Headphones for a child - how to choose the safest model

Our review today is dedicated to the best wireless in-ear headphones. The attitude towards the world's first TWS earbuds was ambiguous (True Wireless Stereo - completely wireless stereo). Let us remember that they became “Apple” AirPods back in 2016. For example, columnist Eldar Murtazin (mobile-review.com) then wrote: “they will never be able to become more popular than the usual wired headphones.” Reality quickly refuted the expert’s pessimistic forecast. The total sales volume of AirPods of all generations amounts to hundreds of millions of units, and the number of clones and similarities amounts to dozens of items. Only retrogrades now deny the advantages of wireless sound transmission technology. Well, audiophiles are not ready to compromise their principles.

To be fair, musically even very good wireless in-ear headphones are inferior to all their “relatives”. On the one hand, the tiny resting mass of the headphone has its effect. On the other hand, the openness of the system. In general, TWS headphones of this type are not physically ready to produce really deep bass. In addition, the bassiness of their sound is noticeably influenced by the position in the auricle and the anatomical features of the latter. Yes, special silicone tips can partially improve the situation, but then the main advantage of the earbuds is lost - sound control of the environment, because the “transparency” mode is vanishingly rare in headphones of this category. Well, we must not forget the general disadvantage of Bluetooth communication, which is the limited bandwidth of the wireless communication channel.

The second specific feature of the earbuds is poor sound insulation , in both directions. When choosing, keep in mind that even the presence of an active noise suppression system (Active Noise Cancelling or ANC) does not guarantee complete acoustic protection from the surrounding reality. At best, ANC will attenuate the external “decibels” by half. Well, your musical preferences will not be a secret to unwitting listeners.

The third nuance is the “standard” size and geometry . The attachments mentioned above will help to a certain extent, but you have to select in-ear headphones based on your specific ears. In other words, for different models. However, as statistics show, for approximately 10% of all TWS portable lovers, in-ear headphones are better than in-ear headphones.

Headphones with ears

Headphones with ears, or the so-called Cat Ear, are very popular among ordinary citizens and celebrities; they can be found on musicians, presenters and other public figures. They belong to overhead devices, that is, they are equipped with an arc that runs along the head, at the ends of which speakers are located. The models also have a membrane that improves sound quality and creates sound insulation. In addition, it is worth noting that the sound will be located outside the auricle, which significantly reduces the load on the ears.

So, accessories with ears differ from ordinary ones, as a rule, only in design. In these devices, ears are attached to the rim; this is done using glue or special fasteners. It should also be noted that during operation the ears will glow, which creates an additional effect especially in the dark.

Wired and wireless accessories

Just like regular headphones, devices with ears come with or without a drive connection. In the second case, the connection occurs using a digital or analog signal, for which the Bluetooth module is most often used, because it is supported by most models of smartphones and laptops.

Specifications

Before purchasing a wired or wireless device, you should familiarize yourself with their technical characteristics. The sound quality will depend on these indicators. So, the main parameters that need to be paid attention to are:

• Frequency range, the frequency band that headphones produce; the wider it is, the better the sound will be. Standard indicators range from 20 to 20,000 Hz, but there are models in which this criterion exceeds 100,000 Hz. Often these indicators are inflated by manufacturers to attract buyers.
• Impedance, an indicator on which the quality of the reproduced sound, as well as power consumption, depends. It determines the compatibility of the headphones with the main device, each of which has its own specific list of capabilities. For compact portable equipment, devices with an impedance from 16 to 32 Ohms are suitable. As for more powerful professional devices, this figure should be an order of magnitude higher.
• Sensitivity determines how loud the music will be played; standard values ​​range from 90 to 120 dB, but quieter models are available. Higher sensitivity, louder sound, which reduces the load on the built-in teacher. Often this indicator is also overestimated, but generally the cheaper the headphones, the quieter the sound will be.
• Power, this parameter is indicated in watts, and it affects the quality and volume of the sound itself. It is better to opt for devices with average power, since the higher it is, the faster the device to which they are connected will discharge.
• Distortion, the indicator is indicated as a percentage, it depends on many factors, for example, on the capabilities of the amplifier built into the smartphone or player. In this case, the lower the indicator, the better the playback quality. For high-quality models, the percentage of distortion is 1-2%.

Although many units have the same characteristics, their sound may differ. Therefore, you can always test this or that model before purchasing, so as not to make a mistake with your choice.

Features of headphones for children

The criteria by which children's headphones are selected are somewhat different from those that matter to an adult user. For example, high sound quality is desirable, but not so important.

But what's really important is this:

• environmentally friendly, safe, hypoallergenic materials;
• light weight;
• structural strength;
• comfortable fit;
• Ease of Management;
• good reliable assembly;
• volume limiter;
• clear speech transmission;
• stylish design in bright colors and with additional accessories in the form of stickers and inserts.

Advantages and disadvantages of headphones

Wireless or wired headphones, which one should you choose? Each variety has its pros and cons, which should be considered before purchasing.

Wireless models

So, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of wireless devices:

Advantages:

• The absence of a cord, or rather a wire, quite often the accessory fails precisely because of the breakage of the plug, which can be pinched, broken, and so on. Accordingly, its absence eliminates the occurrence of this problem.
• Easy to use, you can take them with you everywhere, including to training, without thinking about where to put your mobile phone, since there are no restrictions created by the cord. The devices can pick up a signal within a radius of up to 10 meters from the source.
• The functionality is much higher than that of wired devices; many of the devices have voice control due to Bluetooth connection, and some even have a built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor.

Flaws:

• The time during which the devices operate, due to the fact that they are not powered by a smartphone or other device via a wire, they must be constantly recharged. The battery of such headphones wears out over time and requires replacement; the average operating time without recharging is from 4 to 8 hours.
• The sound quality is significantly worse than that of wired devices.
• The cost is usually higher.

Wired models

Now let's look at the pros and cons of wired models:

Advantages:

• The sound quality is higher, since high accuracy of its transmission is ensured;
• price lower than devices with a Bluetooth module;
• constant connection, due to the presence of the cord, the signal is not interrupted.

Flaws:

• not comfortable when playing sports;
• The wire is the weak point of the device, as it is at risk of damage.

TOP 5: The best headphones for passing exams (2022)

Hidden in the ear

5 Student earpiece

A small capsule earphone for cheating (and more) - with a wireless headset

• Micro earpiece STUDENT and Bluetooth headset – buy headphones for cheating

Student (from $50) – a small capsule mini-earphone for cheating (and not only) with a wireless headset. There are, of course, wired options, they are cheaper, but from the point of view of passing exams, a micro-earphone without wires is more logical. The kit consists of a wireless headset connected to a loop antenna and the earphone itself. That is, it is a micro-earphone with a microphone. The headset is charged from a special adapter, and a new battery of a fairly common format is inserted into the earphone each time it is used.

Capsule headphones come in different sizes, in this case a 12mm capsule is used. This is not the smallest option, but enough so that it is not visible. Unless, of course, no one carefully examines the ears.