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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SOUL by Ludacris Over-The-Ear Headphone White — biggest strength: a self-contained, over-ear wireless headphone with active noise cancellation, a 3.5 mm gold-plated jack, Bluetooth connectivity and a dynamic driver tuned for "superb bass, clear mids and highs."
• SOUL by Ludacris — biggest trade-off: it runs on two AAA batteries (included), it's an older-generation model (iPhone 4G/3GS-era compatibility), and it's one item — no interface, no monitors, no mic.
• LyxJam 2x2 — biggest strength: it's a six-piece studio bundle: a 2-in/2-out USB interface (24-bit/192 kHz, ASIO), white PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors, a Bluetooth MIDI pad controller, a condenser mic, isolation shield, headphones and a software bundle.
• LyxJam 2x2 — biggest trade-off: it's a computer-tethered, desk-bound system aimed at Windows/macOS recording, so it does nothing for you on a commute, a flight or a walk.
• Who each pick is for: the SOUL is for a listener who wants one pair of noise-cancelling headphones to wear; the LyxJam is for a producer, beat maker, vocalist, podcaster or streamer who wants to build a home studio in one purchase.
This is a circumcural (over-ear) headphone in black and white plastic, with a 3.5 mm headphone jack and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The heart of the design is a dynamic driver paired with what SOUL describes as advanced driver and circuitry work, aimed at a "high-precision audio balance" — strong bass with clean mids and highs rather than a flat, studio-neutral response. If you've ever put on a pair of consumer headphones and felt the low end carry the song, that's the flavor of sound this design is chasing.
The other headline feature is world-class active noise cancelling technology, which is the reason to consider this model over a plain pair of headphones. Active noise cancellation is what dulls the drone of an engine, a plane cabin or an office HVAC system — the steady, low-frequency noise that passive earcups alone can't kill. For a traveler or a commuter, that's the real value here, and it's baked into the hardware rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
Who should buy it: the commuter, traveler or casual music fan who wants one over-ear, noise-cancelling headphone with a warm, bass-leaning sound and a cable-plus-Bluetooth setup. Who should skip it: anyone who needs to record audio, monitor a mix, or who dislikes swapping AAA batteries. If you want to know what it costs today, check the current price on Amazon.
LyxJam 2x2: Who It's For
The LyxJam 2x2 is a different species of product entirely. It's a bundle — six items — built around a 2-in/2-out USB 2.0 audio interface that records at up to 24-bit/192 kHz and runs on ASIO drivers for low-latency work on Windows and macOS. The two front combo inputs (CH1/CH2) take microphones, guitars and line sources, with Hi-Z switches for instruments and +48 V phantom power for condenser mics. You get direct/DAW monitoring so you can blend zero-latency input with computer playback, a headphone output and dual balanced TRS main outs. It's USB-powered, so there's no wall wart to hunt for — plug it into your computer and go.
Around that interface, LyxJam packs a full desktop studio. The white PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors are a limited-edition pair with 3.5" woven-composite woofers and 1" silk-dome tweeters, driven by 25 W per side (50 W total) of Class-AB amplification, with a frequency response of roughly 80 Hz–20 kHz, rear bass-reflex ports, high/low EQ tuning, rear TRS/RCA inputs and front aux and headphone jacks. That front-panel access matters more than it sounds — it means you can plug in a phone or a second pair of headphones without crawling behind your desk.
Then there's the 4×4 RGB MIDI pad controller, which works as a USB or Bluetooth MIDI device for finger-drumming, clip launching and beat programming, with velocity-sensitive pads and DAW integration. For EDM, hip-hop and electronic producers, this is the piece that turns the bundle into a beat-making workstation rather than just a recording chain.
The capture side is covered too: a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, plus a shockmount, pop filter, foam windscreen and a folding acoustic isolation shield to cut plosives, room reflections and stand vibration. Closed-back studio headphones round it out for tracking, mixing and late-night editing. The software bundle adds multitrack recording, editing, mixing and mastering tools with plug-ins, virtual instruments and effects. There's a one-year manufacturer warranty, and the whole thing is one SKU.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for portable listening → SOUL by Ludacris Over-The-Ear Headphone White. It's a single over-ear headphone with Bluetooth and a 3.5 mm jack; the LyxJam set is desk-bound.
• Best for noise cancellation → SOUL by Ludacris. Active noise cancelling is a core feature; the LyxJam bundle offers isolation via closed-back headphones and a shield, not ANC.
• Best for recording vocals or instruments → LyxJam 2x2. The interface, phantom power, condenser mic and pop filter are built for exactly this.
• Best for beat making → LyxJam 2x2. The 4×4 velocity-sensitive MIDI pad controller is the deciding piece.
• Best for mixing and monitoring → LyxJam 2x2. The PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors with EQ tuning and rear ports are proper nearfields.
• Best for battery simplicity → a split call. The SOUL needs two AAA batteries; the LyxJam interface is USB-powered but the whole system needs a computer.
• Best for a traveler or commuter → SOUL by Ludacris. It's the only one of the two you can wear on a plane.
• Best for a one-box home studio → LyxJam 2x2. Six items, one purchase, one warranty.
These two don't really compete — they solve opposite problems, and that's the honest answer. If I were buying for myself and my priority were listening — commuting, flights, blocking out a noisy room — I'd take the SOUL by Ludacris Over-The-Ear Headphone White. In my opinion, active noise cancelling plus a bass-forward dynamic driver is the more useful package for everyday life, and I'd just keep spare AAAs in my bag. If I were setting up to make music rather than hear it, I'd buy the LyxJam 2x2 without hesitation: interface, monitors, mic, pads and software in one box is a genuinely complete starting point. My pick for most people reading this is the SOUL by Ludacris Over-The-Ear Headphone White — it fits more lives, needs no desk, and does the one job it's designed for.
Both. The spec sheet lists Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a 3.5 mm headphone jack with a gold-plated 1/8" connector, so you can go wireless or plug in. It also uses two AAA batteries, which are included.
Yes. The interface is USB 2.0 and USB-powered, and the software and ASIO driver are built for Windows and macOS recording applications. It's designed as a desktop studio, not a standalone player.
You can play audio through the PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors or the included closed-back headphones, but you're powering the whole system from a computer. If your only goal is portable listening, that's the wrong tool.
They're priced for different jobs, so "value" depends on what you need. The SOUL is one headphone; the LyxJam is a six-item studio bundle. Check the current price on Amazon for each and compare against what you actually plan to do.
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