How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• New Bee Kids Headphones — biggest strength: Volume limited to 85dB/94dB with a built-in HD microphone, aimed at children 4–16 for school and calls.
• New Bee Kids Headphones — biggest trade-off: Wired 3.5mm only, and newer iPhones/iPads need a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that isn't included.
• YLiiii 2 — biggest strength: You get two lightweight retro on-ear headphones in one set, so one can live in a bag and one can stay home.
• YLiiii 2 — biggest trade-off: No microphone, no volume limiting, and no bold comfort claims — it's a simple passive wired headphone.
• Pick New Bee Kids Headphones if a child will use it for class, video calls or games and hearing safety matters.
• Pick YLiiii 2 if you want an inexpensive-feeling, portable retro pair for a cassette player, commuting or sharing.
The New Bee Kids Headphones is built around one clear idea: letting a child listen without you hovering over the volume dial. The KH20 offers two volume ceilings, 85dB and 94dB, so a parent can pick the quieter mode for everyday use and the louder one for noisy situations like travel, where the spec sheet notes it helps compete with traffic noise. That single feature is the reason this headphone exists, and it's the reason it belongs in a school bag rather than a drawer.
Around that core, New Bee adds the practical stuff. There's a built-in HD microphone, which turns the KH20 into a headset for online classes, video calls and game chat — the product is even themed around video games. The 32-ohm dynamic drivers cover a 20Hz–20,000Hz range, which is the standard full-range figure you'd expect from a wired on-ear headphone. The ear cushions are padded and the headband is adjustable with a swivel-mounted design and a stainless steel slider, and the whole thing folds up. It's wired, with a 3.5mm jack and an inline volume control.
The catch is compatibility. This is a 3.5mm headphone, so it works with anything that has that port — PC, Mac, Android, Kindle, tablets. If you have an iPhone 7 or newer, or an iPad Pro 11/12.9 from 2020, you need a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, which is not in the box. Check your device's port before buying. That's the one thing that trips people up.
Who should buy it: parents of kids roughly 4 to 16 who want volume protection, a mic and a foldable wired headset for school or home learning. Who should skip it: adults who want to listen loud, anyone on a wireless-only phone without an adapter, and anyone who wants a spare pair to hand out — this is one headphone, in purple, with a black carrying case.
The YLiiii 2 goes the other direction entirely. It's sold as a set of two on-ear headphones in an orange-and-black retro colorway, styled for cassette players and vintage audio gear. That's the whole pitch, and honestly, it's a coherent one: if you own a Walkman, a cassette deck or just like the look, these match the aesthetic in a way a plain black headset doesn't.
The specs are simple and light. Each pair weighs 2 ounces, which is about as light as an on-ear headphone gets, and the design is listed as foam, metal and plastic. The headband adjusts to fit different head sizes, and the ear cushions are soft over-ear style padding with passive noise cancellation — meaning the cushion physically blocks some outside sound rather than using electronics. It's fully wired: a 3.5mm jack, no battery, no charging, no Bluetooth. Impedance is 32 ohm with a sensitivity of 105dB.
That sensitivity number is worth a note. Higher sensitivity means the headphone gets loud easily from a weak source, which suits small portable players. But there's no volume limiting here, so it is not a child-safety headphone in the way the New Bee is. There's also no microphone, so it's listening only — no calls, no class participation, no game chat.
Who should buy it: adults, per the spec sheet's age range, who want a light retro pair for commuting, travel or a cassette player, and who like the idea of having two so they can share or keep a backup. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a mic, anyone buying for a young child, and anyone who wants a carrying case — the listing states one is not included. Warranty coverage is also listed as none, so treat this as a simple, low-expectation purchase.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for child hearing safety → New Bee Kids Headphones. The 85dB/94dB volume limit is the deciding feature.
• Best for calls, classes and game chat → New Bee Kids Headphones. It's the only one of the two with a built-in microphone.
• Best for portability and light weight → YLiiii 2. At 2 ounces per headphone, it's the lighter carry.
• Best for sharing or keeping a spare → YLiiii 2. You get two headphones in the set, not one.
• Best for retro style and cassette players → YLiiii 2. Orange-and-black vintage look, no charging required.
• Best for fit adjustment on a range of head sizes → YLiiii 2. The adjustable headband is called out specifically for accommodating different head sizes.
• Best all-rounder for a school-age kid → New Bee Kids Headphones. Padded cushions, stainless steel slider, inline volume control and a mic make it the more complete wired headset.
In my opinion, the New Bee Kids Headphones is the one to buy if a child is the end user. The volume limiting and the microphone are the two features that actually change how the headphone gets used day to day, and the foldable design with a carrying case makes it easy to toss in a backpack. The YLiiii 2 is a fine pick if you specifically want a light retro pair for a cassette player or commute and you like getting two — but it's a listening-only headphone with no safety ceiling and no mic. If you're buying for a kid, I'd go New Bee. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since both are budget-tier wired headphones and the value question comes down to what you're paying on the day.
what are the best open ear headphones
"Open ear" usually refers to headphones that don't seal over the ear canal, and neither of these two is that style — both the New Bee Kids Headphones and the YLiiii 2 are on-ear designs with cushions that sit against the ear. If you specifically want open-ear audio, look for a different category of product. If you just want something light and wired, the YLiiii 2 at 2 ounces is the closer match here.
are on ear headphones good
They can be, and both products here are on-ear. The trade-off is that on-ear cushions rest against the ear rather than around it, so they tend to block less outside noise than over-ear models. The New Bee adds padded leatherette cushions and a stainless steel slider for comfort, while the YLiiii 2 uses soft foam, metal and plastic with passive noise cancellation from the cushion itself.
are open ear headphones good
That depends on what you want. Open designs let in ambient sound, which is useful for awareness but poor for blocking noise. Neither headphone in this comparison is open-ear — both are wired on-ear models with a 3.5mm jack, and both use a 32-ohm impedance. The YLiiii 2 lists passive noise cancellation from its cushioning; the New Bee relies on sound isolation.
what are the best in-ear headphones
In-ear headphones sit inside the ear canal, which is a different fit from either product here. If you need in-ear, this comparison won't help you. If you're open to on-ear, the New Bee Kids Headphones is the better fit for a child thanks to its 85dB/94dB volume limit, and the YLiiii 2 is the better fit for a lightweight retro set for adults.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Amylove 6 vs Anker Soundcore Space 2: Noise Blocking, IFYOO RGB Gaming Headset vs BlueFinger RGB Gaming Keyboard, PROHEAR 032 vs Wantek USB-A/USB C/3.5mm, AGM Ear Buds vs ROEL-PLAY Open Ear