Shield These Headphones
Even sturdy headphones are straightforward to wreck. We’ve got misplaced pairs to people standing on them, cats and robotic vacuums attacking the cables, and chairs rolling over them. I’ve discovered {that a} stand or holder is definitely worth the funding if it retains these cans off the ground. Even when your youngsters solely generally keep in mind to make use of it, that might lengthen the probably lifespan of their headphones.
We use the Satechi 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wi-fi Charger ($80), which additionally has a spot for charging your cellphone on the bottom, however there’s no have to spend that a lot. This New Bee Headphone Stand ($7) will do the trick. My PC gaming eldest has a Hanger Mount ($13) clamped to the desk, and it really works nice for holding that headset out of the best way when it’s not in use.
Different Headphones We Appreciated
These headphones did not fairly earn a spot above, however we nonetheless preferred them.
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Juice Professional Wi-fi Headphones for £35: For the 10-year-old youngsters in one among my spouse’s lessons, these headphones had been singled out as the most effective as a result of they’re very comfortable, they’re wi-fi, and so they provide respectable energetic noise cancellation. Sound high quality is respectable, the headphones are hard-wearing, and they’re comprised of 100% recycled plastics. They’re additionally low-cost for folk within the UK (sadly, unavailable stateside).
BuddyPhones Cosmos Enjoyable for $80: These headphones by Onanoff provide three volume-limiting choices at 75, 85, or 94 decibels, however that high restrict ought to solely ever be used for brief durations (50 minutes or much less). There are stickers to customise the cans, and they’re well-padded, however the verdict from the youngsters was simply “OK.” The presence of ANC and 42-hour battery life is welcome. The three.5-mm audio port permits for plugging in, and we love which you could additionally use it to hyperlink two pairs of Buddyphones and share audio (helpful in case your youngsters are sharing a pill to look at a film).
Headphones We Did not Like
These headphones didn’t cross muster, for both us or our youngsters.
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Juice Animals Wired Headphones: Simon actually wished to love these headphones as they’re made fully from recycled plastic, 20 p.c of the earnings go to The Born Free Basis, and so they are available in enjoyable panda or tiger designs. They’re additionally very inexpensive. However, sadly, each pairs we examined developed faults inside the first week.
StoryPhones: Whereas the concept of headphones that play tales based mostly on “StoryShields” you connect is intelligent, enabling youngsters to change tales simply, the StoryPhones are too costly for the construct and sound high quality, further tales are expensive, and the shields are simply misplaced.
Energy up with limitless entry to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that is too necessary to disregard for simply $2.50 $1 per thirty days for 1 12 months. Consists of limitless digital entry and unique subscriber-only content material. Subscribe At the moment.