I really like the Shokz openfit, I find they have a better sound quality than the bone conduction equivalent. They also surprisingly stay in place during exercise, so I always use them whenever I run.
I have these, as I hate yucky in-ear phones, wanted something that didn't make me look like a dork and it was also important for me to be aware of my surroundings. Plusses are: Excellent comfort - you really forget you are wearing them within seconds of putting them on. They are pretty discrete so you don't look like a cyborg wannabe or tech- fashion victim. You don't have to worry about losing one of them due to the connecting strap. I don't know enough about the alternatives to directly compare sound, but the sound is full and easy on the ear and doesn't get fatiguing after an hour or so. Minuses: It's definitely not "hi fi". Don't expect any dynamic punchy bass or tingling highs. Despite the marketing, it's a tiny speaker placed near your ear with no isolation and "ye canne change the laws of physics" - any conventional half decent in-ear or over-ear headphones are going to blow these (and, I suspect, their compatriots) out of the water sound-wise. They don't go massively loud without distorting either (same physics!). To give you an idea, stand next to a boiling jug kettle and you'll be wanting to hit the reasonable max volume-wise, but then the whole point of these is not to block external noise, so that's not really a bad thing. Also, the marketing department have been working overtime on these, from the ridiculously oversized case to the equally over indulgent packaging. They are screaming at you that your £200 was well spent and that you are about to experience mind-blowing sound, when really, you're just getting a nice set of sweat-proof earphones so you can listen to something when you're exercising.
The problem that I have with this style of headphones is on the treadmill - it can be hard to hear your content with the sound of the treadmill and other gym users / classes. The best solution that I have found is to use bone conduction with earplugs. The issue that I have with regular sports headphones (eg Beats Fit, AirPods Pro) is that they fall out.
Fully agree, I never use my Shokz on the treadmill at the gym , only outside. There is always someone on the treadmill next to me having a conversation on the phone and once there was a person watching a movie next to me.
I think wearing bone conduction headphones means you have better awareness of your surroundings as the air conduction headphones are more 'dialed in'. so I would pick bone conduction for outdoor sports.
Thanks Des. I have ordered the TOZO open-ear mainly because of the button controls and reputed sound quality. Note that there is some night and day difference sound quality within bone conduction. Mairdi, G7(Ebay), H15 ...
For many years I've used Plantronics BackBeat FIT headphones (sadly they have been discontinued for a quite a while now) these were basicly headphones that sit in the ear with a silicone tip but have clearence around them so you hear your surroundings and the sound quality is quite good (also they were not that expensive) the only downside is that after a few years the battery tended to get worse or fail. I don't know why no other companies have made something similar (AFAIK). Thanks for the review, if my headphones die and I can't find another set I might try these.
I already have apple lightning cable , Garmin charger cable , usb-c for rest, three different charger ports. now this headphones use the fourth unique charger port. Too many Charger cables for me. But I really like this design anyway.
I backed this project on kickstarter and, as a long time bone conduction phones user, I overall agree with your review. Anyway many backers (me included) complain a sound quality issue with the ows sports: speakers start crackling when they get wet during an activity. You’ll have to clean the speaker in order to get it working properly again: this is quite annoying during an activity as you might imagine, and it’s kinda design fail that you wouldn’t expect in a sports dedicated device. Haven’t you experienced this problem during your tests?
Nice I am really thinking to replace my shokz openRun with them. Can you elaborate more in detail how those compare in terms of wind noise. My openrun are overpiwers8by wind noise at around 25kph
I currently have both. Sending back the Oladance. Sound quality is great. Better than Shokz. However, when exposed to sweat, in my case, the sound levels drop to nearly zero. For me, in sport, not the best option.
@desfit wondering if aftershockz do better at high speeds on bike? When I go over 25mph with podcast with these sports I can’t hear anything. My work commute is 20 miles and and many sections where I’m going 25-35 while I could hear some music, i can hear pods at all.
These would be great for people with califlower ear as well. Most of mine is in the inner portion of my ear where i cant really wear traditional ear buds
"Air Conduction" is best marketing term I heard since Giant used "external storage space" for some of their mountain bikes :D
I really like the Shokz openfit, I find they have a better sound quality than the bone conduction equivalent. They also surprisingly stay in place during exercise, so I always use them whenever I run.
I have these, as I hate yucky in-ear phones, wanted something that didn't make me look like a dork and it was also important for me to be aware of my surroundings. Plusses are: Excellent comfort - you really forget you are wearing them within seconds of putting them on. They are pretty discrete so you don't look like a cyborg wannabe or tech- fashion victim. You don't have to worry about losing one of them due to the connecting strap. I don't know enough about the alternatives to directly compare sound, but the sound is full and easy on the ear and doesn't get fatiguing after an hour or so.
Minuses: It's definitely not "hi fi". Don't expect any dynamic punchy bass or tingling highs. Despite the marketing, it's a tiny speaker placed near your ear with no isolation and "ye canne change the laws of physics" - any conventional half decent in-ear or over-ear headphones are going to blow these (and, I suspect, their compatriots) out of the water sound-wise. They don't go massively loud without distorting either (same physics!). To give you an idea, stand next to a boiling jug kettle and you'll be wanting to hit the reasonable max volume-wise, but then the whole point of these is not to block external noise, so that's not really a bad thing. Also, the marketing department have been working overtime on these, from the ridiculously oversized case to the equally over indulgent packaging. They are screaming at you that your £200 was well spent and that you are about to experience mind-blowing sound, when really, you're just getting a nice set of sweat-proof earphones so you can listen to something when you're exercising.
The problem that I have with this style of headphones is on the treadmill - it can be hard to hear your content with the sound of the treadmill and other gym users / classes. The best solution that I have found is to use bone conduction with earplugs. The issue that I have with regular sports headphones (eg Beats Fit, AirPods Pro) is that they fall out.
Fully agree, I never use my Shokz on the treadmill at the gym , only outside. There is always someone on the treadmill next to me having a conversation on the phone and once there was a person watching a movie next to me.
I think wearing bone conduction headphones means you have better awareness of your surroundings as the air conduction headphones are more 'dialed in'. so I would pick bone conduction for outdoor sports.
Thanks Des. I have ordered the TOZO open-ear mainly because of the button controls and reputed sound quality. Note that there is some night and day difference sound quality within bone conduction. Mairdi, G7(Ebay), H15 ...
For many years I've used Plantronics BackBeat FIT headphones (sadly they have been discontinued for a quite a while now) these were basicly headphones that sit in the ear with a silicone tip but have clearence around them so you hear your surroundings and the sound quality is quite good (also they were not that expensive) the only downside is that after a few years the battery tended to get worse or fail. I don't know why no other companies have made something similar (AFAIK).
Thanks for the review, if my headphones die and I can't find another set I might try these.
I love those headphones!
I already have apple lightning cable , Garmin charger cable , usb-c for rest, three different charger ports. now this headphones use the fourth unique charger port. Too many Charger cables for me. But I really like this design anyway.
welp do buy them
I tried both cuz i saw it on mall and gladly i choose air conduction. Sound is better and more clear. Bone conduction sounds cheap
Great review. Thanks
👍
Great review.
Thanks!
I wanna see a DesXMiley playlist on Spotify!!!
💃 🕺
I backed this project on kickstarter and, as a long time bone conduction phones user, I overall agree with your review. Anyway many backers (me included) complain a sound quality issue with the ows sports: speakers start crackling when they get wet during an activity. You’ll have to clean the speaker in order to get it working properly again: this is quite annoying during an activity as you might imagine, and it’s kinda design fail that you wouldn’t expect in a sports dedicated device. Haven’t you experienced this problem during your tests?
I haven’t experienced that and I’m also a heavy sweater. 🤷♂️
Is these better than Shokz OpenFit Air, or Openswim pro?
Nice I am really thinking to replace my shokz openRun with them. Can you elaborate more in detail how those compare in terms of wind noise. My openrun are overpiwers8by wind noise at around 25kph
I currently have both. Sending back the Oladance. Sound quality is great. Better than Shokz. However, when exposed to sweat, in my case, the sound levels drop to nearly zero. For me, in sport, not the best option.
Is wind really no problem with those headphones? especially on biking faster than 25kmh? i dont think so...
Do you have plan to review new open earbuds from Bose? Looks great but not sure when it comes to running.
@desfit wondering if aftershockz do better at high speeds on bike? When I go over 25mph with podcast with these sports I can’t hear anything. My work commute is 20 miles and and many sections where I’m going 25-35 while I could hear some music, i can hear pods at all.
How well do they play with iPhone with regard to aptX as the iPhone uses AAC
These would be great for people with califlower ear as well. Most of mine is in the inner portion of my ear where i cant really wear traditional ear buds
How about reviewing bluetooth ear buds that cost less than say $100.
I’d love to but problem with that is the sheer amount available - just too many to test
How about pick a few that are highly rated to then evaluate?@@DesFit