Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

Ask anyone who has travelled with a toddler and they will tell you the flight over can make or break the whole adventure. That’s pretty high stakes! When the risk is that high, there’s no point mucking about. One seeks the best equipment that they can find in order to ensure that the flight is a smooth experience. I went looking for the best, and I found the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones.

Hannah loves listening to music, so access to her favourite songs while on the plane was a must. The headphones had to be high quality. They had to be durable enough to withstand international travel in the hands of a toddler. They also had to be comfortable, safe and easy to use, and (as it is their main function) they had to sound great!

Sound Quality – Clear and Safe – Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

Sounding good is the primary task of a set of headphones. They didn’t need to be audiophile quality (my toddler just isn’t that discerning yet), but they did need to be crisp and crackle free.

The Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones were more than impressive. When paired with the high-quality Spotify Premium stream, the lyrics were clear and the balance between the bass and treble was spot on. The Puro Sound Labs website states that they are “Studio Grade Audio”. I don’t know exactly what that means, so I’m happy to settle for “sound pretty bloody good!”

Don’t expect the overwhelming thumping bass that you may have grown accustomed to on other headphones. The Puro Sound Labs BT2200 are engineered for kids to use. Children don’t need to have their brains rattled by loud, distorted bass that covers up the other deficiencies of the headphones. They need to be able to hear words clearly and they need to be able to hear the different sounds made by all of the different instruments. On those tasks, the Puro Sound Labs headphones excelled.

Which brings me to the next, very important point. Hearing is a beautiful, precious gift. Once it’s damaged or gone, it doesn’t come back.

Safety should be THE number one concern when it comes to headphones. There is NOTHING more important than protecting those tiny, sensitive eardrums. Again, in this department the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 excel. The headphones are volume limited to 85 dB – the maximum safe volume for extended periods of listening.

I was able to give these to Hannah then sit back and relax, comfortable in the knowledge that her precious hearing was safe and protected even if she managed to turn the volume all the way up.

At 85 dB (and below), the sound was great. The passive noise cancelling meant that much of the outside noise was cut out. That made listening at low volumes practical and enjoyable.

Connectivity – Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

The Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones connect in two ways – via Bluetooth and the old-fashioned auxiliary cable. Both ways worked very well.

I tried the Bluetooth connection with a wide range of devices and each time the headphones were recognised and paired on the first attempt. Each time the connection was maintained throughout the duration of my listening. I was even able to walk into the next room without the Puro Sound Labs cans missing a beat.

The auxiliary connection was perfect for flying. It meant that the headphones could still be used even when radio-wave-emitting equipment was restricted. It is important to use the provided auxiliary cable, as it provides the volume-limiting capability.

I did find that on one or two occasions I only got sound out of one earpiece when using the wired connection. That worried me, until I realised that I hadn’t fully inserted the jack into the headphone connection on my phone. It does require a little force to fully insert. Once I had rectified that, the headphones performed perfectly once again. We’ll chalk that one up as operator error.

The built in battery has a decent lifespan. How decent? I don’t know exactly, I’ll tell you when I need to recharge them. Admittedly, on the plane we used the wired connection. The Puro Sound Labs website claims 18 hours of playback ,and I have no reason to doubt that.

When the time eventually comes, recharging is easy – just use the included Micro USB to USB cable. Of course, it doesn’t matter too much if you run low on power, the auxiliary will do the job in the meantime on most devices.

Comfort – Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

I tried these headphones on my full-size adult head, and they (just) fit. The earpiece felt comfortable on my ears, although probably slightly smaller than I would ideally like. Of course, if I was getting them for me, I would buy the adult version. Despite their child sizing, the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones were still very comfortable and I felt like I could wear them for lengthy periods.

Hannah is very discerning when it comes to placing anything on her head. We have never managed to convince her to wear a headband for any length of time, and she often removes her hat or helmet after just a few minutes.

When we first introduced Hannah to the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones, it’s fair to say she was sceptical of them too. At first, she wouldn’t allow them near her head… then she discovered the magic within. All of her favourite songs – only audible with the headphones on. Even before we had left for Japan, Hannah was asking to use her headphones almost nightly.

On the flight, Hannah wore the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones for reasonably lengthy periods of time (don’t ask me how long, I lose all concept of time when flying). She used them to listen to her music and she also used them to watch some kids movie about dinosaurs. She wore them at some key points (think calm-down music before sleep) and each time, she voluntarily put them on. I don’t need much more endorsement than that – I have no doubt about the comfort of the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones on a tender toddler head.

Build Quality – Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

Regular readers of Blog of Dad know that I believe quality is a key part of the value equation. My days of cheap and nasty are well behind me, for the simple reason that it’s false economy. If I can spend a little more (within reason) for a product that will last the test of time, I will do it every time. The end result is a more enjoyable and longer-lasting experience, with less money spent on cheap crap of low quality that quickly becomes landfill.

The Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones feel high-quality. They feel like they are built to last. Hannah isn’t rough with them, but like any toddler, she’s not entirely careful. The headphones have had a knock or two and they have been on and off her head a thousand times (sometimes in the space of five minutes). The little knocks haven’t phased the headphones one bit. Of course, the inclusion of a hard case helps to further protect the headphones from toddler-based accidents when they are not in use.

Price – Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Headphones

Here’s the thing about these headphones. They aren’t cheap. The fact is, you can pick up a set of no-name cans from the local department store with a $10 note, and leave with change. BUT… the value equation needs to be considered.

How long do those headphones last (I’ve seen more than one pair not make it through the first hour)? How enjoyable is the listening experience? Are your child’s ears safe?

Once all of those aspects are considered, I believe the price of the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones well-and-truly reflects the quality of the purchase.

Disclosure – Puro Sound Labs provided Blog Of Dad with these headphones free of charge, for the purpose of review during our Japan adventure. The views expressed in this post are entirely my own views. They are based on my experiences with the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones. For further information, please visit my disclosure page.