Latest news with #boneconduction
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.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Comfort and good sound quality without ambient noise intrusion
Shokz OpenFit 2 Price : €190 Website : Where To Buy : Harvey Norman When it comes to earbuds, I usually prefer to block out the world rather than let the ambient noise filter in. That means active noise cancelling is a must and the buds need to have swappable silicone tips. But the Shokz OpenFit 2 don't fit any of those requirements. As the name suggests, the buds are open fit, sitting outside your ear rather than plugging your ear canal. There are times though when you need to hear what is going around you. When you are out walking, for example, it is useful to stay aware of your surroundings so you can hear people approach or be aware of cars around you. But at the same time, you don't want to sacrifice audio quality. Over the years I've reviewed some open-fit buds that promise a lot but really only deliver tinny, weak audio that is drowned out by the background audio. READ MORE I had higher hopes for the OpenFit 2. Shokz is known for perfecting open-fit earbuds, from the bone conduction technology it helped bring to the mainstream audio sector to the open-fit earbuds it is now pitching at runners and other audio fans. The Shokz OpenFit 2 are new to the Irish market. The buds have an ear hook design, with a flexible silicon hook that sits comfortably over your ear and position the speaker so you can hear the audio without blocking out the outside world completely. [ Mixx Streambuds Solo 2 review: Budget Bluetooth earbuds that sound pretty good for the price Opens in new window ] Out of the box, you might need instructions to tell you how to actually position them correctly on your ears, particularly if you have been using in-earbuds for the past few years. The Shokz app will help you get the most out of the buds – luckily, because I realised I was wearing them out of place. The app will also let you change EQ settings, with preset options that include vocal, bass booster and treble boost. There is also a custom setting so you could create your own personalised audio and save it for future use. Shokz has done some work on the audio side for the OpenFit 2. Its bass algorithm has been upgraded, with precisely directed bass tones that still maintain clarity in the higher frequency ranges. The end result was surprising. I expected that with the open fit nature of the buds, the ambient noise would be intrusive, particularly if the buds were being used near busy streets. But it wasn't an issue – I could still hear a podcast playing even with traffic close by. It was the same for music, with powerful bass without the rest of the audio feeling muddy. [ Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds: another leap forward in quality and comfort Opens in new window ] The Shokz have built-in microphones so you can use them for phone calls, video calls and accessing the voice assistant on whatever device they are connected to. Again, the sound quality here was good. On the other end of the call, I came through loud and clear. That is down to a couple of things: the two microphones built into each earbud, and the AI technology that Shokz has included to boost the audio. Sound leak was a concern. With open fit, you are likely to get a little leakage, but for the OpenFit 2, it was only audible at higher volumes. Still, I would be more wary of discussing anything too confidential in public, which incidentally should hold true regardless of what you are using to make or take your calls. The Shokz buds have another distinguishing feature: physical buttons. While many earbuds have opted solely for touch controls, the OpenFit 2 come with small physical buttons. The single click can play or pause tracks. The double and triple click are used for skipping or replaying tracks, while the long press can control volume. Those buttons can be customised, but there is a limit to how much you can do so. The single click, for example, can only be set to the default of play and pause, or disabled. The options for the double and triple click include having the left earbud control skipping to the next track, while the other goes back one track, or some mix of that. The long press can be changed to activate the voice assistant. That is it, however. Touch controls are limited to a single option – a long press – which is disabled by default. The only feature you can assign to it is the voice assistant for your phone. It's no real loss though if you decide to leave it doing nothing; the touch control is more awkward to activate correctly than the physical button. The buds also support multipoint pairing, which means you can pair two devices to them and switch seamlessly between the two, for example your smartphone and a laptop. Best of all, the OpenFit 2 didn't budge, even during the most strenuous workouts. If you've ever had to chase down an errant earbud, you'll appreciate the certainty that brings. Good Comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The buds are so lightweight and fit perfectly over your ear that you almost forget you are wearing them. They are particularly good if you find in-earbuds too uncomfortable to wear. Battery life is decent too. You get 11 hours of listening, with up to 48 hours when the backup battery on the case is taken into account. Bad The ear-hook design may not work for some people, particularly if they wear glasses – or sunglasses. However, the hook itself is quite thin, so it may still work for most wearers. The design of the buds means the case is a bit larger than some earbuds out there. Sound leak is definitely less of an issues than with other open-fit devices, but is still there. Everything else The buds are rated as IP55, which means they will withstand dust, light rain and sweat. Verdict Comfortable earbuds with great sound quality that won't budge during exercise.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tired of earbuds falling out? Get all-day comfort and a secure fit for just $50.99
A good pair of headphones can improve any commute, any workout, and give you the pep in your step that you need. But, for many, in-ear earbuds can feel quite uncomfortable, and over-ear headphones are just not good enough for longer hours of wear — plus some headphones are not sweat or waterproof, which means you can't wear them while you're at the gym. BoneSoundz Pro Bone Conduction Waterproof Headphones These lightweight bone conduction headphones deliver sound through your cheekbones. They're currently down to just $65.99, but you can get an additional $15 off with code HELLO15. Shop them now and experience them for yourself. $50.99 (save $58.01) Shop BoneSoundz Pro Bone Conduction Waterproof Headphones are your solution to that, and they're currently down to just $65.99. You can also score an additional $15 off with code HELLO15 added at checkout. These bone conduction headphones use vibrations to deliver sound through your cheekbones, giving you a revolutionary open-ear design. You can listen to your favorite music AND stay tuned into your surroundings. They feature IPX8 water resistance — which is the best on the market — and can be submerged at a depth of three meters for up to 60 minutes. Battery life lasts a full 19 hours, according to the brand, which should be enough for a few trips to the gym or a full day at work. They even have 32GB of internal storage, so you can store your favorite music directly into it. No more having to worry about carrying your smartphone with you to the gym or on the go. They have quick-charge features too, and an in-built microphone if you need to take a quick call. While open-ear headphones can sound daunting to those of you who've never tried a pair before, these truly make a great option. My experience with open-ear headphones has always been pleasant, and I can easily hear my favorite tunes, without that plugged-in feeling you often get with noise cancellation. Open-ear headphones also happen to be much more lightweight, and make a better fit for runners as you can constantly keep an eye on your surroundings. Shop the BoneSoundz Pro Bone Conduction Waterproof Headphones now at 39 percent off and use code HELLO15 for an additional discount off your final order.
CNET
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
My All-Time Favorite Headphones for the Outdoors Are 31% Off for Memorial Day
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. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now The Shokz OpenFit headphones are currently marked down to $125, an 31% discount, thanks to Amazon's Memorial Day sale. 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 both 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 normal 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 gifting 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 the best Memorial Day deals going on now and our running list of the best headphone deals.
CNET
07-05-2025
- CNET
A Pair of Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Headphones Could Be Yours for a Massive $40 Off
Music is a great way to stay motivated during your regular runs. Podcasts and audiobooks are also an excellent way to focus, if that's more your speed. But earbuds can fall out and many over-ear headphones are too bulky to use during a workout. That's why we love these unique bone-conduction Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones that are lightweight, offer superb sound and an ergonomical fit on the back of your head. Their usual asking price is $180, but Amazon has dropped them to $140 in a limited-time offer. Not only is this an excellent deal, buying now might be a great way to avoid potential future price increases due to looming tariffs. Bone-conduction headphones have been on the market for a while now, but our reviewer hailed the OpenRun Pro 2s as one of the first pairs out there with truly good sound -- earning them a top spot on our list of the best running headphones of 2025. This is thanks to the new and improved hybrid-driver design, providing fuller bass tones, which these kinds of headphones typically lack. They're also fairly rugged with an IP55 weather-resistance rating and boast a fairly impressive 12-hour battery life. Plus, solid voice-calling performance makes it easy to stay connected while you're on the road or trails. Why this deal matters Earning a CNET Editors' Choice award and a spot on our lists of the best headphones for running and working out, it's fair to say that these Shokz are some of the absolute best bone-conduction headphones on the market right now. In fact, CNET's audio expert David Carnoy found very little not to love about them other than their steep price, which is much less of an issue now that they're 22% off. Looking for more options? We've rounded up the best headphones on the market now with Sony, Bose and more all featuring.
