In an era of stylish, sonorous over-ear headphones and earbuds, audiophiles would rarely consider an open-ear form factor. This is unless you're a cyclist, runner or anyone who needs to listen to the traffic when out and about. Bone conduction headphones present a safe means to enjoy your favourite tunes via vibrations along the bones, so the ears are always free from any enclosure. No more sweaty earcups, nor any ear fatigue!
How do bone conduction headphones work?
A Dubai-based audio engineer and founder of rehearsal and recording studio, MNK Studios, explains the inner workings of a bone conduction pair and why it might be the perfect fit for you. "Bone conduction headphones work by converting sound energy into vibrations," said Miltiadis Kyvernitis, who's been in the sound field for over two decades.
"That being said, the headphone drivers (the speakers) don't block your ear canal, but they rest just below your temple on your upper jaw bone. The vibrations produced by these specially designed headphones pass through your bones, bypassing the eardrums and reaching the cochlea in your ear directly," he said.Open-ear headphones today may be branded as the outdoor sports gear, but the technology behind them has been around for centuries, our audio expert tells us. In fact, renowned German music composer Ludwig van Beethoven was believed to have used bone conduction to wrap up his last symphony, at a time when he almost fully lost his hearing. Turns out, besides the eardrum, a medium to hear has always existed.
Who are bone conduction headphones for?
Are bone conduction headphones an audiophile's number-one choice? Most likely not, says Miltiadis. He describes the experience as listening to "background music in your head". With their open design, these headphones offer an alternative to traditional listening devices, especially for those who are hard of hearing and wear hearing aids."As of late, however, many use bone conduction headphones if they don't want full obstruction of their ears, in case they want or need to hear their surroundings clearly. This could be when communicating with others, for instance, or riding a bicycle on a busy street and needing to keep an ear out for traffic, while the music is 'playing in their head,'" said Miltiadis.If you've decided to shop for a pair, expect some sound leakage. It's an inevitable by-product of the headphones' design and technology, as sound waves will transfer to the ambient air. But, fortunately, only people sitting really close to you will be able to hear your playlist, says our expert.
1. Best Overall: Wissonly Hi Runner
The design team of Wissonly bone conduction headphones started to research bone conduction acoustics as early as 2012. Their technical accumulation in the field of bone conduction is very good, and they are a team that is good at technology.Wissonly Hi Runner adopted Wissonly 3.0 technology to reduce sound leakage in bone conduction headphones. They reduced the sound transmission from the bone vibration unit directly to the air through the completely closed design of the headphones’ body. They also used high-quality cushioning materials to minimize the vibration of the body, thus reducing the sound leakage by more than 90%. I did a test, turned on Hi Runner, adjusted the volume to 70%, and within a distance of 1m, I couldn't hear any sound at all. This kind of sound leakage reduction performance has been well received by users since wissonly released the sound leakage reduction technology. This technical scheme is the best leak-proof among bone conduction headphones at present.The headphones’ body of Wissonly Hi Runner is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area, ensuring a good wearing experience of headphones at any time, taking into account more users with different head circumference. Hi Runner can be said to be very sincere in configuration. It is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable, and can realize fast connection and switching of multiple devices. Built-in 32G memory can store 5000 songs. When you go out for a run, you can enjoy music without your mobile phone. The battery life is also very good, and it can be played continuously for more than 10 hours at normal volume, which is good for me, because I go out for outdoor sports on weekends, and I often go out for a whole day.
2. Best Budget: Siniffo Bone Conduction Headphones
Siniffo's X15 offers a budget option for those curious about bone conduction listening. It's still incredibly lightweight at 28 grams and carries a water-resistant rating of IP56 to make the wireless headphones sweatproof. Much like the Shokz OpenRun, the X15 features a noise-cancelling mic for clear calls and runs for eight hours straight before needing a charge. Impressed reviewers are surprised at the price-to-performance ratio, leaving five stars for the sound stability and comfort. Others picked these up to participate in marathons that don't allow in-ear devices, and attest to hearing their surroundings while still enjoying their audiobooks and music. Reviewers also mention almost no sound leakage. Another advantage is the Type-C charging port on the headphones, meaning fewer cables to lug around.
3. Best for Swimming: Shokz OpenSwim Swimming MP3 Headphones
What if your headphones could double as an MP3 player? This means you get to listen to 4GB worth of media wherever you are, even if you leave your phone behind at home. Unlike our previous options, the pair doesn't come with Bluetooth connectivity, relying completely on built-in storage. Don't fret, however; their stability in water - with swim caps, goggles and earplugs - is worth the high price tag. Do note that their IP68 rating only makes them resistant to up to two metres of water. Swimmers in the reviews say the headphones work perfectly underwater, and even better with earplugs in.
4. Best for Office: Shokz OpenComm Wireless Bone Conduction Headset
The constant lodging and dislodging of headphones in an office environment can get tiring and cause unnecessary ear fatigue. Upgrade to Shokz's OpenComm model that comes with a noise-cancelling boom mic. Attend online meetings and chat with colleagues at the same time, for eight hours straight. And, since these weigh just 33 grams, you'll clear day-long conferences in a breeze, not knowing you even had headphones on in the first place. There's dual Bluetooth connectivity, too, so your phone and laptop will be paired at all times.
5. Best Value for Office Headphones: Guudsoud Bone Conduction Headphones
An inexpensive alternative to Shokz's OpenComm, these bone conduction headphones are put to use at work by reviewers who leave five stars. Though they don't feature a boom mic, buyers say they last ten hours or all day, without hurting their ears. The lightweight pair supports Bluetooth connectivity, charges in just two hours and has a noise-cancelling mic. Reviewers have tested it out with earplugs, phone calls and in noisy public settings, adding that they can still listen to music clearly. Many compare it to Shokz, and find this a better value for money.