How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• AblePlanet Headset — biggest strength: patented LINX AUDIO tuning plus active noise cancellation and an in-wire volume control aimed at safe listening and clear speech.
• AblePlanet Headset — biggest trade-off: it's a single on-ear unit in green plastic, so no spare pair, no replaceable braided cord, and a narrower low-end reach (20 Hz–20 kHz) than you might expect for the price of a "premium" label.
• Generic STM1BK — biggest strength: you get two over-ear headphones with a chew-, kink- and knot-resistant 5 ft Dura-Cord and cleanable leatherette pads — built for shared and rough environments.
• Generic STM1BK — biggest trade-off: no active noise cancellation, only passive isolation, and the low end starts at 50 Hz instead of 20 Hz.
• Who each pick is for: AblePlanet → one adult who wants noise cancellation and speech clarity for calls, travel or focused listening. Generic STM1BK → parents, teachers and anyone equipping a household or classroom with backups.
The AblePlanet SH190-GRM is a wired, on-ear headset in green plastic with circular earcups and a 3.5 mm plug. What stands out in the specs is the audio engineering: patented LINX AUDIO, a dynamic driver, a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency response and 100 dB sensitivity at 1 kHz. That sensitivity figure matters — it means the headphones get loud easily from modest sources, which is exactly why the in-wire volume control is there. AblePlanet frames that control as a way to adjust to safe listening levels, and that's a genuinely thoughtful pairing with high sensitivity.
The other headline feature is active noise cancellation. This is a wired headset, but it still includes powered noise control, which puts it in a different category from most cheap wired headphones. Add the Linx Microphone compatibility and you get a headset that's clearly aimed at two jobs: listening and talking. If you spend a lot of time on calls, in open offices, or on planes where you want the drone pushed down, that combination is the reason to look here.
Who should buy it: one adult who wants a single, feature-dense wired headset — speech clarity, active noise cancellation, and volume you can trim without digging into your phone. Who should skip it: anyone buying for multiple people, anyone who wants over-ear cups for long sessions, and anyone who needs a cable that stands up to being chewed, yanked or knotted. The standard 3.5 mm cable here is a normal headphone cable, not a reinforced one, and the earcups sit on the ear rather than around it. If you're outfitting three kids with three devices, this isn't the tool for that job.
The STM1BK is sold as a pack of two Smart-Trek Mini headphones, and that framing tells you almost everything. These are over-ear, black, wired headphones with 40 mm stereo drivers, a 32 Ω impedance rating and a 50 Hz–20 kHz frequency response. The mid-sized adjustable headband is explicitly designed to fit both students and adults, so one purchase covers a wide range of heads.
Durability is the real story. The 5 ft Dura-Cord is described as chew-, kink- and knot-resistant, which is a direct response to how kids actually treat headphones. The leatherette ear cushions are easy to wipe down and provide passive noise isolation, and the whole thing is Prop 65 compliant and framed as safe for educational environments. There's an angled 3.5 mm TRS plug, which is a small but smart detail — angled plugs survive pocket and backpack stress better than straight ones.
The in-line volume wheel lets the listener adjust without reaching for the device, and universal 3.5 mm compatibility means these work with computers, tablets and anything else with a standard headphone jack. Note what's not here: no active noise cancellation, no microphone mentioned, and the low end rolls off at 50 Hz rather than 20 Hz. That's a trade-off, not a flaw — it reflects where the money went (cable and build, not audio processing).
Who should buy it: teachers, parents, and anyone who needs two working pairs and expects them to take a beating. Who should skip it: a single adult who wants active noise cancellation, the deepest possible bass extension, or a mic for calls.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for active noise cancellation → AblePlanet Headset. It's the only one of the two with powered noise control.
• Best for durability and rough handling → Generic STM1BK. Chew-, kink- and knot-resistant Dura-Cord plus cleanable pads.
• Best for equipping more than one person → Generic STM1BK. It ships as a two-pack; AblePlanet is a single unit.
• Best for extended wear comfort → Generic STM1BK. Over-ear leatherette cushions spread pressure better than the AblePlanet's on-ear circles.
• Best for low-frequency extension → AblePlanet Headset. 20 Hz versus 50 Hz at the bottom of the range.
• Best for classroom or shared-device use → Generic STM1BK. Prop 65 compliant and explicitly built for educational settings.
• Best for one adult who wants the most features in a single pair → AblePlanet Headset.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on how many people you're buying for and what you'll do with them. If I were buying for myself — calls, travel, noisy rooms, one pair — I'd take the AblePlanet Headset, because active noise cancellation, high sensitivity and the in-wire volume control are features you actually feel every day, and 20 Hz extension gives it the fuller low end of the two.
If I were buying for a household or a classroom, I'd take the Generic STM1BK without hesitation. Two pairs, a cord engineered against chewing and kinking, washable pads and a fit that spans kids to adults is a combination the AblePlanet simply can't match at one unit per box.
Not universally. It's better for a single adult who wants active noise cancellation and speech-focused tuning. The STM1BK is better for durability, multiple users and long-wear over-ear comfort. They solve different problems.
Do the STM1BK headphones have noise cancellation?
No. They rely on passive isolation from the leatherette ear cushions, not powered active noise cancellation. The AblePlanet Headset is the one with active noise cancellation in its specs.
Yes. Both are wired and both use a standard 3.5 mm plug, so any device with a headphone jack works. Just check whether your device still has that jack, since many newer phones don't.
I can't quote prices here, and you shouldn't trust a number someone wrote months ago. Check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page and compare the two directly.
Yes — it's listed as a pack of two, which is the main reason it fits classrooms, families and shared workstations so well.
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