If you want a simple wired over-ear option for running, choose Sony Sony mdrzx110; if you need wireless earbuds with noise cancellation and sweat resistance, choose Sudio A3. For most runners, I’d choose the Sudio A3 because its Bluetooth connection and IPX4 protection suit movement better, while the Sony is the straightforward pick if you prefer a cable and over-ear fit.
Sony Sony mdrzx110 vs Sudio A3 at a Glance
• Sudio A3’s biggest strength: wireless Bluetooth 5.4, active noise cancellation, multipoint, and IPX4 sweat and splash resistance. Trade-off: its stated battery life is up to five hours per charge, with extra listening time from the case.
• Sony is for: listeners who want a basic wired headset and do not need wireless features.
• Sudio is for: listeners who want wireless earbuds for workouts, calls, and switching between devices.
• The choice in “sudio vs sony earbuds” is not quite a like-for-like contest. The Sony MDRZX110 is an over-ear wired headphone; the Sudio A3 is a wireless in-ear earbud with a charging case. That difference matters more than the brand names when you’re choosing something for a run.
The Sony MDRZX110 is a conventional over-ear headphone with rounded earpieces, plastic construction, and a wired 3.5 mm connection. Its 30-millimeter dynamic drivers and 12 Hz–22 kHz frequency range describe its audio hardware, while sound isolation is listed as its noise-control feature. There is no Bluetooth connection to manage or battery to recharge.
That uncomplicated setup may appeal if you prefer headphones that connect directly to a compatible device. The cable can also make sense for stationary listening, such as listening at a desk or using a device with a headphone jack. Its listed controls include media and call control, though the product information does not detail the exact control layout.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
For running, the Sony has a less compelling set of listed features. It is over-ear, wired, and has no stated sweat or splash resistance. A cable may be an inconvenience in motion, and sound isolation is worth considering if you run near traffic or other people. If your priority is a wireless, workout-oriented design, the Sudio is the more directly suited option.
The Sudio A3 is an in-ear wireless earbud set with Bluetooth 5.4 and active noise cancellation rated at 18 dB. It also supports multipoint connection, letting it connect with two devices at once. That can be useful if you switch between a phone and a laptop during the day, then take the earbuds along for a workout.
For running, its IPX4 sweat and splash resistance is a practical advantage over a product with no listed resistance rating. The earbuds offer up to five hours of playtime per charge, and the charging case provides additional listening time for up to 25 hours in total. Those figures are useful for planning a run or a day of errands, but they do not mean you can listen for 25 hours without returning the earbuds to the case.
The Sudio is also the more flexible choice for calls. It has built-in microphones, and its listed features emphasize clearer voice pickup. Its ANC can help reduce distractions, but runners should think carefully before using noise cancellation outdoors: cutting down surrounding sound may make it harder to notice nearby activity. If you want an open-ear experience, neither of these products is described as open-ear; both are designed to sit over or in the ear.
• Best for wireless running → Sudio A3. Bluetooth removes the cable connecting the earbuds to your device, and IPX4 protection is specifically relevant to sweat and splashes.
• Best for a wired setup → Sony Sony mdrzx110. Its 3.5 mm jack is the clear choice if you want a cable connection and have a compatible device.
• Best for switching between two devices → Sudio A3. Its Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connection supports two connected devices at once.
• Best for listed sweat and splash resistance → Sudio A3. It has an IPX4 rating; the Sony’s product information does not list a water-resistance rating.
• Best for noise control on paper → Sudio A3. It has active noise cancellation rated at 18 dB, while Sony lists sound isolation.
• Best if you want over-ear headphones → Sony Sony mdrzx110. The Sony’s over-ear placement differs from the Sudio’s in-ear design.
• Best for listening without recharging a battery → Sony Sony mdrzx110. It is wired, while the Sudio’s listed playtime is up to five hours per charge.
• Best for calls while moving between devices → Sudio A3. It combines built-in microphones with multipoint connectivity.
A common running search is for the best open ear headphones for running. Neither model matches that description based on its listed design: one sits over the ear, and the other sits in the ear. If awareness of your surroundings is central to your choice, don’t treat the Sony’s sound isolation or the Sudio’s active noise cancellation as an open-ear feature.
If you are looking for the best bluetooth headset for running, the Sudio is the only one of these two with Bluetooth. Its sweat and splash resistance gives it another relevant advantage for exercise. The Sony may still suit someone who specifically prefers a wired, over-ear design, but that is a different kind of running setup.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Sudio A3 for running because its wireless design, IPX4 sweat and splash resistance, and multipoint connection fit an active, device-switching routine better. Its five hours per charge is a real limit to keep in mind, and I would be cautious with ANC outdoors. The Sony makes more sense to me if I wanted a simple wired over-ear headphone, not a wireless running earbud.
No. The Sony MDRZX110 is an over-ear wired headphone with a 3.5 mm jack. The Sudio A3 is an in-ear wireless earbud set that connects over Bluetooth.
I’d pick the Sudio for most running use because it is wireless and has IPX4 sweat and splash resistance. The Sony may suit a runner who prefers an over-ear wired headphone, but its listed features do not include water resistance.
Does the Sudio A3 have noise cancellation?
The listed playtime is up to five hours per charge, with additional listening time from the charging case for up to 25 hours in total. The Sony is wired, so its product information does not specify battery life.
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