Choosing the right headphones for small heads can be a brutal task—utterly overwhelming and often disappointing. The market is flooded with options, but finding snug-fitting headphones that provide maximum comfort with minimal strain on the ears can be a daunting task.
The ecstasy of immersing oneself in a world of sound is often marred by the discomfort of ill-fitting headphones.
This guide aims to help you navigate through the labyrinth of choices—providing you with a curated list of headphones designed specifically for small heads and ears. We’ll delve into:
- Headphones that offer a snug fit without compromising on comfort.
- Options that provide an ecstatic audio experience without causing discomfort.
- Brands that cater specifically to individuals with smaller heads.
So, whether you’re a music enthusiast or a casual listener, we’ve got you covered. Say goodbye to the rough and tumble of finding the perfect fit and embrace the joy of sound with our comprehensive guide.
Finding the Perfect Fit: Headphones for Small Heads
If you’re someone with a petite noggin, you’ve probably spent countless hours searching for the perfect pair of headphones for small adult heads. It’s a struggle, folks—finding small-sized headphones that don’t slip off or cause discomfort can feel like a never-ending quest. But have no worry, my fellow small-headed comrades, I’ve done the legwork and found some top-notch options for you.
What are the best headphones for small heads? In our quest to find the answer, we defined ‘best’ as a perfect blend of comfort, appropiate size, sound quality, design, overall practicability, and value. We found the Koss KPH40, Marshall Monitor II ANC, Beats Solo3, Jabra Elite 45h BT, and Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed emerged as the 5 best headphones for small heads.
- Koss KPH40 Utility: These are the smallest on-ear headphones you’ll find on the market. The Koss KPH40 Utility earbuds are perfect if you’re looking for extreme portability. They’re light and unobtrusive, delivering great sound in a tiny package. Plus, sound-wise, they punch above their weight
- Marshall Monitor II ANC: Finding noise cancelling headphones for small heads that actually fit can be a challenge. But after much trial and error, I’ve found a winner. The Marshall Monitor II ANC is a godsend. They’re the most comfortable headphones for small heads I’ve tried, and the noise cancelling feature is top-notch.
- Beats Solo3: The most stylish on-ear headphones for the Apple ecosystem enthusiasts. They still deliver studio-level sound quality, and they’re super comfortable to wear.
- Jabra Elite 45h BT: For those who prefer to go wireless, the Jabra Elite 45h BT is your best bet. It’s one of the best wireless headsets for small heads—comfortable, great sound quality, and the battery life is impressive.
- Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed: For all you gamers out there, I’ve got you covered too. The best gaming headphones for small heads I’ve found are the HyperX Cloud II and Logitech G Pro X Wireless. They’re snug, comfortable, and the sound quality is out of this world for its calibre.
Can headphones be too small?
Headphones are unlikely to be too small and cause discomfort; and if they are, chances are you’re in need of headphones for big heads.
The smaller the headphones, the tighter they clamp, leading to increased ache.
The on-ear headphones ear pads restricted contact surface area exerts the pressure produced by the headband over a smaller surface than over-ear headphones. The pressure feels intensified and can cause ear pain, but also leave marks on the ears due to increased physical pressure.
Are there any headphones specifically designed for small heads?
Often, the headphones referred to as the best headphones for small heads, are just regular headphones designed for the general public. They just simply appeal to petite people.
Most headphones cater to a broad audience with all sorts of head sizes. To clarify, there aren’t headphones specifically designed for small heads that would perfectly conform to the shape of your head.
How to make headphones fit small heads
Struggling to find a high-quality pair of headphones for small heads that won’t fall off? Consider adjusting the ones you have by wrapping a tight elastic band around them. This should bring the two ear cups closer to the center, gradually tightening the headband over time.
However, this isn’t the only solution for making headphones fit a small head. You could also add extra padding to the headband or replace the ear pads. In some cases, headphones with suede head straps have a tighter fit as opposed to leather.
What headphones don’t hurt your head?
Despite numerous adjustments employed by every headphone, no headphone is a one-size fits all. If it hurts your head, improper headphone wearing, overly tight headband, thin or inadequate ear pads, insufficient ear cup depth, glasses, or simply a peculiar head shape could be the culprits.
In order to make the most of your listening experience, and avoid discomfort associated with extended use, it is wise to pay attention to features such as:
- Adjustable, flexible headband
- Thick, comfortable ear pads
- Swivel-style ear cups
- Ample ear cup depth
- A suitable design for wearing glasses
- Double wing headband design for reducing pressure
- Lightweight design for added comfort
- Foldable earcups for convenient storage
Among the most comfortable headphones for all head types, Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, Sennheiser HD 660S and AKG K712 Pro take the top spots.
Why do small headphones hurt my ears?
Some of the reasons for the discomfort are because they lack sufficient padding to buffer against the external pressure, or that the fit is too tight and causes your ears to become overly sensitive, or just outright bad design that causes irritation to your ears and head.
If small headphones don’t have the desired effect despite matching the size of your petite head so perfectly, the methods of relieving your ears pain are:
- Loosening the headband
- Adding thicker ear pads
Conversely, if ear cups clamping is overly loose, it may reesult in pain at the top of the head. Some symptoms include:
- Headache
- Throbbing
- Tingling
- Aching
The Best Headphones for Small Heads & Ears
Koss KPH40 Utility
- Unpadded, adjustable metal headband
- Perfectly fitting, irreplaceable stock ear pads
- Lightweight with minimal clamp for comfort
- Driver size: N/A
- Dimensions: N/A
If on-ear headphones are more your style, the Koss KPH40 Utility are the smallest on ear headphones I’ve found that still deliver on sound quality. The Koss KPH40 Utility headphones are a unique blend of simplicity and functionality. The headphones feature a slim adjustable metal headband—devoid of padding—providing a minimalist aesthetic.
Speaking of functionality, these headphones offer a unique cup design with no segmentation walls between the holes that provides outstanding sound quality. The ear pads also don’t require replacement as they’re already delightful and maintain the stock sound signature, enhancing the overall experience.
Another strong aspect of these headphones, is their uncommonly clear and detailed sound, as well as their natural bass—a key characteristic that most on-ears headphones cannot compete with in terms of depth and power.
Punchy, vibrant bass sets the tempo in the low-end of the spectrum. The mid-range is particularly appealing, offering a great deal of clarity and impeccable imaging. The entire frequency range sits within a medium-sized soundstage, yet the overall sound reproduction has an ‘out-of-head’ effect, which is a hallmark of Koss headphones.
A negative part that I’m not really fond of is the inadequate passive sound isolation, which is only tolerable in quiet or closed environments. The non-detachable, but relatively short flat cable is another element Koss could have improved upon.
Please note that the cable connects in Y shape and can be detached at the joint, where you can plug the rather ordinary Utility cable. Yet, a Head-Fi forum post notes that the KPH40 lacks detachable cables in the frequently faulty area (near the cups).
Despite any potential inadequacies, no matter how significant, the revered comfort compensates for them all. This is thanks to its featherweight construction and light clamping earcups, which are particularly suitable for people with smaller heads. The pads are also thicker and more comfortable than previous models.
The sleek, yet simple metal headband guarantees that it doesn’t ruin your hair, nor causes hair loss.
In conclusion, the Koss KPH40 Utility headphones are recommended for those looking for affordable top-grade on-ear headphones with impeccable sound quality, uncomplicated acoustics, and uncompromising comfort.
Marshall Monitor II ANC
Key features include:
- Joystick controller for volume, track skipping, and voice assistant activation
- Long battery life with Bluetooth and ANC
- Adaptive equalizer within the Marshall app
- Replaceable ear pads for superior comfort
- Driver size: 40 mm
- Dimensions: N/A
The Marshall Monitor II ANC headphones are a chic pair that exudes the iconic Marshall design language. The textured black earcups and the classic Marshall script logo add a touch of vintage charm to these modern headphones.
The 320 grams headphones boast an impressive battery life—up to 30 hours with Bluetooth 5.0 and ANC, and a whopping 45 hours without. They are equipped with an adaptive equalizer within the Marshall Bluetooth app, ensuring a balanced sound across all frequencies.
The noise cancellation technology, powered by four microphones, effectively reduces ambient noise by 15 dB. Clearly, the ANC isn’t as potent as other headphones in its price range, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2, and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
Sound quality is another renowned feature of Marshall Monitor II, brimming with fullness and lucidity. Featuring rich bass depth and crisp highs, the audio output is flawlessly balanced and free of distortion.
Some users reported issues regarding the headphones being tight around the ears and having small cups. Though in our context, concerns about headband tightness should not be an issue, as those are indicative of a suitable headphone for those with smaller heads. Note though that wearing earrings with the Marshall Monitor 2 is painstaking.
Nevertheless, the Monitor 2’s USB-C technology and ANC, and app enabled EQ make it a desirable upgrade for avid music fans. If you’re looking for the best noise cancelling headphones for a small head, the Marshall Monitor II ANC are a fantastic option.
Priced at approximately $320, these headphones offer excellent value for money, despite stiff competition.
Beats Solo3
Key features include:
- Apple W1 chip for easy pairing with Apple devices
- Up to 40 hours of wireless battery life
- On-ear cushioned earpads for comfort and noise isolation
- Foldable, lightweight design for portability
- Dimensions: 6.9 in. x 6.2 in. x 2.7 in. (L x W x H)
The Beats Solo3 headphones are a stellar choice for Apple users looking for a lightweight pair of wireless headphones. Stylish yet practical, the Solo3s are perfect to meet the user’s everyday audio needs. Users with smaller heads, who have experienced headphones falling off, may find these a better fit.
The Beats Solo3 is equipped with the W1 chip—a feature exclusive to Apple products. This chip ensures that the user can pair it with their Apple devices without much effort. It also ensures that the headset remains relevant in the modern days.
Pairing with other devices requires more steps and can sometimes be difficult.
With just the press of a button users are able to activate Siri, giving them the chance to use the headphones in a hands-free manner. Just press the “B” button!
The dual-mode Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature automatically optimizes sound according to the user’s environment—a great addition for commuters. Battery life also stands at an impressive 40 hours on a single charge. And the headphones can be folded up and stowed away when not in use, making them extremely portable.
These Beats wireless headphones only weigh 7.58 ounces (or merely 215 grams), have collapsible ear cups, and feature on-ear cushioned earpads which offer both comfort and noise isolation. The sound quality is crystal clear and powerful, with punchy bass frequencies and clarity.
Although sound quality and battery life are both impressive and have improved over time, these headphones still have a tendency to get a little hot after extended use and lack features such as customizable equalizers.
So far, these Beats headphones are great for small heads. Priced at approximately $250, the Beats Solo3 provides great value for money and will be a perfect companion to Apple users who want decent sound, comfort, and portability in their headphones.
Jabra Elite 45h BT
Key features include:
- Huge battery life of 50 hours
- Fast charging battery life of up to 10 hours in 15 minutes
- Lightweight at just 160 grams
- Long lasting comfort with protein leather & memory foam
- Driver size: 40 mm
- Dimensions: 18.5 x 15.7 x 6.05
Suave and cost-effective, the Jabra Elite 45h‘s are a stylish and comfortable on-ear headset from Jabra. It’s perfect for those who want the best value for their money and all-day comfort for music enthusiasts.
Instantly noticeable is the lavish copper finish and first-rate sound quality they provide. The highs are crisp, and lows punchy; though vocals clarity is where it’s at. Jabra shows its expertize in communication & music, as one can easily tell how intelligible and clear the mid frequencies are. To top it off, they have the swank of headphones that cost far more.
The Jabra Elite 45h can be paired to the Jabra Sound+ app to enhance functionality and add personalization. The app's MySound feature tailors audio to your hearing profile, determined by a simple test and demographic data. It also offers sidetone for call clarity and wireless updates.
The Jabra Elite 45h come with great features that I simply adore. With just the press of a button, I can activate my voice assistant and optimize sound in accordance to environment thanks to the dual-mode Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC).
The noise-cancelling features only pertains to microphone when on call, it does not have a noise-cancelling mode for listening to music.
The Jabra Elite 45h features a two-mic array that effectively suppresses background noise, offering above-average microphone quality. However, audio clipping may occur in high winds. It also includes a mute/un-mute button for calls.
Comfort wise, it has the ergonomic on-ear cushioned earpads which keep me comfy all day. It boasts a lightweight construction of 160 grams, a soft-touch rubberized headband, and swiveling cups, which are particularly beneficial for individuals with smaller heads. Still, the coolest feature is that it can be folded up and taken with you – perfect for travelerers.
Lastly, these headphones have a low price tag, so I can access superior audio quality without blowing away my budget. Definitely the best compact wireless headphones for everyday use!
Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed
Key features include:
- 7.1 surround sound for immersive gaming
- Low latency connection for quick response
- Ergonomic design with adjustable fit and lightweight construction
- Built-in equalizer for better control
- Driver size: 50 mm
- Dimensions: 19.5 x 13.8 x 9.4
The Logitech G Pro X Wireless, with its compact design, adjustable headband, and versatility, takes the spot as our best gaming headset for small ears. Since its release in 2019, this headset has garnered praise from many gamers for its sound qualtiy, exceptionally clear-sounding microphone – but more importantly, for its reliable wireless connection.
Thanks to Hybrid mesh Pro-G 50mm drivers and the software-enabled DTS Headphone:X 2.0, this headset offers an immersive 7.1 Surround Sound that truly brings out the fine details in games. With its low latency connection, you won’t have to worry about lag when playing competitive games either.
The average latency over the headset’s 2.4GHz connection is around 40ms, according to Rtings, which allows you to play games with no discernable lag.
If the wireless connectivity flops, you’ll be pleased to know that this headset can be used with a traditional 3.5 mm audio jack and detachable USB Type-C cable. It’s also compatible with Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo consoles.
In the sound department, the Logitech G Pro X Wireless is outstanding. The sound profile is balanced and neutral, with a little punch in the bass that is accurately reproduced. Mid-range has a good sound response, but the trebles are mediocre for all-day music listening. A Reddit user even claims that the Logitech G Pro X, priced at $120, surpasses the $200 AKG K553s in sound quality.
All of this is then topped off with a built-in equalizer and the Logitech G Hub software along with a microphone with Blue Vo!ce microphone technology and built-in windscreen to reduce external noise.
Despite its heavier construction, weighing 13.05 oz or 370 g, these headsets compensate with amply-padded headband, and plush velour ear pads to keep you comfortable for hours of gameplay. We also discovered that they have a tighter clamp, but that significantly improves the fit for gamers with smaller heads.
Thankfully, this headset is malleable, yet durable so you can customize its fit to your head shape and size. Aluminum and steel are found in its frame, giving you confidence that it can withstand high-pressure gaming and carrying around on your travels.
In short, the Logitech G Pro X Wireless is a great choice for kids, women, and gamers with small ears as it offers both great sound quality, low latency wireless connection, and an adjustable fit.
