How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a full-size over-ear pair with the longest battery life and a proper wired fallback, choose Hmusic MS04; if you need pocket-size earbuds with true wireless freedom and a charging case you can monitor at a glance, choose AIRO Duo. Both are Bluetooth headphones with a transparency mode, but they solve completely different problems.
• Hmusic MS04 — biggest strength: Hybrid active noise cancelling rated to cut ambient noise by up to 40dB, plus up to 80 hours of playback (50 with ANC on) and a 3.5mm aux cable for wired listening.
• Hmusic MS04 — biggest trade-off: It's a bulky over-ear design at 270g, and the wired mode switches the power off entirely, so ANC and Bluetooth stop working once you plug in the cable.
• AIRO Duo — biggest strength: Three listening modes (ANC, transparency, normal) in a tiny in-ear package, with Bluetooth 5.4, touch controls, and an LED display that shows the battery level of both the case and the buds.
• AIRO Duo — biggest trade-off: Up to 20 hours of total playtime is modest next to the MS04, and there's no wired option if the battery runs dry.
• Who each pick is for: Choose the MS04 if you want maximum quiet and marathon battery for travel, office or study; choose the AIRO Duo if you want compact, sweat-resistant earbuds for workouts, commuting and calls.
The MS04 is built around one idea: shut the world out for as long as possible. Its hybrid ANC uses four microphones — two inside and two outside the earcups — to reduce ambient noise by up to 40dB. Hmusic's own description frames this around real environments: aircraft cabins running roughly 65–85dB, subway track friction at 75–100dB, and café chatter at 60–75dB. The company states the ANC brings that noise down by about 38±2dB and holds it under 70dB. That's the kind of drop that turns a loud cabin into background hum rather than a wall of sound.
When you don't want to be sealed off, transparency mode lets surrounding sound back in — useful for hearing a boarding announcement, a colleague at your desk, or traffic at a crossing. Call quality gets its own treatment: a dual-mic ENC system filters background noise by up to 40dB so your voice stays clear on the other end. And the battery numbers are the headline. A full charge (3.5 hours per the spec sheet, though Hmusic also cites a 2-hour figure) is rated for up to 80 hours of playback, dropping to 50 with ANC on. A 30-minute top-up is quoted at 20 hours of listening.
Physically, it's a 270g over-ear pair in cream white with khaki protein-leather cushions and an oval earcup shape. The headband extends 3.5cm per side (7cm total), and Hmusic says the pressure is distributed to avoid fatigue. It folds into a travel case, runs Bluetooth 5.3 with a 10m range, and drives 40mm dynamic drivers at 32 ohm across a 20Hz–20,000Hz range with 40ms latency.
AIRO Duo: Who It's For
The AIRO Duo takes the opposite approach: everything small, everything quick. These are in-ear buds in white with silicone tips in two small and two large sizes, plus a charging case and cable in the box. The core appeal is the mode switch. You get ANC for blocking distractions, transparency for staying aware of your surroundings, and a normal mode for balanced everyday listening — and you can move between them as your environment changes.
Bluetooth 5.4 is the newer standard here versus the MS04's 5.3, and AIRO emphasizes faster transmission, lower latency, and a more stable connection. Touch controls handle playback and a long-press summons your voice assistant. For calls, a dual MEMS microphone system with ANC/ENC filtering reduces background noise and lifts your voice — a sensible setup for commuting, working out, or taking calls on the move.
Sound comes from 13mm copper-ring composite dynamic drivers, which AIRO describes as delivering deep bass, balanced mids, and detailed highs. The standout everyday feature, though, is the LED digital display on the case: it shows remaining battery for both the case and the earbuds, so you always know where you stand instead of guessing. Total playtime is rated up to 20 hours, and IPX4 sweat resistance covers workouts and light rain.
Buy it if you want true wireless freedom, a compact case, visible battery status, and sweat resistance for the gym or run. Skip it if you need marathon battery, a wired backup, or the deeper passive isolation of over-ear cushions.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for maximum noise reduction → Hmusic MS04. Hybrid ANC with four mics rated up to 40dB of reduction.
• Best for portability → AIRO Duo. In-ear buds with a charging case beat a 270g foldable over-ear every time you travel light.
• Best for workouts → AIRO Duo. IPX4 sweat resistance and an ergonomic in-ear fit; the MS04 is not described as water-resistant.
• Best for wired listening → Hmusic MS04. The 3.5mm aux cable is a real backup — just remember it disables power, Bluetooth and ANC.
• Best for battery visibility → AIRO Duo. The LED display shows charge for both buds and case.
• Best for all-day comfort at a desk → Hmusic MS04. Adjustable headband and protein-leather over-ear cushions are designed for long sessions.
• Best for the latest Bluetooth → AIRO Duo. Bluetooth 5.4 versus 5.3, with an emphasis on latency and connection stability.
In my opinion, the Hmusic MS04 is the better buy for most people whose priority is quiet and endurance. If you fly, commute, or study for hours, its up-to-40dB hybrid ANC, transparency mode, and up-to-80-hour battery simply do more of the heavy lifting, and the included case and aux cable add flexibility. I'd only steer you to the AIRO Duo if portability, workouts, and quick mode-switching matter more than raw battery — in which case its IPX4 build, Bluetooth 5.4, and LED battery display make it the smarter everyday companion. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable this comparison can't cover.
which airpods have transparency mode
That question is about Apple's lineup, but the same feature exists here: both the Hmusic MS04 and the AIRO Duo include a transparency mode. On the MS04 it's a button-selected mode alongside hybrid ANC; on the AIRO Duo it's one of three modes — ANC, transparency, and normal — switched via touch controls.
how to turn airpods to transparency mode
On Apple earbuds that's a press-and-hold or a Control Center toggle. On the AIRO Duo, the equivalent is a touch control that cycles between ANC, transparency, and normal modes. On the Hmusic MS04, you switch to transparency with the on-ear buttons while the headphones are powered on over Bluetooth.
do all airpods have transparency mode
Not all Apple models do, which is why people ask. In this comparison, transparency isn't a premium extra on either product — the MS04 and the AIRO Duo both list it as a standard listening mode, so you get awareness of your surroundings without removing the headphones or buds.
how to turn on transparency mode airpods
The general idea is the same across brands: keep the device connected and powered, then cycle the noise-control mode until you reach transparency. On the AIRO Duo that's a touch press; on the MS04 it's a button press. Note that on the MS04, plugging in the 3.5mm cable powers the unit off, so modes won't work in wired mode.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: GZCRDZ Type-C vs JIMBOBO Open Ear Headphone: Air Conduction, SLASH 4 vs Avantree Audikast 3, SONY MDREX15AP vs Audiovance Vibes 202: Wired in Ear Earbuds, headphones for iphone