In this review we are going to tell you about some great bone conduction headphones on the market at the moment, the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB. These are a great choice with a lot of really good feedback, especially if you are looking for something to use with sports.
We are going to give you an overview the features that you get with these headphones, and also look at ratings based on online reviews, both the good, and the not so good which is always useful before you make a buying decision.
Contents
What are bone conduction headphones & how do they work?
This type of headphone works in a very different way to headphones that you are probably familiar with as they use bone conduction technology, which means that instead of the sound being conducted through the air, the sound waves transmit through the skull.
So, the sound bypasses the middle ear and instead the vibrations go through the bones in the upper cheek and jaw causing the ear drum to interpret them as sounds, therefore there is no need for the headphones to be in or around the ears when wearing them.
Who are the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB for?
The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones are for pretty much anyone who is after a good pair of headphones, but people who need them for sports might find them beneficial for quite a few reasons, which we will cover in this review, but first, let’s take a look at the features.
Many people with certain hearing impairments will also find these bone conduction headphones a fantastic choice too when there is lack of ear drum involvement, the vibration from the bone conduction passes the information straight to the cochlea allowing music and audio to be heard.
If you just want to go straight ahead and buy the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones now, click on the link below.
Here are the features of the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones:
OPEN-EAR DESIGN – Patented bone conduction technology delivers audio through the cheekbone, keeping you connected and aware of your surroundings.
DESIGNED FOR LONG-TERM WEAR – The new, organic, wraparound headphone design is 20% lighter than its counterpart Titanium to deliver unnoticeable all-day comfort. The six-hour continuous use battery life further supports long-term wear.
BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY – Wireless headset with Bluetooth v4.2 connectivity and convenient multipoint pairing. Air is compatible with your iOS and Android Bluetooth-ready smartphones or tablets and Mac and PC computers and laptops.
PREMIUM AUDIO – These innovative AfterShokz earphones offer PremiumPitch technology for wide dynamic range and rich bass, Leakslayer technology to reduce natural sound leakage, and dual noise-cancelling mics.
VISIBILITY ON-THE-GO – Reflective strips easily adhere to bikes, helmets, shoes, and more. Designed to be visible from up to 500+ feet at night and blend into clothes and gear during the day. Made with durable reflective material.
As the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones have an open-ear design leaving the ears still able to be aware of sounds around, with the audio being delivered through the cheek bone, you don’t feel completely isolated from the outside world.
This means that if you are out running you can still be aware of what is going on in your surroundings, and hear the things that you may need to, like a car coming your way for example. There night be other things that you might still to be aware of while you are listening to your music, like wildlife if you are running in more remote places.
Another benefit of keeping connected with your surroundings may be that you are at home with your little ones, and just want some chill time while they take a nap, but still want to keep an ear out for them while you enjoy an audio book or some music.
The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones have been designed so that the user is able to wear them for much longer than you might wear over ear, or ear buds. Very often when you first put wear ear buds or over the ear headphones, they feel fine at first, but after a while they can be uncomfortable or even worse, quite painful which is all you need if you want to wear them for a decent amount of time.
Bone conduction headphones are worn on the cheek bones, leaving the ears free from any pressure, inside or out so that you can get on with what you are doing without your ears being affected. They are also very lightweight, which helps them to be more comfortable.
As for the battery life of the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB, from a full charge, you will get around 6 hours of continuous use. This is quite adequate for most people, but it’s worth mentioning that there are other bone conduction headphones that have longer battery life, it all depends on what you are going to be using them for.
The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB use Bluetooth connectivity, so they are completely wireless and allow you to pair with multiple devices including laptops, PCS, Mac, plus portable devices such as iOS and Android Bluetooth ready smartphones and tablets.
Once the headphones are paired to your device, they will connect automatically every time you use them, which is much more convenient than having to do it manually, which can be a bit of a pain if you are in a hurry!
The sound quality of the AfterShokz headphones is pretty good, they offer PremiumPitch technology which means that there is a wide dynamic range and a nice rich bass, this technology assures that you get the best bone conduction audio which suits music and also voice.
They also feature Leakslayer technology which helps to reduce natural sound leakage which can be a drawback with many earbuds or headphones. LeakSlayer releases sound generated by the transducers and cancels the sound, which is generated by the housing, so there is much less leakage.
The sound quality for some people may not be the best that you can get from a headphone for example many audiophiles, but that all depends on what you are intending on using them for. It all comes down to the individual at the end of the day, and many customers who have given online reviews have been very satisfied with the sound quality.
Included with the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB, are some reflective strips which are very good safety feature for when the light is fading when you are doing outdoor sports and activities.
They are made with durable, reflective material to help you remain visible from up to 500 feet and can be adhered to bikes, helmets, shoes or anywhere you need them to be, and don’t stand out in daylight, blending in to gear during the day.
The pros and cons of the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB:
Now let’s have a look at the pros and cons which is very important know before you buy anything, so let’s start with the pros.
Pros:
Hearing impairments:
Bone conduction headphones can be great for people with hearing loss or suffer from tinnitus in many cases, and are compatible with wearing most hearing aids. It is advisable however, that you do some research first if you are thinking of buying them for hearing problems.
Hygienic:
Using this type of headphone is much cleaner than ear buds as nothing goes inside the ear, therefore there will never be a build up of dirt and ear wax which can build up and is pretty gross to clean off. Also, putting ear buds into the ears can cause bacteria that might cause rashes or allergic reactions.
Sweatproof:
If you are using the headphones for working out, sports, running, there is always going to be sweat, rain, dust and moisture, the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones have got this covered. They are sweat and moisture resistant, making them perfect for the outdoors and sports.
Comfort:
With the headphones being lightweight and made with flexible material, they are super comfortable to wear, the head band goes around the neck with the speakers resting just above the cheek bone giving a snug and secure fit.
Also, as there is nothing going into, or over the ears, there is no discomfort, which means that the user can wear them for long periods of time without feeling any pain.
Safety:
When cycling, running outdoors, people don’t necessarily want to block out the world totally, in can be dangerous if there is traffic, animals or even people that can cause a threat, especially when alone. Because the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones allow you to hear what’s going on around you while you can hear sound from them, you can have peace of mind while you enjoy your tunes, pod cast etc.
Another safety feature to help you to keep safe are the reflective strips included, which means you can also be more visible when outdoors in darker conditions.
Cons:
Price:
For some people these headphones might be a bit pricey, there are other bone conduction headphones that you can pick up for much less money than these particular ones, it all depends on your budget, and the quality of cheaper ones might not be as good, that’s why you should do a bit of research first.
Vibration:
A small number of reviewers have found that the headphones can cause a bit of discomfort while wearing them when the volume is turned up, it can cause the headphones to vibrate and feel a bit tingly/ itchy, so if you like to listen to your music on the louder side, it’s something to consider.
Sound quality:
As we mentioned above if you are looking for superior sound quality, then bone conduction headphones are probably not going to be for you, they are not like traditional headphones. You can hear your music as well as external noises which reduces the clarity of what you are listening to, that being said, the general audio just isn’t as good.
Charging:
As with any wireless devices they need charging regularly, but that’s the trade off for not having wires tangling up, it depends on which is the most annoying to you!
Conclusion:
The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB are absolutely worth a try in our opinion, if not only for the case that if traditional headphones/earbuds cause discomfort to you. The only downside of these headphones is if you are looking for top notch audio, which you won’t get when you are also still aware of surroundings to keep you safe when you are outdoors doing sports, but we don’t think that this would be a problem for most people.
We hope that this review has been helpful to you, and thanks for reading.
Want To See The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB In Action?
Final Considerations For The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB:
If you have read all of the above and you are still unsure, we wanted to give you a final consideration section that will help with some of the main questions.
These are some of the questions that we spotted in reviews that are coming in for this product and some of the concerns, this will help you make sure that you are going for the right Bone conduction headphones and will get something that you are happy with.
Here are the main concerns that we picked out from reviews around the web:
Battery Life:
Some people voiced concerns about the battery life and were unsure how long it would work for. You will be happy to know that with this particular model people are getting at least six hours of continuous music and calls on a single charge. This does not sound like a lot, at first glance but bear in mind this would be if it was continuous calls.
You will also find that they charge relatively quickly as well.
Design:
The AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB gives you the “open ear design “and this is one of the main reasons to try out this technology it means that you will be unencumbered when you are using these, and you will also be aware of your surroundings as all of the audio will come through the cheekbone.
Volume levels:
One thing that did come up during the reviews was the volume level for the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB will simply not be as loud as a standard set of Bluetooth headphones. This is because of the technology that is using and also as it is using “bone conduction” as opposed to a standard earbud being inside the ear is simply will not get as loud.
This is not a bad thing however and you should find that it is loud enough to enjoy your music in a new way and also be aware of your surroundings.
Sports:
Where the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB really excels is if you are looking for bone conduction headphones for sport. You will find that these are sweat proof, they are also IP55 certified and that will repel sweat, dust and moisture. Even if you are on a very rainy day and running you should find that these work perfectly.
Final Thoughts Before You Decide To Buy?
We highly recommend that you check out the AfterShokz Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS650MB if you are looking for something that will give you a tremendous set of bone conduction headphones, especially if you are looking to use these for running or sports then you will love this choice.
Make sure that you also check out the protection plans that you will be able to find over Amazon.com, we do recommend it as then you can use worry free and it is relatively cheap to take advantage of.
Make sure that you also check out some of the reviews directly Amazon.com and that will make sure that you get something that you will be happy with.
This is another great set of bone conduction headphones, and we think that you will be pleased with what you find here…
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