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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Altec Lansing's biggest strength: Active Noise Cancellation plus a customizable 85dB volume limit — hearing protection and quiet in one package, which is exactly the point of a kids' headphone.
• Altec Lansing's biggest trade-off: It's an on-ear design with a kid-focused feature set, so adults wanting a neutral, big-bass listening headphone may find it limiting.
• Generic B39's biggest strength: Over-ear fit, Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 33 feet of range, a built-in microphone and 105dB sensitivity for louder, fuller sound.
• Generic B39's biggest trade-off: It has passive noise cancellation only, no volume cap, a much shorter per-charge playtime figure, and a three-month warranty.
• Who each is for: Altec Lansing for parents buying for a child; Generic B39 for teens, students and adults who want an inexpensive everyday Bluetooth headset.
This is a headphone designed around one idea: letting a child listen without you worrying about their ears. The headline feature is the customizable 85dB volume limit. That's the same number as the headphone's listed sensitivity (85dB), and it's the reason this model exists — audio stays inside a level considered safe for young listeners. On top of that, it adds Active Noise Cancellation, which matters far more than it sounds. On a plane, in a car, or in a noisy house, ANC lets your kid hear the movie or lesson clearly at a lower volume instead of cranking it up to fight background noise. Those two features work together, which is a smarter design than either one alone.
The rest of the spec sheet reads like it was written by someone who has met a seven-year-old. It's IPX4 sweatproof, so a sweaty playground session or a spilled water bottle isn't a crisis. The plastic enclosure and on-ear cushions are built to survive being shoved into a backpack, and the foldable design means it collapses down instead of getting crushed. Comfort gets real attention too — soft ear cushions, an adjustable headband and plush padding to reduce ear pressure, which is what actually determines whether a child keeps them on for a two-hour flight or rips them off in ten minutes.
Battery is listed as 10 days of average life, and the box includes a cable, a protective case and a manual — and crucially, a 3.5mm jack. That wired option means unlimited listening when the battery runs out, which is the kind of practical detail parents appreciate. It also carries a one-year manufacturer warranty, and Bluetooth range is a claimed 10 meters, plenty for a kid moving around a room.
Buy it if you're shopping for a child age 7+ and volume safety, ANC and durability are your priorities. Skip it if you're an adult who wants maximum loudness, heavy bass or a microphone for calls — that's not what this headphone is for.
The B39 goes the other direction entirely. It's a generic, budget-minded over-ear Bluetooth headset aimed at adults, with the features a general listener actually notices: Bluetooth 5.0 with a claimed 33-foot range, a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, and 40mm dynamic drivers tuned for deep bass. The 105dB sensitivity figure tells you this thing is meant to get loud — a very different design goal from the Altec Lansing's capped output. It also lists 32 ohm impedance and a 20Hz frequency response, and a stated audio latency of 40 milliseconds, which is a spec worth noting if you're watching video, since lower latency means audio staying closer in sync with the picture.
The design is over-ear, which typically spreads pressure around the ear rather than pressing on it, and it's listed at 7.76 ounces — light enough for long sessions, especially with the soft, breathable protein-material ear cushions and adjustable headband mentioned in the description. It folds down too, and comes with a carrying case measuring 6.8 x 4.7 x 3.1 inches, so it's genuinely travel-friendly. There's a 3.5mm jack as well, so you can go wired when you want to. You also get button controls and an inline remote, plus an on/off switch for the multicolored LED lighting — a fun touch if you like that look, and something you can turn off when you don't.
The trade-offs are real, and you should know them going in. Noise control is passive only — the ear cups block some sound physically, but there's no active cancellation. Battery life is listed as 3 hours of playtime from a 2-hour charge, which is short; the quick-charge angle softens it, but this is a headphone you'll plug in often. The age range is listed as adult, there's no volume limit, and the warranty is three months. It's also a single-item package.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a child's hearing safety → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. The 85dB volume limit is the single most important difference between these two.
• Best for blocking out noise → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. It has Active Noise Cancellation; the B39 has passive only.
• Best for battery life → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. Its listed 10-day average battery life far outpaces the B39's 3 hours of playtime.
• Best for loudness and bass → Generic B39. 105dB sensitivity and 40mm deep-bass drivers versus a volume-capped design.
• Best for calls → Generic B39. It includes a microphone; the Altec Lansing is built for listening, not talking.
• Best for long wireless range → Generic B39. Bluetooth 5.0 with a claimed 33-foot reach versus 10 meters on the Altec Lansing.
• Best for durability and kid handling → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. IPX4 sweatproofing and a one-year warranty versus a three-month warranty.
• Best for fit → Depends on the head. On-ear (Altec Lansing) suits smaller heads; over-ear (B39) suits adults wanting less ear pressure.
If I were buying for a child, I'd take the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise without hesitation. The volume limit, active noise cancellation, IPX4 rating and one-year warranty are exactly the features that matter for a young listener, and the foldable, cushioned design is built for how kids actually treat their gear. I'd only reach for the Generic B39 if I were shopping for myself or a teenager — someone who wants a loud, bass-forward, over-ear Bluetooth headset with a mic and doesn't need a volume cap. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the value comparison shifts with whatever each one costs today.
FAQ
Yes, in my opinion — it's designed specifically for ages 7+, with an 85dB volume limit, ANC, IPX4 sweatproofing and a one-year warranty. That combination is hard to beat for a child's first real headphone.
Only passive noise cancellation, which means the ear cups physically block some outside sound. There's no active noise cancellation, so it won't create the quiet bubble the Altec Lansing does.
The Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise, by a wide margin — it's listed at 10 days of average battery life, while the B39 gives about 3 hours of playtime per 2-hour charge.
Yes. Both include a 3.5mm jack, so you can plug in when the battery runs low or when you want zero wireless latency — handy on a plane or with a laptop.
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