We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a rugged, water-resistant hard shell that keeps a pair of Sony ZX-series on-ear headphones safe between trips, choose L LTGEM Case; if you need the actual on-ear headphones for school, study and everyday listening at a capped volume, choose Skullcandy Icon 180.
• L LTGEM Case — biggest strength: a hard ethylene vinyl acetate shell with a 360-degree zipper, hand strap and inner mesh pocket, sized 7" x 5.2" x 1.8" and rated water resistant.
• L LTGEM Case — biggest trade-off: it is storage only. There is no audio hardware inside, so it does nothing for you until you already own compatible Sony MDR-ZX110, ZX110AP, ZX110NC or ZX310AP headphones.
• Skullcandy Icon 180 — biggest strength: a full wired on-ear headphone with an 85dB volume limiter, a 12–18cm adjustable headband, an in-line mic and cable-mounted media controls.
• Skullcandy Icon 180 — biggest trade-off: no noise control and no carry case in the box — it is one lightweight plastic-and-faux-leather headphone and a 3.5mm plug.
• Pick L LTGEM Case if you already own compatible Sony on-ears and want a protected home for them.
• Pick Skullcandy Icon 180 if you want the headphones themselves, especially for a teenager or a student who needs volume capped listening.
The L LTGEM Case is a single-purpose product, and that is its whole appeal. It is a hard shell case in white, made from ethylene vinyl acetate — the same family of semi-rigid foam-like material that gives cheap shells their structure without much weight. At 0.14 kg it adds almost nothing to a backpack, which matters if you are already carrying a laptop, books or camera gear.
What it does best is straightforward protection and organization. The 360-degree zipper runs fully around the shell so the lid opens flat rather than hinging awkwardly, and the hand strap means you can carry it on its own without a bag. Inside, the mesh pocket is where the small stuff lives: a spare 3.5mm cable, an adapter, maybe a folded boarding pass. The listed dimensions of 7" x 5.2" x 1.8" describe a fairly flat, wide case — the shape you would expect for folding or laying flat a pair of on-ear headphones rather than a bulky over-ear pair.
Compatibility is the deciding factor here, and it is narrow by design. The case is listed for the Sony MDR-ZX110, ZX110AP, ZX110NC and ZX310AP. Those are wired on-ear models with a folding or at least compact profile. If that is what you own, the case fits the job it was built for. If you own something else — a different brand, a larger over-ear set, or a wireless pair with thick earcups — I would not assume it fits just because the dimensions look plausible.
Who should skip it: anyone who does not already own one of those Sony models, and anyone who is shopping for headphones rather than storage. This is an accessory purchase, not a listening purchase. Also worth knowing — the listing states no warranty, so treat it as a straightforward protective shell rather than a long-term guaranteed product. For travel, commuting and tossing a headphone into a bag without snapping the headband, it earns its place. In my opinion, it is the right pick only when the headphones already exist.
The Skullcandy Icon 180 is the opposite kind of product: it is the thing you listen to, not the thing you store it in. It is a wired on-ear headphone with a 3.5mm jack, a circular earcup shape, and a build of faux leather, plastic and silicone. At 145.5 g it is light enough to forget you are wearing it, which is exactly the point of an on-ear design aimed at long sessions.
The headline feature is the 85dB maximum volume limiter. That is a deliberate ceiling, not a fault — it is engineered to help protect hearing, which is why this headphone reads as a school-and-teen product. The listed age range is teen, and the 12–18cm adjustable headband is explicitly built to fit all ages. That combination tells you who it is for: a student who needs one headphone that works for years as they grow, or a parent who wants a wired headphone that cannot be cranked to painful levels.
Practical details round it out. There is an in-line microphone with push-button controls for play, pause and skip, so you are not reaching for your phone mid-song or mid-call. Sensitivity is listed at 109 dB with a dynamic driver, and the wired 3.5mm connection means no charging, no pairing, no battery to think about — plug in and press play. Note the trade-offs honestly: there is no noise control of any kind, so this is not a headphone for blocking out a noisy bus, and no case is included. It also carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty, which the case above does not offer.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for protecting existing Sony on-ears → L LTGEM Case. The hard EVA shell, full 360-degree zipper and water-resistant rating are built for exactly that.
• Best for actually listening to music → Skullcandy Icon 180. It is the headphone; the case is not.
• Best for a teenager or student → Skullcandy Icon 180. The 85dB limiter, teen age range and 12–18cm adjustable headband all point the same way.
• Best for travel organization → L LTGEM Case. Hand strap, mesh accessory pocket and a flat 7" x 5.2" x 1.8" footprint.
• Best for hands-free calls → Skullcandy Icon 180. The in-line mic and push-button media controls are on the cable.
• Best for quiet environments → neither. The Icon 180 has no noise control; the case has no audio at all.
• Best for no-charging simplicity → Skullcandy Icon 180. Wired 3.5mm, no battery involved.
• Best for a guaranteed ownership window → Skullcandy Icon 180. It lists a 1-year manufacturer warranty; the case lists none.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Skullcandy Icon 180. It is a complete product: a light 145.5g on-ear headphone with a volume limiter, an adjustable headband, an in-line mic and controls, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. The L LTGEM Case is well designed for its job — hard shell, water resistant, tidy mesh pocket — but it is a container, and it only makes sense if you already own one of the specific Sony ZX models it was cut for. Buy the case to protect headphones you have. Buy the Icon 180 to get headphones at all.
how to clean on ear headphones
For the Skullcandy Icon 180, the earcups are faux leather with plastic and silicone parts, so a soft, barely damp cloth is the sensible approach — wipe the pads and wipe the plastic, then let everything air dry. Don't soak the earcups or the 3.5mm jack, and don't dunk them. For the L LTGEM Case, the EVA shell is water resistant, so a damp cloth on the outside and a quick wipe of the mesh pocket is enough.
how to fit on ear headphones
On-ear headphones rest against the ear rather than around it. The Icon 180 has a 12–18cm adjustable headband, so slide it out until the cups sit flat against your ears without pressing hard, and the headband holds a secure all-day fit. If it feels tight, extend it a notch; if the cups float away from your ears, shorten it.
how to ear headphones
If you mean how to wear them, the answer is the same as above: cups flat on the ears, headband over the top of your head, cable hanging down on the side you prefer. The Icon 180 is wired with a 3.5mm jack, so plug it into the device, then use the in-line mic and push-button controls on the cable for play, pause and skip.
how to open ear headphones
On-ear headphones like the Icon 180 don't open — there is no folding hinge or opening mechanism listed. If you meant opening the case, the L LTGEM Case uses a smooth 360-degree zipper that runs all the way around, so you unzip it fully and the lid lays open flat for access.
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