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, full size over ear headphone with a wide frequency range and a built-in mic for calls, choose Koss UR23ik; if you need a wireless Bluetooth kids' headphone with volume limiting, a TF card slot and a foldable cat-ear design, choose KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones. Those are two very different products, and for flights the split is even sharper — one is a straightforward wired listening tool, the other is a child-focused wireless set built around safety and fun.
• Koss UR23ik — biggest strength: Full size over ear design with a D-Profile earpiece shaped to mimic the ear for a better seal, plus deep bass and crisp highs across a 20–20,000 Hz range, and an in-line mic and remote for calls and voice assistant control.
• Koss UR23ik — biggest trade-off: It's wired only, with a 3.5 mm TRRS plug, so there's no Bluetooth and no battery to fall back on; you're tethered to the device.
• KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones — biggest strength: Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 with a TF card slot for offline playback, a volume-limited design aimed at protecting kids' hearing, and a foldable build with 7 RGB light modes.
• KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones — biggest trade-off: It's built for kids ages 3–12 with a 140 ohm impedance and a roughly 10-hour battery life, so it isn't aimed at adult critical listening and it needs recharging.
• Pick Koss UR23ik if you want an adult, plug-and-play wired over ear headphone for laptops, tablets and gaming devices.
• Pick KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones if you're buying for a child and want wireless freedom, volume limiting and a design they'll actually want to wear.
The Koss UR23ik is the classic full size over ear formula done simply. You get a D-shaped earpiece that Koss says mimics the shape of the ear for a better seal, which is the design detail that matters most here — a better seal means more of the outside world stays out and more of the low end stays in. Frequency response is listed at 20–20,000 Hz with a dynamic driver, and the product data puts the frequency range at 18 Hz–20 kHz, so there's real low-end reach on paper. Impedance is 32 ohm, which is an easy load for a phone, laptop or gaming controller.
It's wired, and that's the whole point. A 3.5 mm jack plugs straight into laptops, tablets and gaming devices, and the TRRS plug carries the in-line microphone and remote, so you can take calls, control playback and trigger a voice assistant without touching the screen. There's no pairing, no charging, no latency. Plush leatherette cushions and an adjustable headband round out the comfort story, and the whole thing is described as ultra lightweight at 9.6 ounces. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, which is passive — the seal does the work, not electronics.
Buy it if you want one headphone that lives plugged into your laptop or console and just works. Skip it if you need wireless, if you want active noise cancellation, or if you want a battery you can walk away from your desk with. And if you're shopping for a young child, this isn't the shape or the price bracket you're looking for — it's an adult-oriented wired headphone.
The KERHAND set is a kids' product first and an audio product second, and that ordering is deliberate. It's a full size over ear headphone with soft ear pads, but everything about it is aimed at ages 3–12: the cat ears and paws styling, the 7 RGB light modes (breathing, music sync and rainbow), and the two-stage fit system. For ages 3–6 it's a 4.7-inch headband with 0.3 mm thin pads; for ages 7–12 the arms extend up to 7.5 inches. It's foldable and compact enough to carry and store, and there's a carrying case listed at 0.15 kg.
The safety angle is the headline. The ear cups use dual-layer acoustic filters that the brand says reduce ambient noise by 23% in lab tests, and the maximum volume is limited to protect young ears. It's also listed as EN 71-3 and ASTM F963 certified. Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.0 for iPads, tablets and phones, plus a TF card slot for offline playback — which is genuinely useful for a kid who wants their own music without borrowing a parent's phone. There's also a 3.5 mm jack, so a wired fallback exists. Battery life is listed at about 10 hours with a 10-hour charge time, and impedance is 140 ohm. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, not active cancellation, despite the product name.
Buy it if you're equipping a child for school, iPad time or travel and you care more about hearing safety and durability than audiophile tuning. Skip it if you're an adult looking for a serious listening headphone — the fit, the styling and the 140 ohm load all point at a younger user.
• Best for wired, latency-free use → Koss UR23ik. A 3.5 mm TRRS plug into laptops, tablets and gaming devices, no pairing or charging involved.
• Best for wireless freedom → KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones. Bluetooth 5.0 plus a TF card slot for offline playback when there's no phone to borrow.
• Best for kids' hearing safety → KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones. Volume limiting, dual-layer acoustic filters and EN 71-3 / ASTM F963 certification.
• Best for adult ears and a wider frequency range → Koss UR23ik. 20–20,000 Hz with a 32 ohm impedance, which is an easy load for everyday devices.
• Best for taking calls → Koss UR23ik. The in-line microphone and remote handle answer/end, play/pause and skip, plus voice assistant activation.
• Best for fitting a growing child → KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones. Two-stage adjustment covering ages 3–6 and 7–12, with a foldable frame.
• Best for travel with a child → KERHAND Noise Cancelling Headphones. Foldable, lightweight and packaged with a carrying case.
• Best for a plug-in-and-forget desk setup → Koss UR23ik. Nothing to recharge, nothing to pair.
In my opinion, the Koss UR23ik is the one I'd buy for myself. It's a full size over ear headphone that plugs into whatever I'm using, needs no charging, and its D-Profile seal and 32 ohm impedance make it a sensible everyday wired pick — including for flights, where a wired connection into a seat-back or tablet is one less thing to manage. The KERHAND set is the better choice only if the listener is a child, in which case the volume limiting, adjustable two-stage fit and foldable cat-ear design make far more sense than anything adult-oriented. Two different jobs, two different answers — but if I'm the one listening, it's the Koss.
are over ear headphones waterproof
Neither of these is described as waterproof in the product data. The Koss UR23ik uses plastic enclosures with leatherette cushions, and the KERHAND set is also a plastic over ear design. Treat both as dry-use products and keep them away from rain, sweat-heavy workouts and spills.
how should over ear headphones fit
The ear cups should sit around your ears rather than pressing on them, with the headband snug but not tight. The Koss UR23ik has an adjustable headband and D-shaped cushions for a sealing fit, while the KERHAND set uses a two-stage system — a 4.7-inch headband for ages 3–6 and extendable arms up to 7.5 inches for ages 7–12.
how long do over ear headphones last
There's no lifespan figure in the data, so it comes down to build and care. The Koss UR23ik is described as a durable, ultra lightweight design with an adjustable headband, and the KERHAND set carries a 12-month warranty. Wired models avoid battery wear entirely; the KERHAND's battery is listed at about 10 hours per charge.
are over ear headphones worth it
For isolation and comfort over long sessions, yes — the full size over ear shape is the reason both of these exist. The Koss UR23ik gives you passive isolation from its D-Profile seal plus an in-line mic, and the KERHAND gives a child volume-limited listening with a foldable fit. Which one is "worth it" depends entirely on who's wearing them. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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