If you want simple wired studio-monitor headphones with an 8-foot cord and two plug options, choose Yamaha RH5MA; if you need cushioned, closed-back over-ear headphones with a padded adjustable headband, choose Carry-on SH100. For running, neither has a documented wireless connection or a fit designed specifically for exercise, so these are better suited to listening where a cable and over-ear design won’t get in the way.
Yamaha RH5MA vs Carry-on SH100 at a Glance
• Yamaha RH5MA’s strength: an 8-foot oxygen-free copper cord, with a 1/8-inch plug and 1/4-inch adapter; trade-off: it is a wired design with no listed fit or comfort details.
• Both list a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, so that figure alone does not distinguish them.
• Choose Yamaha if the long cord and included plug options matter more than documented cushioning.
• Choose Carry-on if you want more clearly described comfort features for longer listening sessions.
• Neither is an obvious pick for running: the provided specifications don’t describe a wireless mode or a sport-specific fit.
The Yamaha RH5MA is a straightforward wired option for someone who wants to connect headphones to different audio devices without relying on a single plug format. It comes with an 8-foot oxygen-free copper cord, a 1/8-inch plug, and a 1/4-inch adapter. Yamaha also lists compatibility with all audio devices. Its stated frequency response is 20 Hz–20 kHz, and its sensitivity is 96 dB/mW.
That long cable could suit a stationary setup where the listening device isn’t right beside you, such as a desk or home audio station. The adapter adds flexibility when the available connection calls for a 1/4-inch plug. Those are practical strengths, but they also point to a conventional wired listening experience: the cord is part of the setup and can be inconvenient when moving around.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The Carry-on SH100 is an over-ear, closed-back wired headphone with 50 mm dynamic drivers. It lists a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and 32-ohm impedance. The product description emphasizes soft ear cushions and a padded, adjustable headband, making its comfort features more explicit than the Yamaha’s.
That makes the SH100 a more natural fit for someone planning longer listening sessions at home, at a desk, or in another setting where an over-ear design is comfortable. Its closed-back construction and sound-isolation control may also appeal to listeners who prefer a more enclosed listening setup. The listed connections include 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm jacks.
There is a catch for anyone considering these as everyday headphones on the move: the connectivity information lists wired use, while Bluetooth appears under wireless technology. That wording doesn’t establish a working wireless mode or explain how it operates, so I would not choose the SH100 on the assumption that it can be used cable-free. And although its cushions and headband are described as comfortable, the available details don’t establish a running-specific fit.
• Best for a long cable → Yamaha RH5MA. Its cord is listed as 8 feet; the Carry-on’s cable length isn’t provided.
• Best for included plug flexibility → Yamaha RH5MA. It includes a 1/8-inch plug and 1/4-inch adapter.
• Best for clearly described cushioning → Carry-on SH100. It has soft ear cushions and a padded, adjustable headband.
• Best for closed-back over-ear construction → Carry-on SH100. That design is explicitly listed, while the Yamaha’s enclosure type isn’t specified.
• Best for choosing based on driver size → Carry-on SH100. Its 50 mm dynamic drivers are identified; no driver size is provided for Yamaha.
• Best for a stated sensitivity figure → Yamaha RH5MA. Its sensitivity is 96 dB/mW; the Carry-on sheet doesn’t give a sensitivity figure.
• Best true wireless earbuds for running → neither. These are over-ear headphones, and neither product’s details establish a true wireless design.
• Best rechargeable over-ear headphones for running → neither on the available facts. No rechargeable battery is listed for either model.
For runners, the central issue is less about the frequency range and more about the product type. Both are wired over-ear headphones, and neither has a documented sport-specific fit. A cable can be awkward during movement, while an over-ear fit may not be what you want for a run. If you’re searching for the best comfortable headband headphones for running, the Carry-on’s padded adjustable headband is a relevant comfort detail, but it isn’t evidence that the headphones are made to stay secure during exercise.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Yamaha RH5MA for a stationary setup if its 8-foot cable and included adapter solve a real connection or reach problem. I’d choose the Carry-on SH100 if soft cushions and an adjustable padded headband matter more for everyday listening.
For running, I wouldn’t recommend either as a clear fit: neither has a documented wireless design or exercise-focused fit. If I had to buy one for general wired use, I’d pick the Carry-on for its more clearly described over-ear comfort features, but that is not the same as calling it a running headphone.
The Yamaha is described with an 8-foot cord and plug options. The Carry-on lists wired connections, and its details do not establish how the mention of Bluetooth works. I would not assume either is cable-free.
The Carry-on SH100 is the clearer choice based on the listed features: it has soft ear cushions and a padded, adjustable headband. The Yamaha’s supplied details don’t describe comparable cushioning or headband adjustments.
Which one is better for running?
The specifications don’t establish a sound-quality winner. Both list a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range; the Carry-on identifies 50 mm drivers, while the Yamaha lists 96 dB/mW sensitivity. Those figures alone aren’t enough to determine which sounds better.
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