Kids' headphones: the downsides, first

Amazon's summary says some owners report the headphones stopping after a few months, sound coming from only one side, and some breaking within a month. Wirecutter reader comments describe Puro pairs whose Bluetooth stopped working after about 18 months, and pairs lasting only a couple of years of occasional use.

Amazon's summary says some owners get frequent Bluetooth disconnections. Wirecutter notes the auto-shutoff won't trigger while a paired device stays on, so the battery can drain unless you put the tablet or computer to sleep.

Wirecutter's test pair's earpads started falling apart after four years (replacements cost $8 on-ear or $19 over-ear). It also notes you can't change tracks or call a voice assistant from the headphones. Amazon owners disagree on whether they're worth the price.

PCMag says a deliberate dip in the 2 to 4 kHz range makes the mids sound hollow and the audio empty at times, and the extra bass muddies orchestral music. Mic quality is average.

WIRED says its 10-year-old testers found the BTH20 a bit small, so it's best for younger kids. PCMag found it adjustable and comfortable, even on an adult head.

Amazon's summary says battery life gets mixed reviews, with some owners having charging issues. PCMag notes there's no IP rating, the buttons feel a little cheap, the high ANC setting adds a hiss when nothing is playing, and the power button needs about a four-second hold.

Amazon's summary says reliability and durability draw mixed feedback: some pairs last up to two years, while others broke within a week. Some owners say the battery wouldn't charge at all.

WIRED says it is noticeably stiffer and less comfortable than some of its other picks. Amazon's summary says fit is disputed, with some owners finding it too small for 5-year-olds.

Amazon's summary says some owners call it worth every penny while others say it isn't worth the cost.

PCMag says pushing the volume dial past a click stop raises the cap from 85 dB to 95 dB, which is 'not really a challenge for a curious child'. It notes that NIOSH says 94 dB is unsafe for more than an hour at a time. WIRED shares the concern but notes a red skull appears on the dial when the override is on.

Amazon's summary says owners disagree on reliability, durability and value, and fit is mixed, with some reporting poor fit. Some also find the volume control too low.

PCMag says the mids are somewhat lacking under the boosted bass, the pair doesn't include a pouch or case, and there's no multipoint or Fast Pair.

Amazon's summary says owners report the headphones breaking after two months and are split on build quality. Wirecutter says the build doesn't feel as substantial as its other picks, though its test pair survived a year of remote school with a 7-year-old.

Amazon's summary says owners call the microphone poor ('barely works') and report Xbox connectivity issues. Wirecutter, by contrast, picked it for its boom mic.

Wirecutter says the earpads make more noise than Puro's, which may bother kids sensitive to crinkling sounds, and that unlike its other picks it can't daisy-chain to share audio. Amazon owners are mixed on sound quality.

Wirecutter measured 92.3 dBA with pink noise in wired mode with ANC on (87.7 dBA with ANC off), which puts that configuration in its caution zone. Over Bluetooth it measured 85.2 dBA. Wirecutter says flipping the cable around lowered the level but disabled the remote and mic.

Amazon's summary calls Bluetooth problematic, with frequent disconnections. A Wirecutter reader says the wired connection won't work when the battery is dead, even with ANC off, and that the right channel cut out on both of their pairs.

Amazon's summary says several owners find the sound level too low, and noise cancellation, fit, battery and value draw mixed feedback. Wirecutter says the ANC is useful but not as strong as the best adult pairs, and less effective on a bus.

Amazon's summary says some owners find their pair completely defective and report the headband breaking and the plastic extension arm failing after two months of use. 15% of Amazon ratings are 1-star.

Wirecutter measured only about 7 dB of reduction in the airplane range. Amazon's summary says the noise cancellation works well for the price but stops working over time for some owners.

Wirecutter calls the sound coarse next to Puro's. It says the buttons click and make the headband ring softly, the mic distorts when kids speak loudly, and the mic doesn't work in wired mode. Amazon owners report high-pitched noises and beeping.

Wirecutter says the sound was dull and muffled, nowhere near as good as the Puro BT2200-Plus.

Wirecutter says kids older than 5 are unlikely to find it comfortable, and the earcups don't swivel, which makes long sessions less comfortable. Onanoff markets it for ages 3 to 10.

Wirecutter warns that wired volume limiting is less controllable than a Bluetooth digital limiter and may run louder than advertised on a device with a powerful amp. You pay shipping for warranty exchanges, so a new pair may be nearly as cheap.