The Mpow CH6 are basic wired headphones for kids. They're decently well-built and have a stable fit. Their switchable volume limiter can be used to protect young listeners' hearing while also allowing them to hear their music in louder environments. Unfortunately, they may be uncomfortable for some users with large heads or ears. They also block out very little ambient noise and have a limited control scheme. If you're looking for a pair of headphones for your kids and don't want to deal with the hassle of Bluetooth pairing or battery life, these aren't a bad choice.
Our Verdict
The Mpow CH6 are inadequate for mixed usage. They block out very little ambient noise and are somewhat bulky, so they're ill-suited for use on a bus. They have a reasonably well-balanced sound profile but struggle to deliver audio consistently. Meanwhile, their mediocre microphone recording quality and noise handling capability limit their practicality for phone calls.
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Switchable volume limiter to protect young listeners' hearing.
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Satisfactory build quality.
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Very basic control scheme.
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Poor noise isolation.
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May be uncomfortable for some listeners.
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Mediocre microphone noise handling capability.
The Mpow CH6 are mediocre for neutral sound. They have a slightly underemphasized bass response that reduces the thump and kick of some genres like EDM. Thanks to their neutral mid-range, vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present, but their uneven treble results in a loss of overall detail. Also, they struggle to deliver audio consistently.
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Inconsistent audio delivery.
The Mpow CH6 are bad for commuting and traveling. Wearers may hear the low rumble of bus engines as well as the chatter of other young travelers. They're also somewhat bulky and don't come with a case or pouch to carry them when not in use, and their on-ear fit won't suit all listeners.
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Switchable volume limiter to protect young listeners' hearing.
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Satisfactory build quality.
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Very basic control scheme.
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Poor noise isolation.
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May be uncomfortable for some listeners.
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Somewhat bulky design with no carrying case.
The Mpow CH6 are poor for sports and fitness. They're quite bulky and not all that comfortable. Their in-line remote is very basic and doesn't allow for any sort of in-depth playback control or volume adjustment. However, they do have a decently stable fit and feel fairly sturdy.
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Satisfactory build quality.
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Decently stable fit.
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Very basic control scheme.
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May be uncomfortable for some listeners.
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Somewhat bulky design with no carrying case.
The Mpow CH6 are inadequate for office use, but since they're designed for kids, it's unlikely that they'll be used for this purpose. They let in quite a bit of incoming chatter and can be uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.
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Switchable volume limiter to protect young listeners' hearing.
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1/8" TRRS connection allows for full audio and microphone support on all systems.
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Poor noise isolation.
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May be uncomfortable for some listeners.
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Inconsistent audio delivery.
The Mpow CH6 are wired-only headphones and therefore aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Mpow CH6 are passable for wired gaming. Their wired connection transmits audio without delay, and their 1/8" TRRS cable allows for full audio and microphone compatibility with Xbox One and PS4 consoles as well as PCs with the appropriate port. Their in-line microphone delivers mediocre recording quality and is best suited for quiet environments. Their fit is also limited in terms of adjustability, so users with a wide head or large ears may find them uncomfortable.
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Switchable volume limiter to protect young listeners' hearing.
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1/8" TRRS connection allows for full audio and microphone support on all systems.
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May be uncomfortable for some listeners.
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Inconsistent audio delivery.
The Mpow CH6 are sub-par for phone calls. Their in-line microphone makes speech sound muffled and thin and does an only passable job of isolating the wearer's voice from background noise. They also don't block out that much ambient noise, so users may have trouble concentrating on what's being said in a conversation.
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Switchable volume limiter to protect young listeners' hearing.
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Poor noise isolation.
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Mediocre microphone noise handling capability.
- 5.1 Mixed Usage
- 6.0 Neutral Sound
- 4.6 Commute/Travel
- 5.4 Sports/Fitness
- 5.0 Office
- 4.2 Wireless Gaming
- 6.3 Wired Gaming
- 5.8 Phone Calls
- Updated Oct 09, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Oct 05, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 28, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Sep 25, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Sep 21, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Mpow CH6 are available in eight different color schemes: 'Blue', 'Green', 'Pink', 'Green/Purple', 'Black/Blue', 'Black/Red', 'Pink/White', and 'Purple'. We tested the 'Blue' variant, and you can see its label here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If someone comes across a variant that isn't listed, let us know in the discussions so that we can update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Mpow CH6 are simple wired kids headphones. They have decent build quality, a fairly stable fit, and a unique switchable volume limiter to suit different ambient noise levels. However, they may not be comfortable for all listeners, deliver audio inconsistently, and block out very little ambient noise. For more options, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best on-ear headphones, the best headphones under $50, and the best closed-back headphones.
The Mpow CH6 are better headphones than the Mpow CH1. The CH6 are better-built, and they have a more stable fit. Their sound profile is much more balanced, too. They leak less noise, and they come with a microphone and a volume limit switch, which the CH1 lack.
The Mpow CH9 Wireless are better kids' headphones than the Mpow CH6. The CH9 can be used wirelessly, unlike the CH6. They have a bass-heavy sound profile, and their microphone has a better performance. That said, the CH6 are better-built, and they leak less noise.
The JBL JR300BT Wireless are more versatile kids headphones than the Mpow CH6. The JBL have a more comfortable fit, an easier to use control scheme, and a better-balanced sound profile. However, the JBL are Bluetooth-only headphones, which give the wired-only Mpow headphones an advantage in terms of audio latency and overall runtime. The Mpow are also more sturdily built and block out more ambient noise.
The iClever BTH02 Wireless are better kids headphones for mixed usage than the Mpow CH6. The iClever have a more comprehensive control scheme and deliver audio more consistently. They're wireless headphones with a 50-hour plus battery life, so running out of charge isn't a major concern, though they can be used to receive audio passively with their included 1/8" TRS cable. Meanwhile, the Mpow are better-built, have a superior integrated microphone, and block out more ambient noise.
The Mpow CH6 are slightly better-performing kids headphones than the Motorola Squads 200. The Mpow are more comfortable and do a better job of isolating against noise. They also feel significantly more stable. However, the Motorola have better controls.
The Puro JuniorJams Wireless are better on-ear headphones for kids than the Mpow CH6. The Puro are wireless headphones with excellent battery performance. They have better controls and a more balanced sound profile. However, the Mpow are wired, which some users may prefer, and they're more stable on the head.
The Mpow CH6 are better headphones for kids than the iClever Boostcare. The Mpow are better-built, and they have a more stable fit. Their sound profile is also more neutral and balanced, especially in the mid-range. However, the iClever have a more consistent audio delivery across different users.
Test Results
The Mpow CH6 are colorful headphones designed for kids. They have relatively large ear cups and are a little bulkier than alternatives like the JBL JR300BT Wireless. They're available in a pretty broad range of two-tone color schemes, so young listeners shouldn't have trouble finding a pair that suits their taste.
These headphones are acceptably comfortable. They don't clamp the head too tightly, and the padding used on their ear cups and headband feels plush. That said, users with wide heads or large ears may be frustrated by the headband and ear cups' limited ranges of adjustment.
These headphones have an easy to use but very limited control scheme. There are only two buttons on their in-line remote. The first is a multi-function button used to answer and end phone calls or pause and play music. The other is a volume switch that allows users to limit their max volume to 85dB. The 94dB setting essentially just deactivates the hard volume limiter. Neither button provides any sort of audio feedback, but they're quite clicky and easy to tell apart. Somewhat uniquely, they have an additional analog port to allow you to connect another pair and listen to the same content.
The Mpow CH6 headphones are decently portable. They're quite bulky, but their ear cups fold inwards to reduce their overall footprint, making them easier to store.
The Mpow CH6 headphones don't have a case or pouch.
The Mpow CH6 are decently well-built. They're made of fairly dense plastic and have padding lined with soft-feeling faux leather. Their audio cable is braided, which is a nice touch. Overall, these headphones feel like they should survive a couple of minor drops and bumps, though their ear cup yokes do make some concerning clicking noises when folded and unfolded.
These headphones have a decently stable fit. They clamp the user's head tightly enough to not move drastically while they're running or jogging, though any sort of vigorous head shaking is likely to cause them to fall off. The downside of their wired design is that their audio cable could snag on something and yank them from the listener's ears.
The Mpow CH6 headphones have a reasonably balanced sound profile. Their bass response is underemphasized but mostly flat, which may rob some EDM tracks of adequate thump and rumble. Thanks to their well-balanced mids, vocals and lead instruments are clear and present. Unfortunately, their treble response is both underemphasized and uneven, making some higher frequency notes sound dull and lispy.
The frequency response consistency of the Mpow CH6 headphones is middling. It can be difficult to achieve consistent bass and treble delivery, especially if the listener has long hair or wears glasses. If you're looking for kids headphones that deliver audio more consistently, take a look at the iClever BTH02 Wireless or the iClever Boostcare.
The bass accuracy of the Mpow CH6 headphones is satisfactory. The low and mid-bass ranges are underemphasized, meaning that bass-heavy music genres, as well as some action-heavy sound effects, may be missing some thump and kick. That said, since their audio delivery relies heavily on fit and positioning, user experiences can vary.
The mid accuracy of these headphones is excellent. The range is mostly flat, which means that vocals and lead instruments should sound clear and present.
The Mpow CH6 headphones have bad treble accuracy. The range is underemphasized and uneven, so vocals and lead instruments may be missing some finer details while sibilants sound dull and lispy. Since these headphones' audio delivery is heavily dependent on fit and positioning, the wearer's listening experience can vary.
The peaks and dips performance of these headphones is adequate. There's a dip in the mid-bass range that generates a slight loss of body. The range is mostly flat until a peak in the mid-mid through high-mid-range that causes vocals and lead instruments to sound honky and harsh. The following extended dip in the low-treble range results in an overall loss of clarity. Their uneven mid-treble range makes sibilants sound alternatively dull and piercing.
The stereo imaging performance of the Mpow CH6 headphones is great. Their weighted group delay falls entirely beneath the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers are also quite well matched in regards to amplitude, frequency, and phase response, so objects in the stereo image are accurately placed. It should be noted that these results are valid only for our test unit, and others may perform differently.
The passive soundstage of these headphones is bad. They don't interact that much with the outer ear and have a closed-back enclosure, resulting in a small, closed-off soundstage that causes sound to be perceived as coming from the inside of the listener's head rather than speakers placed around them.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.
The weighted harmonic distortion performance of these headphones is good. Aside from a bit of distortion in the low-bass and low-treble range, the rest of the frequency spectrum falls within good limits. This results in mostly clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the Mpow CH6 headphones. Our results are only valid when they're used in this configuration.
The noise isolation performance of these headphones is poor. While they're able to reduce more noise than the Motorola Squads 200, they still block out almost no ambient noise in the bass range and very little in the mid-range. Wearers can likely hear the low rumble of bus engines as well as the higher-pitched chatter of nearby voices. That said, they do a good job of filtering out incoming sound in the treble range, such as the hum of an AC unit.
The leakage performance of these headphones is great. Escaping audio doesn't sound too thin and shouldn't be that noticeable even in an only moderately noisy environment.
These headphones have an in-line microphone.
The in-line mic has unremarkable recording quality. Speech should sound fairly natural and mostly free of distortion, but also somewhat thin and muffled.
The noise handling capability of the in-line microphone is passable. People on the other end of the line may have trouble understanding what's being said if a call is made from an even moderately loud or crowded environment. If you want a pair of kids' headphones with a better noise handling performance, check out the Mpow CH9 Wireless.
The Mpow CH6 are wired-only headphones with no battery.
These headphones don't have a companion app.
The Mpow CH6 headphones are wired-only and aren't compatible with any sort of Bluetooth connection. You may want to take a look at the JBL JR300BT Wireless or the Puro JuniorJams Wireless if you're looking for kids headphones that don't have an audio cable.
The Mpow CH6 headphones are wired-only.
These headphones come with a four ft braided 1/8" TRRS cable that allows for full wired audio and microphone compatibility with compatible devices.
These headphones receive audio and support microphone usage after connecting their 1/8" TRRS cable to PCs. You can also use their mic and receive audio on PS4 consoles if you plug them into a controller.