A bone conduction headset delivers sound through the bones of the skull, instead of the eardrums. Its use is very specific, but its technology has progressed a lot lately. Check out the best bone conduction headphones here.
The bone conduction headphones (also called bone conduction headphones) are a niche audio product. They are mainly intended, given their nature, for athletes. The technology itself is rather old. The principle is not to send the sound directly to the eardrum (as in the case of conventional headphones), but to the jawbone via vibrations. These vibrations are then conducted from the jaw to the inner ear and therefore perceived by the user. A bone conduction earphone is therefore absolutely not placed in the pavilion of the ear, but just in front.
The philosophy of bone conduction headphones (or headphones) is the complete opposite of noise reduction headphones. Your ears are left free: suddenly, you are not isolated from the rest of the world. This is why this type of helmet is particularly used by athletes. This allows a jogger or a cyclist to practice his sport, listening to music, but while remaining attentive to what is happening around. In addition to sports and other outdoor activities, this type of helmet can be useful in a professional environment, for example in a open space to stay available while listening to his music. Some hard of hearing people can also benefit greatly from this technology, which does not pass through the eardrum.
The audio quality delivered by bone conduction headphones is necessarily worse than conventional headphones. The fact is that you don’t buy this product to listen to music in its best quality and immerse yourself in it, but to stay alert. It is a complementary device to headphones or earphones, which is not intended to supplant them.
Very few manufacturers are interested in this technology. So it’s very simple, there is currently only one manufacturer of bone conduction headphones: Shokz(formerly called AfterShokz, until 2021).
Whether you are sporty and want to move to music, or simply curious, we explain here the manufacturer’s range and the best bone conduction headphones available.
Do you often do sports? Discover our guides on tech products for athletes:
OpenRun Pro: the best in bone conduction
L’Open Run Pro is the newest and most premium helmet from Shokz. This model is clearly intended for lovers of running and other outdoor sports. It comes to take the place of the Aeropex model.
Like the other models, this helmet is made of titanium, which makes it particularly solid, even in the event of a fall. It is completely covered with a soft and pleasant silicone against the skin.
To effectively resist sweat, the helmet is IP55 certified. The brand has also worked on the sound quality delivered, in particular on the bass transmission, which has been greatly improved. Autonomy has also been improved, to reach 10 hours, a good performance. Fast charging is also required: 5 minutes are enough for 1h30 of use, and one hour is necessary for a full charge. A magnetic (and proprietary) charging cable comes with the headset. However, you will need to provide an additional power supply – and this applies to all Shokz models.
The headset works via Bluetooth 5.1 and benefits from multipoint. It is equipped with a dual noise-canceling microphone for making and receiving calls, which is particularly effective, even in noisy environments.
As often with Shokz, several colors are available: pink, blue, black and white.
Why choose the Shokz OpenRun Pro?
- The latest in bone conduction technology
- Noise canceling microphone
- Good autonomy
OpenSwim: for swimmers and water lovers
As a waterproof helmet, theOpenSwim from Shokz is IP68 certified. It is resistant first to dust, but above all to total immersion up to 2 meters, for 1 hour. It is simply the highest standard of protection. Being designed, of course, for swimming, you can wear a swimming cap, earplugs or swimming goggles without worry.
If the OpenSwim has great qualities, especially on the comfort of the object and its reliability in the water, it also has a big flaw: it does not work in Bluetooth. You have to load your music on it, like an old mp3 player, a time that already seems far away. It has a small storage capacity of 4 GB, which is about 1200 songs. It supports MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC and FLAC formats. We forget here the fast charge, reserved for the top of the range that are the OpenRun Pro and the OpenComm. The announced autonomy is about 8 hours.
We regret that Shokz did not offer the two possibilities of use, that is to say to be able to certainly load music on the helmet, but also to connect it in Bluetooth with his telephone. Any swimmer may indeed want to use their bone conduction helmet in an environment other than water, for example to run: in this case, they will not be able to connect their smartphone to the OpenSwim, which is good shame. It is also not equipped with a microphone, so you can say goodbye to hands-free calls. As you will have understood, Shokz designed this helmet for, and only for, swimming and other water sports.
A little extra all the same, it comes with earplugs suitable for swimming, which will be very useful for better hearing your music in the midst of splashing noises and children’s cries. Note that it can be used without problems in the sea.
Why choose the Shokz OpenSwim?
- If you are an avid swimmer
- Perfect and comfortable fit under a swimming cap
- Perfectly waterproof
OpenMove: the headset at a low price
If you don’t feel like spending so much on a sports helmet, or only have occasional use, then you can opt for the model OpenMovewhich is one of the best-selling references by Shokz.
The OpenMove is Shokz’s entry-level helmet. Here, therefore, there is no fast charging or extended battery life. You still benefit from the bone conduction technology unique to Shokz. The dual noise reduction microphone is also included.
It benefits from an IP55 certification and is therefore resistant to sweat. It was thus designed for sport, but not only. It has two EQ modes: one for outdoor use, and one for boosting vocals, making the headphones perfect for podcasts, audiobooks or radio. Good surprise, its Bluetooth is also multipoint. Like the other models, it incorporates the control buttons (volume, turning the headphones on and off, etc.) on the branches.
On the battery side, we are on at least 6 hours of autonomy and a USB-C recharge.
This is a great choice if you just want to test out this technology and see if it works for you. We highly recommend it to people who cycle around town and need to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons.
Why choose the Shokz OpenMove?
- A more affordable price
- A good microphone
- IP55 approval
OpenComm: an ideal headset for work
L’OpenComm can be a seriously interesting option if you spend your days on the phone. This headset is specifically designed for phone calls, and to be worn for a long time.
At a time when teleworking has become commonplace, and therefore phone calls and video meetings as well, this headset takes on its full meaning. It will be perfect for those who can’t stand spending the day with earphones shoved into their ears or with headphones that keep you warm.
It benefits from the same fast charge as the OpenRun Pro, with a good 16 hours of talk time. This is the only headset with a boom microphone, with a DSP noise reduction system that works very well. However, we regret that this microphone, which is also made of titanium, is not removable. Small specificity, the helmet can be paired very quickly by NFC with a smartphone.
We regret a price of 160 euros a little high for the product.
Why choose the Shokz OpenComm?
- Particularly effective noise-canceling microphone
- Very light and comfortable
- Pairing by NFC
About Bone Conduction Headphones
Who is Shokz?
Shokz, which was called AfterShokz until the end of 2021, is an American company founded in 2004. Their first bone conduction headphones were released in 2012, so it’s been ten years since the brand perfected its technology and filed patent after patent. Recently, Shokz is the official supplier of the French Athletics Federation.
How exactly do bone conduction headphones work?
To understand exactly how bone conduction headphones work, you have to understand the principles of acoustics, sound being a wave that propagates differently depending on the environment in which it is located. In the case of traditional headphones, sound travels through the air; in the case of bone conduction, the sound travels through the bones, more precisely via the zygomatic arch of the temporal bone, located just under the temple. It is on this bone that the transmitter of the helmet is placed. The sound is thus delivered directly to the inner ear, without passing through the eardrum. This is why they are very relevant for people whose eardrums have a deficiency.
Will the people around me hear what I’m listening to?
Yes, it is possible, but of course it depends on the volume as well as the environment you are in. If you are in a quiet indoor place, such as an office, your colleagues may hear the vibrations.
Can I wear glasses with bone conduction headphones?
No problem wearing glasses, sight or sunglasses, with bone conduction headphones. They are designed not to obstruct the passage of branches. On the other hand, if you have long hair, we recommend that you tie it almost systematically, as the hair can quickly get caught in the arch, making the experience quite painful.
Is it possible to have a bone conduction helmet while cycling?
The question appears many times on specialized forums. Indeed, many consider that this device, which does not cover the ear, can even be used on an electric bicycle. The reality is quite different since a decree of the Council of State dated February 7, 2017 prohibits the use of bone conduction headphones, the device being a source of distraction for users.
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