How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired aux replacement cable that brings back the inline mic and remote on your Beats headphones, choose EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable; if you need kid-safe wireless headphones with a volume limit and a wired backup mode, choose QearFun Kids Unicorn.
These two products sit in completely different corners of the audio world, and that is exactly why this comparison is useful. One is a passive accessory: a 1.4m TPU-coated aux cord with a 3.5mm male-to-male connection and an inline mic. The other is a full pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones built for children, with a 60-hour battery, three volume-limit settings, and a 3.5mm jack for wired listening. If you landed here searching for aux wired headphones, you are probably asking a simple question: do I fix the headphones I already own, or do I buy a new pair? The answer depends on what broke and who is wearing them.
• EARLA TEC biggest strength: It is a direct replacement cord for Beats by Dr. Dre headphones (Solo, Studio, Pro, Detox, Mixr, Executive, Pill and more), with a built-in inline mic and remote, one straight plug and one L-shaped plug, and a soft tangle-free TPU coating.
• EARLA TEC biggest trade-off: It is a cable only. It has no drivers, no battery and no Bluetooth, and the remote/mic functions only work with Apple iPod, iPad and iPhone — not with Samsung or other non-Apple devices.
• QearFun biggest strength: A complete kid-focused headphone package — Bluetooth 5.3, 40mm dynamic drivers, 60 hours of playback, 1.5-hour charging, a 3-level volume limit (74/85/94dB), a foldable steel-reinforced headband and a built-in HD mic for calls and online classes.
• QearFun biggest trade-off: It is built for children, not for critical adult listening, and its noise control is passive only. The design, fit and styling are aimed at ages 3–20.
• Who the EARLA TEC cable is for: Anyone whose existing Beats headphones still sound fine but whose original cord has failed, frayed or gone missing, and who uses an Apple device for calls and track control.
• Who the QearFun Unicorn is for: Parents who want a safe, wireless, travel-friendly pair for a child, with a wired 3.5mm fallback when the battery runs out.
The EARLA TEC cable is a repair part, and it is honest about that. You get a 1.4m round cable with two male 3.5mm plugs — one straight, one L-shaped — which is the classic configuration for headphones where the cord plugs into the earcup and the other end goes into your phone or player. The L-shaped end is the practical one: it sits flatter against a pocket or a phone case, which reduces the strain that kills cheap cables in the first place.
The real selling point is the inline module. There is a microphone and a control unit on the cable, so you can answer and end calls, adjust volume, skip tracks and trigger Siri or voice commands — but only on Apple hardware. EARLA TEC is explicit about this: remote functions work with iPod, iPad and iPhone, not with Samsung or other non-Apple devices. On Android, you should expect audio to pass through fine while the buttons do nothing. That is a genuine limitation, and it is the single most important thing to understand before buying.
The cable material is TPU-coated, which the spec sheet describes as soft, tangle-free and durable. The connector is listed as male-to-male with three pins, and the cable type is auxiliary. In my opinion, this is the right buy if you own a Beats Solo, Studio, Pro, Mixr, Executive or Pill, the headphones themselves still work, and the cord is the only thing that has died. Skip it if you use a non-Apple phone and want working buttons, if you need wireless audio, or if your actual headphones are broken rather than just the wire. Also skip it if you want a cable for a device that does not use a 3.5mm jack at all.
The QearFun Kids Unicorn is a completely different proposition: a finished pair of over-ear headphones designed for children. The headline feature is the three-level volume limit, set by a parent — 74dB for toddlers, 85dB for everyday listening, and 94dB for loud environments like airplanes. The control button is deliberately hidden so kids cannot crank the volume themselves. That single design decision is why this product exists, and it is the strongest argument for it.
Around that core, the spec sheet is generous. Bluetooth 5.3 gives a stable connection to iPads, tablets and Chromebooks at a range of up to 10 meters. The 40mm dynamic drivers cover a 20Hz–20KHz range at 32 ohm impedance, which is a normal, sensible spec for this category. Battery life is rated at 60 hours with a 1.5-hour charge time, and there is a built-in HD microphone for online classes and family calls. The build uses ABS, leather and plastic with PU ear cushions and an adjustable steel-reinforced headband for ages 3–20, and it folds for travel. There is also a 3.5mm jack, so it works in wired mode when the battery is flat — which matters more than parents expect on long trips.
The trade-offs are equally clear. Noise control is passive only, so this will not silence a plane cabin the way active noise cancellation would. The styling — Unicorn Pink with an electroplated gradient finish — is aimed squarely at kids, and the fit is designed for smaller heads. And while the sound is described as immersive with rich stereo, this is a children's headphone, not a tool for critical listening. The package includes an adapter, cable, ear cushions, headband and manual, with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for reviving broken Beats headphones → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. It exists purely to replace a failed cord on Solo, Studio, Pro, Detox, Mixr, Executive and Pill models.
• Best for hands-free calls on an iPhone → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. The inline mic and remote handle calls, volume, track skipping and Siri — on Apple devices only.
• Best for safe listening for a child → QearFun Kids Unicorn. The 74/85/94dB parent-controlled limit with a hidden button is the whole point of the product.
• Best for battery life → QearFun Kids Unicorn. 60 hours of playback from a 1.5-hour charge is far beyond what any passive cable can offer, because a cable has no battery at all.
• Best for travel and school → QearFun Kids Unicorn. Foldable design, Bluetooth 5.3, 10m range and a built-in mic for online classes.
• Best when you still want a wired option → both, for different reasons. The EARLA TEC cable is wired by nature; the QearFun has a 3.5mm jack for wired mode when the battery is empty.
• Best for Android users → QearFun Kids Unicorn. EARLA TEC's remote functions do not work on Samsung or other non-Apple devices, while QearFun's Bluetooth and wired audio work across platforms.
• Best for adults who just need a replacement cord → EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. The QearFun is sized and styled for kids.
If your Beats headphones still sound good and only the cord has failed, I would buy the EARLA TEC Replacement Audio Cable. It is a focused, cheap-to-replace part that restores the mic and remote you already relied on — provided you are on an Apple device. If instead you are shopping for a child and want volume protection, wireless freedom and a wired fallback, I would buy the QearFun Kids Unicorn. In my opinion these are not competitors so much as answers to two different questions, and the right one is whichever matches the problem in front of you. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever fits, since that is the only variable this comparison cannot settle for you.
FAQ
how to make aux cable with headphones
how to use wired headphones without headphone jack
You need an adapter, because a 3.5mm plug cannot physically fit a jack that is not there. The QearFun Kids Unicorn package includes an adapter alongside its cable, and it also runs over Bluetooth 5.3 at up to 10 meters, so you can skip the wire entirely. The EARLA TEC cable is a straight 3.5mm connection and needs a real jack or an adapter of your own.
how do i connect my wired headphones to my phone
Plug the 3.5mm end into your phone if it has a jack. With the EARLA TEC cable, audio works on both Apple and non-Apple phones, but the inline remote and mic only function on Apple iPod, iPad and iPhone — on Samsung and other devices you get sound only. If your phone has no jack, use an adapter or go wireless.
do i need bluetooth headphones or just a replacement cable
It depends on what is actually broken. If your Beats headphones work and only the wire failed, a replacement cable is the smaller, simpler fix. If you need wireless audio, a 60-hour battery, a kids' volume limit or a built-in mic for calls and classes, that is a job for a complete headphone like the QearFun Kids Unicorn.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Xinyuekj Replacement Ear Pads vs Generic 2-Pack, IMYB Kids Headphones vs Generic Handing Audio Headphone, V VCOM RGB Gaming Headphones vs DLAND Gaming Headset, Linsoul KZ ZS10 vs Symphonized Wooden Airtube Headphones