If you want an over-ear, wired listening setup with sound-isolating cushions, choose B&W Bowers & Wilkins; if you need a lightweight, open-ear design for water activities and small ears, choose Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. The difference is fundamental: P7 surrounds the ears, while Essonio’s open-ear fit avoids enclosing them.
B&W Bowers & Wilkins vs Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones at a Glance
• B&W Bowers & Wilkins P7: Over-ear cushions and a wired connection support an immersive listening setup; the trade-off is that its ear pads completely enclose the ears.
• Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones: Open-ear design, multiple wearing modes, built-in 32 GB memory, and IPX8 waterproofing suit active use; the trade-off is that it does not provide the same enclosed, sound-isolating fit as P7.
• For small ears: Essonio’s open-ear approach may be more appealing if conventional ear cups feel cumbersome; P7 is for listeners who specifically want padded, over-ear coverage.
• Who should pick P7: Someone prioritizing a wired, over-ear listening experience and the cushioning design.
• Who should pick Essonio: Someone wanting a lightweight option for swimming, exercise, or listening without enclosing the ears.
P7 is an adult over-ear headphone built around a wired connection. Its cushioned pads enclose the ears, and their dual-cavity design is intended to maintain a consistent space between the ear and the driver. The driver design is aimed at controlled sound, while the product information lists a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Those details point to a listening experience designed around full ear coverage rather than an open, lightweight fit.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-20 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
That makes P7 the more straightforward choice for someone who wants a traditional over-ear format, sound isolation, and a cable-based setup. It folds for carrying, and its pads attach magnetically, so they can be detached for replacement or cable changes. Those are useful design details for someone who expects to keep and maintain a pair of headphones.
The main fit question is important for small ears: P7’s pads surround the ears rather than resting in or around the ear opening. That may be welcome if you want a padded enclosure, but it is not the most natural match for someone seeking an open-ear headphone. P7 is also wired, so skip it if wireless listening or water use is central to your routine.
Essonio is a wireless, open-ear headphone with a listed weight of 35 g and a 10-hour battery life. The product description gives three listening modes—bone conduction, directional air conduction, and true wireless in-ear—and the product information lists Bluetooth 5.3. It also has built-in 32 GB memory, which may be useful when you want to listen without relying on a phone connection.
Its clearest practical advantage is versatility around activity. The listed IPX8 waterproof rating and built-in MP3 player make it the more relevant option for swimming, while the open-ear design and neckband or ear-hook modes offer alternatives to a conventional over-ear cup. Someone searching for the best IPX7 waterproof sleep headphones for small ears should note that this product is listed as IPX8, but the provided information does not establish that it is designed for sleep. A waterproof rating alone does not make a headphone a sleep model.
Essonio is also the more plausible pick for someone looking for a kids headset for small ears, but the product information describes its age range as adult, teen, and kids; it does not provide sizing measurements. That means the label does not guarantee a particular child’s fit. And although the open-ear format may suit a shopper seeking the best open ear headphones for small ears, its in-ear mode is a different fit choice. Buyers should consider which of the three modes they actually expect to use.
• Best for an over-ear, sound-isolating fit → B&W Bowers & Wilkins. P7’s cushioned pads fully enclose the ears, making it the clear choice if that physical design is what you want.
• Best for swimming → Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. Its listed IPX8 rating and built-in 32 GB memory make it the activity-focused option. P7 is not described as waterproof.
• Best for a wired setup → B&W Bowers & Wilkins. P7 connects by cable and has a 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for listening without enclosing the ears → Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. Its open-ear design is the better match for that preference, though the product also includes a sealed in-ear mode.
• Best for carrying music on the headphones → Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. The built-in MP3 player and 32 GB memory are useful if you want local playback as an option.
• Best for replaceable, detachable ear pads → B&W Bowers & Wilkins. Its pads attach magnetically and can be removed.
• Best for small ears when over-ear cups feel like too much → Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. Its open-ear and ear-hook options avoid the fully enclosing shape of P7, but no precise fit dimensions are provided.
• Best for one pair across different activities → Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones. Its listed modes, wireless connection, and water resistance provide more use-case flexibility than P7’s wired over-ear design.
I’d choose Essonio Bone Conduction Headphones for a buyer focused on small ears and active, flexible use. Its open-ear design, alternate wearing modes, waterproof rating, and built-in memory are a more relevant combination for that brief.
I’d choose P7 instead if my priority were a wired, cushioned over-ear headphone with sound isolation. For the small-ears use case specifically, though, I’d start with Essonio and check which of its wearing modes best matches the fit I want.
Essonio is the more natural starting point if you want an open-ear design or want to avoid fully enclosing your ears. P7 has over-ear pads, and neither product’s listed information gives detailed measurements for judging an individual fit.
Essonio is listed with an IPX8 waterproof rating and built-in memory, making it the swimming-focused option in this comparison. P7 is not described as waterproof. The provided specifications do not detail every usage condition for swimming, so don’t assume the rating answers every care question.
P7 is listed as wired and includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Its product information also mentions Bluetooth, but the connectivity technology and style identify it as wired; buyers should not treat it as a wireless listening option.
Essonio is listed with up to 10 hours of battery life and a 1.5-hour charge time. P7 is a wired headphone, so its provided specifications do not list a battery-life figure.
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