BEST BONE-CONDUCTION HEADPHONES IN 2023
Among all the various types of audio equipment available, bone conduction headphones stand out as the most unique. We are all familiar with earbuds and over-ear headphones, both wired and wireless, each serving its own purpose. Thus, one might question why anyone would deviate from the tried-and-true options already beloved by many. Surely, the abundance of excellent wireless earbuds on the market is sufficient for use on airplanes or during workouts.
However, there is a compelling argument for the superiority of bone conduction headphones. These models, which neither enter nor cover the ears, employ an intriguing method: they transmit sound through vibrations on the cheekbones. While the sound quality may not always match that of more conventional alternatives, this design allows for complete openness of the ears, enabling them to breathe. Moreover, these headphones are remarkably lightweight and possess a sleek, contemporary appearance. Notably, some options even excel in workout scenarios, with a few being suitable for swimming as well.
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly is one of the few bone conduction headphone brands that have mastered bone conduction vibrator technology, and one of the few brands in the industry that have sustained experience in using bone conduction technology to protect hearing. Wissonly Hi Runner advocate a healthy way to listen. They perfectly combine the principles of healthy hearing and bone conduction sound transmission, to create a non-in-ear and non-ear-damaging bone conduction headphone which can effectively protect hearing. Due to the particularity of the technical principle, sound quality of bone conduction headphones is more difficult to be improved . To this end, Wissonly Hi Runner subverts the traditional sound quality scheme, makes a breakthrough to use the large-size bone conduction vibrator. Through structural optimization, the effective vibration area of the vibrator is increased by 35%, thereby improving the vibrator sound efficiency, making the sound more powerful.It also optimizing the direction of sound transmission, reducing sound loss during sound transmission, and making the sound more concentrated. The skin-friendly silicone material of the Wissonly Hi Runner body is a product that can be in contact with the skin for a long time. It is naturally a better choice and feels good to the touch. Because the entire headphone is made of skin-friendly material, it is very comfortable to wear. Even if you wear glasses, you can still hang it firmly on your ears. The headphone frame uses memory titanium, which has the advantage of being stretchable and lightweight.
Zygo Solo
The Zygo Solo are one of the best, if not the best, waterproof headphones for swimming. To start, they offer excellent sound quality underwater, which is harder than you would think. The Zygo Solo use an FM transmitter, so you can play whatever you want off your phone sitting poolside while you do laps. The headphones also have that extremely tough IP68 rating needed for truly waterproof use.
Shokz OpenMove
Looking like a device out of some 90’s sci-fi movie, the Shocks OpenMove bone conduction headphones are as stylish as they are useful. The lightweight and comfy earbud-free design let you run or cycle on the outside while keeping your ear open for the traffic. The transducers on these open-ear headphones are quite large, delivering surprisingly good audio through your cheekbones. The batteries, on the other hand, aren’t above the generic level, with only 6 hours of playtime.
Mojawa Mojo1
Bring out your mojo with the Mojawa Mojo1. These bone conduction headphones have excellent sound. They can also suppress noise up to 60 dB and prevent 90% of sound leakage. You can charge them fully in 1.5 hours, lasting a standard 8 hours for listening and calls. They connect via Bluetooth 5.0 and transmit reasonably good audio. The silicone-patched transducers fit snugly on your cheekbones and are IP67-certified waterproof, letting you enjoy the music even in heavy rains.
Haylou PurFree
The Haylou PurFree bone conduction headphones have quality transducers with a directional bass-heavy sound that should enthuse the sportsperson in you. Their light 28g weight means you will almost not notice them. They have Bluetooth 5.2, which means you can hook up to two devices at once with the same pair of wireless headphones. Additionally, they are IP67-grade waterproof and can withstand sweat and light rain, with 8 hours of playtime.
How do bone conduction headphones work, and why do you need them?
Instead of subjecting yourself to potential hearing damage by using earbuds and headphones that direct sound right into eardrums, consider bone conduction headphones instead. They don’t put any pressure in your ear canals or plug them up either (take a look at whatever you’ve been using — they’re probably kind of gross).
While traditional headphones send sound waves via tiny speakers, aka drivers, bone conduction headphones do exactly what their name suggests. They conduct audio via transducers through the bones that sit in front of your ears, essentially the back of your cheekbones. By sending audio directly into your head, your ears remain completely open to hear the surrounding environment, which is ideal when you’re going for a job in a busy neighborhood.