How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, closed-back on-ear headphone with a metal headband, inline mic and remote, and no battery to think about, choose SoundMAGIC P22C; if you need a wireless, volume-limited on-ear pair with active noise cancellation for a child age 7 or up, choose Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise.
• SoundMAGIC P22C — biggest strength: wired simplicity plus a 40mm dynamic driver, closed-back isolation and an inline remote/mic on a 3.5mm jack. Biggest trade-off: it's wired only, with no Bluetooth and no battery, so your phone or laptop has to have a headphone jack (or an adapter).
• Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise — biggest strength: a customizable 85dB volume limit, active noise cancellation and roughly 15 hours of battery life in a foldable, IPX4-rated frame. Biggest trade-off: it's wireless-only — there's no 3.5mm jack — and it's explicitly aimed at kids ages 7 and up.
• Pick the SoundMAGIC P22C if you want one pair that works on a plane, in a library or at a desk without charging anything.
• Pick the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise if the listener is a child and the priority is protecting their hearing while they use a tablet or phone untethered.
• In short: an adult's everyday wired headphone versus a parent's safety-first wireless headphone.
The P22C is the traditionalist's on-ear headphone. It runs a 40mm full-range dynamic driver with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance, which is an easy load for basically anything with a headphone output — a laptop, a game controller, a portable player. The tuning is described as warm and dynamic, so it's built around long listening sessions rather than analytical monitoring.
The design is where it earns its keep. The headband is stainless steel paired with plastic parts and a soft headband pad, and the earcups fold at a metal OPF hinge. The ear cushions are memory foam, and the closed-back enclosure is the reason it isolates — you get some passive blocking of the room around you, which matters on a bus or in a shared office. The whole package is small and light by design, and it applies minimal clamping pressure, which is the single most important spec for anyone who wears headphones for hours at a stretch.
Buy it if you want a durable, foldable, wired on-ear headphone for music, movies and gaming on a device you already own. Skip it if you need Bluetooth, active noise cancellation or a volume cap for a child.
Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise: Who It's For
This one is a different animal entirely, and the name tells you why. The headline feature is a customizable 85dB volume limit, which keeps output inside a range generally considered safe for extended listening. That's not a marketing footnote — it's the reason a parent buys this instead of handing a kid any random pair of headphones off a shelf.
On top of that sits active noise cancellation. The pitch is straightforward: a busy household or a noisy airport gets quieter, so the child can hear their content without the volume creeping up to compensate. The frame is built from plastic, fabric and foam with soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband, and Altec Lansing calls out reduced ear pressure for long sessions. It's also IPX4 sweatproof and described as durable enough for rough handling — a real consideration for the 7+ age group this is aimed at.
The practical details are travel-friendly: a foldable, compact design that drops into a backpack, and roughly 15 hours of battery life per charge. Controls are touch-based, and connectivity is Bluetooth only. Note the absence of a headphone jack — this is a wireless-only product, so it needs a Bluetooth source. The ear placement is on-ear with an over-ear earpiece shape, the color is Blackout Lavender, and it ships with a manufacturer warranty.
Buy it if you're outfitting a child with a safe, wireless, noise-cancelling pair for tablet time, car rides and travel. Skip it if you want a wired headphone for yourself, or you need a jack for a non-Bluetooth device like a school Chromebook or a handheld console.
• Best for hearing safety → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. The 85dB limit is the whole point, and the P22C has no equivalent.
• Best for noise control → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. Active noise cancellation beats the P22C's passive closed-back isolation for blocking steady background noise.
• Best for zero-hassle ownership → SoundMAGIC P22C. No battery, no pairing, no charging cable to lose — plug in and go.
• Best for battery life → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. It's the only one of the two with a battery at all, and it's rated around 15 hours.
• Best for wired devices → SoundMAGIC P22C. The 3.5mm jack works with anything that has an output; the Altec Lansing has no jack.
• Best for a child's backpack → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. Foldable, compact, IPX4 sweatproof and built for rough handling.
• Best for adult music listening → SoundMAGIC P22C. A 40mm dynamic driver, a stainless steel headband, memory foam cushions and a warm tuning aimed at people who actually listen.
• Best for calls → SoundMAGIC P22C. The inline mic and remote put volume, track and call controls on the cord, with no pairing step.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the SoundMAGIC P22C. In my opinion, the combination of a 40mm driver, a stainless steel foldable headband, memory foam cushions and a simple inline remote is exactly what a daily on-ear headphone should be — and never having to charge it is a feature, not a compromise. I'd pick the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise without hesitation if the listener is a child, though, because the 85dB volume limit and active noise cancellation are things the P22C simply doesn't offer, and for a kid those two specs outrank sound tuning every time. Different jobs, different answers.
FAQ
what are the best open ear headphones
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for the right use. On-ear models are lighter and more compact than over-ear ones, which is exactly why both of these fold up small. The trade-off is less passive isolation than a full over-ear cup and more pressure on the outer ear, which is why cushion quality — memory foam on the P22C, plush padding on the Altec Lansing — matters so much.
are open ear headphones good
Open-ear designs let you hear your surroundings, which is useful for running or cycling but bad for noisy commutes. Both headphones here are the opposite approach: the P22C uses a closed-back enclosure for isolation, and the Altec Lansing adds active noise cancellation on top of its on-ear fit.
are on ear headphones comfortable
They can be, and both manufacturers clearly designed for it. The P22C uses memory foam cushions, minimal clamping pressure and a lightweight build for prolonged use, while the Altec Lansing adds an adjustable headband and ergonomic padding to reduce ear pressure. Fit varies by head shape, so adjust the headband properly before judging either one.
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