We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a lightweight on-ear pair with a flat foldable frame and a stainless steel headband that suits smaller heads, choose JVC Ha-S160-B-E; if you need a wired headphone built specifically for kids with a hard 85dB volume ceiling and an adjustable band, choose EarFun S1.
• JVC Ha-S160-B-E — biggest strength: a genuinely light 66 g on-ear design with a stainless steel headband, soft ear pads and a flat foldable frame that packs down small. Frequency range runs 12–24,000 Hz off 30 mm neodymium drivers.
• JVC Ha-S160-B-E — biggest trade-off: it's a general adult headphone with passive noise cancellation only, so it doesn't block out much and it has no volume limiter for kids.
• EarFun S1 — biggest strength: a hard 85dB volume limit plus an adjustable headband and 90-degree foldable build, all aimed at children's ears and travel bags. 40 mm drivers, 118 g.
• EarFun S1 — biggest trade-off: it's tuned and marketed for kids, so an adult who wants a neutral everyday pair may find the volume cap and kid-focused design limiting.
• Pick JVC Ha-S160-B-E if you're a small-headed adult or teen who wants a featherweight foldable wired pair for commuting, desk work or study.
• Pick EarFun S1 if you're buying for a child and hearing protection plus a durable, adjustable fit matters more than anything else.
The Ha-S160-B-E is the classic lightweight on-ear formula done well. At 66 g it's one of the lightest wired headphones in this comparison, and the stainless steel headband is the part that matters most for small heads: it's springy and slim rather than bulky, so it clamps gently instead of pressing hard above the ears. If you've ever had a full-size headphone slide around or feel like it's gripping your skull, that's exactly the problem this flat, low-profile frame is designed to avoid.
Sound-wise, JVC fits 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers with a quoted frequency range of 12–24,000 Hz. In my reading of those numbers, that's a wide range for an on-ear at this size, which usually means the low end reaches deeper than you'd expect from a headphone this thin. The soft ear pads are there for two jobs: comfort over long sessions and a bit of passive isolation. Note the wording — passive. There's no active noise cancellation here, so on a bus or a plane you'll still hear the engine. It's fine in a quiet room, less fine in a noisy one.
Who should buy it: adults and teens with smaller heads who want a light, foldable, wired pair for study, office listening, podcasts and casual music, and who don't need noise cancelling. Who should skip it: anyone who needs serious isolation on a commute, anyone who wants wireless, and anyone shopping for a young child — there's no volume limit on this one, so it isn't the right tool for protecting small ears.
EarFun S1: Who It's For
The EarFun S1 is built around one idea: a child should not be able to turn the volume up to a damaging level. The headline feature is the 85dB safe volume limit, which caps loudness while — per EarFun's design — still letting detail come through. For a parent, that single spec does more work than any other line on the sheet. It's the difference between handing over headphones and supervising a volume dial all afternoon.
The fit story is aimed squarely at growing heads. The headband is adjustable, the ear caps are described as ultra-soft, and the whole thing weighs 118 g. That's noticeably heavier than the JVC, but it's still light enough for a kid to wear through a school day, and the 90-degree rotatable, foldable design means it collapses into a backpack without much fuss. The 40 mm dynamic drivers are larger than the JVC's 30 mm, tuned for clear mids and highs with strong bass — the profile that suits online lessons, audiobooks and entertainment videos rather than critical listening.
Build-wise, EarFun describes soft but sturdy materials that resist twisting, a 120-degree angled gold-plated 3.5 mm connector, and compliance with CPC safety standards. The angled plug is a small but real detail for kids: it's less likely to snap when a tablet gets yanked off a table. The 3.5 mm jack means it works with anything that has a standard port — school laptops, tablets, PCs. EarFun also covers it with an 18-month warranty.
Who should buy it: parents buying for a child, especially for school, travel and tablet use, where hearing safety and a fit that adjusts as they grow are the priorities. Who should skip it: adults who want an everyday headphone for themselves — the volume cap and kid-oriented tuning aren't aimed at you — and anyone who needs active noise cancellation, because the S1 has none.
• Best for small adult heads → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. The slim stainless steel band and 66 g weight are built for a light, low-pressure fit.
• Best for children's hearing safety → EarFun S1. The 85dB volume limit is the deciding feature and has no equivalent on the JVC.
• Best for a growing kid's fit → EarFun S1. The adjustable headband is designed to move as the wearer grows.
• Best for packability → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. The flat foldable design folds flatter than the S1's rotating cups.
• Best for durability around kids → EarFun S1. Twist-resistant materials, a CPC safety standard and an 18-month warranty are all kid-focused.
• Best for larger drivers → EarFun S1. 40 mm dynamic drivers versus the JVC's 30 mm.
• Best for the widest frequency range → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. A quoted 12–24,000 Hz against the S1's 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
• Best for use with a phone's inline controls → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. It includes a media remote on the cable; the S1 relies on button controls on the headset.
• Who each is for → JVC for a small-headed adult or teen who wants light, foldable, wired listening; EarFun S1 for a parent equipping a child safely.
If I were buying for myself — a smaller-than-average head and a bag that's already too full — I'd take the JVC Ha-S160-B-E. The 66 g weight, stainless steel band and flat fold are exactly the combination that makes an on-ear disappear on your head, and I'd rather have the wider 12–24,000 Hz range and the inline remote for everyday listening. The lack of noise cancelling is the honest cost of that choice. But if I were buying for a child, my answer flips without hesitation: the EarFun S1 and its 85dB limit are the safer, more sensible pick, and that's the one I'd recommend to any parent.
what are the best headphones for small heads
In my opinion, the two strongest options in this comparison are the JVC Ha-S160-B-E for adults and teens and the EarFun S1 for kids. The JVC wins on weight at 66 g with a slim stainless steel band, while the S1 wins on adjustability for a growing head.
what headphones are good for small heads
Look for a light frame and a band that clamps gently rather than a big over-ear shell. The JVC Ha-S160-B-E fits that brief with its flat foldable design and soft ear pads; the EarFun S1 fits it with an adjustable headband and 118 g of weight.
what are the best noise cancelling headphones for small heads
Neither of these has active noise cancellation — the JVC uses passive isolation from its ear pads, and the EarFun S1 lists no noise control at all. If you need real noise cancelling, you'll have to look at a different class of headphone, because these two only reduce sound passively.
which headphones are best for small heads
It depends on who's wearing them. For a small-headed adult, I'd choose the JVC Ha-S160-B-E for its low weight, foldable frame and wider 12–24,000 Hz range. For a child, I'd choose the EarFun S1 because of its 85dB volume limit and adjustable fit.
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