What disadvantages of bone conduction headphones? Best Headphones of 2023
Bone conduction headphones don’t clog your ears, and they don’t cause you pain or fatigue. Therefore, they are suitable for prolonged use. Because of this advantage, they have become popular in recent years for telecommuting and online courses. But there are also disadvantages such as “easy to leak sound”.
This time, we will introduce 9 bone conduction headphone products in the form of a ranking list. We’ll also explain the pros and cons you should check out before buying bone conduction headphones.
Contents
How do bone conduction headphones work
Disadvantages of bone conduction headphones
Advantages of bone conduction headphones
How to choose bone conduction headphones
Recommended by 4 Bone Conduction Headphone Manufacturers
Top 9 Bone Conduction Headphones
summary
How do bone conduction headphones work
Bone conduction headphones are not worn directly in the ear like traditional headphones, but instead, transmit sound by vibrating the cartilage in the temples and ears. They don’t transmit sound through the eardrums, so this feature allows them to be used for long periods of time without straining the ears.
Disadvantages of bone conduction headphones 1.Easy to leak sound, not suitable for public places
The disadvantage of bone conduction headphones is that the sound outlet is not blocked,so the bone conduction vibrator vibrates the cartilage, it also vibrates the surrounding air, which is prone to sound leakage. Therefore, they are not suitable for use in public places such as trains, cafes, libraries, etc.
2. Susceptible to noise
Because the bone conduction headphones do not block the ears when worn,so the noise is easily transmitted to the ears through the ear canal, which interferes with the sound of the headphones. As a result, bone conduction headphones can be difficult to hear on windy days, on roads with heavy traffic, or in crowds.
If you want to suppress noise as much as possible, choose a model with noise cancellation.
3. More expensive than regular headphones
The price of ordinary headphones is about 30 US dollars, while the price of bone conduction headphones is 50–150 US dollars, which is relatively high.
Advantages of bone conduction headphones 1.There is no burden on the ears, and it is not easy to get tired after wearing them for a long time
Bone conduction headphones don’t need to be inserted directly into the ear, so they have the advantage that they don’t put pressure on the ear and cause ear pain or fatigue when worn. They are not only suitable for long online meetings but also for working while listening to music.
Bone conduction headphones that don’t clog the earholes are great for the “listening to ambient sound while listening to music” scenario because you can hear what’s going on around you. For example, they’re great for listening to music when you need to get back to work or listening to the sound of a car or bike on a run.
How to choose bone conduction headphones
1. Select by the connection method
Wireless type is easy to operate
Most bone conduction headphones are wireless. The advantage of wireless headphones is that you don’t have to worry about cables getting tangled up. Plus, you can use them even when you’re away from your playback device if you’re within the maximum range of your Bluetooth connection. So you don’t have to carry your smartphone with you, even if you’re not far away.
However, their downside is that they are unable to use when the battery dies. If you need to use headphones for a long time, please choose a model with a longer continuous playback time.
Wired type does not need to be charged, easy to use
Wired models don’t require charging the headphones, and the advantage is that they last for a long time. And unlike wireless headphones, there is no need for a Bluetooth pairing connection, so even people who are not good at operating electronic products can use it easily.
Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about the trouble of not being able to connect, you just need to plug in the cable to complete the connection. However, since they need to be connected to a cable at all times, they are not as easy to operate as wireless headphones.
2. Choose by wearing way
There are two wearing ways of bone conduction headphones: ear-hanging and clip-ear. Please choose the best fit for your needs, as they affect comfort and ease of use.
Ear-hanging headphones with excellent stability
Ear-hanging headphones are the most popular type of bone conduction headphones. Because they are hung on the ears, they are not easy to fall off, and they are more stable when worn. When not in use, they can also be hung around the neck.
When choosing this type of headphone, pay attention to the side pressure of the headphone. Models with a lot of side pressure can cause headaches, so choose one that fits your head size. In addition, if you wear glasses, it depends on whether the headphone is compatible with the glasses. Headphones that are not compatible with glasses will cause you a lot of trouble.
Clip-ear headphones with good maneuverability
Clip-ear headphones are worn by clamping the ear like a clip. They are separate left and right headphones with a stylish appearance. Also, unlike ear-hanging headphones, they don’t suffer from side pressure, nor do glasses.
However, it should be noted that this type of headphone is easy to fall off due to strenuous exercise or external impact. In addition, since they are worn between the ears, they may hurt a little if you wear for a long time.
Select by function
Waterproof headphones are suitable for outdoor use and around water.
Use bone conduction headphones with a waterproof function, you don’t have to worry about sudden rain or sweat during exercise. Models with a high water resistance rating can be used in pools or bathtubs.
The waterproof standard is written as “IPX◯”, ◯ and is a number from 0 to 8, the larger the number, the higher the waterproof level. Generally, choose “IPX3–6” for the waterproof level of daily life. If you want to use it in water, please choose “IPX7–8”.
Microphone feature is useful for calls and meetings
For calls and meetings, a bone conduction headphone with a microphone function is recommended. Bone conduction headphones with a function dedicated to calls are generally equipped with a function that extends the microphone to the mouth and a “CVC codec function” that allows you to hear your own voice clearly, so you can use them more comfortably.
Recommended by 4 Bone Conduction Headphone Manufacturers
1. Wissonly
Wissonly is the fastest-growing bone conduction headphone brand in the past year. It is headquartered in Hong Kong, and the core team has a relatively strong technical accumulation. Their engineers and designers have more than 10 years of experience in the research and development of bone conduction products.
They mainly produce high-performance, cost-effective bone conduction headphones. Their products have the characteristics of good sound quality, low sound leakage, high waterproof level, and strong battery life, and are very popular among sports fans.
2. Shokz
Founded in New York in 2011, Shokz is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bone conduction headphones. The company, formerly known as “AfterShokz,” has been working on bone conduction technology since its inception, releasing new bone conduction headphones every year.
They focus on the research and development of ear-hanging bone conduction headphones and have developed multiple products ranging from easy-to-operate entry-level models to high-end models. In addition, there are business models for long calls and fully waterproof models that can be used underwater.
3. BoCo
BoCo is a Japanese communication equipment manufacturer and the world’s first manufacturer to release left and right-separated clip-ear bone conduction headphones. It develops products using its own bone conduction technology, and there are many stylishly designed models. I recommend it here for those looking for stylish bone conduction headphones.
4. Philips
Philips is a consumer electronics brand headquartered in the Netherlands. They have many products in many fields, whether it is medical, electrical appliances, digital or audio-visual, there are excellent products.
Headphones and bone conduction headphones are one of their many products. The sound quality of the products is good, and there are some thoughtful small functions, such as night running lights, which are very popular.
Top 9 Bone Conduction Headphone Recommendations in 2023
1. Wissonly Hi Runner Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 4.8
Sound quality: 4.8 Wearing comfort: 4.6
Good performance: 4.9 Cost performance: 4.8
Recommended reason:
Wissonly advocates the concept of healthy enjoyment of good sound quality, and its products focus on the selling point of not hurting the ears. Wissonly Hi Runner’s completely non-in-ear design reduces damage to the eardrum and maximizes ear protection, and they keep the ear canal clean and hygienic. This is a healthy and hygienic headphone.
In terms of wearing comfort, it also performs well. The surface of the headphones is made of silicone skin-friendly material, which is very safe and comfortable to wear. The headphone frame is adjustable, which ensures higher stability when wearing, while reduce side pressure.
Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones have made a lot of improvements in sound quality and leak-proof sound. Its sound quality is excellent and it is one of the best bone conduction headphones this year. In order to solve the sound leakage problem of bone conduction Bluetooth headphones, Wissonly has developed a fully closed sound leakage prevention technology, which has improved the vibration unit, body design, software optimization, and other aspects of the headphone, and finally reduced the sound leakage effect by 90%.
They support Bluetooth mode and MP3 mode. They adopt Bluetooth 5.0 protocol, the stability of the wireless connection is greatly improved, and they also have a built-in storage of 32G, which can store 5000 pieces of music.
They also have great battery life, allowing you to listen to music for 10 hours, and they also support magnetic fast charging.
2. Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 4.6
Sound quality: 4.6 Wearing comfort: 4.6
Good performance: 4.3 Cost performance: 4.4
Recommended reason:
Bone conduction headphones are specially designed for sports scenes, they are wireless headphones, support Bluetooth connection, have no MP3 mode, use the latest Bluetooth protocol, and the stability of Bluetooth connection is very good.
They use a shield-shaped bone conduction vibrator with a large area that fits the skull, which makes them have better sound quality. Their mid-highs are very clear, and the bass is full of depth.
The wearing comfort is also good, and the part that fits the temple is made of soft silicone. The touch is very comfortable, and the area of the fitting part is large, which well disperses the side pressure.
They have excellent dustproof and waterproof performance of IP55 grade, which makes them can be used in a wide range of scenes.They can work normally when sweating or raining, but cannot be used when swimming
Their buttons are designed to be large and easy to operate, and they have a built-in long-life battery for up to 10 hours of continuous play and talk.
3. BoCo Earsopen PEACE TW-1 Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 4.4
Sound quality: 4.5 Wearing comfort: 4.3
Good performance: 4.3 Cost performance: 4.2
Recommended reason:
The world’s first wireless bone conduction headphone with separated left and right sides adopts a clip-ear wearing style. Since they have no cables, they are easy to operate, you can wear them when lying down and wearing glasses and scarves will not interfere.
In addition, they support IPX7 high-level waterproof, rainproof, and sweatproof, and can work normally in various outdoor scenes. They have built-in microphones for hands-free calling.
On the other hand, it should be noted that due to their unique way of wearing, and some people may have ear pain after wearing them for a long time.
4. BoCo Earsopen PEACE SS-1 Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 4.3
Sound quality: 4.4 Wearing comfort: 4.3
Good performance: 4.2 Cost performance: 4.2
Recommended reason:
Another “clip-ear” wireless headphone from BoCo, they’re so lightweight they fit like earrings and put very little pressure on your ears for long hours of comfortable music listening.
In terms of sound quality, they support the aptX Adaptive codec for low latency and high sound quality. They are also equipped with call noise reduction, and the experience of answering calls is very good.
They have excellent waterproof performance of IPX7 level, and can be used easily in scenes such as sweating, raining or even swimming.
They have the function of fast charging, allowing about 4 hours of continuous playback with just 10 minutes of charging.
5. Philips A8606 Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sound quality: 3.9 Wearing comfort: 4.0
Good performance: 4.0 Cost performance: 3.9
Recommended reason:
The A8606 headphones are worn in a clip-ear style so that they fit closely to the auricle during wearing. Because they use titanium alloy to make the skeleton, and the skin-friendly silicone material is wrapped outside, which can maintain the shape stability without causing pressure on the ears. They are easy to wear and can be used for a long time. This headphone adopts an IPX5 waterproof design, so you are not afraid of ordinary splashing water, let alone sweat. The disadvantage is that the sound quality needs to be improved, and there is still a little sound leakage.
6. Shokz OpenComm Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 3.8
Sound quality: 4.3 Wearing comfort: 4.5
Good performance: 4.5 Cost performance: 3
Recommended reason:
This is Shokz’s first bone conduction headphone specially developed for online meetings. They are equipped with a “DSP noise-canceling boom microphone” that extends to the mouth, making them ideal for online meetings.
Plus, they have a high-capacity battery with 16 hours of continuous talk time, so even if you’ve been using them at work, the battery won’t die. If you’re looking for bone conduction headphones for online meetings, this one is worth checking out.
7. Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 3.7
Sound quality: 3.7 Wearing comfort: 3.9
Good performance: 3.6 Cost performance: 3.5
Recommended reason:
The surface of their body is made of silicone material, which is very comfortable, and their small size is their biggest advantage, which makes them light in weight, with little side pressure, and they don’t feel heavy when worn. Their frames are made of titanium alloy, which is adjustable and also makes wearing more stable.
The sound quality is good in bone conduction headphones, but it cannot be compared with traditional noise-canceling headphones. The battery life is good, you can listen to music for 8 hours continuously, and it also supports fast charging.
In terms of waterproofing, their waterproof rating reaches IP67, and there is no problem with daily sweating, short-term rain, or washing, but they cannot be used for swimming.
8. Naenka Runner Chic Bone Conduction Headphones
Overall Rating: 3.6
Sound quality: 3.5 Wearing comfort: 3.7
Good performance: 3.5 Cost performance: 3.9
Recommended reason:
With the titanium alloy material used for the frame of this headphone, you can easily adjust them to fit different sizes of head circumference, thus improving the fit of the headphone. Their bodies are 28g, and the overall wearing experience is good. Compared with their previous products, the sound quality and sound leakage are optimized, but they still need further improvement.
In terms of waterproof level, they support ordinary life waterproofing, and they can work normally when sweating and raining, but they cannot be used for washing or swimming.
This headphone has average capabilities, nothing particularly outstanding, and no particularly obvious shortcomings. As entry-level bone conduction headphones, they still qualify.
9. Vidonn F3 bone conduction headphones
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sound quality: 3.3 Wearing comfort: 3.7
Good performance: 3.3 Cost performance: 3.5
Recommended reason:
The weight of this bone conduction headphone is only 29g, and there is no discomfort when using it, whether it is hanging on the neck or hanging on the ear for a long time. The charging port of the F3 bone conduction Bluetooth headphone is a universal standard MICRO-USB interface. The charging port is waterproof with a soft rubber plug. The soft rubber plug is not connected to the body, and there is a risk of loss. The disadvantage is that the sound quality is average, and the sound leakage is more serious