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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want active noise cancellation and a cable-free over-ear fit for game days and commutes, choose SOAR NFL Active Noise; if you need a wired USB-C open-ear headset that lets you hear your surroundings on a run, choose AIAUXAI Open Ear USB. The two products solve completely different problems, and picking the wrong one means paying for features you'll never use.
• SOAR NFL Active Noise — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancellation plus Bluetooth 5.3 wireless freedom in a true over-ear design with soft ear pads. Biggest trade-off: It's a closed, plastic-shell headphone with a 1.2-pound build, so it's not the gear you grab for sweaty workouts.
• AIAUXAI Open Ear USB — biggest strength: Open-ear hooks plus a wired USB-C connection and a built-in mic, so you stay aware of traffic and never worry about battery. Biggest trade-off: No noise cancellation at all, and you're tethered to a USB-C device.
• Who SOAR is for: Anyone who wants to block out the world and listen wirelessly for long stretches.
• Who AIAUXAI is for: Runners, cyclists, and USB-C phone or tablet owners who want awareness and a plug-and-play setup.
The SOAR NFL Active Noise is built around one idea: shutting the world out. The Active Noise Cancellation is the headline feature, and the use cases it's aimed at are specific — a loud sports bar, a crowded commute, traffic noise on the way to the stadium. If your problem is external noise, this is the headphone designed to solve it. The 32mm dynamic drivers are tuned for that same "big moment" listening — crowd roar, commentary, music with some weight behind it.
The wireless side is handled by Bluetooth 5.3, which is the current mainstream standard for stable connections and lower power draw. There's also a 3.5mm jack, which matters more than people expect: if the battery dies or you're on a device without Bluetooth, you have a wired fallback. And the battery numbers are the genuinely strong part of the spec sheet — up to 40 hours of average use, with a charge time of 1 to 2 hours. That's a headphone you can take on a trip and not think about the charger.
Comfort is where the design choices show. The ear pads are fabric and foam rather than plastic, which is the right call for long sessions, and the over-ear placement spreads pressure around the ear instead of pressing on it. The outer shell and headband are plastic, which keeps it light for its size. This is a teen-and-up headphone with a one-year manufacturer warranty, and it comes in a Green Bay Packers theme — so if you're buying it as a fan item, the styling is part of the appeal.
AIAUXAI Open Ear USB: Who It's For
The AIAUXAI Open Ear USB is the opposite philosophy. It's a wired, open-ear headset that hooks over your ears and sits outside your ear canal rather than sealing over it. The stated benefit is explicit in the design: you hear your music and your surroundings at the same time. For runners, joggers, and cyclists, that's not a compromise — it's the point.
The connection is USB Type C, and the compatibility list is unusually broad. It covers iPhone 15 through 17 series, a long run of Samsung Galaxy S and Z series plus Galaxy Tab models, multiple iPad Pro and iPad Air generations, and Google Pixel devices from the older generations up through the recent ones. If you own a modern USB-C phone, tablet, or laptop, there's a good chance this plugs straight in — no pairing, no charging, no dongle hunting.
The details show it was designed for movement. The cable is 1.2 meters and made from oxygen-free copper core for durability and flexibility, and AIAUXAI includes a cable fixer clip so the wire stays clipped to your clothes instead of swinging around. There's a built-in microphone and inline volume control on the remote, so calls and quick adjustments don't require pulling out your phone. A PU storage case is included, which is a small thing that matters if you actually carry these to the gym.
The trade-offs are real, though. There is no noise cancellation — noise control is listed as none, and the control method is a button remote. The enclosure is plastic, and the color is white. It's rated for ages over 7 and carries a one-year warranty.
Who should skip it: If you want to block out a noisy commute, a plane cabin, or a crowd, this is the wrong tool. Open-ear plus no ANC means everything gets in.
• Best for blocking out noise → SOAR NFL Active Noise. It's the only one of the two with Active Noise Cancellation.
• Best for wireless freedom → SOAR NFL Active Noise, via Bluetooth 5.3 with a 3.5mm wired backup.
• Best for battery life → SOAR NFL Active Noise, with up to 40 hours of average use and a 1–2 hour charge time.
• Best for awareness and safety outdoors → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB. Open-ear hooks let ambient sound in by design.
• Best for running, jogging and gym use → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB, thanks to the open-ear hooks, 1.2m cable, and included cable clip and case.
• Best for plug-and-play across USB-C phones and tablets → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB, given its wide iPhone, Galaxy, iPad and Pixel compatibility.
• Best for long listening sessions at home or on a trip → SOAR NFL Active Noise, with fabric-and-foam over-ear pads and a pressure-free fit.
• Best for calls on the go → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB, which has a built-in mic and inline volume control.
In my opinion, the SOAR NFL Active Noise is the better buy for most people reading this, because it does more jobs — noise cancellation, wireless Bluetooth 5.3, a wired backup, and up to 40 hours of use — and the over-ear pads make long sessions genuinely comfortable. The one case where I'd steer you the other way is if your listening happens outdoors on a run or a ride, where the AIAUXAI Open Ear USB's open-ear awareness and wired simplicity are the safer, smarter choice. Neither is a compromise pick; they're just built for different lives. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one variable I can't speak to here.
FAQ
I can't speak to Sony's charging times, but as a reference point the SOAR NFL Active Noise charges in 1 to 2 hours and is rated for up to 40 hours of average use. That's a fast-charge-to-long-runtime ratio, which is the number that actually matters day to day.
Again, that's brand-specific and not something I can quote. What I can tell you is the SOAR spec: 1–2 hours to charge, up to 40 hours of playback. If charge time is your priority, that's the figure to compare against whatever else you're considering.
I don't have Bose's numbers, so I won't guess. If you're comparing, focus on two things from the sheets here: the SOAR's 1–2 hour charge time and 40-hour average battery life, versus the AIAUXAI Open Ear USB, which is wired over USB-C and has no battery to charge at all.
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