play across PC, handheld and mobile, so you plug in and you're in the game.
The audio design is aimed squarely at players. A 14 mm dynamic driver delivers the bass-and-treble balance HyperX describes as rich and balanced, with tonal balance tuned for cue detection — that's the difference between hearing footsteps and just hearing noise. The built-in virtual surround sound system widens the soundstage so directional cues land where they should, and the built-in DSP keeps audio and screen action in sync. For anyone who plays shooters or anything where sound gives away position, that's the core feature.
The microphone is the other half of the pitch. It's an omni-directional MEMS mic with noise suppression, designed to capture voice clearly from all angles while cutting background noise — which is what you want for team chat, not podcast-grade recording. In-line controls let you adjust volume, mute and toggle surround sound without alt-tabbing or reaching for a software panel.
Comfort gets real engineering here. The patented Intra-Concha ear tip design is meant to relieve ear pressure, and it ships in four sizes so you can actually dial in the fit. Ambient sound seeps through by design, so you keep situational awareness — useful if you're gaming and need to hear a doorbell or a roommate. The cable weighs under 30 g, and there's a protective hardshell case for travel. It's an earbud you can genuinely game in for hours.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life and untethered listening → SOAR NCAA. 32 hours total and Bluetooth 5.0 mean no cable and no charging anxiety.
• Best for competitive gaming audio → HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. Virtual surround, a 14 mm driver and built-in DSP are aimed at positional cues and sync.
• Best for voice chat and streaming → HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. The noise-reducing omni-directional MEMS mic is built for team comms.
• Best for FM radio and multi-source listening → SOAR NCAA. FM, USB and AUX support is a genuinely rare feature set in an earbud.
• Best for long-session comfort → HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. Four ear tip sizes and the Intra-Concha pressure-relief design are made for marathon sessions.
• Best for noise isolation → HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. It offers sound isolation; the SOAR NCAA offers none.
• Best for gym and outdoor use → SOAR NCAA. Wireless design, silicone gels for a secure fit, no cable to snag.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. Wired USB-C, no battery, no pairing, no dropped connection.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the HyperX Cloud Earbuds III. The reason is simple: it does one job extremely well. Wired USB-C means zero lag and zero charging, the surround processing and 14 mm driver are built for directional audio, and the noise-reducing mic plus in-line controls cover everything a gamer actually needs in a session. The SOAR NCAA is the better choice only if wireless freedom, FM radio and battery life matter more to you than gaming performance — and for a lot of sports fans, they genuinely do. But as a single recommendation for someone who games, I'd go HyperX. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing neither spec sheet tells you.
FAQ
No. They're wired USB-C earbuds with no battery and no Bluetooth, so there's nothing to charge and no pairing step. That's exactly why they avoid lag and dropped connections, but it also means you're always tethered to your device.
It connects over Bluetooth 5.0 and also supports USB and AUX audio sources, so it can play audio from a wide range of devices. But it has no surround processing, no low-latency gaming mode and no noise control, so it's a casual-listening option rather than a competitive one.
The HyperX Cloud Earbuds III is designed with that in mind — four ear tip sizes and a patented Intra-Concha tip meant to relieve ear pressure, plus a cable under 30 g. The SOAR NCAA uses silicone in-ear gels for a secure fit, which works well for workouts but isn't specifically engineered for marathon gaming.
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.