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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a pair of on-ear wireless headphones with genuine ambient awareness built around a transparency mode, choose km5 Hp1; if you need compact in-ear sport earbuds with a touch screen, active noise cancelling and EQ presets for workouts, choose jaddsa Earbuds.
• km5 Hp1 biggest strength: On-ear design with ANC and a dedicated Transparency Mode, plus interchangeable magnetic ear pads and 24-hour playtime.
• km5 Hp1 biggest trade-off: It's a headband headphone, so it's bulkier than earbuds and not built around gym use.
• jaddsa Earbuds biggest strength: In-ear sport fit with a multifunctional touch screen, 5 EQ modes and 40Hz bass response.
• jaddsa Earbuds biggest trade-off: No transparency mode is listed, and the plastic in-ear build is aimed at workouts rather than all-day wear.
• Who should buy km5 Hp1: Commuters, remote workers and anyone who wants to switch between noise cancelling and hearing the room.
• Who should buy jaddsa Earbuds: Runners, gym-goers and people who want compact earbuds with quick touch controls.
The km5 Hp1 is an on-ear headphone with a clear design story. It weighs just 3.6 oz (103g), which is very light for an on-ear model, and it uses 40mm dynamic drivers powered by Bluetooth 5.4. That combination points to a headphone you can wear for long stretches without the clamp-and-heat problem that heavier on-ears develop. If you work at a desk or commute daily, the light weight matters more than almost any other spec.
What makes it stand out in this matchup is the noise-control setup. It offers Active Noise Cancelling and a Transparency Mode you can switch to when you need to hear what's going on around you — a train announcement, a barista calling your name, a colleague at your desk. That back-and-forth between "block everything out" and "let the world back in" is the whole point of the Hp1 for most buyers. On top of that, you get interchangeable magnetic ear pads so you can swap the look, lossless USB-C audio for wired listening, and up to 24 hours of wireless playtime per charge.
I'd recommend the km5 Hp1 for commuters, office workers, students and anyone who wants an actual headband headphone rather than something stuffed in their ears. The retro-modern finish also makes it a piece you don't mind leaving on a desk. Who should skip it? If your priority is a secure fit while running or lifting, or if you want something that disappears into a pocket, this isn't the shape you want. It's also an on-ear headphone, so it won't seal like an over-ear model — that's a design reality, not a flaw.
The jaddsa Earbuds are built around movement. They're true in-ear earbuds in Dark Blue with a plastic enclosure, a 32-ohm impedance and a 40Hz–20,000Hz frequency range driven by 12mm dynamic drivers. That 12mm driver size is on the larger end for earbuds, and the low 40Hz extension is what the brand leans on for the "punchy bass" character. For gym sessions, runs and workouts, that bass-forward tuning is exactly what most people want.
The headline feature is the multifunctional touch screen, which is unusual in this category. Instead of fumbling with your phone mid-set, you get on-device touch control. You also get 5 EQ modes — Rock, Hip-hop and Pop presets among them — so you can match the sound to the tempo of your workout without digging through an app. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection, and there's no headphone jack, which is expected for this class of earbud.
I'd recommend the jaddsa Earbuds for runners, cyclists, gym regulars and anyone who wants compact earbuds with quick access controls. The in-ear shape is the right call for sweat and movement. Who should skip them? Anyone who specifically wants a transparency mode to stay aware of traffic or conversation — that's the km5 Hp1's territory, and it isn't listed as a feature here. If you want a headband headphone for long desk sessions, these aren't it either. And note the fit: in-ear means you're dependent on tip seal for both comfort and bass, which some people never quite get used to.
• Best for transparency mode → km5 Hp1. It's the only one of the two with a transparency mode listed, and it's switchable on the fly.
• Best for noise cancelling on a commute → km5 Hp1. ANC plus a 3.6 oz on-ear frame is a commuter-first combination.
• Best for workouts and sport → jaddsa Earbuds. In-ear fit, sport-oriented build, touch controls you can hit mid-run.
• Best for bass and EQ flexibility → jaddsa Earbuds. 12mm drivers reaching down to 40Hz with 5 selectable EQ presets.
• Best for long listening sessions → km5 Hp1. Up to 24 hours of playtime and a light on-ear design.
• Best for wired listening → km5 Hp1. Lossless USB-C audio is part of the package; the jaddsa Earbuds have no jack at all.
• Best for customization → km5 Hp1. Magnetic, interchangeable ear pads let you change the look, with two color options included.
• Best for staying aware while exercising outdoors → km5 Hp1, purely because of transparency mode — but if you want an in-ear fit for running, the jaddsa Earbuds remain the more appropriate shape.
In my opinion, the km5 Hp1 is the better buy for most people comparing these two, because transparency mode is the deciding feature in this matchup and only the km5 Hp1 has it. Add the 3.6 oz weight, 24-hour playtime, USB-C wired audio and swappable ear pads, and it covers commuting, working and casual listening without compromise.
That said, I'd point anyone whose listening happens in a gym, on a track or on a bike toward the jaddsa Earbuds instead. The in-ear fit, touch screen and 5 EQ modes are genuinely better suited to that environment. Pick by where you'll actually wear them.
which airpods have transparency mode
Apple's AirPods Pro and AirPods Max models are the ones with transparency mode; standard non-Pro AirPods don't offer it. Neither product on this page is an Apple product — if transparency mode is your priority here, the km5 Hp1 is the one that lists it.
how to turn airpods to transparency mode
On AirPods Pro you press and hold the force sensor on the stem, or use the Control Center toggle on your iPhone. On the km5 Hp1, the equivalent is switching the headphone's noise-control setting to Transparency Mode rather than ANC.
do all airpods have transparency mode
No — transparency mode is limited to the Pro and Max lines. The same logic applies to this comparison: not every headphone here has it, and only the km5 Hp1 lists transparency mode among its features.
how to turn on transparency mode airpods
You cycle through noise-control modes until you reach transparency, either from the stem control or your device's settings. On the km5 Hp1 you do the same thing in principle — switch from ANC to Transparency Mode when you want ambient sound let in naturally.
If you're weighing these against each other, check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding — the specs point in different directions, and the button on this page will take you straight there.
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