If you want wired isolation for focused practice and dependable connections to instruments, choose Vic Firth SIH3; if you need wireless listening, active noise cancellation, and long battery life for cycling, choose Monster Harmonic N22.
For a headset for cycling, the Monster is the more practical fit on paper: it offers Bluetooth, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. The Vic Firth is built around wired listening and noise isolation, a better match for stationary practice than riding outdoors.
Vic Firth SIH3 vs Monster Harmonic N22 at a Glance
• Vic Firth SIH3’s biggest strength: passive noise isolation rated up to 25 dB, plus a wired 3.5 mm connection and a 1/4-inch adapter. Trade-off: no wireless connection or listed microphone. - Monster Harmonic N22’s biggest strength: Bluetooth listening with active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. - Choose Vic Firth SIH3 for drum, keyboard, or mixer practice where a cable and instrument-compatible adapter are useful. - Choose Monster Harmonic N22 for wireless everyday listening and calls, especially when you want a way to hear more of your surroundings. - For cycling, the Monster’s transparency mode and wireless design are relevant conveniences, but neither product’s supplied specifications establish that it is waterproof or specifically designed for cycling.
The SIH3 is a straightforward over-ear, wired headphone built for listening and monitoring. Its 50 mm dynamic Mylar speakers and stated 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency response are intended to deliver a broad stereo presentation, while the headline practical feature is noise isolation of up to 25 dB. That combination makes more sense for practice sessions, rehearsals, or personal monitoring than for someone seeking a wireless daily headset.
The 3.5 mm stereo plug comes with a 1/4-inch adapter, so the SIH3 can connect to compatible electronic drums, keyboards, mixers, and audio interfaces. It also includes a drawstring carry bag. Foam ear cushions and a padded headband are designed for extended wear, though the supplied details do not give a water-resistance rating or a microphone feature.
I’d choose the Vic Firth for a player who wants a direct wired connection and a quieter listening environment while practicing. I’d skip it for cycling if wireless convenience, hands-free calls, or awareness of passing sounds are priorities. Its isolation may be useful indoors, but it is not the same thing as a cycling-safety feature.
The N22 is the more flexible choice for wireless listening. It has Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. Its 40 mm drivers and three music modes are aimed at varied listening situations: reducing distractions, letting more outside sound through, or using a standard sound mode. For commuting or outdoor use, transparency mode is the feature that most clearly separates it from the Vic Firth.
Battery claims need a careful read. The product title and feature information state up to 110 hours with ANC off, while the product information lists a 60-hour average battery life and a two-hour charge time. The feature information also says a 10-minute charge supports five hours of playback. Because these figures are not consistent, I would not treat 110 hours as a guaranteed everyday result. The stated wireless range is 33 feet.
The N22 makes more sense for someone who wants one headphone for music, calls, and travel, without being tethered to a device. For cycling, it is the closer fit of these two because it is wireless and includes transparency mode. Still, the supplied specifications do not list an IP water-resistance rating, so I would not call it a waterproof cycling headphone. Nor do they establish that over-ear headphones are appropriate for every riding environment.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 11 min read · Independent comparison
• Best for wired instrument practice → Vic Firth SIH3. Its 3.5 mm plug and included 1/4-inch adapter suit compatible instruments and audio equipment.
• Best for wireless listening → Monster Harmonic N22. It connects over Bluetooth, while the Vic Firth is wired.
• Best for reducing outside sound during practice → Vic Firth SIH3. Its stated isolation is up to 25 dB; the N22 instead offers active noise cancellation.
• Best for switching between isolation and awareness → Monster Harmonic N22. ANC and transparency mode give it two distinct ways to handle surrounding sound.
• Best for hands-free calls → Monster Harmonic N22. Hands-free calling is listed for the N22; no microphone or calling feature is listed for the SIH3.
• Best for a clear instrument connection → Vic Firth SIH3. The adapter gives it an option for compatible 1/4-inch outputs, without relying on Bluetooth.
• Best fit for a wireless cycling headset → Monster Harmonic N22, with caveats. Bluetooth and transparency mode are useful considerations, but no supplied detail confirms water resistance or cycling-specific safety.
• Best for a claimed long playback window → Monster Harmonic N22, cautiously. The listed battery claims range from a 60-hour average to up to 110 hours with ANC off, so expectations should account for that discrepancy.
I’d choose the Monster Harmonic N22 for cycling because wireless listening, hands-free calling, and transparency mode make it the more relevant option for that use. But I would not describe it as waterproof: the supplied specifications give no IP rating.
For focused music practice with instruments, I’d pick the Vic Firth SIH3 instead. Its wired connection, adapter, and stated noise isolation suit that job better.
The Monster Harmonic N22 is the more suitable of the two on features alone: it is wireless and has transparency mode and hands-free calling. Neither product’s supplied details confirm water resistance or establish cycling-specific safety.
It is the only one of these two with wireless connectivity and hands-free calling listed, so it is the closer match to that description. The supplied information does not specify a separate microphone design or certify it for riding.
The supplied specifications do not state an IPX7 rating—or any water-resistance rating—for the N22. I would not treat it as waterproof based on these details.
They handle noise differently. The Vic Firth specifies passive isolation of up to 25 dB; the Monster lists active noise cancellation and a transparency mode. The supplied details do not provide a directly comparable attenuation figure for the Monster.
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If you want wired isolation for focused practice and direct connections to instruments, choose Vic Firth SIH3; if you need wireless listening, noise-control options, and hands-free calling for cycling, choose Monster Harmonic N22.
For a headset for cycling, the Monster is the closer match on features: it offers Bluetooth, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. The Vic Firth is designed around wired listening and isolation, which makes it a more natural fit for practice than outdoor riding.
• Vic Firth SIH3’s main strength: passive noise isolation rated up to 25 dB, with a wired 3.5 mm plug and a 1/4-inch adapter. Trade-off: it has no listed wireless connection or calling feature.
• Monster Harmonic N22’s main strength: Bluetooth listening, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. Trade-off: its listed battery figures differ, and no water-resistance rating is provided.
• Choose the Vic Firth for compatible instruments and audio gear, or for practice in a setting where reducing outside sound matters.
• Choose the Monster for wireless everyday listening, travel, and calls, with a mode that lets more surrounding sound through.
• For cycling, the Monster has the more relevant features, but neither product’s supplied specifications confirm waterproofing or make a cycling-specific safety claim.
The SIH3 is a wired, over-ear headphone aimed at listening and monitoring. Its 50 mm dynamic Mylar speakers and stated 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency response are intended to provide stereo sound across a broad range. Its standout practical feature is passive noise isolation rated up to 25 dB, making it suited to practice sessions, rehearsals, and personal monitoring.
The wired connection is useful when you want to plug into compatible electronic drums, keyboards, mixers, or audio interfaces. The SIH3 has a 3.5 mm stereo plug, and an included 1/4-inch adapter broadens the range of compatible connections. It also comes with a drawstring carry bag. Foam ear cushions and a padded headband are designed for extended wear, though the supplied details do not give a water-resistance rating or list a microphone.
I’d pick the Vic Firth if my main use were instrument practice and I wanted a direct wired connection without relying on Bluetooth. I’d skip it for cycling if wireless convenience, hands-free calls, or a mode for hearing more of the surroundings were important. Its isolation is a feature for focused listening, not a substitute for cycling-specific safety guidance.
The N22 is the more flexible option for wireless listening. It connects over Bluetooth and lists active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and hands-free calling. Its 40 mm drivers and three music modes are intended to suit different situations: reducing ambient distractions, letting more outside sound through, or listening in a standard mode. For someone moving between indoor listening and outdoor travel, that range of options is a meaningful distinction from the wired Vic Firth.
The battery information deserves a close look. The product title and feature details state up to 110 hours of listening with ANC off, while the product information lists a 60-hour average battery life and a two-hour charge time. The feature details also say a 10-minute charge supports five hours of playback. Those figures do not line up neatly, so I would treat the longest claim as a stated maximum rather than assume it represents every use pattern. The listed wireless range is 33 feet.
For cycling, the N22 is the more relevant of these two because it is wireless and includes transparency mode and hands-free calling. Still, the supplied specifications do not provide an IP water-resistance rating. I would not label it waterproof, and the presence of transparency mode does not by itself establish that over-ear headphones are appropriate for every riding environment. It is a feature to consider, not a guarantee of safe awareness.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• For instrument practice with a direct wired connection → Vic Firth SIH3. Its 3.5 mm plug and included 1/4-inch adapter work with compatible equipment.
• For wireless listening → Monster Harmonic N22. It uses Bluetooth; the Vic Firth is wired.
• For a choice between noise cancellation and hearing more around you → Monster Harmonic N22. It has both ANC and transparency mode.
• For hands-free calling → Monster Harmonic N22. Calling is listed for the Monster; no microphone or call feature is listed for the SIH3.
• For compatible 1/4-inch audio connections → Vic Firth SIH3. The included adapter gives it an additional wired connection option.
• For a wireless headset to consider for cycling → Monster Harmonic N22, with caveats. Bluetooth and transparency mode fit the use case better, but there is no supplied water-resistance rating or cycling-specific claim.
• For a long stated playback window → Monster Harmonic N22, cautiously. The product information gives both a 60-hour average and up to 110 hours with ANC off, so those figures should not be treated as interchangeable.
I’d choose the Monster Harmonic N22 for cycling because wireless listening, hands-free calling, and transparency mode make it the more relevant option for that use. I would not call it waterproof, since the supplied specifications give no IP rating.
For focused practice with compatible instruments, I’d choose the Vic Firth SIH3. Its wired connection, adapter, and stated isolation are better suited to that job.
The Monster is the closer fit based on the listed features: it is wireless and has transparency mode and hands-free calling. Neither product’s supplied details confirm water resistance or establish cycling-specific safety.
It is the only one of these two with wireless connectivity and hands-free calling listed, so it is the closer match. The supplied information does not specify a separate microphone design or certify it for riding.
The supplied specifications do not state an IPX7 rating or any other water-resistance rating. I would not treat the N22 as waterproof based on these details.
They handle noise differently. The Vic Firth specifies passive isolation of up to 25 dB, while the Monster lists active noise cancellation and transparency mode. The supplied details do not give a directly comparable noise-reduction figure for the Monster.
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