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Adults aren’t the only ones who enjoy a rocking beat and a good tune; kids love music too, even if their tastes are occasionally questionable and you’re often driven round the twist by the dreadful toy-town music and plinky-plinky computer game sound effects emanating from the child’s bedroom. What they need is a pair of headphones.
However, you can’t just slap a pair of adult headphones on a child because children’s eardrums are extremely delicate things that can be irreparably damaged if subjected to constant high volumes of noise, especially if that noise is within close proximity to the eardrums. Child-specific headphones, by contrast, are fitted with a volume limiter, making it impossible for them to hear music louder than a specific level.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and most auditory health bodies suggest 85dB as an effective noise safety limit for children, though some organisations like the US Environmental Protection Agency think that even 85dB may still be too high – they have proposed 70dB as a safer noise exposure level.
However, 70dB is extremely quiet, possibly too quiet to comfortably listen to music if there’s ambient noise in the area. For that reason, most manufacturers of children’s headphones have opted for the 85dB volume limit which, to the adult ear, seems perfectly quiet enough to save little eardrums from possible long-term damage.
We’ve selected six very capable contenders that meet all noise safety requirements, while also providing an immersive listening experience that will keep all but the most fidgety of youngsters firmly ensconced, whether it be listening to their favourite music, playing a computer game or watching a movie from an aircraft seat.
We should add that, aside from the Puro BT220s, none of these headphones sound a patch on a half-decent pair of adult cans. But then most young children don’t notice audio quality. Read on for the lowdown.
JBL JR300BT Wireless Bluetooth Kids Headphones
£29.99, Very
Best for: Overall value
Key specs – Bluetooth: Yes; Wired: No; Maximum volume level: 85dB; Weight: 113g; Battery life: 12 hours; Charging time: 2 hours; Colour options: 3
These great-looking headphones are fitted with soft cups for maximum visual impact and Bluetooth for cable-free listening pleasure. For the price, the JBLs offer excellent sound quality with deep bass response and a lush treble that’s remarkably easy on the ears. The swivel mechanism on the cups, meanwhile, ensures they fit snug over the ears with zero ingress of ambient noise. They’re supremely comfortable, too, and highly expandable to fit a range of head sizes.
This particular model of headphone is available in two variants – the Bluetooth version featured here and a wired version. It’s a shame JBL wasn’t able to combine both wired and Bluetooth in one system, like the PurosOUND Labs BT2200 reviewed below, because there will come a time when the child may wish to use them with a non-Bluetooth device like a TV or older gaming console.
Nevertheless, these kiddy cans represent superb value for money – they have a great sound and that cheerful colour scheme is suitable for both boys and girls.
PuroSound Labs BT2200 On-Ear Headphones
£49.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Discerning teenage music lovers
Key specs – Bluetooth: Yes; Wired: Yes; Maximum volume level: 85dB; Weight: 170g; Battery life: 18 hours; Charging time: 3 hours; Colour options: 6
This is unquestionably the best-sounding pair of kids’ headphones in this test but they are expensive. The Puro BT2200s offer supreme sound quality that’s comparable with a decent pair of adult cans. They genuinely make music sing with oodles of bottom end, crisp, silky treble and a very decent mid-range.
They’re extremely well made, too, with metal outer frames and soft, white faux-leather swivelling ear cups that provide an intimate listening experience with very little intrusion of ambient noise. They can be used both wired or via Bluetooth –expect around 18 hours of Bluetooth playback on a single charge.
This pair are available in a range of colours and come in a pro-style zippered hard case for extra snazziness. If your child is a discerning music lover, then these are arguably the best child-specific headphones on the market right now.
Onanoff InFlight BuddyPhones
£34.90 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Use on planes
Key specs – Bluetooth: No; Wired: Yes; Maximum volume level: 94dB; Weight: 109g; Battery life: N/A (wired only); Charging time: N/A (wired only); Colour options: 5
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If you’re looking for a pair of children’s headphones suitable for flying with, then step right this way. The BuddyPhones are wired only and come with three preset peak volume levels: 75dB for toddlers, 85dB for older kids and 94db for in-flight entertainment, where noise from the aircraft can spoil the listening experience.
Reassuringly, the peak volume dial on the left cup is too stiff for young hands to adjust so there’s little chance of them overriding the volume level preset while you’re not looking.
Sound quality is pretty good though, it would be about ten times better had the manufacturers incorporated swivelling mechanisms for each ear cup. As they stand, the cups sit square against the ear leaving a small gap that considerably lowers the quality of the bass response; you really hear the improved sound quality when you force them to cover the ears completely.
On the plus side, the BuddyPhones come with a special connector that fits all airline ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment) systems, a dual headphone connector that allows a friend to share the experience, a pause button on the cable and a neat nylon sack to carry them in. Good value.
Snuggly Rascals Kids Headband Headphones
£14.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Winter and outdoor use
Key specs – Bluetooth: No; Wired: Yes; Maximum volume level: 85dB; Weight: 54g; Battery life: N/A (wired only); Charging time: N/A (wired only); Colour options: 7
For younger children who want to look cool and keep their ears warm as winter approaches, the Snuggly Rascals are a great budget option. Rather cleverly, not only will the fleecy headband adjust to fit a variety of small heads, but the two concealed flat speaker inserts can be moved around to fit perfectly over both ears. Sound quality is a bit on the boxy side but it’s perfectly acceptable for younger ears that haven’t heard anything better to compare them to.
Snuggle Rascals come with a decently long cable and are available in seven chirpy designs that are appropriate for both girls and boys – penguin, panda, monster, kitten, pig, owl and unicorn. However, given that these headphones are more suited to outdoor use, parents should pre-warn their kids of the dangers of playing music if anywhere near traffic.
iFrogz Little Rockerz
£24.99, Zagg
Best for: Toddlers
Key specs – Bluetooth: No; Wired: Yes; Maximum volume level: 85dB; Weight: 80g; Battery life: N/A (wired only); Charging time: N/A (wired only); Colour options: 6
These cute toddler cans are fitted with furry ear cups and are consequently the comfiest of the lot. In fact, they are among the most comfortable headphones our tester has ever worn, not that any adult would wish to be seen on the street wearing a pair of fluffy ears.
These aren’t the best-sounding headphones in toy town though, sound quality is muddled with diluted treble, a rather dull mid-range and cotton wool bass. Nevertheless, for the undiscerning toddlers they’re aimed at, it’s more than enough, and besides, a slightly muffled sound is likely to be easier on little eardrums.
Little Rockerz are available in a range of different themes to suit both boys and girls and come supplied with a coiled cable and an extra input for a friend to share the beat.
JLab JBuddies Studio Bluetooth Headphones
£29.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Extra features
Key specs – Bluetooth: Yes; Wired: Yes; Maximum volume level: 85dB; Weight: 195g; Battery life: 13 hours; Charging time: 3 hours; Colour options: 2
These snug-fitting, feature-filled Bluetooth headphones are perfectly adequate for undiscerning ears but those after a more rounded sound quality may find them a little lacking in the bass department and a trifle thin in both the treble and mid-range frequencies. They also sound a touch quieter than other models in this roundup.
On the plus side though, the JBuddies provide an ear cup-mounted rocker switch to lower or raise the volume and skip tracks without having to reach for the phone or MP3 player, and a built-in microphone to take calls or summon the help of Apple Siri or Google Assistant.
This article has been updated. It was originally published in November 2018.
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