We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a compact on ear headphone that folds down flat for adults, commuting and online meetings, choose JVC HA-S160M-V; if you need a compact on ear headphone built to protect a child's hearing on school and tablet time, choose TuneFlux Kids Headphones.
• JVC HA-S160M-V — biggest strength: 66 grams on the head and a body that folds to less than 1 inch high, so it disappears into a backpack or briefcase.
• JVC HA-S160M-V — biggest trade-off: It's a wired, adult-oriented headphone with no built-in volume ceiling, so it isn't the safer pick for young ears.
• TuneFlux Kids Headphones — biggest strength: Volume is limited to 85dB, which is the whole point of a kids' headset, plus upgraded headband padding and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• TuneFlux Kids Headphones — biggest trade-off: It's wired only, with touch-based controls and no volume limit bypass, and it has no microphone listed for calls or classes.
• Pick JVC HA-S160M-V if the listener is a grown-up who wants light, folding, mic-equipped on ear headphones.
• Pick TuneFlux Kids Headphones if the listener is a child and hearing protection comes first.
The JVC HA-S160M-V is a compact on ear headphone aimed squarely at adults. The headline number is 66 grams — that's the kind of weight you forget about after an hour, and it's the reason JVC leans on the "airy flats" idea. On top of that, it collapses to less than 1 inch in height, which makes it one of the easier pairs to toss into a handbag, backpack or briefcase without dedicating a whole pocket to it. A slim metallic headband and oval, soft-padded ear cups round out a package that reads as modern and fashion-forward rather than rugged or toy-like.
Sound is handled by 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance — a standard, easy-to-drive spec that most phones, laptops and tablets will handle without complaint. The ear pads are padded for comfort and for isolating some surrounding noise, though JVC describes this as sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so don't expect silence on a plane.
Who should skip it? Anyone buying for a young child. There's no volume limiting here, and the age range is listed as adult. It's also wired only, so if you want wireless freedom, this isn't that product.
TuneFlux Kids Headphones: Who It's For
The TuneFlux Kids Headphones are designed around one non-negotiable idea: capping the sound at 85dB so a child's ears aren't exposed to damaging levels. That single spec drives everything else about the product, and it's the reason a parent would choose these over a generic pair of on ear headphones. Sensitivity is listed at 85 dB, and the drivers are dynamic with the same 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz range and 32 ohm impedance you'd find on the JVC — so the hardware is comparable, but the output ceiling is deliberately lower.
This is the upgraded F8pro version, and the upgrades are worth naming: improved headband padding and a foldable design. For kids, padding matters more than it sounds — a thin headband is the first thing a child complains about after twenty minutes. The foldable hinge means these can flatten into a school bag or a carry-on, and the adjustable fit is meant to grow with a child rather than be outgrown in a term. TuneFlux also emphasizes sturdiness, which is a fair thing to prioritize when the user is a seven-year-old who drops things.
Comfort is framed around weight — the brand calls them ultra-lightweight to reduce neck strain during longer sessions, which is the right concern for small frames. The package includes the cable, ear cushions, headband and a user manual, and there's a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Compatibility is a plain 3.5 mm jack, so it works with school tablets, laptops, handheld consoles and in-flight entertainment without adapters.
Two things to weigh honestly. First, controls are touch-based, and noise control is listed as none — this is a straightforward listening headphone, not a noise-cancelling one. Second, there's no microphone listed in the specs, so if your child needs to talk in a remote class, this may not be the right tool. And obviously, an adult who wants full volume and a mic should look elsewhere.
• Best for safe listening with kids → TuneFlux Kids Headphones. The 85dB limit is the deciding feature.
• Best for adult calls and meetings → JVC HA-S160M-V. Inline mic with a mic on/off switch and remote volume control.
• Best for pure portability → JVC HA-S160M-V. 66 grams and a fold under 1 inch high is about as packable as on ear gets.
• Best for surviving daily kid use → TuneFlux Kids Headphones. Sturdy build, upgraded headband padding and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for long listening sessions on a small head → TuneFlux Kids Headphones. Lightweight construction aimed at reducing neck strain.
• Best for shared household flexibility → JVC HA-S160M-V. It suits teens and adults, whereas the TuneFlux is sized and tuned for children.
• Best if you need wireless → neither. Both are wired 3.5 mm headphones.
• Best if you need active noise cancellation → neither. JVC offers sound isolation; TuneFlux lists no noise control at all.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the JVC HA-S160M-V. The 66-gram weight, the sub-1-inch fold and the inline mic with a mic switch make it the more useful everyday headphone for an adult who moves between a desk, a commute and video calls. If I were buying for a child, I'd take the TuneFlux Kids Headphones without hesitating — the 85dB cap, the padded headband and the 2-year warranty are exactly what a parent should be paying for. In my opinion, these two barely compete; they're aimed at different people. Match the buyer to the listener and you'll be happy either way. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
what are the best open ear headphones
That depends on who's wearing them. For an adult who wants a light, foldable on ear pair with a microphone for calls, I'd point to the JVC HA-S160M-V. For a child, the TuneFlux Kids Headphones are the safer choice because volume is capped at 85dB. Neither is a true open-ear design, though both sit on the ear rather than around it.
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for the right job. On ear headphones like these two are lighter and more compact than over-ear models, which is why both fold small and travel well. The trade-off is less passive isolation than a full over-ear cup, so you'll hear more of the room around you.
are open ear headphones good
Open ear designs let in ambient sound, which is useful for awareness but weak for blocking noise. Neither of these two is truly open ear — the JVC HA-S160M-V uses padded pads for sound isolation, and the TuneFlux Kids Headphones list no noise control at all. If blocking noise is your priority, look elsewhere.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Comfort comes down to weight and padding. The JVC HA-S160M-V is 66 grams with soft padded ear pads, and TuneFlux specifically upgraded the headband padding on this kids' model while keeping it lightweight. Both are built for longer sessions, and both are adjustable.
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See also: JVC Lightweight Flat vs IMYB Kids Headphones, ELECDER i45 vs FosPower Kids Headphones: Portable ON Ear, TuneFlux Kids Headphones vs ChromaBloom Kids Headphones