How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a simple, kid-sized way to cut airplane cabin noise and protect small ears, choose PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection; if you need to turn any airplane seat-back screen into wireless audio for your own headphones, choose SOOMFON aptX-LL. They are not really rivals — one is a passive earmuff for children, the other is a Bluetooth transmitter for adults. Still, if you're shopping for a trip that mixes flying and hiking, this is the comparison that decides it for you.
• PROTEAR's biggest strength: 25dB NRR passive noise reduction in a foldable, adjustable over-the-head earmuff sized for kids roughly 3–16 years.
• PROTEAR's biggest trade-off: It's a muff, not a media device — no Bluetooth, no audio, just quiet.
• SOOMFON's biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX-LL low latency, a 3.5mm AUX input, and an LCD display that bridges wired airplane systems to wireless headphones.
• SOOMFON's biggest trade-off: It only helps if you already own Bluetooth headphones or earbuds — and it's an adult travel tool, not a child's ear protector.
• Buy PROTEAR if: your child needs genuine hearing protection on a plane, at a concert, or during fireworks.
• Buy SOOMFON if: you want to use your own wireless headphones with a plane's seat-back entertainment system.
PROTEAR is a hearing protector first and everything else second. The core number here is 25dB NRR (28dB SNR under the EU rating), achieved with a solid ABS shell and thickened noise-dampening foam. That's passive attenuation — no batteries, no pairing, no charging. For a parent, that's the appeal: you hand it to a kid, they put it on, and the roar of a cabin, a monster truck show, or a firework display gets knocked down a notch.
The build is aimed squarely at children. The headband is adjustable and the ear cups swivel 360°, which the manufacturer lists as fitting ages 3 to 15 — the product title itself says 3–16. The padding is a PU and foam combination, and the headband is cushioned specifically to reduce pressure on a small head. That matters on a long flight, because a kid who finds a headset uncomfortable will simply take it off. The whole thing folds back into the headband for storage, which is genuinely useful when you're cramming it into a backpack next to snacks and a tablet.
Who should buy it: parents of young children, especially kids with autism or sensory sensitivities who struggle with loud, unpredictable environments. Airplane travel, sports events, concerts and fireworks are all named use cases, and the foldable design suits a carry-on. Who should skip it: anyone expecting to hear music or a movie through it, and older kids or teens who'd rather have actual audio. There's also a 1-year warranty, which is a reasonable safety net for something a child will handle roughly.
SOOMFON is a different animal entirely. It's a Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter and receiver in a small ABS body — 24g total, with a 6.4g battery — that takes a 3.5mm AUX signal and sends it wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones. The headline feature is aptX-LL, the low-latency codec, which is exactly what you want when you're watching a movie on a plane and don't want the audio trailing the picture.
It's built for travel and shared listening. The listing calls out airplane entertainment systems directly, alongside TVs, laptops, PCs, car stereos, gym equipment and smartphones. You can connect it to two headphones at once, which is the real selling point for a couple or a parent-and-kid pair on a flight. There's an LCD display for status, push-button controls, USB-C for charging, and the manufacturer claims up to 23 hours of playtime from the 250mAh battery. A 2-year manufacturer warranty is listed.
Who should buy it: frequent flyers who own good Bluetooth headphones and hate the flimsy wired sets airlines hand out. Also anyone who wants to share audio from a single TV or seat-back screen with a partner. Who should skip it: anyone without Bluetooth headphones, anyone who wants a self-contained listening device, and anyone shopping for a child's ear protection. The gold ABS finish is a small aesthetic detail, not a functional one.
• Best for protecting a child's hearing → PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection. 25dB NRR is the whole point.
• Best for using your own headphones on a plane → SOOMFON aptX-LL. It converts a 3.5mm seat-back jack into a Bluetooth signal.
• Best for low-latency movie watching → SOOMFON aptX-LL. aptX-LL is designed to keep audio and video in sync.
• Best for no charging, no setup → PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection. It's passive; there's nothing to power.
• Best for two people sharing one screen → SOOMFON aptX-LL. It supports two headphones simultaneously.
• Best for a hiking day bag → PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection. Foldable and light, it stores flat with no battery to drain.
• Best for teens and adults → SOOMFON aptX-LL. PROTEAR is sized for roughly ages 3–16.
• Best for sensory-sensitive kids → PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection. The cushioned headband and soft cups target comfort.
Note on the hiking angle: neither product is a pair of open ear headphones for hiking, and I won't pretend otherwise. If you're after sweatproof clip on earbuds for hiking, you're shopping in a different category — SOOMFON only becomes relevant if you already own those earbuds and want to feed them audio from a non-Bluetooth source. PROTEAR, meanwhile, is a reasonable thing to pack for a child on a noisy trail or at an outdoor event.
In my opinion, these two shouldn't be bought instead of each other — they should be bought for different people. If I'm packing for a family flight and a hike, I'd buy PROTEAR Kids Hearing Protection for the child, because 25dB of passive reduction with no battery to manage is exactly what a small traveler needs. If I'm the adult on that same trip and I want my own wireless headphones working from the seat-back screen, I'd buy SOOMFON aptX-LL. Forced to pick one for a general traveler, I'd take SOOMFON — it solves a problem I can't solve any other way. For a parent of a young child, PROTEAR wins.
FAQ
what headphones for airplane
what is the best headphones for airplanes
In my opinion there's no single answer, because these two aren't both headphones. PROTEAR is a hearing protector with no audio at all. SOOMFON isn't a headphone either — it's a Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter that sends a wired signal to headphones you already own, with aptX-LL for low latency.
what earphones for airplane
SOOMFON aptX-LL doesn't include earphones; it works with the Bluetooth headphones or earbuds you bring, and can pair with two sets at once. PROTEAR covers the opposite need — blocking cabin noise entirely for a child rather than delivering audio.
what kind of headphones for airplane
If you want noise reduction without any electronics, PROTEAR's over-the-head earmuff design with 360° swivel cups and a foldable frame is the match. If you want wireless audio from the plane's entertainment system, SOOMFON is the adapter, not the headphone. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since both are inexpensive enough that owning both is a real option.
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: CCA Phoenix in-Ear Monitor vs CHENRUIDA Sleep Earbuds, beyerdynamic DT 1770 vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, how New Bee Earpiece V5.2 compares to syndesmos PS5, OYIB Earbuds vs FADCAMELOS Aesthetic