How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want active noise cancelling with a proper transparency mode you can dial in from an app, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a; if you need an open-ear headset that keeps your ears free and pairs with a console through a 2.4GHz dongle, choose QILIAN Open Ear Gaming. Everything below is a spec-by-spec breakdown of two very different ways to wear audio in 2026 — one seals you in, the other keeps you aware.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest strength: 42dB hybrid ANC, a 12.4mm bio-fiber dynamic driver and an app with adjustable ANC levels including transparent mode, so you control exactly how much of the outside world gets in.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear design, so the ear tips seal your canal shut. If you dislike that plugged feeling or want your ears fully open, this isn't the shape for you.
• QILIAN Open Ear Gaming — biggest strength: Ear-hook open-ear fit with dual-mode wireless (Bluetooth 6.0 plus a 2.4GHz USB dongle) and a detachable rotatable boom mic — a genuinely flexible work-and-game setup, up to 20 hours per charge in Bluetooth.
• QILIAN Open Ear Gaming — biggest trade-off: The open design deliberately lets ambient sound in, and its noise control is listed as sound isolation rather than active noise cancelling. It's also not compatible with Xbox.
• Who each pick is for: Buds 2a suits commuters, call-heavy workers and anyone who wants noise control they can tune; QILIAN suits glasses wearers, long-session gamers and people who need to hear their surroundings.
The Buds 2a is built around control. You get 42dB smart active noise cancelling, and the Nothing X app lets you adjust ANC levels — including transparent mode — alongside custom EQ profiles. That last part is the whole point of this comparison: a transparent mode done properly means you can leave the buds in, drop the ANC, and hold a conversation or hear an announcement without pulling anything out of your ears. The 12.4mm bio-fiber dynamic driver, co-tuned with DIRAC, is aimed at what the spec sheet calls a warm soundstage with rich mids and crisp bass, which is a listening-first tuning rather than a monitoring one.
Buy it if you want an in-ear pair that can either shut the world out or let it back in on command, and if you take calls in noisy places — the ENC mic array and Bluetooth 5.4 are the relevant specs there. Skip it if you've never liked silicone-tip seals, if you need a boom mic for conference calls, or if you want your ears completely unobstructed while you run or game.
QILIAN Open Ear Gaming: Who It's For
The QILIAN A7 Ultra is the opposite philosophy. Nothing goes inside your ear canal — it hooks over the ear at roughly 31g without the mic, which the spec sheet frames around glasses wearers, long study sessions and marathon gaming. The acoustic side uses large 16.2mm wool composite diaphragm drivers, and the stated goal is spatial awareness: you hear footsteps and your environment at the same time. That's the trade you're making. You get openness and comfort, and in return you accept that outside noise comes in.
The headline feature is dual-mode wireless. Bluetooth 6.0 handles calls and music, and when you want to game you plug in the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for an ultra-low latency connection — no re-pairing, works with PS5, PS4, Switch 1/2, PC and mobile. Note the sheet explicitly says it's not available for Xbox, so check your platform first. Battery is up to 20 hours in Bluetooth mode or 13 hours in 2.4GHz mode, with a 1.5-hour charge time over any USB-C cable. Two details are worth knowing before you buy: the detachable rotatable mic can prompt a "disconnected" warning if you rotate the boom past its normal range, and after you remove it you press the power button three times to activate the built-in mic for casual listening.
Buy it if you split your day between calls, workouts and console or PC gaming and want one headset that does all three without sealing your ears. Skip it if you need real noise cancelling on a flight, if you're on Xbox, or if you want a compact pocketable case — this is a hook-style headset, not a bud.
• Best for noise cancelling → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. 42dB hybrid ANC versus sound isolation only on the QILIAN.
• Best for adjustable transparency → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Transparent mode is adjustable in the app, which is exactly the feature this comparison turns on.
• Best for gaming on a console or PC → QILIAN Open Ear Gaming. The 2.4GHz dongle and low-latency mode are purpose-built for it; the Buds 2a offers a low-lag mode but over Bluetooth only.
• Best for calls with a boom mic → QILIAN Open Ear Gaming. A detachable rotatable mic plus dual-mic DNC beats a beamforming array if you're on Zoom all day.
• Best for battery life → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. 8 hours per charge and 35.5 hours with the case, versus 20 hours total on the QILIAN.
• Best for all-day comfort and glasses wearers → QILIAN Open Ear Gaming. Open-ear at ~31g with nothing pressing into your canal.
• Best for commuting and noisy offices → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. This is where ANC earns its keep.
• Best for outdoor runners who need awareness → QILIAN Open Ear Gaming. Nothing blocks traffic noise by design.
In my opinion, most people shopping this exact pairing should buy the CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Transparent mode is the deciding factor: you get 42dB of ANC when you want silence and an adjustable transparent mode when you don't, plus longer total battery life and a sealed fit that actually blocks a commute. I'd only steer you to the QILIAN Open Ear Gaming if a boom mic, a 2.4GHz dongle for PS5/PC/Switch, or an open-ear fit for glasses and long sessions is non-negotiable — and if you can live without active noise cancelling. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits your day.
what is transparency mode in headphones
Transparency mode uses the microphones to pipe outside sound into your ears while you're wearing the headphones, so you can hear conversations, announcements or traffic without removing them. On the CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a it's adjustable inside the Nothing X app as part of the ANC level settings.
how to turn off transparency mode headphones
Usually you either cycle the noise-control modes with an on-ear touch control or switch the setting in the companion app. On the Buds 2a the noise control is touch- and app-controlled, so you can move from transparent mode back to ANC or off in the Nothing X app.
what's transparency mode headphones
It's the same feature under a shorter name: the earbuds stay in, the seal stays put, and the mics feed ambient audio through so you stay aware. It's the middle ground between full active noise cancelling and turning the buds off entirely.
The QILIAN Open Ear Gaming is the more purpose-built option, with a 2.4GHz USB dongle, ultra-low latency and 13 hours in that mode, though it isn't compatible with Xbox. The CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a includes a gaming low-lag mode over Bluetooth 5.4, which is fine for mobile and casual play but uses a wireless connection rather than a dedicated dongle.
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