Latest news with #OpenFit
Stuff.tv
a day ago
- Stuff.tv
After testing the Shokz Open Fit 2, I might never wear another pair of fitness headphones
Stuff Verdict A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans. Pros Some of the best sounding open-fit open fit earphones yet Excellent battery life Secure fit that's wonderfully comfy Cons Still a step behind in-ears for volume and sound quality Missing a few features expected at this price Introduction Shokz being early to the open-style earphone party was hardly a surprise, given its laser focus on fitness; no other wireless earbuds come close for situational awareness, which helped make the original Open Fit just as workout-friendly as the bone conduction neckbands that established the firm as an exercise must-have. First attempts usually leave room for improvement, of course, and Shokz has done exactly that for the second-gen version. The Open Fit 2 brings a bigger sound courtesy of dual drivers, better battery life, and an even comfier fit. That should help them compete with a rapidly growing number of open fit rivals. There's also an even more advanced OpenFit 2+, which adds Dolby Atmos spatial sound and wireless charging to the mix for an extra $10/£10. The Open Fit 2 has been out in the wild in the US for a while now, but this is the first time they've officially made their way to Europe and the UK. At $179/£169 they command a premium over Shokz' neckband line-up – is going true wireless worth the extra outlay? How we test headphones Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: get your hooks in The hook-style design hasn't changed dramatically from the original Open Fit, but Shokz has made this latest pair thinner, with a more pronounced curve meant to keep each bud securely positioned near your ear canal. The old ones could come a bit loose while running, but I had no issues with the new version. They're only marginally heavier than before, and at 9.4g apiece you'd hardly call them heavyweights. Both buds stayed securely in place no matter what I got up to. The nickel and titanium alloy construction helps keep the weight in check, and the way they're wrapped in ultra-soft silicone made them the most comfortable set of open-fit earphones I've ever worn. Crucially they didn't cause any discomfort when worn with glasses or under a bicycle helmet, so there aren't many sports they can't cope with. That said, you get IP55 protection here, meaning swimming is out of the question (Shokz has the Openswim Pro if watersports are more your vibe). Sweating and running in the rain are fine, though. That rating applies to the buds only, so you've got to be a little more careful with the case. It doesn't look all that different from the previous generation, being small enough to slip in a pocket, but a fair bit chunkier than the average true wireless earphone case. The way the headphones overlap each other can make taking them in and out a little fiddly, but strong magnets help align the charging pins and the lid opens up nice and wide. Black and Beige aren't the most exciting of colour options, but the mix of silicone and metal effect polycarbonate trim give the buds a purposeful look. The silicone picks up dust quite quickly, but clean up just as easily with a damp cloth. Features & battery: press for service Touch controls are undeniably a faff to use reliably when you're mid-workout. Owners of the original Open Fit will know that first hand. Thankfully Shokz has added a physical button on each earbud, which finally means no accidental pausing or skipping tracks when adjusting the fit during a run. Even better, they're big and deep enough to press while wearing gloves. I like that Shokz hasn't ditched the touch panels from the first-gen model altogether; they are just unbound by default now. Each side can be assigned a press-and-hold action through the companion app, should you want to use them to wake your phone's voice assistant. The four noise-cancelling microphones get the job done when it comes to voice calls, largely stripping out wind noise but still having to contend with Bluetooth's meagre call codec bandwidth. There's no fancy aptX, or future-friendly LC3 or Auracast connectivity here either, although the former isn't a huge loss given open fit earphones are rarely the last word for sound quality. I do wish Shokz would've added wear detection, as I'd regularly take the buds out when talking to people, then discover my audio had kept playing to itself – frustrating when listening to podcasts. Sure, the open fit means you could just pause playback and hold a conversation just fine, but to me keeping earphones in comes across as rude. The firm gets top marks for boosting battery life between generations, though. I got very close to the claimed 11 hours of listening per trip to the charging case, with volume being the only limiting factor. The case itself has enough juice in reserve to bring total playback up to a heady 48 hours, or almost double what the original Open Fit could manage. Ten minutes of charging is enough for two more hours of listening, which is handy if you ever get caught short. These buds don't announce their remaining battery life when you put them on like the OpenRun Pro 2 neckband does. Interface: keep it simple Shokz hasn't shaken up its smartphone companion app much between generations, so you're still getting a streamlined UI that doesn't overwhelm with superfluous features. The important ones are front and centre, with the the first thing you see on the main screen being remaining battery life for the case and each bud. You can upgrade the firmware here, as well as activate multipoint pairing and customise the controls. There are presets to pick for each action, rather than letting you come up with an entirely bespoke configuration, but they're all sensible choices. I spent the most time experimenting with the four different equalizer modes – Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Vocal, and Standard – and creating my own using the five-band custom EQ. Bass boost and Treble boost worked exactly as advertised, giving my tunes a more full-bodied sound; the former was great for electronic tracks, while the latter was better for vocal and acoustic songs. It's a shame there's no way to toggle between EQ modes on the buds themselves, though – just via the app. Sound quality: loud and proud A new dual driver setup has transformed the way the earbuds sound compared to their predecessor. With one dedicated to bass and the other delivering the mid-range and high-end, the Open Fit 2 is louder and more full-bodied than before, while also reducing the amount of sound leakage. Leakage is pretty much unavoidable with open fit earphones, but I was able to use them on the sofa without any complaints from my wife while she was watching TV next to me. I wouldn't wear them to the library, but they'll be just fine for the gym or any outdoor exercise. The new drivers can't completely counter the other limitations of open fit, namely a lack of impactful low-end – but I was still impressed by how much bass presence these earbuds had. Using the standard EQ, the synth hits on Culture Shock's City Lights sounded punchier than almost every other open fit earphones I've tried, aside from the far pricier Bose Ultra Open. You'll get more sub-bass oomph from almost any pair of in-ears, but there's none of the thinness you'll get from some rivals. At the other end of the frequency range, there's a lot more precision and bite that helps vocals and instruments make their presence felt. I can't fault the amount of volume on tap, either. There's enough of it that I wouldn't listen beyond 60%, yet I could still hear my music over passing cars while out on the road. Podcasts are more of a challenge in properly noisy environments, so these probably aren't the earphones to wear on your commute after your morning workout. Shokz Open Fit 2 verdict That ultimately means you'll be buying these as your second pair of earphones, rather than a replacement for your existing ones. A pair of regular earbuds are still your best bet if sound quality matters most, too. But if you're not a fan of neckband-style headphones and need the sort of situational awareness that only open fit provides, these are easily the best of the bunch for exercise. Stuff Says… Score: 5/5 A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans. Pros Stuff Says…Score: 5/5A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans. ProsCons Excellent battery life Secure fit that's wonderfully comfy Cons Still a step behind in-ears for volume and sound quality Missing a few features expected at this price Shokz Open Fit 2 technical specifications Drivers 2x dynamic ANC No Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.4 Codecs supported SBC Durability IP55 Battery life 11 hours (buds) 37 hours (case) Dimensions 152x76x23mm, 72g (case) 9.4g/ 0.33oz (buds, each)
CNET
3 days ago
- Health
- CNET
My All-Time Favorite Headphones for the Outdoors Are 11% Off now
For anyone who walks, runs, cycles or does just about anything outside on a regular basis, I always give the same piece of advice: Ditch those noise-canceling headphones. Don't get me wrong. I have a pair of big over-the-ear headphones that have spectacular noise cancellation and I love them. But when I'm outside -- especially if I'm close to fast-moving cars and heavy traffic -- I need to be able to hear the world around me and not just my music or whatever podcast I'm bingeing at the moment. In those cases, I want something like the OpenFit true wireless headphones from Shokz. I love a good pair of headphones but I don't love spending a ton of money on them. My threshold is about $100, which is why when all of my cycling friends started raving about bone-conduction headphones a few years back, I was more than a little hesitant because I would probably only use them when working out. However, now is a great time to get in on this innovative headphone technology. The Shokz OpenFit headphones are currently marked down to $160 at Amazon, which is a discount of $20. These headphones are designed to be used in places where bone conduction may not be enough and, as a result, I'm rarely seen without mine on. You can grab these headphones at a great price in black and beige. A week after I picked these up, I was nearly sideswiped by a pickup truck and the only thing that saved me was hearing it come up behind me. There's a reason these are recommended on our list of the best running headphones you can buy. If you're looking for outdoor-friendly workout headphones, my first recommendation is always Shokz, formerly known as Aftershokz. Bone-conduction headphones sit just outside your ear, resting on the bone. Music vibrates through a set of pads into your skull and you hear those sounds as if they're coming from a speaker a few feet away. You can hear everything you're listening to on your phone without interrupting the sounds coming from the rest of the world around you. For cyclists and runners -- really anyone who does anything outside -- this is a game-changing experience. It's more accurate and pleasing than traditional headphones with "passthrough mode" and you sacrifice very little in audio quality. My favorite bone-conduction headphones -- and I've tried them all -- are the OpenRun Pro headphones from Shokz. They're waterproof (which means they're easy to clean when I'm all sweaty), the battery lasts me about 7 hours on a charge (perfect for those 70-mile riding days), and they're comfortable enough that I can wear them all day and not feel them pressing on me. They charge magnetically with a proprietary charger but Shokz includes two cables in the box in case you lose things, as I do. If these headphones are a little rich for your blood, no worries. Shokz also has cheaper OpenRun and OpenMove bone-conduction headphones with up to 6 hours of battery life and IP55 dust and water resistance. Whether you're physically active outdoors or you just like exploring new things, I highly recommend giving these headphones a try. The Shokz OpenMove make a great gift for an outdoor runner The Shokz make a great gift, either for yourself or the outdoor runner in your life. Not only are they the best of their kind but giving these to a runner may also give you some peace of mind to know they're a little safer when they're out running alongside busy streets or other high-traffic areas. If you're looking for other gift ideas, check out our roundup of the best Father's Day gifts or the best gifts for grads. For more discounted tech, check out our running list of the best headphone deals.
Buzz Feed
18-03-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
If You've Never Heard Of Open Earbuds... Read This
Ever since I got my young hands on a portable CD player, I've preferred to keep my music bumping, at home and elsewhere. But at some point my earbuds started to hurt my ears — and I started feeling concerned about my music being funneled straight into my ear canal, at my eardrum. As a longtime user of wired earbuds, I'd try to drape the cords over my ears so I could listen to music at a bit of a distance. This was as ineffective as you'd expect — not because I couldn't hear the music, but because my haphazard draping system didn't stay put. So when a co-worker recommended open earbuds to me, I was intrigued. They're designed to attach to the ear cartilage instead of getting jammed into the ear, sealing off the ear canal and pumping music into it. According to over-ear headphones can help preserve your hearing, since they enable users to listen safely to music for longer. Typical earbuds can be up to 9 decibels louder than over-ear headphones, a striking difference given that those extra decibels are being channeled directly to your eardrums. Plus, notes, typical earbuds can lead to 11 times more bacteria in the ear canal, potentially contributing to ear infections. They may also increase wax buildup in the ear, which can make ears feel clogged and result in difficulties hearing, according to Dr. Susannah Hills, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Columbia University Medical Center. Your ear health could have much to gain yet little to lose with open earbuds. Read on for some of the best options you'll find across the internet. 1. Comfy, lightweight open earbuds Amazon Adam Schubak, Shopping growth strategist, owns and loves these Soundcore open earbuds. "The sound quality is as good as the in-ear headphones I'm used to without having to pay a hefty price tag," Schubak wrote. They are water-resistant, fit snugly and offer 12 hours of playing time on a single charge (or 36 hours total with the included case). Plus, they're fast-charging, providing three hours of listening with just 10 minutes of charging. Promising review: "I have been using these for a couple of weeks and really like them. Much more comfortable than my others that fit in my ears. Plus, they work better for me than 'noise cancelling' types. I use them at home and appreciate being able to her what's going on around me - like my husband calling to me from the other room or the dog whining to be let out. :-) No sound expert, but I think these are very good - they suit me. I have some hearing loss and adjusting these to suit my needs while not bothering others nearby is a help. They have to be in the case to be charged, but that works fine. I looked at more expensive options... glad I went in this direction!" — L. Pearce 2. Cushiony open earbuds with an ergonomic design Target These OpenFit earbuds by Shokz provide seven hours of listening time per charge, or 28 hours with use of the case. And a five-minute charge gives you an hour of playing time! They provide excellent audio with a flexible ear hook that's engineered to feel balanced and light on the ear. Promising review: "I have gone through 6 or 7 sets of ear buds. Nothing fits, nothing stays in my ears, nothing is comfortable and nothing has enough volume and adjustable EQ to adapt to my nearly 60% hearing loss, in mid-range, (vocal range). These Shokz do it all! Super all-day comfortable even though I wear glasses. They are loud enough for me on phone calls and music! The EQ settings are very complete within the app. They have great clarity and amazing battery life. Finally, I can hear my music as well as understand phone conversations clearly even on a construction site. Also, I can still hear my surroundings and maintain situational awareness/safety while driving or walking around a construction site. I mainly use them for phone conversations, but music is more enjoyable. The app allows you to customize the functionality, settings and they work as advertised. As stated, I suffer from congenital hearing loss and I highly recommend these. The comfort level and sound quality is far superior to my $3k hearing aides. Well worth it!" — Amazon Customer 3. Some exceptionally lightweight open earbuds Amazon These comfy, airy open earbuds weigh a mere 0.18 ounces and offer a unique clip-on design for impressively secure comfort. Promising reviews: "These work great for the price, I'm surprised that they didn't cost twice what I paid for them. Noise cancellation is on point, they are nice and loud, and the battery lasts a whole shift at work. Gonna buy a 2nd pair as a back up?" — super mom " My son loves these. He works out with em and it's nice that they have 3 different size cones for different size ears. The charging case is really nice too bc it shows digitally how much charge they have left so you can charge the case before it goes dead. He love em!" — Bigdog36 Get them from Amazon for $79.99. 4. A pair of open-ear sport headphones with 11,000 5-star ratings Amazon Also from Shokz, these open-ear headphones offer all the unobtrusive and hearing-forward benefits of open earbuds with the added security of a wraparound frame. The sporty design makes these a great option for low-impact exercise or some extra stability during errands, chores or work. They offer six hours of playing time, boast a sweat-proof composition and come in four colors. Promising review: "I love this bone conduction technology! I could never get comfortable stuffing earbuds in, so I just went without. I did some research & decided the Open Move set was right for me. They're so cool! They just sit on your temples and you can hear everything! It also allows you to still be aware of your surroundings on a walk for example. I can listen to music etc & receive phone calls, something I never utilized before. These are very comfortable, great sound and are very user friendly. I'm super happy with my purchase!" — finerthingsinlife 5. A pair of wired open earbuds Amazon If you prefer wired listening, these Avantree Resolve earbuds are a solid choice. They have an over-the-ear hook for stability and control buttons on their wires, so you can skip songs, adjust the volume and answer calls. They come in two sizes, one for small/medium-sized ears and one for medium/large-sized ears. Promising review: "I got these since I have small ear canals and am forever losing the foam tips on the other kind. I find these very comfortable even if I lay on them in bed. The sound is good and is even safe for my grandchildren who I usually buy the large muff type headphones for them. If you have sensitive ears, these are the ones for you." — Janet F. Get them from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three styles). 6. A comfy, luxurious pair of Bose buds Target From one of the leading brands in audio, these Bose open earbuds promise to rock your world. Their sound is high quality yet private, with immersive audio so only you can hear it. Available in six colors, they are water-resistant and offer up to seven hours of play, while the charging case can boost them for an additional 19.5 hours. Promising review: "Of all of the earbuds that I've ever owned. These are by far the best! I love the fact that they don't fit directly into my ear hole, but rather just clips on. Love them." — Mia R. 7. Amazon These open Tozo buds are super flexible — you can adjust their hooks vertically and horizontally — so you can position the buds precisely to fit your comfort. They come in four colors — including a cool blue and pale pink — and provide 12 hours of playing time, with an additional 30 hours by using the charging case. Promising review: " Fantastic sound, especially the base. I was shocked at how good they are. These are great to use with hearing aids. My T-6 earbuds can go in my ear on top of my aids, but it is in comfortable. These don't present any interference. They are almost undetectable! The app lets you select different equalization profiles to better match hearing loss for full range listening. That's a nice perk. An old person's typical profile selection would make it a nice improvement for us old timers. I highly recommend these earbuds for classical music as well as modern tunes. I use them while listening to TV too. My wife appreciates that while she's trying to read." — slovette 8. A pair that holds an impressively long charge Amazon These Psier open earbuds last up to 20 hours on a single charge, with a whopping 20 additional hours when using the charging case. Available in two colors, they're designed to be lightweight, breathable, gentle and comfy on the ear.
