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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wireless, all-day music and video companion you can wear around the house or on a commute, choose Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK; if you need a wired, meeting-ready headset with a boom mic for calls at your desk, choose Kensington H950. These two on ear headphones look similar from across the room, but they are built for completely different jobs, and the specs make that split obvious.
• Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK biggest strength: wireless freedom with up to 60 hours of battery life, fast charging, multipairing and a 3.5 mm wired backup — a true everyday listening headphone.
• Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK biggest trade-off: no active noise cancellation and no boom microphone, so it is not the tool for professional calls in a loud office.
• Kensington H950 biggest strength: a wired USB-C connection with a noise-cancelling boom mic, flip-to-mute and in-line controls — purpose-built for Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
• Kensington H950 biggest trade-off: it is wired only, so there is no battery, no Bluetooth and no walking away from your desk with it.
• Pick the Audio-Technica if your day is music, videos, games and casual calls from a phone or tablet.
• Pick the Kensington if your day is back-to-back video meetings on a laptop and you need your voice to come through clearly.
The ATH-S220BTBK is a lightweight, relaxed-fit on ear headphone — Audio-Technica lists it at 180 g, which is the kind of number that matters when you keep headphones on for hours. The earpads are described as close-fitting to minimize sound leakage, and the closed-back on ear design uses 40 mm dynamic drivers with a claimed frequency range of 5 Hz to 32 kHz, 32 ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity. That combination points to a headphone that is easy to drive and tuned for powerful, realistic sound from any source — music, videos, games, social feeds.
The headline feature is battery. Audio-Technica rates it at up to 60 hours of use, with fast charging that gives roughly 3.5 hours from a 10-minute top-up (the brand notes results vary with usage conditions). A full charge takes about 4 hours. Bluetooth 5 keeps the wireless link running at up to 10 meters, and multipairing lets you register multiple devices — so you can stay connected to a phone and a work or school PC or tablet at the same time without re-pairing every time you switch. There is also a Low Latency Mode to cut audio lag for video and gaming, tap-to-pair with compatible Android devices, and one-button access to your phone's voice assistant for notifications, messaging and route guidance.
For calls, the built-in high-quality microphone handles crystal-clear audio without an external mic. And when you would rather go wired, the box includes a 1.2 m cable with an in-line mic and control and a gold-plated 3.5 mm plug. Touch controls sit on the earcup, and the enclosure material is stainless steel, with a plastic carrying case included.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants one pair of on ear headphones for commuting, study, gaming, streaming and casual phone calls, and who hates charging cables. The 60-hour rating and multipairing are the real reasons to pick it.
Who should skip it: if you live in video meetings and need a boom mic, hardware mute and a guaranteed wired connection, this is the wrong tool. The data sheet lists noise control as "None," so it does not actively cancel the world around you.
The Kensington H950 is not really a music headphone that happens to make calls. It is a work headset, and every spec points that way. It is a wired on ear headset that connects over USB-C, with a USB-A adapter included so it works across a wider range of laptops and desktops. The cable is 6 ft (1.8 m), which Kensington frames as enough slack to move around at your desk without unplugging — a small detail that matters more than people expect in a job where you stand up mid-call.
The microphone is the centerpiece. It is an environmental noise-cancelling (ENC) boom mic, which reduces background noise so your voice comes through clearly even in busy or loud rooms. The flip-to-mute function lets you mute instantly by rotating the mic upward — a physical gesture you can do without hunting for a button or fumbling with software. The in-line controller handles volume, call management, playback and supported voice assistant features without touching your device.
Comfort is handled with an adjustable headband for a secure fit and soft on ear cushions built for extended use. The enclosure mixes plastic, fabric and foam — a practical, lightweight build rather than a premium one. Kensington states the H950 is certified for use with Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which is the clearest signal of its intended buyer: someone whose day is scheduled meetings on those platforms.
Who should buy it: remote and hybrid workers, call-center and support staff, students in online classes, and anyone who spends hours a day talking into a laptop and needs a reliable, always-ready mic. The wired connection means zero pairing, zero battery anxiety and zero lag.
Who should skip it: if you want to walk to the kitchen with headphones on, this is not it. There is no Bluetooth and no battery in the data sheet. And since it is a wired USB headset, it is not the pick for phone-first listening or gaming on a console.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for wireless freedom → Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK. Bluetooth 5 with up to 10 m range and multipairing for two devices at once.
• Best for video meetings → Kensington H950. Wired USB-C, certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, with a boom mic.
• Best for noisy rooms → Kensington H950. The environmental noise-cancelling mic targets the noise that affects your callers, which is the opposite job from a music headphone's noise control.
• Best for instant mute → Kensington H950. Flip-to-mute by rotating the mic up beats searching for a software button mid-sentence.
• Best for gaming and video → Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK. Low Latency Mode is designed to minimize audio delay on a phone or tablet.
• Best for wired flexibility on a music headphone → Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK. The included 1.2 m cable with in-line mic lets you plug into a 3.5 mm jack when you want to.
• Best for desk-based, always-ready reliability → Kensington H950. A 6 ft cable and plug-and-play USB-C means nothing to charge and nothing to pair.
In my opinion, the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BTBK is the better buy for most people, because most people want one pair of on ear headphones that does music, video, games and casual calls without a charging routine. The 60-hour battery, multipairing and 3.5 mm backup cable cover more of daily life than any single feature on the Kensington. That said, if your income depends on being heard clearly in meetings, I would buy the Kensington H950 instead — the ENC boom mic, flip-to-mute and Teams/Zoom certification are exactly what that job needs, and no amount of battery life replaces them. Buy for the job you actually do, not the one you imagine.
how to clean on ear headphones
Wipe the earpads and headband with a soft, slightly damp cloth and let them air dry fully before use. For the ATH-S220BTBK, avoid getting moisture near the touch controls or the charging port, and keep the included cable's plug clean. For the H950, take care around the boom mic and in-line controller, since those are the parts you touch most.
how to fit on ear headphones
On ear models rest against the outside of your ear rather than around it, so the headband length is what does most of the work. The ATH-S220BTBK uses a relaxed-fit design with close-fitting earpads to limit sound leakage; the H950 has an adjustable headband for a secure fit. Adjust until the pads sit flat and evenly on both ears without pressing hard.
how to ear headphones
If you mean how to wear them: on ear headphones sit on top of the ear, with the pads resting against it and the band over the crown of your head. Set the headband so the pads are centered over each ear, then check that the left and right markers match. The ATH-S220BTBK at 180 g is light enough that a correct fit stays comfortable for long sessions.
how to open ear headphones
If you mean opening them up for repair or battery replacement, don't — the ATH-S220BTBK is a sealed stainless steel and plastic build, and the H950 is a sealed plastic, fabric and foam unit, and prying either apart risks the pads and drivers. Both carry limited warranties (two years for Audio-Technica, two years for Kensington), so contact the brand first. If you simply want to start using them, the H950 is plug-and-play over USB-C, and the ATH-S220BTBK pairs over Bluetooth.
One last practical note: since prices move around, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit — the specs above are what should drive the decision, not the number.
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