Shrinking budgets often force schools to make tough decisions about where to allocate resources. This can lead to a feeling of constantly playing catch-up and uncertainty about which technology to choose from.
This can be particularly challenging when considering the potential impact of certain devices or technology on student learning and outcomes.
Fortunately, there’s a simple yet often overlooked solution - headphones.
High-quality headphones can be a game-changer for students and teachers. They have been shown to boost concentration, especially when paired with soft background music or white noise. These calming sounds can reduce anxiety and improve focus, allowing students and teachers to learn and work more effectively.
The best part? Good, affordable headphones are considerably cheaper than most educational tech. This makes them a practical choice for any school looking to improve the learning experience and offers significant cost savings.
PB Tech has a wide range of great audio solutions for schools. It can be overwhelming when deciding which headphones have the best audio and noise-cancelling feature. Our team has curated a list of our top headphones for students and teachers, helping them focus and create a distraction-free environment.
Top headphones for learners
Reliable everyday value earbuds - Panasonic HV094GU
From the well-known and trusted brand, the Panasonic HV094GU earphones are an outstanding choice for educational institutions that need a straightforward audio and multimedia solution.
These budget-friendly earphones cater to a wide range of financial constraints.
In the event of damage or loss, their reasonable price makes them an ideal option for bulk purchases to meet your school’s audio requirements.
Most cost-effective wired headphones - Panasonic RP-HT161
The Panasonic RP-HT161 is an affordable and comfortable headphone for education and offers a snug seal over the ear - an excellent option for long audio listening sessions.
These headphones have excellent sound quality as they are powered by 30mm driver units with a max power input of 1000mW and an impedance of 32ohms to top it up.
Headphones designed for younger students - JBL JR range
JBL has a wide range of safe and lightweight options designed for the youngest music enthusiasts, including wired, wireless, and noise-cancelling options. The JBL Junior range is a great introductory headphone for primary and intermediate school levels.
The JR 310 wired model is designed for comfort, with a padded headband and soft ear cushions. These headphones ensure that the volume never exceeds 85dBs, protecting students' hearing when listening to long audio sessions.
Students don’t need to worry about detangling headphone wires with JBR's wireless model. With the JR 310 BT, students can easily pair these headphones with their learning devices and enjoy 30 hours of battery life. A 5-minute fast charge gives about 2 hours of usage, enough to last a quick catch-up call with the teacher.
Block out all the noise and distractions with the JR 460 NC wireless headphones. Active noise cancellation (ANC) helps students focus, and the built-in mic lets them chat with classmates and teachers during virtual classes. The JR 460NC comes with up to 20 hours of playtime (and 30 hours with ANC off), resulting in long-lasting fun for the whole week, and it only requires 2 hours for a full recharge.
Premium headphones for younger students - Belkin SoundForm
Rather than using adult-sized headphones, students can wear Belkin's SoundForm premium headphones, specially designed for primary school-aged students.
With a soft, adjustable headband with smaller cushion padding, the Belkin SoundForm headphones are designed for all-day use without students feeling discomfort.
At the same, the SoundForm offers up to 28 to 30 hours of battery life, along with a safe listening volume of 85 decibels, protecting students' hearing. These headphones are suitable for distance learning.
The SoundForm comes with a built-in mic and is tested with popular education devices and programs, allowing kids to join virtual classes easily.
Furthermore, with easy and intuitive controls, students can connect the headphones by themselves due to the simple touch controls for play/pause, volume control and Bluetooth pairing.
Durable headphones for younger students – Skullcandy Grom Wireless
Another alternative to the JBL and Belkin headphones is the Skullcandy Grom Wireless headphones, which are designed to make student life easier. They offer an impressive 45-hour battery life, so there’s no need to worry about charging them daily. Even if they run out of battery, a 10-minute charge will give 4 hours of playtime.
They’re durable and comfortable, with an over-ear design, adjustable headband, and collapsible features for easy storage. The headphones have simplified controls on the earcup, a built-in microphone, and even a shared audio port for shared listening.
They use Bluetooth 5.2 for a reliable connection, and you can also use an AUX cable as a backup. With voice assistant activation and USB-C charging, these headphones have everything students need for a great listening experience.
Best all-rounder headphones for students - Sennheiser HD 400S Over-Ear Headphones
The Sennheiser HD 400S over-ear headphones are the best-value premium headphones for education. The HD 400S allows students to control audio using a one-button smart remote.
The headphones are very comfortable, yet they offer a sturdy folding design, making them durable and compact enough for students to pack them easily in their backpacks and take them anywhere. Sennheiser headphones come with dynamic drivers, delivering excellent audio quality with rich bass for a unique listening experience.
Top headphones for educators
Reliable noise-cancelling headphones – Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4
Treat your educators with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, a premium pair of headphones offering superior sound quality with active noise cancellation control.
The MOMENTUM 4 perfectly combines incredible comfort with an elegant design, outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours, and smart intuitive control features, convenient for remote teaching.
Educators can utilise noise-cancelling features using Transparency, Built-in EQ, and the Sound Personalisation mode. Educators can experience more natural sounding calls using MOMENTUM 4's advanced beamforming microphone system, which automatically suppresses background noises.
Best headphones for university students - Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless
Next on the list is the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless headphones, which offer an impressive 50-hour battery life. They can power you through a whole week of lectures, study sessions, and library marathons without running out of charge. The headphones feature Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to help you tune out distractions in noisy environments, allowing you to focus on lectures, podcasts, or meeting deadlines.
The ACCENTUM Wireless headphones offer more than just quiet. Sennheiser’s legendary sound engineering delivers crisp, clear audio, perfect for lectures or pumping up your study playlist.
You can customise your sound further with built-in EQ and selectable sound modes like Bass Boost or Podcast mode. If you need to quickly hear an announcement or chat with a classmate, Transparency mode lets you hear ambient sounds without taking off your headphones.
Comfort is key when you’re studying all day. The ACCENTUM Wireless headphones feature a lightweight, ergonomic design and a plush headband for all-day wearability. The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are the perfect study buddies for busy students.
The perfect choice for Apple owners – Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
The 2nd Gen AirPods Pro is a top choice for iPhone and Mac users in schools using the Apple ecosystem for digital learning. Offering up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, these true wireless earphones provide enhanced Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency for reduced external noise.
The new H2 chip uses computational algorithms for smarter noise cancellation and superior 3D sound. Adaptive Transparency minimises loud noises while allowing users to hear their surroundings comfortably.
The AirPods Pro is best for schools that have adopted the Apple ecosystem. Educators can easily sync their AirPods Pro with their MacBooks, iPads, and even personal devices like iPhones or Apple Watches.
Open-ear headset designed for teachers or students on-the-go - Shokz OpenComm2 and OpenComm2 UC
Shokz's OpenComm headset is a unique headset featuring bone conduction technology. Compared to traditional headsets, this open-ear design allows teachers or students to hear background noises.
The perfect headset for students and teachers who need to stay connected and aware during their busy day.
With bone conduction technology, you can listen to audio without blocking your ears, allowing you to remain alert to your surroundings and avoid distractions. The dual noise-cancelling microphones ensure crystal-clear calls, even in noisy environments.
Although noise-cancelling headphones offer a great listening experience for many, they also limit the user's hearing and decrease their awareness, leading to possible accidents. OpenComm increases the user's awareness to allow for safer commutes while still providing teachers with a private listening experience.
OpenComm is lightweight and fitted for long-term wear, ensuring comfort for all-day use. Unlike other headphones or earbuds, educators no longer need to suffer from ear fatigue and discomfort. The OpenComm headsets are so comfortable that users will hardly notice they're wearing them.
Furthermore, OpenComm is designed for communication. Using the DSP noise-cancelling boom microphone, the headset isolates the user's voice and blocks background noises, ensuring clear communication during conference calls.
With up to 16 hours of talk time or 8 hours of listening time, OpenComm is always powered up for all-day productivity, and a quick charge of 5 minutes provides up to two hours of use.
The Shokz OpenComm is now available in a UC version, which comes with a Loop 100 Bluetooth adaptor, establishing a more stable connection, and supports multi-point pairing for seamless work efficiency.
