We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a retro-styled pair of wired earbuds with an inline mic and remote for everyday calls and music, choose Koss CL/3i; if you need a volume-limited, over-ear kids' headphone built for school, travel and small heads, choose Joysico Kids Headphones Earphones.
• Koss CL/3i biggest strength: A transparent, retro 90s look with an in-line OneTouch mic and remote, plus a wide 60–20,000 Hz frequency range and a limited lifetime warranty.
• Koss CL/3i biggest trade-off: In-ear rounded tips with no noise control, so they won't block much outside sound and aren't aimed at children's hearing safety.
• Joysico biggest strength: An 85/94dB volume limiter on the cable, over-ear cushions that block some outside noise, and an audio share port so two kids can listen on one device.
• Joysico biggest trade-off: A narrower 20Hz–20,000 Hz range and a plastic build with a 1-year warranty; it's designed for kids, not for adult listening.
• Pick Koss CL/3i if you're an adult or teen who wants lightweight wired earbuds with a mic for calls, music and gaming on the go.
• Pick Joysico if you're buying for a child aged 6 and up who needs safe volume, comfort and a mic for online class.
The CL/3i is a wired, in-ear earbud with a clear transparent plastic shell that leans hard into a retro 90s aesthetic. The whole point is that you can see through it. From the earbud to the cord, it's meant to look like a piece of audio gear from another decade, and that's the personality you're buying as much as the sound.
Functionally, it's a straightforward set: rounded in-ear tips, dynamic drivers, and a 3.5mm jack that plugs into laptops, tablets, phones, gaming devices and computers. The in-line remote handles answer/end calls and pause/play/skip, and the OneTouch mic means you can take a call without digging your phone out. Koss rates the frequency range at 60–20,000 Hz, which is a wide spread for a compact earbud and suggests a full midrange with usable bass and crisp highs for music, movies and games.
Joysico Kids Headphones Earphones: Who It's For
The Joysico YO1 is built around one idea: protecting young ears without killing the fun. The audio cable carries an 85/94dB volume limiter, so kids can listen to music, audiobooks, games or videos at what the brand describes as a safe level. The two settings matter — 85dB for everyday listening at home, and 94dB for louder environments where you need to hear over car or plane noise without going beyond what's suitable for sensitive hearing.
The fit is designed for kids aged 6 and up. There's a padded headband and pillow-soft ear cushions, an adjustable headband and swivel earcups so it grows with them, and the over-ear design helps block some outside noise. The 40mm dynamic drivers push a 20Hz–20,000 Hz range with 32 ohm impedance, which is easy for phones, tablets and laptops to drive. An in-line mic and remote button cover online class, school computer lessons, video calls and gaming.
The standout extra is the audio share port on the earcup. Two kids can watch and listen to the same video on one device with no splitter — just plug in. Compatibility runs across iPads, tablets, Kindle Fire, PCs, laptops, Chromebooks, cellphones and Nintendo Switch via 3.5mm, with USB-C and Lightning adapters needed for devices that only have those ports. Who should skip it: adults who want serious audio for themselves. This is a child-first product, and the volume ceiling is the feature, not a limitation to work around.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for safe listening for children → Joysico. The 85/94dB limiter on the cable is the single biggest difference between these two.
• Best for adult everyday calls and music → Koss CL/3i. The in-line OneTouch mic and remote plus the wider 60–20,000 Hz range suit mixed use all day.
• Best for a retro look → Koss CL/3i. The transparent clear design is the whole identity of the product.
• Best for two kids sharing one screen → Joysico. The audio share port means no splitter is needed.
• Best for long-wear comfort on small heads → Joysico. Padded headband, pillow-soft cushions, adjustable band and swivel earcups.
• Best for a low-hassle warranty on a wired product → Koss CL/3i. The limited lifetime warranty stands out against the 1-year warranty on the Joysico.
• Best for plug-and-play on older 3.5mm gear → either. Both use a standard 3.5mm jack; just note the Joysico needs an adapter for USB-C or Lightning-only devices.
In my opinion, these two aren't really competing for the same buyer, so I'd decide by who's wearing them. For a child aged 6 and up heading to school, a plane or a shared tablet, I'd buy the Joysico — the volume limiter, the over-ear fit and the audio share port solve real problems a parent actually has. For an adult or teen who wants transparent retro earbuds with a mic and remote for calls, music and gaming, I'd buy the Koss CL/3i. If you're only buying one and the listener is a kid, go Joysico. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both are wired and neither needs charging.
what is an inline mic on headphones
An inline mic is a microphone built into the headphone cable rather than the earcup, usually paired with a small remote. On the Koss CL/3i and the Joysico YO1, that in-line module lets you answer and end calls and control playback without touching your phone.
Plug the 3.5mm jack into your computer's headphone or combo port and select the headset as your audio input and output device in your system sound settings. Both of these use a standard 3.5mm jack; if your PC has separate mic and headphone ports, you may need a splitter.
do these headphones need charging?
No. Both are wired and draw no battery power — the Koss CL/3i lists a single power level with no battery, and the Joysico runs entirely off the 3.5mm connection. That makes them a good fit for kids who forget to charge things.
The Joysico, in my opinion. It's the only one of the two with an 85/94dB volume limiter, an adjustable padded headband for small heads, and an audio share port. The Koss CL/3i has no volume limiting and in-ear tips, so it's better suited to teens and adults.
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