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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want active noise cancelling earbuds with a real transparency mode, choose QCY HT05; if you need replacement ear cushions that keep transparency mode and ANC working on your AirPods Max, choose MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads.
• QCY HT05 — biggest strength: three noise cancelling modes (transport, outdoor, indoor) plus a transparency mode you toggle by holding either earbud, backed by up to 30 hours of total playtime with the case.
• QCY HT05 — biggest trade-off: it's a complete pair of Bluetooth 5.2 earbuds, not a spare part, so it only makes sense if you actually need new earbuds.
• MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads — biggest strength: magnetic installation plus washable mesh-and-memory-foam cushions that are explicitly built to preserve both noise cancellation and transparency mode on AirPods Max.
• MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads — biggest trade-off: it does nothing on its own — no drivers, no battery, no Bluetooth — it only refreshes headphones you already own.
• Buy QCY HT05 if you want one self-contained audio product with ANC and transparency built in.
• Buy MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads if your AirPods Max cushions are worn, flattened or unhygienic and you want the transparent mode to still sound right afterward.
The HT05 is a complete true-wireless package. Inside each bud sits a 10 mm LCP graphene dynamic driver paired with a DAIKOKU CCAW coil, tuned for deep bass and a stereo image with detail. Around that, QCY builds the feature set people actually shop for: three noise cancelling modes tuned to transport, outdoor and indoor environments, so you can match the cancellation to where you are instead of accepting one generic setting. The transparency side is just as deliberate — a two-second touch on either earbud disables noise cancelling and pipes the outside world in, which is the mode you'll use for quick conversations or for hearing traffic while walking.
Buy it if you want one product that covers commuting, gym, calls and gaming without buying anything else. Skip it if your headphones are already fine and you only need to replace a worn part — the HT05 has nothing to do with that problem.
MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads: Who It's For
These are ear cushions for AirPods Max, and the design choices are all about not ruining what the headphones already do. The attachment is magnetic, so swapping cushions is quick and doesn't require tools. More importantly, the cushions are explicitly built to support both Active Noise Cancellation and transparency mode at full fidelity — which matters, because a cushion that seals badly is exactly what makes transparency mode sound thin and ANC feel weak.
The materials explain the intent. The original-style wrap is roughly 80% mesh fabric and 20% leather; MC Magic Cushion went with a custom mesh textile wrap instead, describing it as softer, more breathable and more three-dimensional, formed in one piece so the fit is tighter with no sound leakage. Inside is slow-rebound memory foam with a high compression-to-load ratio — it springs back, breathes, feels good to the touch and is meant to stay comfortable over long sessions. The cushions are washable, which is the practical answer to sweat, oil and the slow flattening that makes old pads feel clammy. You get two cushions in blue, and a one-year warranty.
Buy it if you own AirPods Max and the pads are tired, smelly or losing their seal. Skip it if you don't own AirPods Max — there's no other headphone this fits.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for restoring headphones you already own → MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads. Two magnetic cushions, no electronics required.
• Best for transparency mode use → both, for different reasons. The HT05 gives you transparency as a built-in feature; the MC Magic Cushion pads are designed to preserve transparency mode on AirPods Max instead of degrading it.
• Best for long sessions → QCY HT05. Up to 7.5 hours per charge and 30 hours total, versus cushions whose job is comfort over long wear.
• Best for hygiene and maintenance → MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads. Washable construction is the whole point.
• Best for calls and voice clarity → QCY HT05. Six mics with AI voice pickup and automatic wind-noise reduction.
• Best for noise control in specific places → QCY HT05. Transport, outdoor and indoor modes let you match cancellation to the environment.
• Best for a two-minute fix → MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads. Magnetic installation means no fiddling, no tools, no pairing.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the QCY HT05. In my opinion it's the product that stands on its own: ANC modes, transparency, six-mic calls, a 10 mm dynamic driver, app EQ and up to 30 hours of playtime make it a complete answer for someone who needs earbuds. The MC Magic Cushion Replacement earpads are genuinely good at what they do — magnetic, washable, memory foam, transparency-friendly — but they only matter if AirPods Max are already on your shelf. Decide which problem you actually have, then check the current price on Amazon for whichever one it is.
FAQ
what is transparency mode in headphones
how to turn off transparency mode headphones
On the QCY HT05, touch either earbud for a couple of seconds to switch between noise cancelling and transparency. You can also manage noise profiles from the QCY app alongside touch controls and EQ. If you're on AirPods Max, the mode switching lives on the headphones themselves — the MC Magic Cushion pads simply support those modes rather than controlling them.
what's transparency mode headphones
It's the opposite of noise cancelling: rather than removing up to 95% of ambient noise the way the HT05's dual-mic ANC does, transparency lets that noise in on purpose. The practical use is safety and quick chats without taking your earbuds out.
Yes — a cushion that seals poorly weakens both. That's why the MC Magic Cushion pads are built with a one-piece custom mesh textile wrap for a tighter fit with no sound leakage, and are designed specifically to support both ANC and transparency mode on AirPods Max.
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