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. The ETY Kids 5 ships with a a shirt clip, three eartip pairs in various sizes, and a carrying pouch. (The pouch does say "kids" on it, but this is the only design element that alludes to the fact that the earphones are designed for children). A version of the Ety Kids 5 with iPhone controls, the ETY Kids3, is also available for $79.

The main reason we turn up the volume when listening to music in earphones or headphones is to block out the noise around us. This makes the noise-isolating ear tips the most important part not only of the ETY Kids 5, but most earphones in general. The better the seal, the better bass response and, of course, the more sound from the outside world is blocked out and thus the less volume you need. The ear tips, which basically act as earplugs, can cut ambient noise by about 35 decibels—that's quite a reduction. Etymotic has long stood by its flange ear tips, but they are not for everyone. The most important thing is making sure the flange tip (there are two additional pairs in different sizes, along with a rounded foam rubber pair) is properly sealing off the canal. Your child will know if it isn't because it will sound like the music is coming through a telephone, with no bass or even midrange frequencies. Twisting the flanges around gently does the trick, and the two pairs provided with the Ety Kids 5 are intended for smaller ears. Getting a pair of custom molded ear tips from Etymotic is another option, but that will cost  more and requires a visit to a audiologist.

Performance 

The only music that suffers from the volume limiting of the Ety Kids 5 is orchestral and classical music. Unless we're talking about film scores, even modern classical recordings are recorded with a greater dynamic range (no dynamic compression is used) than most modern pop music. This creates the impression that the songs are actually quieter—well, they are in spots, but not consistently. Regardless, when you're in a noisy room and it's a quiet part of John Adams's 'The Chairman Dances," you will have trouble hearing the music over the racket around you. That said, if your child listens to classical music, I am impressed. Congratulations.

Modern mixes for popular music, be it hip-hop, rock, even acoustic singer-songwriter genres, sound much better on the Ety Kids 5—and it has everything to do with the overall volume for the louder mixes being higher. I blasted some songs with deep bass, like The Knife's "Silent Shout" and had zero distortion issues, nor, for once, did my ears feel like they were being assaulted when my iPhone was at maximum volume. Etymotic is known for a crisp, flat-response approach to audio, with a bass response that is neither ignored nor exaggerated. The Ety Kids 5 sounds great, but it will likely have those who crave deep bass response reaching for a different pair of earphones—the combination of Etymotics restrained approach to low-end frequencies and the generally lowered volume of this pair means bass response, while audible and clear, is never booming.

Typically, our reviews are filled with alternative products in the same general price range that do the same basic thing, but there are no major competitors for kids earphones. Ultimate Ears made a similar pair called Loud Enough ($40, 4 stars). They're no longer being produced, but you can get them at Amazon.com and other online outlets. Most well-known earphone manufacturers, however, don't make products like the Ety Kids 5. The Ety Kids 5 is not just a pair of earphones that will protect your child's hearing, however, it's also the least-expensive pair of Etymotic earphones you can buy. It's never too early to protect your kids' ears—or to teach them the value of a great-sounding pair of earphones. Starting them on the Ety Kids 5 is a great way to ensure their ears will be protected and their appreciation for quality audio performance begins at an early age.

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