This fascinating piece of modern technology harnesses the power of bones to provide audio while keeping you aware of your surroundings.
This intriguing piece of tech aims to change the way you think about sound. Bone conduction headphones are headphones that harness the power of human bones to transmit audio, bypassing the eardrums.
This design leaves the ear canals open, allowing users to hear their surroundings. This can be advantageous in certain situations, such as during outdoor activities or when maintaining situational awareness is important, such as sports, outdoor activities or commuting.
They can also be useful for people with physical or sensory challenges that can’t use traditional earbuds.
HOW DO BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES WORK?
Rather than using traditional speakers or earbuds that produce sound waves that are then received by the eardrums, they directly deliver sound to the cochlea, a part of the inner ear which plays a vital role in our perception of sound frequencies.
The headphones typically consist of transducers that are placed just above or in front of the ears. These transducers generate vibrations that travel through the bones of the skull and are converted into sound signals, allowing the user to perceive audio.
If you’re looking to pick up a pair and try them out, we’ve listed our top picks below.
WISSONLY HI RUNNER
Wissonly bone conduction headphones, the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated.
The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.
wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.
Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.
SHOKZ OPENRUN PRO
Heavyweights in the world of bone conduction headphones, Shokz’s OpenRun are designed to be effective in sporting contexts. Compared to the brand’s previous models, they’re said to feature enhanced bass and sound quality.
They’re able to facilitate up to ten hours of battery life and can top up quickly using the brand’s quick charge feature. This allows for one and a half hours of battery life from five minutes of charge.
The band uses a wraparound titanium frame which is said to ensure a secure fit. It’s sweat and water resistant, uses Bluetooth 5.0 connection and features track control buttons which claim to be easy to find and operate.
SHOKZ OPENMOVE
The more affordable option from Shokz, the OpenMove is designed to be an all-purpose option without the hefty price tag.
They feature a respectable six hours of battery life while playing music, which can be streamed using Bluetooth 5.1.
They’re said to be sweat resistant, feature control buttons and feature the same quick charge function as the OpenRun Pros.
9 DIGITAL BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES
A more affordable option, this pair of headphones from 9 Digital feature a battery which is able to provide up to six and a half hours of listening time.
They are said to be sweat and splash proof but are not considered suitable for swimming.
They feature controls to adjust your listening experience, including volume, track control and answering phone calls.
H2O AUDIO TRI MULTI-SPORT WATERPROOF HEADPHONES
As the brand name suggests, H20 Audio specialise in waterproof bone conduction earphones. This pair is said to fit securely around your head while you run or swim
This is thanks to being able to withstand submersion for up to 12 foot underwater. While listening, users have the option of downloading their music via MP3 to be played back. They offer 8GB of storage memory.
MP3 playback may be easier for underwater listening as the Bluetooth range drops to four inches, which would require you to attach your smartwatch to your goggles. If preferred though, H20 Audio offer a separate mount to make that possible.
Read more:BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR RUNNING IN 2023 DON’T LET WIRES HOLD YOU BACK
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