Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus vs onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Volume-Limited Kids' Headphones: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Puro BT2200-Plus is the pair to buy if budget allows: the sturdiest build, the best sound, and a limiter that measures close to target when you use the included cable. For a fraction of the price, the onanoff Explore+ delivers the single most reliable safety feature here, an 85dB cap that a child cannot switch off.
Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus
Buy itThe premium pick: a sturdy pair whose 85dB limiter is accurate over the included cable and that actually sounds good.
- Reviewers rate its build as the sturdiest in this group
- Volume limiter measured close to the 85dB target when using the supplied analog cable
- Genuinely good, balanced sound that is rare in this category, plus strong passive noise isolation
- Works over Bluetooth or the supplied cable, so a flat battery does not end the listening
- Costs far more than any rival here
- Reviewers note the limiter can be bypassed if a third-party cable replaces the included one, and Bluetooth output has measured higher than 85dB on some test signals
- Fit can run loose on the youngest children
onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+
Buy itThe value champion: a rugged wired pair with a hard 85dB cap that cannot be turned off or turned up.
- 85dB limit is fixed and cannot be lowered, raised, or disabled by the child
- Foldable, tough plastic build designed to survive being thrown in a backpack
- Built-in BuddyJack audio-sharing cable lets up to four sets daisy-chain to one device
- Simple wired connection with an in-line mic, and a low price
- Wired-only, so newer phones and tablets without a headphone jack need an adapter
- Sound quality is merely adequate and bass is modest
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus Our pick | onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Parents who want the best build and sound quality and will use the supplied cable; check Puro's age guidance for younger children | Budget-focused parents of roughly ages 3-10 who want dependable, tamper-proof hearing protection for school and travel |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Volume-limiting reliability | Accurate near 85dB with the included cable | Hard 85dB cap that cannot be disabled |
| Connection | Wireless + wired cable | Wired only |
| Durability / build | Sturdiest build in this group | Rugged folding plastic, backpack-tough |
| Comfort & fit | Interchangeable cups switch it from on-ear to over-ear; loose on the youngest | On-ear, sized for ages 3-10 |
| Sound quality | Best in this group, balanced | Adequate, modest bass |
| Battery life | Rechargeable, plus unlimited wired | Unlimited (wired, no battery) |
| Best age range | Check maker guidance | 3 to 10 (maker) |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus if
parents who want the best build and sound quality and will use the supplied cable; check Puro's age guidance for younger children.
Know before buying: costs far more than any rival here.
Pick the onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ if
budget-focused parents of roughly ages 3-10 who want dependable, tamper-proof hearing protection for school and travel.
Know before buying: wired-only, so newer phones and tablets without a headphone jack need an adapter.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus - The premium pick: a sturdy pair whose 85dB limiter is accurate over the included cable and that actually sounds good. Choose the onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ instead if budget-focused parents of roughly ages 3-10 who want dependable, tamper-proof hearing protection for school and travel.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Volume-Limited Kids' Headphones: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).