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In many of the articles here on EMF Academy, I recommend Air Tube headsets as a way to use your cell phone without it being near your head. However, I’ve had a lot of questions about what air tube headsets are, how they work, and what are the best air tube headsets and earbuds.
In this guide, I want to answer all your questions about air tube headsets, sometimes called anti-radiation headsets, and show you what I think are the 7 absolute best options in 2024.
I own and have personally tested every pair of airtube headphones on this list as well as many others.
The primary difference between a normal headset, and an air tube headset like my favorite pair from DefenderShield, is the way the sound gets to your ears.
Normal headphones like the ones that came with your Apple phone have a purely wired connection, which exposes your head to a much larger amount of EMF radiation.
An air tube headset has a hollow flexible air tube that replaces the wire from your phone to the small earpiece. The sound travels through this tube of air to your ear, giving you quality sound without exposing you to radiation.
The main point of using headphones, in general, is to get the phone away from your head while you’re using it, dramatically reducing the radiation you expose yourself to.
An air tube headset takes this to the next level, further protecting your brain.
These air tube headphones work just as well as conventional headsets, plugging into the same port, and providing the same functionality.
Many even have microphones so you can talk while driving, or if you’d just like to keep the phone away from your head.
An air tube headset is a pair of earphones coupled to a microphone with an ‘air tube’ component. Regular headsets consist of a 100% wired connection.
This wire and hollow tube component transmit the sound from your device (cell phone, mp3 player or other) to your ear. The peculiarity of this air tube is that it contains no metal.
An air tube headset plugs into the jack on your cell phone the same as a conventional headset.
Why Would You Want An Air Tube Headset?
Hopefully, since you’re on my website, you understand the potentially harmful effects of prolonged exposure to EMF radiation from your cell phone or other electronic devices.
The principal reason to get an air tube headset is to reduce your radiation exposure.
On the contrary, air tube headsets use sound waves to transmit the sound from the device to your ear, reducing your exposure to EMF radiation by as much as 98%.
The primary way it reduces the radiation is the distance it puts between you and your cell phone, as well as preventing much of the radiation from traveling through the headset.
Take a look at the following illustration to understand a little better how these air tube headsets protect you.
Are There Downsides Of Air Tube Headsets?
Absolutely, although if you are at all worried about EMF radiation, I can assure you that the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Let’s talk about some of the downsides of air tube headsets in general.
Durability – Since air tube headsets use exactly that, a rubber tube, they are much less durable in general. The tube, if handled poorly, can be damaged or kinked. So you want to handle it with just a little bit more care than a normal wire set. Most air tube headphones come with a carrying case to help protect them.
Sound Quality – Although the sound quality of most of the headphones I reviewed here today is quite good, they will likely not be quite as good as a similarly priced pair of conventional headphones. When the sound waves travel from the small speaker to your ears, some quality is lost. However, you will likely not notice much of a difference if you get a quality pair like the ones from Defendershield.
Ok, now that we’ve talked a little bit about how Air Tube headsets protect us, let’s talk about what the best ones available are.
7 Best Air Tube Headsets Of 2024
When we’re trying to find what the absolute best air tube headsets are, there are a few things we need to take into consideration, specifically:
Sound Quality
EMF Radiation Reduction
Build Quality
Customer Reviews
Price
When creating this list I kept all of these factors in mind. These selections have been made after many hours of research, reading reviews, and comparing products. I personally own and have tested every pair below myself.
Alright, now let’s get to the best air tube headsets.
Get them here. The team over at DefenderShield recently sent me a pair of their air tube headphones to try out for myself, and I can honestly, with a clear conscience, say, I was blown away.
I’ve tried out quite a few air tube headphones in the past, and I can honestly say that the sound quality of the Defendershield is far better than any I’ve heard.
In fact, I’m listening to music with these headphones as I type this post, and it is dramatically improving the experience.
It’s hard to describe, but there was a fullness to the sound as I listened to the song. Many air tube headsets have a very odd, shallow sound.
This is usually caused because the small speakers that send the sound up the tube to the earbuds are of low quality, and not likely designed specifically for this use.
However, you can tell that the Defendershield pair has superior design and engineering, especially because they honestly sounded better than anything else I use.
Defendershield Airtube Headphones
Although there are quite a few radiation-safe headphones in this list that have good sound quality, I think that this is perhaps the only pair with truly crystal clear sound that will make you not miss your iPhone earbuds or whatever you were using before.
Like any good pair of headphones, they have a nice hands-free microphone attached below the speaker for the left earbud.
You can click the microphone to answer calls or to play/pause the music you’re listening to.
Another simple feature that I like with these headphones, is that the back side of each earbud has a magnet so that they snap and stay together.
This makes them much easier to keep together and store, which is really important, as the tube can more easily be damaged.
This is also super handy when you’re out and about because you can just wrap the headphones around your neck and snap them together to keep them in place.
I also really appreciated that they came with three sizes of rubber earbuds, small, medium, and large. They also came with a set of nice ear hooks that help keep them better attached to the head.
As soon as I started listening to these, I could immediately tell the quality was far beyond anything else I had tried.
As soon as you get them, plug them into your computer and turn on this song.
Listen carefully at the beginning as the sound moves beautifully between your ears.
As soon as the song kicks in, sit back relax, and focus on the quality of the sound.
If you aren’t honestly amazed by the quality of the sound, email me and let me know. Or, email me anyway while you’re listening to the song and tell me that you too were blown away, and we can chat about that.
I used to primarily recommend the next pair from SafeSleeve, but after trying out the DefenderShield pair for a few days, I just had to add these to my list, it wouldn’t be right not to.
They are a bit more expensive than other pairs on this list, but I promise they are worth it.
(Bonus) Defendershield Over-Ear Air Tube Headphones
Order them here. Ok, I had to add these to this article, because to my knowledge, this is the first pair of over-ear air tube headphones, and I think that is fantastic.
I’ve used the Defendershield pair above for years, but I got my hands on this pair of over-ear headphones and I’m completely in love with them.
Not only are they extremely comfortable, but the sound quality is amazing.
It’s also really nice to be able to have a bit of noise cancelation, a feature you won’t find in any other pair of traditional air tube headsets.
The sound quality is amazing, with no feedback or distortion, just a much higher fidelity sound than just about any other pair on the market.
Defendershield Over Ear Headphones
Defendershield worked specifically with audio engineering specialists to produce the highest quality acoustic audio while still offering the same EMF protection benefits of traditional air tube headphones.
They also come with a really nice carrying case to keep them compact and protected while you’re on the go.
I now keep this pair, and Defendershields earbuds in my backpack at all times.
You can see what they look like in person in the image I took to the right.
The price point for this pair is understandably a fair bit higher than other air tube headphones, however, if you use a headset often, and sound quality and EMF exposure reduction are important to you, then they are probably worth it.
2. Safesleeve Anti-Radiation Air Tube Headphones
Pick them up from here. My second favorite pair is a simple one made by another fantastic EMF protection company, SafeSleeve.
This is also without a doubt the best budget pick when it comes to Airtube headphones, I really think you get the most for your money with this set from SafeSleeve.
Safesleeve as a company started out pretty much just making quality EMF protection cell phone cases (read more about the best cases here), but over the last few years, they’ve introduced a line of other products, everything from EMF protection blankets and lap desks, to this pair of Airtube headphones.
Although this pair is pretty simple, the quality is fantastic for the price. I still stand behind my recommendation that the Defendershield products above are the best anti-radiation headphones you can buy, I think that this SafeSleeve pair offers perhaps the best value.
If you’re looking for a great introductory pair of air tube headsets at a low price, you really can’t go wrong.
These do not offer perfect sound, by the stereo quality is fantastic for the price, and you’ll be getting exactly what you want great RF radiation protection from your iPhone, laptop, tablet, or another device.
Like most of the pairs on this list, these air tube headphones come with a built-in microphone that can be used to talk on the phone, control Siri or another virtual assistant, or record audio.
There is also a simple control button that can be used to answer or hang up calls, play music, etc.
The audio jack is a simple 3.5mm plug that will connect to most devices, however, if you have an iPhone, you’ll want to use the lightning adapter that came with the phone, or pick one up if like me, you lost yours.
Another thing I like about this set is that it includes a nice carrying case. This might sound like a silly thing, but unlike traditional headphones, air tube headphones are actually quite a bit more delicate.
The air tubes that pass the sound from the speakers to your ears can easily get bent or crushed if you just toss them in your backpack, so a simple carrying case will dramatically increase the life of the product.
3. SYB (Shield Your Body) Air Tube Headset
Pick them up from here. My third favorite pair of Air Tube headphones is from a company that I probably don’t talk about enough, and that is SYB.
SYB offers a huge array of EMF protection products, including a really interesting device that I’ll talk about later in this article, that can essentially turn any pair of headphones into EMF protection headphones, called the H.A.R.D device.
The SYB air tube headset packs all of the features that you want in a quality headset, without the high cost.
Like the SafeSleeve case below, this does include a really nice branded carrying case, which is important to protect the fairly delicate air tubes that pass sound from the speaker to the earpiece.
I found the sound quality to be really good, with fantastic bass. I wouldn’t rate the sound quality higher than the Airtube headset from Defendershield, but I think it’s very good for the price.
I also like that there is a built-in microphone and volume control buttons.
Overall, this is a great value and a great introductory pair of air-tube headphones from a very reputable company, which is why this is my number 2 pick for the best air-tube headset.
4. Tuisy Air Tube Earbuds With Microphone and Volume Control Review
Tuisy Airtube Headphones The Tuisy Air Tube headset is one of the better low-cost pairs on the market. They are attractive, simple to use, well priced, and have great sound quality.
Let’s talk about some of the reasons I think these are the best air tube headphones on the market.
Certified Radiation Protection Patent – The Tuisy Air Tube headphones were granted a patent from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for their unique design. The Tuisy air tube headset reduces EMF radiation by as much as 99.9%.
Complete Radiation Protection – Apart from the radiation protection that the air tube itself provides, Tuisy took radiation protection seriously by also adding additional features. First, the wire portion of the headset uses special shielding to prevent EMF waves from traveling up the headset itself. They also have no speaker in the earbuds themselves, protecting you from magnetic radiation.
Microphone And Sound Control – There is a quality microphone attached to the wire portion of the headset, allowing you to talk hands-free. There is also a small control on the headset that allows you to answer/hang-up calls, control sound, etc. without using your phone or audio player.
Carbon Fiber Case & Accessories – If you remember from our section about the downfalls of air tube headphones, you’ll remember that they are a bit more delicate. The Tuisy air tube headset comes with a very nice carbon fiber case to store and transport the headphones in. The set also comes with three total replacement earbuds in different sizes to comfortably fit any ear.
Taking everything into mind, I think these are without question the best air tube headphones on the market considering the price. They work great, have lasted well for me, are well-reviewed, and just a great value in general.
5. Kinden Binaural Anti-Radiation Air Tube Headset With Microphone Review
Kinden Airtube Headset. The next air tube I really want to talk about is the popular Kinden Air Tube headset. Kinden has been making air tube headsets for a while and is a known brand in the space.
One of the things I really like about the Kinden set is the design of the air tube itself. As you can see from the image, the black portion is wired, but the air tube itself is clear.
I also like the curved design that is meant to wrap around your ear. This makes this set the best air tube headset by far for working out, as they do a great job staying in your ear.
The manufacturer says that the headset will reduce EMF radiation by up to 99%. It does this a few ways:
Shielded metal wire
No magnetic field radiation metal cavity
Long air tube portion
The Kinden headset has a fairly good-quality microphone on it that works great for phone calls. The set also has noise-canceling ear tips that help to deliver a good quality crisp sound.
This is also probably the least expensive pair of quality air tube headphones you will find. This makes them ideal for someone who is curious about air tube headsets but doesn’t want to drop too much money to start.
6. Docooler Anti-Radiation Air Tube Earphones Review
Docooler Airtube Earbuds. This set by Docooler is actually pretty great, and certainly worth considering. It has an overall nice look and is fairly high quality.
I think if it had come with a carrying case I may have bumped it up a spot or two.
Let’s talk about what I like.
First of all, I think the Docooler air tube earphones might just have the highest quality microphone of all of the ones I’ve reviewed here.
Like the other sets, they have similar radiation-blocking technologies including:
Shielded metal wire
Dual sonic concentrators
No magnetic field radiation metal cavity
As well as a high quality, stretch-proof air tube.
Together these work to reduce radiation by 98% or more.
7. RadiArmor Anti-Radiation Air Tube Headphones Review
These are a medium priced, fairly high-quality set of air tube headphones that offer solid sound quality.
The manufacturer says that they reduce radiation by 99.9% compared to holding a cell phone, and reduce radiation by 97% compared to an ordinary pair of headphones.
They feature a simple one-touch call answering button as well as a small microphone on the wired portion of the headset.
They have an extra long cord that is nice if you’re driving and need to set your phone in the console, cup holder, or passenger seat while still talking.
Not much else to say about RadiArmor’s air tube headphones; all in all they are a medium quality pair, at a medium quality price.
SYB H.A.R.D. Device
Get the device here. Now that we’ve gone over the best radiation-safe headphones, I want to take a minute and talk about another avenue you can go if you want to use headphones with your devices, but want to protect your brain from EMF radiation.
You see, it’s a great idea to keep your phone, tablet, laptop, or other devices away from your head with a pair of headphones, however even wired headphones conduct EMF radiation from your device into your ear canal, exposing your head to harmful levels of EMF or RF radiation.
That is exactly why people purchase Airtube headsets like the ones I talked about above.
However, what if you have a pair of wired headphones that you really love, and don’t want to give them up, but still want to reduce your exposure to EMF radiation? That is exactly where the SYB H.A.R.D (Hydrous Anti Radiation Device) comes into play.
This works just like you think it would, you plug your favorite pair of headphones into the device, plug the device into your phone, tablet, laptop, etc. and you’re good to go. Not only will you get the same (or sometimes better) sound quality, but you’ll also dramatically reduce your radiation exposure.
The H.A.R.D. device uses a dielectric gel to absorb the radiation as it passes through, leaving just the sound waves remaining for you to listen to.
So, although I think air tube headsets are a great option for reducing EMF radiation exposure, this is a fantastic alternative if you just can’t let go of your favorite pair of headphones.
Other Related Questions
So far, we’ve talked about what air tube headphones are, why you would want a pair, the downsides of air tube headphones, and thoroughly covered what the best air tube headsets are that you can buy.
Now I want to take a little bit of time to talk about some other important and related questions and topics.
Are Wired Headphones EMF Free?
The answer is no, traditional wired headphones are not EMF-free. Most wired headphones and headsets emit quite a bit of EMF radiation and pass radiation from the device they are plugged into through the cord and into the earpiece that rests next to your head.
The best way to reduce the EMF radiation from your headphones is to get a quality pair of Airtube headphones as we’ve talked about in this article. You can easily test the effectiveness of these with a simple EMF meter.
Are Wired Headsets Safer than Bluetooth
In my opinion, wired headsets, even non-airtube headsets, are safer than Bluetooth headphones.
This is primarily because all the electronics and components of Bluetooth headphones are resting so close to the brain, and there really isn’t an effective way to reduce this radiation.
Bluetooth is a form of radio frequency, and radio frequency radiation being emitted so close to your head is potentially harmful.
This is exactly why I wrote up a full guide on AirPod radiation and why headaches from AirPods have been reported.
If you want to read more about the potentially harmful nature of Bluetooth headphones, you can read this article that I wrote.
Do Ferrite Beads Work For Headphones
This is a question I’ve received quite a bit over the past few years. What people want to know is if ferrite beads clipped to headsets work to reduce the EMF radiation, kind of like the SYB H.A.R.D device above, but an even simpler version.
You can pick them up for relatively cheap from places like Amazon, which is probably why people are looking to these as a simple and cheap alternative to air tube headphones.
I have tried testing this myself, and can’t seem to read a difference between headphones with ferrite beads attached, and headphones without them.
However, some research has come out over the last 10 years that suggests they could help reduce your radiation exposure from headphones.
Final Thoughts On The Best Air Tube Headset
The bottom line is if you care at all about the dangers that exposure to EMF radiation poses, I’d highly suggest you look into air tube headphones. They are relatively inexpensive and make for a simple and effective way to reduce your exposure.
I think without a doubt the best air tube headset on the market are the Defendershield Air Tube Headphones, but any of the ones I’ve reviewed here are a fine choice.
Jaron is the founder of EMF Academy, a website dedicated to raising awareness about EMF radiation and providing practical ways to reduce exposure. With years of research and a personal commitment to safety, he shares insights to help others protect their health. Connect with Jaron to learn more about EMF safety.
I recently lost my Apple ear phones, before buying another set, my sister suggested I check out the EMF one’s first.
I happened to find your site in my search, and love the fact you did your homework. I will definitely consider your suggestions. Thanks!
5. Kinden Binaural Anti-Radiation Air Tube Headset With Microphone Review
Appreciate it for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
Thank you so much Darron, really appreciate it!
I recently lost my Apple ear phones, before buying another set, my sister suggested I check out the EMF one’s first.
I happened to find your site in my search, and love the fact you did your homework. I will definitely consider your suggestions. Thanks!
So glad you found it helpful!