Etymotic ETY Kids 5

Etymotic ETY Kids 5

When it comes to turning the volume up too loud, we're all children. So, while I applaud the Etymotic ETY Kids 5 earphones, which are suitable for kids ages 4 and up and limit the volume output from sound sources to safe listening levels, some parents may want to look into a pair for themselves too. True, kids have more hearing to lose—we gradually lose the excellent hearing we're born with as life goes on, and the iPod era seems to have accelerated the rate of loss for younger people. But it's never too late to turn it down, and the good news is the $49 (direct) ETY Kids 5 not only sounds great at reasonable volume levels, an unassuming design means cool kids and wise adults alike can wear them without shame. Design Unlike some of today's flashy earphone looks, the ETY Kids 5 have virtually no design flourishes. The earpieces are very narrow, glossy black plastic, the flange ear tips are gray, and the black cable measures 4 feet. Internally, a reduced-output 6-mm neodymium moving coil driver in each ear is responsible for keeping the volume level reasonable. Even at maximum volume on an iPhone, listening levels are never dangerous.