| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Model | Pink noise dBA | Music Leq/ dBA | |
2 | Key: < 80 dB: safest for eight hours of listening 80 dB to 87.9 dB: moderately safe for a few hours of listening 88.0 dB to 100 dB: use caution (total exposure for one hour or less) 100+ dB: unsafe (use for 15 minutes or less) | Although the color coding is handy for quick reference, it's important to note: Headphone sound is only one part of a child’s noise diet. Exposure to subway noises, band practice, sporting events, airplane noise, and the like can decrease the amount of listening time that is considered less likely to cause damage. Additionally, Leq is variable, in contrast to pink noise, which plays at a fixed level. However, in our testing many headphones reached higher levels when playing music, so it’s important to note the variation between the two numbers and use caution accordingly. For our current picks and more details on our testing, refer to Wirecutter’s guide to kids headphones. | ||
3 | Altec Lansing MZX4500 (Bluetooth) | 83.2 | 85.7 | |
4 | Altec Lansing MZX4500 (Wired) | 82.2 | 85.5 | |
5 | AmazonBasics Volume Limited On-Ear Headphones for Kids | 91.8 | 95 | |
6 | Avid AE-25 | 90.7 | 92.6 | |
7 | Avid AE-75 | 106 | 108.8 | |
8 | Avid AE-79 | 97.5 | 100.9 | |
9 | Avid AV-36 | 100.9 | 105.9 | |
10 | Belkin Soundform Inspire Bluetooth | 84.8 | 89.4 | |
11 | Belkin Soundform Inspire Supplied Cable in "Rockstar Mode" input | 99.7 | 104.1 | |
12 | Belkin Soundform Inspire Supplied Cable in headphone input | 87.5 dB | 98.1 | |
13 | Belkin Soundform Mini (Bluetooth) | 87.4 | 92.7 | |
14 | Belkin Soundform Mini (cable) | 89.6 | 94.8 | |
15 | Belkin Soundform Nano | 90.9 | 94.2 | |
16 | Califone CA-2 | 95.2 | 98.6 | |
17 | Coloud Boom Kids (max setting) | 106.1 | 112.1 | |
18 | Coloud Boom Kids (minimum setting) | 77.4 | 82.7 | |
19 | Direct Sound YourTones | 81 | 83.3 | |
20 | Earfun K2 (Bluetooth) | 84 | 87 | |
21 | Earfun K2 (Supplied Cable) | 99.7 | 102.4 | |
22 | Egghead 1005FAUSB | 95.4 | 101.6 | |
23 | Etymotic ETY-Kids3 | 86.6 | 88.9 | |
24 | Fuhu Nabi (kid setting) | 78.7 | 83.3 | |
25 | Fuhu Nabi (parent setting) | 89.3 | 94.6 | |
26 | Hamilton Buhl SchoolMate | 91.5 | 97.8 | |
27 | iClever BoostCare IC-HS12 | 87 | 94.6 | |
28 | iClever BTH03 (Bluetooth) | 92.2 | 97.2 | |
29 | iClever BTH03 (cable) | 92 | 97.1 | |
30 | iClever BTH12 (cable) | 94.2 | 98.6 | |
31 | iClever BTH15 Magic Switch (Bluetooth Normal Mode) | 90.7 | 96 | |
32 | iClever BTH15 Magic Switch (Bluetooth Safe Mode) | 87.8 | 93.4 | |
33 | iClever BTH15 Magic Switch (Supplied Cable Normal Mode) | 82.6 | 90.4 | |
34 | iClever BTH15 Magic Switch (Supplied Cable Safe Mode) | 83.1 | 88.2 | |
35 | iClever TransNova BTH16 (Bluetooth) | 82.1 | 86.7 | |
36 | iClever TransNova BTH16 (cable) | 90.2 | 95.1 | |
37 | iFrogz Little Rockers | 77.4 | 82.2 | |
38 | JBL JR 460NC (Bluetooth, ANC off) | 84.0 | 88.2 | |
39 | JBL JR 460NC (Bluetooth, ANC on) | 84.7 | 89.2 | |
40 | JBL JR 460NC (cable) | 93.1 | 98.4 | |
41 | JBL JR300BT | 82.8 | 87.5 | |
42 | JLab JBuddies Folding | 78.2 | 86.7 | |
43 | JLab JBuddies Learn | 85.6 | 91.9 | |
44 | JLab JBuddies Play (Bluetooth) | 84 | 88.4 | |
45 | JLab JBuddies Play (cable) | 87.2 | 91.6 | |
46 | JLab JBuddies Studio | 80.9 | 87.5 | |
47 | JLab JBuddies Studio Wireless (2020, Bluetooth) | 79.9 | 84.3 | |
48 | JLab JBuddies Studio Wireless (2020, cable) | 80.5 | 86.4 | |
49 | JVC Tinyphones HA-KD3 | 85.2 | 91.8 | |
50 | JVC Tinyphones HA-KD6 | 89.7 | 90.9 | |
51 | Kenu Groovies | 85.7 | 90.3 | |
52 | Kidrox | 75.6 | 83.7 | |
53 | Kidz Gear Bluetooth (Bluetooth) | 101.7 | 107.6 | |
54 | Kidz Gear Bluetooth (cable) | 108.4 | 114.4 | |
55 | Kidz Gear KidzControl (cable, no dongle) | 105.6 | 110.5 | |
56 | Kidz Gear KidzControl (cable, with dongle) | 82.8 | 88.3 | |
57 | KidzSafe MyDesign D.I.Y. Headphones | 82.4 | 89.7 | |
58 | LeapFrog Headphones | 89.9 | 96.7 | |
59 | Learning Headphones LH-55 | 102.4 | 107.6 | |
60 | LilGadgets Connect+ | 98.7 | 104 | |
61 | LilGadgets Connect+ Pro | 91.8 | 97.5 | |
62 | LilGadgets Untangled Pro (Bluetooth) | 88 | 92.7 | |
63 | LilGadgets Untangled Pro (cable) | 96.1 | 99.5 | |
64 | Logitech Zone Learn Analog Cable On Ear | 91.3 | 95.2 | |
65 | Logitech Zone Learn Analog Cable Over Ear | 95.3 | 100.3 | |
66 | Logitech Zone Learn USB Cable On Ear | 90 | 93.9 | |
67 | Logitech Zone Learn USB Cable Over Ear | 93.5 | 97.8 | |
68 | Maxell Action Kids | 80.6 | 83 | |
69 | Maxell Safe Soundz 3-5 | 69.5 | 79.5 | |
70 | Maxell Safe Soundz 6-9 | 84 | 88.8 | |
71 | MEE KidJamz (switched off) | 108.1 | 112.6 | |
72 | MEE KidJamz (switched on) | 79.8 | 84.4 | |
73 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (cable, ANC on) | 90.8 | 94.8 | |
74 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (kids mode, ANC off) | 91.8 | 94.5 | |
75 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (kids mode, ANC on) | 88.4 | 91.9 | |
76 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (toddler mode, ANC off) | 81.8 | 84.4 | |
77 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (toddler mode, ANC on) | 78.5 | 81.9 | |
78 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (travel mode, ANC off) | 100 | 101.9 | |
79 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos (travel mode, ANC on) | 96.5 | 99.3 | |
80 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos+ (cable) | 82.4 | 87.7 | |
81 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos+ (kid setting) | 83.3 | 86.5 | |
82 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos+ (toddler setting) | 73.9 | 77.1 | |
83 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos+ (travel setting) | 92.3 ANC on 92.8 ANC off | 95.6 ANC on 96.4 ANC off | |
84 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore | 82.1 | 88.6 | |
85 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ | 84.0 cable in either direction | 86.9 cable in either direction | |
86 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Galaxy (with dongle) | 84 | 88.7 | |
87 | Onanoff BuddyPhones InFlight (airplane mode) | 85.8 | 93.7 | |
88 | Onanoff BuddyPhones InFlight (big kid mode) | 76.9 | 84.8 | |
89 | Onanoff BuddyPhones InFlight (toddler mode) | 69.3 | 76.1 | |
90 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play (Bluetooth) | 77.7 | 80.9 | |
91 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play (cable) | 90.4 | 95.2 | |
92 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play+ (cable) | 84.4 | 89.3 | |
93 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play+ (kid setting) | 79.4 | 83.4 | |
94 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play+ (toddler setting) | 72.4 | 76.1 | |
95 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Play+ (travel setting) | 89.5 90.3 (travel with study mode on) | 93.3 93.9 (travel with study mode on) | |
96 | Onanoff Buddyphones Pop Fun (85dB mode) | 73.1 | 77.5 | |
97 | Onanoff Buddyphones Pop Fun (94dB mode) | 82.9 | 87.4 | |
98 | Onanoff Buddyphones Pop Fun (wired mode) | 81.3 | 86.5 | |
99 | Onanoff BuddyPhones School+ | 82.0 | 84.3 | |
100 | Onanoff BuddyPhones Wave | 82.3 | 87.6 |