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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• syndesmos CM7002 — biggest strength: a genuine gaming setup in one box: 50mm dynamic drivers, 7.1 surround processing, an ENC boom microphone and a scroll volume dial with one-click mute.
• syndesmos CM7002 — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, weighs 12.34 ounces, and needs a splitter cable on PC plus an adapter on Xbox controllers.
• Oraolo Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: freedom of movement: Bluetooth 6.0 wireless, just 0.2 oz per bud, IPX6 water resistance and 21 hours of total playtime via the charging case.
• Oraolo Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: no boom mic, no wired fallback, and open-ear design means you never get sealed, isolating sound.
• Buy the syndesmos CM7002 if you play on PS5, PS4, PC, Switch or Xbox and need voice chat that teammates can actually hear.
• Buy the Oraolo Open Ear Headphones if you run, cycle, lift or commute and want your ears left open to traffic and surroundings.
The CM7002 is unapologetically a gaming product. Its core is a 50mm dynamic driver paired with a large PET diaphragm, and syndesmos tunes the whole package around reproducing game audio directionally — footsteps, gunshots, engine noise — so you can place where things are happening. The 7.1 surround processing is the headline feature here, and for anyone playing shooters or battle royales, that positional cueing matters more than music fidelity ever will.
The physical design tells the same story. It is an over-ear headset with oval earcups in an ABS, polycarbonate and leather build, a light pink colorway, and an 8-level adjustable head beam that syndesmos claims fits a wide range of head sizes. The earpads use an imitation protein material that the brand says improves comfort over its previous generation. A 6.9-foot braided cable runs to a 3.5mm jack, with a scroll wheel for volume and a one-click mute button right on the headset — small conveniences that matter when you are mid-match and don't want to alt-tab.
The microphone is where this headset earns its place. It uses ENC (environmental noise cancellation) to cut background noise, and syndesmos enlarged the mic head for better pickup. It also rotates a full 360 degrees so you can park it out of the way. Compatibility is broad on paper: PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, laptops, tablets and phones, all through the 3.5mm interface. Read the fine print, though. On PC you need the included audio/mic splitter adapter. On Xbox you need an adapter for the controller or volume drops noticeably. On Switch the mic won't work at all due to console limitations. And the USB port is only there to power the RGB lighting on a PC host — it is not a data or audio connection.
Who should buy it: console and PC gamers who want surround-style audio and a real boom mic in one wired package, and who don't mind a cable. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, anyone who mostly listens to music on a phone, and anyone who needs a mic that works on Switch.
The Oraolo set is the opposite philosophy entirely. These are open-ear clip-on earbuds, meaning they hook over your ear and fire sound toward the canal without plugging it. That single design choice drives everything else: you stay aware of traffic, conversation and surroundings while your audio plays. Oraolo pairs a 13mm dynamic driver with a digital audio processor and Qualcomm aptX HD decoding, aiming for deep bass and clean highs rather than the boomy, positional sound a gaming headset chases.
Weight is the real selling point. At 0.2 oz per bud, these are about as unobtrusive as audio gear gets, and the shape-retaining clip is designed to stay put through long wear without the fatigue that comes from clamping over your ears. For running, hiking, cycling and gym sessions, that combination — light, secure, and open to the world — is exactly what you want.
Battery and durability back it up. Oraolo rates a single charge at up to 7 hours at medium volume, with the charging case stretching total use to 21 hours. USB-C fast charging gives you roughly an hour of listening from a 10-minute top-up, which is the kind of detail that saves you on the way out the door. IPX6 means heavy sweat and rain are not a problem. On the connectivity side, Bluetooth 6.0 delivers stable transmission up to about 33 feet, with auto power-on and pairing the moment you lift them from the case. Calls run through ENC, which analyzes and counters background noise in real time.
The trade-offs are honest ones. There is no headphone jack at all — this is wireless or nothing, so a dead battery means silence until you charge. There is no boom mic, so voice pickup relies on the built-in ENC array, which is fine for calls but not a substitute for a gaming mic. And open-ear sound means you will never get isolation; if you want to block out a noisy train, this is the wrong tool. Controls are touch-based on the bud itself.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gaming and voice chat → syndesmos CM7002. The 7.1 surround processing and ENC boom mic are built for exactly this.
• Best for fitness and outdoor use → Oraolo Open Ear Headphones. IPX6, 0.2 oz per bud, and an open design that keeps you aware of your surroundings.
• Best for wireless freedom → Oraolo Open Ear Headphones. Bluetooth 6.0 with roughly 33 feet of range versus a 6.9-foot cable.
• Best for all-day battery → Oraolo Open Ear Headphones. Up to 21 hours total with the case, and 10 minutes of charging returns about an hour of playback.
• Best for console compatibility → syndesmos CM7002. It covers PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Switch over 3.5mm (with the noted adapter caveats).
• Best for driver size and positional audio → syndesmos CM7002. 50mm dynamic drivers versus 13mm in the Oraolo.
• Best for portability → Oraolo Open Ear Headphones. They live in a pocket-sized charging case; the CM7002 is a 12.34-ounce over-ear headset.
• Best for mixed music and calls on the move → Oraolo Open Ear Headphones. aptX HD decoding and ENC call clarity suit this better than a gaming headset.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: are you sitting at a screen to play, or moving through the world? If it's the former, I would buy the syndesmos CM7002 — the 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround processing and ENC boom mic make it the more capable tool for competitive gaming and team chat, and the wired connection is a fair trade for that. If it's the latter, I would buy the Oraolo Open Ear Headphones — the 0.2 oz clip-on design, IPX6 protection and 21-hour case life make them the one you'll actually keep wearing. They solve different problems, and I wouldn't try to make either do the other's job.
FAQ
how to headphones work
how to headphones on iphone
The Oraolo Open Ear Headphones pair to an iPhone over Bluetooth 6.0 and auto-connect when removed from the case — no cable needed. The syndesmos CM7002 uses a 3.5mm jack, so a modern iPhone without a headphone port would need an adapter. Both list phone compatibility, but only the Oraolo connects wirelessly out of the box.
how to headphones noise cancelling
Neither product offers active noise cancellation in the traditional sense. The syndesmos CM7002 uses sound isolation from its over-ear earcups plus ENC on the microphone for calls, while the Oraolo uses ENC for call clarity and an open-ear design that deliberately lets outside sound in. If you want to block out the world, neither is built for that.
how to headphones with a mic
The syndesmos CM7002 has a dedicated 360-degree rotating boom microphone with ENC and a one-click mute — the better choice for voice chat, though the mic won't function on Switch. The Oraolo Open Ear Headphones rely on a built-in ENC mic array, which handles phone calls well but isn't a substitute for a gaming boom mic.
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