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Review of MEElectronics KidJamz headphones with volume limiting w/lots of pics!!!

twister6

Android Expert
This is a review of MEElectronics KidJamz safe listening headphones for kids with a volume limiting technology http://www.meelec.com/KidJamz_Safe_Listening_Headphones_for_Kids_p/hp-kj15-bk-mee.htm, currently available on Amazon at an introduction price of $9.99 : http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-KJ15-Lightweight-Headphones-Volume-Limiting/dp/B00O5A4WHS/

Today I'm going to share with you about a very special pair of headphones. It doesn't have removable cables or multi-driver design, it doesn't have endorsement of rap stars or other celebrities, and it doesn't even have in-line controls for your smartphone. But if you are a parent or a grandparent with little/young kids in the house, these $10 headphones will be more valuable than any fancy IEMs or full size cans with all of the above mentioned features. Here is why.

The name MEElectronics is often associated with a high quality budget priced headphones, and it's well respected among many headphone enthusiasts. As a matter of fact, you will even hear quite often a seasoned Head-Fi audiophiles recommending Meelec eartips. I have tested and reviewed a number of their wired and wireless headphones in the past, but those were for my own listening pleasure. As a father of two young kids, I'm obviously concerned about their headphone listening habits, but have no way of regulating it when they use my headphones. We have purchased a number of children headphones in the past that had volume limiting feature, but they never lasted too long. That is a big problem with these types of headphones, and it's beyond me how you can design a product for an audience of 4-10 year olds, put appropriate safety features, and... have a thin cable and a flimsy plastic headband.

KidJamz headphone have a check mark next to every parents requirement. They have a thick durable tangle-free cable with a heavy duty headphone plug which has a decent strain relief and comfortable grip. The cable connection to earcup also has a good strain relief. Earcups shape and fitment is very comfortable, and they have removable foam earpads which I found to be of a higher density than other headphones of the same type. The headband is adjustable with a default state small enough for little kids, and being able to extend to an adult head size. The headband itself is rather wide which significantly helps with a comfort of wearing, and it doesn't slide off kids head. Furthermore, the headband is super flexible where it can withstand a lot of abuse without snapping in pieces. The built quality is definitely great!

I know a sound quality is not a primary requirement of these headphones, but I actually found them to sound better than I expected. Other kids headphones we owned in the past had a thin veiled sound, probably because manufacturers thought kids will not care about it. KidJamz on a contrary have a relatively clear full body sound and even some bass presence. I think it's definitely great for kids not only to experience a safe volume level and comfortable fit, but also to be able to appreciate music they are listening to. Even so the headphones are limited to 85dB level, it was still loud enough to enjoy the music or YT streaming, etc.

Overall, I was very happy I found these headphones and just wish MEElec guys would have released it sooner! We went through half a dozen of kids safe headphones in the past at twice this price, and it felt like a waste of money. KidJamz has a fantastic build quality designed specifically for kids using BPA-free non-toxic plastic, it has a very comfortable flexible headband to stay on-top of kids head without sliding down, it has a very durable cord and plenty of strain relief, and it has a very pleasant sound characteristic for a non-fatigue listening at a safe volume level. KidJamz comes in 3 vibrant colors and dirt cheap price tag of under $10. If you have little kids at home, I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't get at least a few pairs of these!!! HIGHLY recommend it!!!

Here are the pictures.

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Usually my review follow-ups are based on answering questions from my readers or providing updates if it has something to do with a firmware, a new accessory, etc. I don't get a chance to write "long term use" follow ups simply because I write hundreds of reviews across multiple communities and it's physically impossible to keep a track of everything. But there is one product which I get reminded about almost every day for the last 6 months, and I feel compelled to write a short follow up to my original review of Meelectronics KidJamz headphones.

It's not accidental KidJamz never came up in any of my other reviews where I usually compare products. The truth is that I haven't found anything as simple and durable at such a low price for the little ears, thus I never compared them to anything else. Now after seeing my 7 year old, day in and day out, using KidJamz in the most extreme way by throwing them on a floor, dragging them across the room, sometime even sitting on them!!! - and they still look great and sound excellent (relative to their purpose).

The durability and flexibility of the headband, the thickness of the cable with a tough shielding, the secure connection of the cable to earcup, and high quality of build material - all that keeps these headphones intact and still usable 6 months later. I can't say the same about any of our previous "kids" headphones that never survived even a few months of my sons torture.

So here you have it. If you are still looking for super durable kid friendly headphones, you don't need to spend a fortune and can get it dirt cheap when you buy these Meelec KidJamz. Still gets my high approval as a reviewer and as a parent!
 
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