We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a higher noise-reduction rating and a one-size headband that folds down small for travel, choose PROHEAR 032; if you need a wider age range and a retractable stainless-steel frame that grows with your child, choose ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling.
• PROHEAR 032 — biggest strength: An NRR of 25dB, the higher of the two, in a lightweight shell that folds into a compact size with a travel bag included.
• PROHEAR 032 — biggest trade-off: It's built for ages 3 to 12, so older kids and teens will outgrow the fit sooner.
• ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: A retractable stainless-steel band that adjusts across ages 3 to 15, so one pair can serve a child for years.
• ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: An NRR of 24dB, a touch less blocking than the PROHEAR, and it folds flat rather than into a travel pouch.
• Who each is for: Pick the PROHEAR if you want maximum quiet and easy packing for younger kids; pick the ProCase if you want a longer-lasting fit across a wider age span.
The PROHEAR 032 is a passive noise-reduction earmuff, not an electronic headphone. There's no battery, no switch, no Bluetooth — it simply seals around the ear and drops incoming sound by an NRR of 25dB. For a lot of parents, that's the whole appeal. You hand it to a child, they put it on, and it works immediately. Nothing to charge, nothing to pair, nothing to fail at the worst possible moment.
The design is aimed at kids aged 3 to 12. The shell is durable ABS, and the whole thing is built to stay light on the head — the sheet lists it at 6.88 ounces, which matters when a child is wearing it for a full monster truck show or a long flight. The ear cushions are ultra-soft and the cups rotate a full 360 degrees, so they sit flush against the head rather than pinching. The headband is fully padded, which spreads pressure instead of concentrating it on one spot. If you've ever watched a kid rip off a stiff pair of earmuffs five minutes into an event, you know why that padding is the difference between "worn all day" and "left in the car."
It's also certified for what it claims: ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1. That NRR of 25dB is deliberately calibrated to reduce harmful noise without creating a total cone of silence — the point is that your child can still hear a parent's voice or a warning sound in a crowd. That's a real safety feature at a race track or an airshow, not a marketing line.
Who should skip it? If your child is already 13 or pushing toward their teens, the 3-to-12 sizing will likely feel tight. And if you specifically want a pair that one child can grow into over many years, the fixed sizing is a limitation.
The ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling earmuffs take a different approach to the same job. The core idea here is adjustability. The band is retractable stainless steel, and combined with the 360-degree rotating cups, it's meant to fit "any child's head of various ages." The stated age range runs from 3 all the way to 15 — noticeably broader than the PROHEAR.
The build is solid ABS shell paired with thickened noise-dampening foam, giving an NRR of 24dB. That's one decibel below the PROHEAR, which in practice is a very small difference — both are in the same class of protection and both carry ANSI S3.19 (US) and CE EN352-1 (EU) certification. The foam is described as soft and the headband padded, with an ergonomic shape meant to feel secure rather than squeezed.
The standout feature is the folding design. The earpieces tuck back into the headband, collapsing into a flat, backpack-friendly shape with no extra pouch needed. If your child carries their own bag to school or you're stuffing a carry-on, that self-contained fold is genuinely convenient. It's listed at 0.25 kg.
Where it gives ground: that NRR of 24dB is the lower figure of the two, so if you're chasing the absolute maximum reduction, the PROHEAR edges it. And the fold-flat approach, while neat, doesn't come with a storage bag the way the PROHEAR does.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for maximum noise reduction → PROHEAR 032 (NRR 25dB vs 24dB).
• Best for a long-lasting fit across ages → ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling (3–15 years vs 3–12 years).
• Best for travel and packing → PROHEAR 032 if you want the included drawstring bag; choose ProCase if you prefer a fold-flat design that needs no pouch.
• Best for older kids and teens → ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling, thanks to the retractable stainless-steel band.
• Best for quick, no-fuss use → PROHEAR 032, since both are passive earmuffs but the PROHEAR keeps things simplest with its compact fold and included bag.
• Best all-rounder for a family with kids of different ages → ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling, because one pair covers the widest range.
• Best if certified protection is your priority → either — both meet ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352-1, so the certification box is checked on both sides.
In my opinion, I'd buy the PROHEAR 032 for a younger child heading to loud events — the higher NRR of 25dB, the lighter 6.88-ounce build, and the included travel bag make it the more focused pick for pure noise blocking and easy packing. That said, if your child is on the older end or you want one pair to last from toddlerhood into the teen years, I'd switch to the ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling for its 3-to-15 adjustable stainless-steel band. The one-decibel gap between them is small enough that fit and longevity should decide it for most families. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to noise cancelling headphones work
Passive earmuffs like both of these don't use electronics at all. They seal around the ear and absorb sound energy through the shell and foam, reducing incoming noise by a rated amount — the PROHEAR 032 by an NRR of 25dB and the ProCase Kids by 24dB. The seal, not a battery, does the work.
how to use noise cancelling headphones
how to test noise cancelling headphones
Put them on in a noisy setting and check the seal first — a gap around the cushion is the usual reason earmuffs underperform. For kids, confirm they can still hear a nearby voice while loud background noise is muffled, which is how a 24–25dB rating is meant to behave. Both models are ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352-1 certified.
are these the same as electronic noise cancelling headphones?
No. Both the PROHEAR 032 and the ProCase Kids are passive sound-isolation earmuffs — the sheet lists their noise control as sound isolation, with no battery or active circuitry. They block noise physically rather than cancelling it electronically, which is why there's nothing to charge.
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