ONANOFF® Statement Regarding “The Sound of Contamination” Report

We are aware of the recently published report, “The Sound of Contamination”, which evaluated chemical substances in children’s headphones purchased from the East European market. Transparency and children’s safety are core to ONANOFF’s mission, so we would like to provide important context regarding our inclusion in the report.

Product Tested and Regulatory Context

The BuddyPhones model tested in the report was our Connect headphones, a product that we last shipped in February 2021, over five years ago. Despite being an older model, the Connect headphones received a “yellow” rating, which, as defined by the report itself, means the product was within all applicable legal limits at the time of sale.
For example, the measured level of Bisphenol A (BPA) was below 10 mg/L (1 part per million), which complies with existing regulatory thresholds.

Why Older Products Score Differently

Since that time, regulatory expectations and testing practices have continued to evolve. Many of the brands that scored “green” in the report were not selling children’s headphones five years ago, and therefore did not have older-generation products still present in the market that were designed under earlier—but still legal—standards.

Our Proactive Move to Higher Standards

Well before the report was published, ONANOFF had already taken decisive action. In 2020–2021, we discontinued the Connect range and replaced it with our Explore+ family of headphones. This transition was not cosmetic—it reflected a deliberate step forward in both technical performance and chemical safety.

Crucially, Explore+ products were designed to comply with the EN71 toy safety standard. While EN71 is not legally required for children’s headphones, we chose to adopt it because we believe children’s audio products should be held to the same safety expectations as toys.

What EN71 Compliance Means

EN71 sets chemical limits that are 100 times stricter than standard legal requirements. For BPA, this means allowable levels drop from 1 part per million to 1 part per 100 million—a threshold so low it is effectively close to zero.
In practice, testing typically shows either no detectable BPA or levels far below this already stringent limit. The reporting format does not specify exact values below 0.1 mg/L, which is why results are often stated as “below detection.”

Our Current Products

All current ONANOFF models fully comply with EN71, along with all applicable regional safety and chemical regulations. Our approach is not about meeting the minimum requirement, but about setting a higher benchmark for children’s products, even when it is not mandated.

Our Commitment

We welcome independent testing and open discussion around product safety. Reports like “The Sound of Contamination” reinforce why we made the decision years ago to exceed baseline requirements and why we continue to invest in safer materials and higher standards for children everywhere.

FAQ for Parents: “The Sound of Contamination” Report

Was an ONANOFF product included in the report?

Yes. The report tested a BuddyPhones Connect model. This is an older product that we last shipped in February 2021.

Was the tested product safe?

Yes. The report rated the Connect model “yellow,” which means it was within all legal safety limits at the time it was sold. For example, detected levels of BPA were below the legally allowed limit.

Why didn’t it score “green”?

The Connect model was designed over nine years ago, using standards that were legal at the time but less strict than today’s best practices.
Many brands that scored “green” did not have older children’s headphones still on the market for testing.

Do you still sell the tested model?

No. We stopped selling the Connect range in 2020–2021 and replaced it with our newer Explore+ family of headphones.

What is different about current ONANOFF headphones?

All current ONANOFF models are designed to meet the EN71 toy safety standard. While EN71 is not required for children’s headphones, we chose to adopt it because it sets much higher safety expectations for products used by children.

What does EN71 compliance mean for my child?

EN71 limits certain chemicals to levels that are 100 times stricter than standard legal requirements. For BPA, this means levels are so low they are effectively close to zero. In most cases, testing detects no measurable amount at all.

Are current ONANOFF BuddyPhones headphones safe for children?

Yes. All current BuddyPhones headphones comply with EN71, as well as all applicable regional safety and chemical regulations.

Why is this report still important?

We welcome independent testing and transparency. Reports like this help parents ask good questions—and they reinforce why we chose years ago to go beyond minimum legal requirements when designing products for children.