Tech Tuesdays: Testing
Kids' Headphones from Kidz Gear and Griffin
Rear-seat entertainment (RSE)
systems have become an essential element of family road trips
for many people since they help keep kids quiet and occupied on
long drives and allow parents some peace and quiet. But most
headphones that come with factory RSE systems are typically
designed for larger heads. Particularly with little ones,
parents have to frequently adjust the fit of the headphones as
well as their volume to keep kids happy. And many parents are
also concerned about the effect that listening to movies or
video games for hours via headphone can have on young ears.
So when we saw that two companies recently introduced headphones
specifically designed for young heads and ears, we requested
samples so that we could
test them. And as a side benefit, we found that not only are
these headphones ideal for younger kids, but they can also save
parents money if the ones that came with a stock RSE system get
lost or damaged.
The two headphone we tested are from Kidz Gear and Griffin
Technologies, and the two companies take two very different
approaches. The
Kidz Gear heaphones ($29.99) are wireless and work with any
OEM or aftermarket RSE system that uses infrared (IR) to receive
an audio signal. Griffin's MyPhones ($39.95), meanwhile, are
wired and only work with systems with wired headphone inputs.
They also limit the volume to 85 decibels to protect young ears.
We tested the headphones with the help of a 9-year-old and
11-year old and in a variety of vehicles, and found that each
pair has its advantages and disadvantages. But one thing they
have in common is that they are much less expensive than
replacement headphones for stock RSE systems.
We called the parts departments at several dealers and found
that replacement headphones range from $160 for some Lexus
models to $53 for some Dodge vehicles, although these are for
dual-channel headphones that can tune in two separate audio
sources, such as a DVD and a radio station. You can probably
find them cheaper elsewhere.
After logging many miles with the Griffin MyPhone and Kidz Gear
headphones, we can predict that you'll be happy with either
pair. Better yet, our youthful testers gave them the thumbs-up.
Posted by Doug Newcomb June 15, 2010, 3:00 AM
