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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, battery-powered active noise cancelling headphone built for flights and long listening sessions, choose Maxell 190400; if you need a wireless Bluetooth headphone with switchable kid-safe volume limits and a sharing feature, choose SIMOLIO 4.
• Maxell 190400 — biggest strength: true active noise cancellation with an in-line enhancer pack, plus a dual-prong airline adapter and folding over-ear design. Biggest trade-off: it's wired only, so you're tethered to your device and dependent on AAA batteries for the noise-cancelling function.
• SIMOLIO 4 — biggest strength: three switchable volume-limit levels (75dB/85dB/94dB) with a built-in mic and share port, all in a wireless Bluetooth package. Biggest trade-off: it's a kids-first design, so adult listeners who want serious active noise cancellation or audiophile sound won't get it here.
• Who Maxell 190400 is for: adult travelers and commuters who want active noise reduction on planes, buses or trains and don't mind a cable.
• Who SIMOLIO 4 is for: parents buying for children who need volume protection, wireless freedom and a way for two kids to share one audio source.
The Maxell 190400 is a purpose-built travel headphone. The core idea is the Noisebuster active noise cancellation system: tiny microphones inside each earpiece pick up ambient noise and feed it to an in-line audio-enhancer pack, which generates an out-of-phase "anti-noise" wave. When that wave meets the incoming noise, the two signals cancel each other out — the design targets up to 95% noise reduction, which is the kind of spec aimed squarely at airplane engine drone, bus rumble and distant traffic. There's also a bypass switch, so you can flip the cancellation off and hear the difference for yourself.
Physically, this is an over-ear headphone with plastic enclosures in a black-and-gray finish, 60-ohm impedance and a dynamic driver covering a 10Hz–28kHz frequency range. The midrange is described as clear. It folds down for storage and ships with a travel pouch, and Maxell includes a dual-prong adapter specifically for airline seat jacks. Power comes from two AAA batteries (not included) — the sheet lists a battery average life of 10 hours, while the marketing copy claims over 50 hours of use, so treat the runtime as dependent on how you use the cancellation. Connectivity is wired via a mini-phone jack.
Buy it if you're an adult who flies or commutes regularly and wants active noise cancellation without charging yet another gadget — you just swap in fresh AAAs. Skip it if you want wireless freedom, a microphone for calls, or a headphone you can hand to a young child; there's no volume limiter here and the cable-plus-battery setup is a poor fit for kids on the move.
The SIMOLIO 4 is designed around one job: protecting young ears without turning listening into a constant argument. Its headline feature is a three-level switchable volume limiter — 75dB for quiet places, 85dB for general use, and 94dB for noisy surroundings like a car or a busy classroom. The point is that a parent sets the ceiling once and doesn't have to hover. Two speakers handle the audio.
Beyond volume control, the feature set is genuinely family-oriented. There's a built-in microphone for hands-free talking, and a share port that lets one headphone connect wirelessly while a second unit daisy-chains in — so two kids can listen to the same thing without fighting over one pair. The build uses a flexible stainless steel headband with memory foam earmuffs for a secure, isolating fit, and detachable nylon straps let you size it down for toddlers. The over-ear pads are engineered to stay put during active use, which matters with kids who are constantly moving.
It folds into a compact travel shape and comes with a rugged EVA case, a USB charging cable and a 12-month warranty with dedicated customer service. Connectivity is wireless Bluetooth.
Buy it if you're a parent or teacher outfitting a child for school, travel or home use and hearing protection is your top priority. Skip it if you're an adult looking for strong active noise cancellation for yourself, or you need a wired connection to a non-Bluetooth source, since this is a wireless-first kids' product.
• Best for active noise cancellation → Maxell 190400. The Noisebuster system with its in-line enhancer pack is explicitly built to fight engine drone and traffic noise.
• Best for hearing safety → SIMOLIO 4. The 75/85/94dB switchable limiter is the single most important difference between these two.
• Best for air travel → Maxell 190400. The included dual-prong adapter is made for airline seat jacks, and folding plus a travel pouch round out the kit.
• Best for kids and school → SIMOLIO 4. Volume limiting, toddler sizing straps, a rugged EVA case and a share port all point at family use.
• Best for wireless freedom → SIMOLIO 4. Bluetooth means no cable to your phone; the Maxell is wired only.
• Best for battery convenience → Maxell 190400. Two AAA batteries mean no charging cable to remember — though you do have to keep AAAs on hand.
• Best for shared listening → SIMOLIO 4. The share port lets a second pair daisy-chain so two listeners stay untethered from the device.
• Best for a single adult listener at home → Maxell 190400. Over-ear cups, 60-ohm impedance and a 10Hz–28kHz range suit quiet music listening with the noise floor pushed down.
If I were buying for myself to fly with, I'd take the Maxell 190400. In my opinion, active noise cancellation plus an airline adapter plus a folding frame is exactly the combination a frequent flyer wants, and the AAA power means one less thing to charge. If I were buying for a child, I'd take the SIMOLIO 4 without hesitation — the switchable volume limiter, share port and toddler sizing are things the Maxell simply doesn't offer. Two different jobs, two different answers. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable that can flip the decision.
No. It's a wired headphone using a mini-phone jack. The batteries power the active noise cancellation, not a Bluetooth radio, so you'll always be connected by cable.
Yes. It has three switchable levels — 75dB, 85dB and 94dB — so you can match the ceiling to the environment, from a quiet room to a noisy car or classroom.
The Maxell 190400, in my opinion. It's the only one of the two with active noise cancellation and an included dual-prong airline adapter, both of which are aimed directly at in-flight listening.
Not one pair alone — but the share port lets a second headphone daisy-chain to the first, so two listeners can hear the same source. That's the feature to look for if sharing matters.
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