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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a compact protective case that keeps a pair of Sony ZX-series wired on-ear headphones safe on the move, choose YIHAOBOX Case Compatible; if you need a pair of USB-C wired over-ear headphones with a safe volume limit for a child, choose KONNAO Upgrade USB Type.
• YIHAOBOX Case Compatible — biggest strength: a hard EVA shell with a shockproof, anti-static layer and a fluffy fabric lining, built to absorb bumps and keep dust, scratches, scuffs, crush and moisture away from your Sony ZX-series headphones.
• YIHAOBOX Case Compatible — biggest trade-off: it is a case, not a headphone. It protects a pair of wired on-ear Sonys you already own, and adds nothing to your listening.
• KONNAO Upgrade USB Type — biggest strength: a plug-and-play USB-C wired headphone for kids, with an 85dB/94dB switchable volume limit and a lightweight over-ear build with no metal parts.
• KONNAO Upgrade USB Type — biggest trade-off: it needs a device with a USB-C headphone jack. It is not compatible with a USB-C charging port, so it will not work everywhere.
• Who each pick is for: YIHAOBOX for the traveler who already owns Sony MDR-ZX110 / MDRZX110AP / MDRZX110NC / MDR-ZX310AP headphones and wants them to survive the bag. KONNAO for a parent buying a child (over 3 years old) a first wired headphone for school or tablet use.
This is a purpose-built carrying case. The brand lists it as compatible with the Sony MDR-ZX110, MDRZX110AP, MDRZX110NC and MDR-ZX310AP from the ZX series of wired on-ear headphones. That is a narrow compatibility list, and it is worth taking seriously: this is not a generic pouch that happens to fit, it is a shell shaped around a specific family of compact on-ear headphones.
The construction is the whole story here. The outer shell is hard EVA, described as semi-waterproof, shockproof and durable. Inside there is an anti-static shockproof layer plus a fluffy fabric lining, and the point of that sandwich is impact absorption — the kind of protection that matters when a bag gets dropped, shoved under a seat or squashed in an overhead bin. The case is also listed as protecting against dust, scratches, scuffs, crush and moisture. Form factor is a bag, and at 0.15 kg it is light enough that you will not notice it riding along in a backpack, luggage or a tote.
So who should buy it? Someone who already owns one of those Sony ZX on-ear models and treats them as a take-everywhere pair. These are compact folding-style wired headphones, and the failure mode for that kind of headphone is rarely the driver — it is a cracked headband, a crushed earcup or a scratched shell from living loose in a bag. A hard case solves exactly that. There is also a 1-year warranty listed, which is a reasonable signal for a simple accessory.
Who should skip it? Anyone who does not own those specific Sony models. The fit is the feature, and a case that does not fit your headphone protects nothing. Also skip it if you are shopping for headphones at all — this listing is an accessory, and no amount of shockproofing will turn it into audio gear. If you are unsure whether your model is covered, check the Sony model number on the earcup before buying.
The KONNAO is a kid-focused wired headphone built around one modern problem: a lot of tablets, school devices and PCs now ship with a USB-C port and no 3.5mm jack. This model uses an upgraded USB-C connector designed for exactly those devices, plug and play, with no adapter required. That is the headline feature, and it is a genuinely useful one for a school bag.
The second headline feature is the volume limit. The brand cites the statistic that 32 million children worldwide suffer from hearing loss and that 60% of it can be prevented, which is the reasoning behind the 85dB/94dB switch. In everyday settings you can cap output at 85dB; in a noisy classroom or car you can switch to 94dB so the child can still hear clearly without cranking the device itself. That two-mode design is smarter than a single fixed limit, because a fixed 85dB limit often pushes kids to fight the volume on the source device instead.
Comfort and safety details are also clearly thought through. The earcups are oval over-ear with soft foam and breathable protein leather. The build uses no metal parts, which keeps the weight down — the stated goal is not adding burden to a child's head — and the streamlined shape has no 90° sharp corners to catch or hurt. The drivers are dynamic, impedance is 25 ohm, and the noise control is listed as passive noise cancellation, meaning the over-ear seal does the blocking rather than electronics. Color is a purple-pink gradient, the age range is kid and teen, and the brand offers a 2-year warranty with lifetime technical support.
Who should buy it? A parent or guardian buying for a child over 3 years old who uses a USB-C tablet, school laptop or similar device, and who wants a volume ceiling they control. Who should skip it? Anyone with a 3.5mm-only phone or laptop — the listing is explicit that it is not compatible with a USB-C charging port, and it is not a Bluetooth headphone. It is also a kids' product by design and by fit; an adult wanting serious audio should look elsewhere.
• Best for protecting headphones you already own → YIHAOBOX Case Compatible. The hard EVA shell and shockproof lining are the entire point.
• Best for buying a child their first wired headphone → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. USB-C plug and play, no adapter to lose.
• Best for hearing safety → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. The 85dB/94dB switchable limit is a real, concrete feature, not a marketing phrase.
• Best for travel and bag life → YIHAOBOX Case Compatible. At 0.15 kg with a hard shell, it is built to be thrown in luggage.
• Best for USB-C-only devices → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. It is designed for Type-C headphone jacks specifically — just remember it will not work in a charging port.
• Best for comfort over long sessions with a small head → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. Oval over-ear cups, protein leather, no metal parts, no sharp corners.
• Best for durability of the product itself → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type on paper, with a 2-year warranty, versus a 1-year warranty on the YIHAOBOX case.
• Best if you own neither → KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. The YIHAOBOX only makes sense once you already have the Sony headphones it fits.
If I were spending my own money and I already owned a pair of Sony MDR-ZX110 or ZX310AP headphones that ride around in my bag, I would buy the YIHAOBOX case — it is a cheap insurance policy against the one failure that actually kills compact on-ear headphones.
But most readers landing on this comparison are buying something to listen with, not something to store it in. For that person, I would pick the KONNAO Upgrade USB Type. In my opinion, the USB-C plug-and-play design plus the switchable 85dB/94dB limit makes it the more useful product for the family it is aimed at, and the 2-year warranty backs it up. If price matters to you, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
what are the best open ear headphones
"Open ear" usually means a headphone that does not seal over or into your ear, so you stay aware of your surroundings. Neither product here is an open-ear design: the KONNAO is an over-ear headphone with oval cups and passive noise cancellation, and the YIHAOBOX is a storage case, not a headphone at all. If open-ear awareness is your goal, neither of these two is the right pick.
are on ear headphones good
On-ear headphones sit against the ear rather than around it, which makes them compact and easy to pack — that is exactly the category the YIHAOBOX case is built for, since it fits the Sony MDR-ZX110, MDRZX110AP, MDRZX110NC and MDR-ZX310AP on-ear models. They are a solid choice for travel and everyday wired listening. The trade-off is less isolation and less padding than a full over-ear design.
are open ear headphones good
Open-ear headphones are good if you want to hear traffic, a teacher or a colleague while listening. But it is worth being precise: the KONNAO Upgrade USB Type is listed as an over-ear headphone with passive noise cancellation, which is closer to the opposite end of the scale — it blocks some outside sound rather than letting it in. So it is a good choice for focused listening, not for open-ear awareness.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Comfort depends on clamping force and padding, and on-ear models press against the outer ear rather than surrounding it, so long sessions can get tiring for some people. If comfort for a child is the priority, the KONNAO is the more comfort-focused design here: oval over-ear cups, soft foam, breathable protein leather and no metal parts to add weight. For the Sony ZX on-ear models, the YIHAOBOX case protects the headphones but does not change how they feel on your head.
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