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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds — biggest strength: a 12.4mm biofibre driver with Ultra Bass 2.0, five Dirac-tuned EQ presets, 42dB ANC and a low-latency game mode in a 55.3g package.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds — biggest trade-off: its noise cancellation is rated at 42dB rather than the adaptive hybrid approach on the QCY, and there's no wireless charging or Hi-Res codec in the specs.
• QCY MeloBuds N70 — biggest strength: 56dB hybrid ANC with six sensors, LDAC Hi-Res audio, a dual-driver setup, six mics, in-ear detection and wireless charging.
• QCY MeloBuds N70 — biggest trade-off: it's a heavier, more feature-dense earbud, and heavy ANC use drops single-charge playback from 10 hours to 7.
• Pick the CMF Buds if you want simple, bassy everyday listening, gaming and calls at a budget-friendly tier — check the current price on Amazon.
• Pick the QCY MeloBuds N70 if you want the most advanced noise cancelling, better codec support and the longest total battery life between the two.
The CMF Buds are built around one clear idea: big, warm sound in a light shell. The 12.4mm biofibre dynamic driver paired with Ultra Bass 2.0 is aimed squarely at listeners who want punchy low end, and the five EQ presets tuned with Dirac let you push the sound toward different genres without fiddling with a parametric EQ. If your playlist leans hip-hop, EDM or pop, the tuning philosophy here makes sense.
Noise cancellation is rated at 42dB with a transparency mode, and there's a 2900Hz bandwidth figure attached to the ANC system. That's a solid figure for commuting and office chatter, and the transparency mode means you can still hear announcements or a barista without pulling a bud out. The 8-hour single-charge figure and 35.5-hour case total are respectable, and the 10-minute fast charge giving 6.5 hours of playtime is genuinely useful if you forget to charge overnight. Bluetooth 5.3 brings dual-device connection plus Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.
QCY MeloBuds N70: Who It's For
The MeloBuds N70 is the more ambitious of the two on paper. QCY rates its hybrid ANC at up to 56dB using six sensors and its PureSilenz technology, which is a step up from a single-figure 42dB rating. "Hybrid" here matters: it means the system uses microphones both outside and inside the earbud to catch noise, which is generally better at handling a wider range of frequencies than a feed-forward-only design. If you fly, ride trains or work in a loud open office, that extra headroom is the reason to look here.
Audio is handled by a dual-driver arrangement: a customized ring-shape dynamic driver for the low end plus a MEMS tweeter for the highs, in a single earbud. That's a genuinely different architecture from the CMF's single dynamic driver, and it's paired with LDAC and Hi-Res wireless audio, which transfers roughly three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs. Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint keeps two devices connected at once, and Google Fast Pair handles Android setup. Six mics with AI noise cancellation and a wind-resistant algorithm target call clarity.
Battery is where it separates further: 10 hours per charge and 50 hours with the case in normal mode, dropping to 7 hours per charge and 35 hours total with ANC on. A 10-minute charge yields 2 hours, and the case supports wireless charging. In-ear detection pauses music when you remove a bud. Five eartip sizes (XS through XL) and IPX5 water resistance cover fit and sweat. Skip it if you want the lightest possible shell or don't need LDAC, wireless charging or the extra ANC depth.
• Best noise cancellation → QCY MeloBuds N70. 56dB hybrid ANC with six sensors beats the CMF's 42dB rating on paper.
• Best sound architecture → QCY MeloBuds N70. Dual-driver (dynamic + MEMS tweeter) with LDAC and Hi-Res audio is a more advanced chain than the CMF's single 12.4mm driver.
• Best bass-first tuning → CMF BY NOTHING Buds. Ultra Bass 2.0 and five Dirac-tuned EQ presets are aimed at low-end lovers.
• Best total battery life → QCY MeloBuds N70. 50 hours with the case (35 with ANC on) versus the CMF's 35.5 hours.
• Best fast-charge payoff → CMF BY NOTHING Buds. A 10-minute charge gives 6.5 hours of playtime, versus 2 hours on the QCY.
• Best for gaming and low latency → CMF BY NOTHING Buds. A dedicated low-latency/game mode is in the specs; the QCY sheet doesn't list one.
• Best for calls in wind → QCY MeloBuds N70. Six mics plus a wind-resistant algorithm is a more call-focused setup.
• Best for a light, sweat-resistant workout bud → CMF BY NOTHING Buds. 55.3g with IP54 dust and sweat protection.
• Best convenience features → QCY MeloBuds N70. Wireless charging and in-ear detection aren't in the CMF spec sheet.
• Best fit flexibility → QCY MeloBuds N70. Five eartip sizes (XS/S/M/L/XL) versus the CMF's rounded-tip design.
In my opinion, the QCY MeloBuds N70 is the stronger pick for most people who care about the "hybrid ANC" part of this comparison. The 56dB hybrid system with six sensors, the dual-driver LDAC audio chain, wireless charging and 50-hour total battery make it the more capable earbud on the numbers, and its six-mic call setup is a real advantage if you take meetings on the go.
That said, I'd point bass-first listeners, mobile gamers and anyone who wants the lightest possible shell to the CMF BY NOTHING Buds — its Ultra Bass 2.0 tuning, game mode, 6.5-hour fast-charge payoff and 55.3g weight suit workouts and casual listening well. If price is the deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since the value gap shifts with whatever each is going for.
FAQ
what is hybrid anc earbuds
what is anc earbuds
ANC stands for Active Noise Cancellation — the earbuds use microphones and electronics to generate anti-noise that reduces what you hear. Both earbuds here have it: the CMF BY NOTHING Buds at a 42dB rating, and the QCY MeloBuds N70 at up to 56dB with its hybrid system.
what are hybrid anc earbuds
They're earbuds whose noise-cancelling circuit uses both external and internal microphones working together, rather than one set. In practice that usually means better cancellation across low and mid frequencies, which matters on planes, trains and in open offices. The QCY MeloBuds N70's six-sensor, 56dB PureSilenz setup is an example from these data sheets.
what are anc earbuds
Simply put, they're wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation built in, so you can cut down background sound without turning the volume up. The CMF BY NOTHING Buds pair 42dB ANC with a transparency mode, while the QCY MeloBuds N70 pairs its 56dB hybrid ANC with adaptive behaviour — both let you switch between blocking noise and letting it in.
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