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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want serious hi-res sound, a featherweight clip-on fit and proper codec support for jogging, choose SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro; if you need a familiar ear-hook design, stronger water protection and call-focused clarity, choose Monster AC317. Both are open ear TWS earbuds — the kind that sit outside your ear canal instead of plugging it — so both let traffic, footsteps and conversation through while your playlist keeps going. That awareness is exactly why this category has become so popular for jogging, and it's the lens I'm using for this whole comparison.
• SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro — biggest strength: LDAC hi-res audio with a 12mm dual-magnet dynamic driver, plus Bluetooth 6.0 and dual-device multipoint in a clip-on shell that weighs next to nothing.
• SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro — biggest trade-off: IPX5 only, no active noise cancellation, and the auto left/right channel swap only works while the buds are inside the case.
• Monster AC317 — biggest strength: IPX6 water and sweat resistance, AI noise reduction for calls, and a flexible ear-hook fit that many people find more familiar than a clip.
• Monster AC317 — biggest trade-off: Bluetooth 5.4, no hi-res codec listed, no multipoint, and a shorter 180-day warranty.
• Buy the SoundPEATS if you care most about sound quality, codec support and a barely-there fit during runs and commutes.
• Buy the Monster if you want sweat-and-rain protection, clear voice pickup on calls, and a hook-style open ear fit.
The PearlClip Pro is the more ambitious of the two on paper. Its 12mm dual-magnet dynamic driver is paired with LDAC support, which the spec sheet says carries roughly three times the data of a standard codec like SBC when you're using an LDAC-capable phone. For anyone who has ever felt that open ear earbuds sound thin, that combination is the whole pitch: bigger driver, better transmission, wider soundstage. The 60ms latency figure also matters more than people expect — it keeps audio and video reasonably in sync for casual watching.
The fit is the other half of the story. This is SoundPEATS' first ear-clip design, built around a nickel-titanium memory alloy C-bridge wrapped in a soft silicone coating. In practice that means the bud hangs on the outside of your ear rather than hooking over the top, and the sheet specifically calls out comfort for glasses wearers — a real pain point with ear hooks. It's also genuinely light, and the no-left/right-distinction trick in the case makes putting them away a one-second job instead of a puzzle. Battery is 6 hours per charge, 24 with the case, and a 10-minute top-up gets you about 2 hours.
Who should buy it: runners and gym-goers who want the best sound they can get from an open ear design, commuters who want to hear announcements, and anyone who wears glasses and finds hooks annoying. Who should skip it: heavy sweaters who need a higher water rating, people who want noise cancellation, and anyone who mostly takes calls — there's no noise-reduction processing listed here for the microphone side. Also be honest about the learning curve: misaligned clips cause sound leakage and fatigue, and the buds only re-assign left and right inside the case.
The AC317 takes the opposite approach. It's a hook-style open ear bud with a compact design and an ultra-soft silicone cushion, and the spec sheet leans hard into comfort and stability rather than codec bragging rights. The flexible ear hook with balanced weight distribution is the kind of design that tends to stay put when you turn your head or wipe sweat off your face — which is precisely what you want from the best earphones for jogging if you've ever had a bud ping off onto the pavement.
The audio tuning is described differently too. Monster's own materials talk about a digital audio processor and drivers that enhance the mid to high frequencies, with a nozzle design that redirects sound toward your ear and reduces leakage. Translation: vocals and instruments sit forward, and it isn't trying to be a bass monster. If your playlist is podcasts, pop and audiobooks, that's a sensible trade-off. The bigger draw for many buyers is the AI noise reduction on calls — the sheet promises clear hands-free calling, which is the classic weak spot of open ear designs.
Battery is 7 hours per charge and 24 with the case, and the case charges fully in about an hour over Type-C. The IPX6 rating is one notch above the SoundPEATS on water protection, covering sweat and rain splashes. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection. What you give up: no hi-res codec, no multipoint, a 10-meter range versus 20, and a shorter warranty period.
Who should buy it: joggers and cyclists who sweat heavily or run in the rain, people who take a lot of calls on the move, and anyone who prefers the hook fit they already know. Who should skip it: listeners who want LDAC, spatial audio modes or app-based EQ, and anyone who needs to stay connected to a laptop and phone at the same time.
• Best for sound quality → SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. LDAC plus a 12mm dual-magnet driver is a more serious audio package than a mid-and-high-focused tuning with no hi-res codec listed.
• Best for sweat and rain → Monster AC317. IPX6 beats IPX5 when you're logging outdoor miles in bad weather.
• Best for calls → Monster AC317. AI noise reduction is built specifically for voice pickup; the PearlClip Pro sheet lists no noise control at all.
• Best for commuters and multitaskers → SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint lets you jump from a laptop call to your phone without repairing.
• Best for glasses wearers → SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. The clip-on design avoids the pressure an ear hook puts on a glasses temple.
• Best for app control and customization → SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. The PeatsAudio app adds EQ, touch-control remapping and firmware updates; the Monster offers touch control but no companion app.
• Best for a familiar, secure hook fit → Monster AC317. If clips have never felt right on your ears, the flexible hook with balanced weight is the safer bet.
• Best for a hi res kids headset for jogging → SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. The light clip-on build and open design suit smaller ears and shared family use better than a hook.
I'd buy the SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro. For an open ear TWS pair used mainly for jogging, the things that actually shape your day are sound quality, fit and connection flexibility — and it wins all three with LDAC, a 12mm dual-magnet driver, Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint and a clip-on design that plays nicely with glasses. The IPX5 rating is the one compromise I'd accept, because it still covers sweat and light rain. If you run in heavy rain, sweat profusely, or live on phone calls, the Monster AC317's IPX6 shell and AI noise reduction make more sense for you. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding — that's the one variable I can't compare for you.
how to wear tws earbuds
For the PearlClip Pro, open the clip, adjust the angle so the sound outlet lines up with your ear canal, and let the C-bridge rest on the outside of your ear — a misaligned clip causes leakage and discomfort. For the AC317, loop the flexible ear hook over the top of your ear and let the bud sit outside the canal.
how to use tws earbuds
Take both buds out of the case and pair them over Bluetooth, then use the touch panels for playback, volume and calls. The PearlClip Pro also supports multipoint for two devices at once and app-based EQ, while the AC317 keeps things simple with touch control only.
how to operate tws earbuds
Both models use touch control rather than physical buttons, so taps handle music, calls and your voice assistant. The PearlClip Pro lets you remap those touch actions in the PeatsAudio app; with the AC317 you use the default touch layout described in its manual.
how to open tws earbuds
Neither pair has a lidless twist mechanism — you open the charging case and lift the buds out. On the PearlClip Pro you can drop them back in either slot, since left and right are assigned automatically inside the case, but once they're out, use each bud on its designated side.
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