How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a purpose-built, folding on-ear headphone for assistive listening and shared office or reception use, choose Williams AV Sound HED 021; if you need a foldable on-ear Bluetooth headphone for a child, teen or casual desk use, choose LORELEI B-E5. That's the short version for anyone comparing these two foldable on-ear designs for office work and everyday listening.
• Williams AV Sound HED 021 — biggest strength: a folding, adult-size on-ear headphone with a mono 32 Ω design and a stated rating for mild, low-gain hearing loss, plus a documented replacement-parts path (HED 023 / HED 023-100 earpads) and a 100-pack of sanitary covers.
• Williams AV Sound HED 021 — biggest trade-off: it's wired and mono, with no Bluetooth, no microphone and no battery, so it isn't a music or call headset in the modern sense.
• LORELEI B-E5 — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 wireless with a built-in mic, a claimed 40-hour battery, a 40 mm dynamic driver and a foldable, swivel design aimed at kids, teens and school use.
• LORELEI B-E5 — biggest trade-off: it's marketed as a kids' headphone and has no 3.5 mm jack on the headphone itself, so wired listening isn't an option from the headset side.
• Who each pick is for: Williams AV Sound HED 021 for offices, clinics, counters and assistive-listening setups that need a foldable, hygienic, low-cost-to-maintain on-ear headphone; LORELEI B-E5 for a child, teen or light-duty desk user who wants wireless freedom and long battery life.
The Williams AV Sound HED 021 is a folding on-ear headphone built for a very specific job. It's an adult-size headphone rated at 32 Ω with a mono signal path, and the spec sheet ties it to mild and low-gain hearing loss. That tells you a lot about intent: this isn't a hi-fi or gaming product. It's a utility headphone — the kind of thing that lives at a service counter, in a waiting room, at a tour-guide station or in a small assistive-listening setup where one clear channel of speech matters more than stereo imaging.
In my opinion, the most underrated part of the HED 021 is the maintenance story. Williams AV lists replacement earpads under HED 023 and HED 023-100, and pairs the headphone with replacement sanitary covers sold as a pack of 100. For any shared-use environment — a clinic, a front desk, a classroom loaner bin — that's the difference between a headphone you can keep clean and one you quietly stop using. The folding design and the compact dimensions (roughly 6-7/8" x 5-5/8" x 7/8", 0.12 lbs) mean it tucks away easily when it's not in use.
Who should buy it: anyone outfitting an office, reception area, clinic or assistive-listening point who wants a foldable on-ear headphone with a real replacement-parts path and disposable hygiene covers. Who should skip it: if you want Bluetooth earbuds for office calls, music streaming or Zoom meetings, this isn't that product. It has no wireless, no mic and no battery — it's a wired, mono, single-purpose headphone, and it should be judged on those terms.
The LORELEI B-E5 is a foldable on-ear Bluetooth headphone aimed at children, teens and school use. On paper it's the more modern device by a wide margin: Bluetooth 5.4, a built-in microphone, a claimed 40 hours of playtime, a 40 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω impedance, 110 dB sensitivity and a 20 Hz – 18,000 Hz frequency range. It also folds and swivels, and the folded footprint is roughly 15 cm x 9 cm x 13 cm, which is genuinely easy to drop in a school bag.
The build is described in kid-proof terms: a metal steel headband wrapped in soft leather, pull-resistant metal parts, and materials chosen so the headset survives twisting, folding and stretching. The ear cushions are a protein-leather type on an adjustable, multi-level headband, which LORELEI says can be sized for both children and adults. Controls are button-based, and there's a stated safe-volume approach — the sheet mentions keeping volume at 80% for a better listening experience. Noise control is listed as none, so don't expect active cancellation.
Who should buy it: a parent buying a first wireless headphone for a child or teen, or a student who needs a lightweight foldable headset for tablet lessons, eLearning and casual music. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a wired connection at the headphone itself, since the B-E5 has no headphone jack — the box includes a 3.5 mm braided cable, but the connectivity spec lists the headset as wireless-only. If you want a stereo Bluetooth headphone for office calls and music, this works as a light-duty pick, but it's designed around younger users first.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for shared or hygienic environments → Williams AV Sound HED 021. The 100-pack of sanitary covers and listed replacement earpads are the whole argument.
• Best for wireless convenience → LORELEI B-E5. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-meter range and a built-in mic.
• Best for assistive listening and speech clarity → Williams AV Sound HED 021. Mono 32 Ω with a stated mild / low-gain hearing loss rating.
• Best for kids, teens and school → LORELEI B-E5. It's explicitly designed for that buyer, with a metal-reinforced foldable frame and an adjustable headband.
• Best for a fixed office or counter position → Williams AV Sound HED 021. No charging, no pairing, no battery to manage — you hand it over and it works.
• Best for travel and packing → LORELEI B-E5. Foldable and swivel, with a compact folded size and a lighter, more portable feel.
• Best for stereo music listening → LORELEI B-E5. A 40 mm dynamic driver and 20 Hz – 18,000 Hz range versus a mono design.
• Best for no-fuss durability in adult hands → Williams AV Sound HED 021. A simple folding frame with a long-standing parts ecosystem behind it.
For a foldable on-ear headphone for office use, I'd buy the Williams AV Sound HED 021 — but only if your office scenario is shared, counter-based or assistive-listening oriented. In my opinion, the combination of a folding adult-size frame, a mono 32 Ω design rated for mild low-gain hearing loss, and a genuine replacement-and-hygiene ecosystem is what makes it the more sensible long-term purchase in that setting. If instead you're buying for a child, a teen or a casual desk user who wants wireless freedom and long battery life, I'd pick the LORELEI B-E5 without hesitation. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding — the gap between these two is less about specs than about which job you're actually buying for.
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for many people. On-ear designs like both of these sit against the ear rather than around it, which keeps them lighter and more packable. The Williams AV Sound HED 021 weighs 0.12 lbs, and the LORELEI B-E5 uses lightweight protein ear cushions — both are built for longer wear rather than heavy isolation. Neither offers noise cancellation, so expect some ambient sound to leak in.
what are the best open ear headphones
Neither of these is an open-ear model, so it's worth being precise: the Williams AV Sound HED 021 and LORELEI B-E5 are both on-ear, closed-cup-style headphones. If open-ear is a hard requirement, both are the wrong category. If what you actually want is a light, foldable headphone you can wear for hours, both fit that description well.
which are the best over the ear headphones
"Over-ear" usually means the cups surround your ears, which is different from the on-ear fit here. The LORELEI B-E5 uses 40 mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz – 18,000 Hz range and 110 dB sensitivity, while the Williams AV Sound HED 021 is a mono 32 Ω design. If you specifically need a full over-ear headphone, look elsewhere — but for on-ear use, both are solid, foldable choices.
what are the best over the ear headphones to buy
Rather than chase a universal answer, match the headphone to the job. For a shared office, clinic or assistive-listening point, the HED 021's hygiene covers and replacement earpads make it the more practical buy in my opinion. For a child, teen or wireless desk user, the B-E5's Bluetooth 5.4, built-in mic and claimed 40-hour battery are the stronger fit. Check the current price on Amazon for each before you commit.
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