How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight, foldable on-ear headphone with a stainless steel headband and a slim, phone-friendly plug, choose JVC Ha-S160-B-E; if you need a wired headphone built specifically for children ages 3–15, with an adjustable headband, cushioned pads and a twistable, tangle-free cord, choose gorsun Kids Headphones.
• JVC Ha-S160-B-E — biggest strength: a flat foldable design and a stainless steel headband that keep it compact and comfortable for older kids, teens and adults with smaller-to-average heads. Biggest trade-off: it's listed for an adult age range, so it isn't purpose-built for young children, and its passive noise cancellation only blocks sound physically.
• gorsun Kids Headphones — biggest strength: a child-first build — adjustable headband, snug cushioned earpads with no sharp corners, food-grade materials and a twistable, tangle-free cord. Biggest trade-off: it's plastic, has no folding mechanism, and the 3.5mm wired connection means there's no wireless freedom.
• Pick JVC Ha-S160-B-E if you want a slim, folding headphone with a metal headband that travels well and fits a smaller-to-average head without feeling bulky.
• Pick gorsun Kids Headphones if you're buying for a child roughly 3–15 and durability against rough handling matters more than a compact folded profile.
The JVC Ha-S160-B-E is an on-ear wired headphone with 30mm neodymium dynamic drivers and a frequency range of 12–24,000 Hz. In plain terms, that's a driver size and range that suits everyday listening — music, video, games, calls — rather than anything exotic. The ear pads are soft, which helps with both fit and physical sound isolation, and the headband is stainless steel. That steel band is the detail I'd point a small-head buyer to first: it's a firm, thin, springy band rather than a chunky plastic arc, so it tends to sit close to the head instead of sliding around.
The flat foldable design is the other thing that matters here. It folds flat for compact carrying, and at 66 g it's light enough that a smaller head won't feel weighed down. The 1.2 m cord ends in a gold-plated slim plug, which is the kind of plug that fits through a phone case opening without an adapter. There's a media control on the remote, and noise control is passive — meaning the soft pads and the on-ear seal do the work, not electronics.
Who should buy it: older kids, teens and adults who want a compact, folding, wired headphone with a metal headband and a slim plug, and who prefer physical isolation over battery-powered features. Who should skip it: anyone buying for a young child who throws, twists and stretches their gear — the sheet lists the age range as adult, and nothing here is described as child-proof.
The gorsun Kids Headphones are wired, over-ear, and explicitly aimed at children — the recommended range is ages 3–15. The build is the whole story. The headband is adjustable, the pads are snug and cushioned, and the design deliberately avoids sharp corners. The materials are described as food-grade, and the cord is tangle-free, twistable, bendable and stretchable, which is exactly the kind of spec that matters when a headphone lives in a school bag or gets yanked off a tablet.
The specs are reasonable for the job: 40mm dynamic drivers, 103 dB sensitivity, 32 ohm impedance and a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range. The 32 ohm impedance and high sensitivity are worth noting for parents — they mean a phone or tablet can drive these easily without a separate amp. The cord is 1.2 m with a 3.5 mm gold plug, so it works with smartphones, tablets, computers and DVD players. There's a volume control on the remote, a marked spot on the headband so a child can find L and R without guessing, and the noise control is listed as active. The enclosure is plastic and the color is blue.
Who should buy it: parents and gift-buyers shopping for a child in that 3–15 window who need a headphone that survives being bent, twisted and dropped, with a fit that adjusts as the child grows. Who should skip it: adults or teens who want a slim, folding, metal-banded headphone for themselves — this one is plastic, over-ear and doesn't fold.
• Best for small heads in the 3–15 age range → gorsun Kids Headphones. The adjustable headband and cushioned pads are sized and shaped for children, and the L/R marking helps younger users put them on correctly.
• Best for older kids, teens and adults with smaller-to-average heads → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. The slim stainless steel headband and 66 g weight keep it close and light.
• Best for travel and storage → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. It folds flat, which the gorsun does not.
• Best for surviving rough handling → gorsun Kids Headphones. Twistable, bendable, stretchable cord and food-grade materials are built for it.
• Best for easy volume control on a kid's device → gorsun Kids Headphones. It has a dedicated volume control on the remote.
• Best for a slim plug that fits through a phone case → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. The gold-plated slim plug is designed for that.
• Best for passive isolation without electronics → JVC Ha-S160-B-E. Soft pads and an on-ear seal, no active circuitry.
• Best for a wired connection to phones, tablets, computers and DVD players → both. Both use a standard 3.5 mm jack and a 1.2 m cord.
If I were buying for a child between roughly 3 and 15, I'd buy the gorsun Kids Headphones. The adjustable headband, cushioned pads, marked L/R spot, volume control and twistable cord are all aimed at exactly the person who'll be wearing them, and that matters more than a folding hinge. If I were buying for myself, a teen, or an older kid who's past the yank-and-stretch phase, I'd buy the JVC Ha-S160-B-E — the stainless steel headband, 30mm drivers, flat fold and slim plug make it the more grown-up, more portable pick. In my opinion, the deciding question is simple: who's wearing them, and how hard are they on their gear?
FAQ
what are the best headphones for small heads
There's no single answer, because "small head" means different things at different ages. For a child ages 3–15, the gorsun Kids Headphones are the more appropriate pick thanks to the adjustable headband and cushioned pads. For a teen or adult with a smaller head, the JVC Ha-S160-B-E's slim stainless steel headband and 66 g weight make it a strong fit.
Look for a light headband that sits close to the skull rather than a wide, loose arc. The JVC Ha-S160-B-E is 66 g with a stainless steel band, which suits smaller-to-average heads. The gorsun Kids Headphones take the other approach — an adjustable headband that tightens down for children, with snug cushions and no sharp corners.
which headphones are best for small heads
If the wearer is a child, I'd point to the gorsun Kids Headphones: adjustable headband, ages 3–15, twistable cord, volume control and an L/R marker. If the wearer is older and wants something compact and foldable, the JVC Ha-S160-B-E with its 30mm drivers, 12–24,000 Hz range and flat-folding design is the better match.
what are the best noise cancelling headphones for small heads
Be careful with the wording here, because the two products describe noise control differently. The JVC Ha-S160-B-E uses passive noise cancellation — soft ear pads and a physical seal, no electronics. The gorsun Kids Headphones list active noise cancellation along with 32 ohm impedance and 103 dB sensitivity, so they're easy to drive from a phone or tablet.
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: Fisher Active Noise Cancelling vs Elecphbo Replacement Earpads Compati, Sonlau S62 vs gorsun Kids, SoundMAGIC E10C vs SENTRY Type-C Noise Isolation, Lakukom Sport vs Dr.meter Kids Ear Protection