For podcast listening, the AILIHEN I35 is my pick among these over ear headphones for podcast because it combines a wired connection, padded earcups, and an inline microphone. Philips is the runner-up if a light earhook fit matters more than over-ear coverage.
For podcast listening, the AILIHEN I35 is my pick among these over ear headphones for podcast because it combines a wired connection, padded earcups, and an inline microphone. Philips is the runner-up if a light earhook fit matters more than over-ear coverage.
• AILIHEN I35 — best for a child listening to podcasts and joining calls; pick this if you want padded on-ear cups, a 3.5 mm cable, and an inline microphone.
• Link Dream Earpads — best for refreshing compatible Bose headphones; pick this if your existing QC or AE2-series over-ear headphones need replacement cushions.
• Philips SHS3200PK — best for a secure, lightweight earhook fit; pick this if you prefer open-style earphones and do not need a microphone.
• Philips SHS3200WT — best for a white earhook option for movement; pick this if you want a wired 3.5 mm connection and flexible hooks.
• Philips SHS3200BK — best for a black earhook design; pick this if you want a compact, wired listening option without a headband.
• Philips SHS3200BL — best for a blue earhook option; pick this if a flexible behind-the-ear fit is more appealing than over-ear pads.
• LORELEI X8 — best for a black-and-red over-ear look with call controls; pick this if you want a wired headset with a microphone and 3.5 mm plug.
• LORELEI X8 — best for a dark-blue over-ear option; pick this if you want a wired design with remote call control.
• LORELEI X8 — best for a black-and-gold option with a listed 40 mm driver; pick this if you want full-size earcups and a wired microphone headset.
• LORELEI X8 — best for a dark-purple over-ear option; pick this if you want a 40 mm driver and a foldable-style headphone design.
The AILIHEN I35 is a wired, on-ear headphone intended for children. It has an adjustable headband, cushioned earcups, and an inline microphone with a single button for music and calls. The 3.5 mm plug makes it a straightforward match for compatible laptops, tablets, computers, and other devices with that jack.
For podcast listening, its clearest advantage is the combination of a headband fit and an inline mic. A child can listen to a show, then use the cable microphone for a call or class conversation without switching to another headset. Its folding design also makes it easier to pack away than a rigid, non-folding set.
The stated 93 dB volume limit is a specific feature for families considering listening levels. The listed 130 g weight is also modest, and the padded headband and memory-protein ear cushions are intended to make the fit more comfortable. Those details make it the most practical all-around pick in this group for a young listener.
The trade-off is that it is designed as a kids’ headphone, not an adult studio-style headset. It is wired, so it is not a wireless headset for podcast use, and its on-ear cups do not provide the larger coverage of an over-ear model. I’d choose it for a child who needs a mic and a simple wired setup, not for someone seeking adult-sized over-ear headphones.
Link Dream Earpads are replacement cushions, not headphones. They are designed for several Bose over-ear models, including the QC 35, QC 35 II, QC 25, QC 15, QC 2, and compatible AE2 and SoundLink over-ear headphones. The pads use foam with a protein-leather covering.
That makes this product relevant only if you already own one of the supported headphones and want to replace its worn cushions. The maker describes the foam as designed to retain the headphone’s original sound character while forming a cushioned barrier around the ear. The stated installation process involves removing the old pads and fitting the replacements.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-15 · 12 min read · Independent comparison
The main limitation is decisive: these are not a standalone way to listen. They have no cable, speaker drivers, microphone, or sound source of their own. Check your headphone model carefully before choosing them; compatibility is the whole point.
Philips SHS3200PK
The Philips SHS3200PK is a wired earhook headphone in pink, with a 3.5 mm connector and 15 mm drivers. Its flexible hooks sit around the ears instead of using a headband or padded over-ear cups. The listed cable length is 3.9 feet.
For someone who finds headbands cumbersome, that small earhook format may suit listening while walking around or doing light activity. The flexible hooks are intended to keep the earpieces in place, while the open acoustic design leaves the ears less enclosed than padded headphones do. The product information also describes a bass channel that emphasizes lower tones.
The fit is its central appeal, not podcast call functionality. There is no microphone listed, so it is for listening rather than speaking into a headset. The 3.5 mm plug also means the device needs a compatible headphone jack or an appropriate connection solution.
I would not call it the best ear clip headphones for podcast if a microphone is part of the plan; these use earhooks and do not list one. They can make sense for a listener who prioritizes a lightweight-feeling, secure style and mainly wants to hear spoken audio. The trade-off is less coverage and no listed call mic.
The SHS3200WT is another wired Philips earhook model, here in white. Its published details list 15 mm drivers, a 3.5 mm plug, a 3.9-foot cable, and flexible hooks designed to sit behind the ears. It shares the same broad format as the pink version.
The earhook construction is useful for people who do not want a band over their head. Philips describes the hooks as flexible and intended to stay in place during movement. The acoustically tuned channel is described as emphasizing bass, a feature more noticeable with music than with spoken-word content.
For podcast listening, the simple question is whether you want this style of fit. It has no microphone listed, so it cannot serve as a complete listening-and-speaking headset based on the available specifications. The open design also means it is not a choice for someone seeking the enclosed feel of padded over-ear headphones.
Its main advantage is straightforward: a wired, compact earhook arrangement with a standard 3.5 mm connector. Its main compromise is equally straightforward: no listed mic and no headband or earcup coverage. I’d consider it for listening on the move, not for podcast recording or calls.
The black SHS3200BK is a wired Philips earhook headphone with 15 mm drivers, a 3.5 mm connector, and a 3.9-foot cable. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the stated sensitivity is 100 dB. The design uses flexible hooks rather than a conventional headband.
That format suits a listener who wants the earpieces secured around the ears without enclosing them in full-size cushions. For podcasts, the key practical benefit is the compact fit; the key question is whether that style stays comfortable for your ears over the length of an episode. The specifications do not establish a microphone, so it is a listening-only option.
The black version is one of several color variants in this Philips family. Its core design remains a wired earhook set, so choosing it over the other colors is mainly about preference rather than a distinct podcast feature.
I would not recommend it to someone specifically shopping for over-ear headphones or a wireless headset for podcast calls. It offers neither a headband-style over-ear fit nor a listed microphone. Its strongest case is for a listener who wants a simple wired earhook pair with a 3.5 mm connection.
Philips SHS3200BL
That can be a useful alternative for listeners who want to avoid padded cups or a headband. Philips describes the hook as flexible and suited to staying in place during movement. The open acoustic arrangement is different from an over-ear headphone: it does not surround the ear with cushions.
The blue finish is the meaningful distinction from the black, white, and pink versions in this group; the listed design and listening role are broadly similar. As with the other Philips variants, no microphone is listed, so podcast calls or recording are not its strong point.
I’d choose it only if the earhook format is the priority. It may be a reasonable match for someone listening to episodes while moving, but it is not a direct substitute for an over-ear headset with an inline microphone. The lack of a listed mic is the clearest limitation.
This black-red LORELEI X8 is an over-ear wired headphone with a 3.5 mm plug and an inline microphone. Its product details list a 1.45 m nylon cable, foldable design, padded headband, and soft ear cushions. The listed weight is 210 g.
For podcast listening, this is a more conventional over-ear option than the Philips earhooks. The cushioned cups and adjustable slider offer a headband fit, while the inline controls are described as supporting calls and track changes. That combination is useful if you want one wired set for listening and basic communication on a compatible device.
The stated frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, with 32-ohm impedance and 110 dB sensitivity. Those are published specifications, not a guarantee of sound quality or a special advantage for speech. The key practical feature here is the integrated mic rather than a claim of studio performance.
The trade-off is the wired connection and lack of listed noise control. It does not provide wireless freedom, and the specifications do not promise isolation from surrounding sound. I’d pick this version when a padded over-ear fit and mic matter more than Bluetooth.
LORELEI X8
The dark-blue X8 is also described as an over-ear wired headphone with a 3.5 mm jack. Its details list a plastic enclosure, 32-ohm impedance, and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The product information identifies remote call control, but does not provide the same feature detail as the black-red version.
That makes it a reasonable option for someone seeking a simple wired headset for a compatible phone, computer, or tablet. Its over-ear form gives it a different feel from the Philips earhook options, and the remote call control may help when using a device for calls as well as listening.
The available details identify it as a teen-oriented model and list sound isolation, but do not specify how much outside sound it blocks. I would treat that as a design distinction, not a promise of quiet listening in a busy space. The wired plug still requires a compatible connection.
Its main strength is the full-size headphone format with remote control. The trade-off is that its feature information is less complete than the black-red X8’s: there is no weight or driver-size figure listed here. Choose it for its dark-blue finish and wired remote, not on assumptions about unlisted details.
LORELEI X8
The black-gold X8 is a wired LORELEI headphone with a 3.5 mm connection and a listed 40 mm driver. The product details also give 32-ohm impedance and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The description identifies an inline microphone and controls for calls.
For podcast listening, the practical appeal is the mix of over-ear styling, a full-size listed driver, and a microphone on the cable. It can suit someone who wants to listen to episodes at a desk and take calls through the same wired connection, provided the device supports the plug and mic.
The listed weight is 7.4 ounces, and the design is described as plastic. The product description for this X8 family refers to soft ear cushions, a padded headband, and an adjustable slider. That suggests a more familiar headband fit than the earhook Philips models, though fit remains personal.
The limitation is still the cable: this is not a wireless headset for podcast listening. The product details also list no noise control, so I would not pick it for a setting where blocking outside sound is essential. I’d choose it for a straightforward wired mic-and-headphone setup.
The dark-purple X8 is another wired model with a 3.5 mm connector and a listed 40 mm driver. Its product details give 32-ohm impedance and a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range. It does not list a microphone in its specific product details, despite the broader X8 title mentioning one.
That distinction matters for podcast use. It can be considered for listening through a compatible device, but I would not assume the mic and call controls are present on this particular version without confirming the exact variant. The product details list no noise control, so it is not described as a model for blocking background sound.
The stated design is on-ear, with a circular earpiece shape and nylon enclosure material. That differs from the over-ear description used for other X8 listings, so the exact fit may not match someone seeking full ear coverage. Its listed driver size is useful to know, but does not by itself establish comfort or sound quality.
The main trade-off is uncertainty around the features most relevant to calls and fit. I’d consider this version for wired podcast listening if its on-ear shape suits you, but I would favor a listing that clearly specifies a microphone if speaking is part of the use.
I compared the published specifications and features relevant to podcast listening: fit, connection type, microphone details, and everyday handling.
The order and recommendations are my independent editorial opinion; no brand paid for placement.
They can be, especially if you prefer padded cups and a headband over small earphones. For spoken-word listening, comfort and a suitable connection often matter more than features aimed at bass-heavy music.
The provided details do not list a microphone for these Philips earhook models. Treat them as listening headphones, not as a headset for calls or podcast recording.
The X8 models listed here use a 3.5 mm plug. They can connect to a phone that has a compatible headphone jack; a phone without one may require a suitable adapter.
I recommend the AILIHEN I35 for a child who needs padded on-ear headphones and an inline mic. For an adult seeking over-ear coverage and a microphone, the black-red or black-gold LORELEI X8 is a more relevant wired option.
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