Audio Wave Geek

The Top 10 Best Bone Conduction headphones of 2023 (Complete Guide)

Hi, in this post we will understand “what is bone conduction” and the “best bone conduction headphones” available on the market currently, so let’s dig in.

Innovation mostly brings the comfort to human beings and same is true in case of this hearing aid or the technological advancement in the human hearing equipment by using the “Bone conduction” phenomenon which exists with humans but never explored for commercializing the audio equipment industry.

In this post today, we will try to explain the basic phenomenon about “How bone conduction works” and “Best bone conduction headphones of 2023” for athletes, music lovers, and hearing-impaired people.


What is bone conduction?

Humans can hear sound in two ways (a) through our eardrums – air transmitted and (b) through our bones – bone transmitted. Bone conduction works by stimulating our jaws and cheekbones and directly pass on the vibrations to the inner ear (bypassing the eardrums).

Check this quick video to know more:

The historical connection of Bone conduction technology:

Ludwig van Beethoven, the renowned 18th-century composer who was almost deaf/hearing impaired and uses his composer’s wand to sense the music produced. He uses to clinch the wand under his teeth with another end touching the piano, that ways he was able to listen to the tonality produced through his jawbone. This proved that sound could reach our auditory system through not only our eardrums but bone as well.

history - conduction-audiowavegeek

Difference in hearing

Just to show you in a figurative way the difference between hearing via normal headphones vs bone conduction headphones:

a) The usual way we hear the sound

 b) Bone conduction way we hear the sound

Image source: goldendance.co.jp

Hearing via Bone conduction has come as a boon to the hearing impaired and also it has applications in other fields like scuba diving, military communication, and outdoor sports like running and cycling.



You will appreciate the fact that bone conduction in the fields other than hearing aids, helps prevent loss of life, as they allow the ambient noise gets into the ears making outdoor running, cycling, etc safer. Military operations can be carried out with more caution and safety as now they are more aware of their surroundings and have bone conduction to get the signal wirelessly alongside. Scuba diving was greatly benefited with this technology as there is no other medium to transmit the communication underwater.


Our top picks

Our Pick Best Value Budget Buy
AfterShokz Trekz Air 
AfterShokz AeroPex
Vidonn F1 Titanium 

Casio was an early adopter of this technology and created a product, Logosease around it, check out this old but creative video below:

They essentially work as a transceiver using the bone conduction. Seems like a simple technology, but its essentially a life saver.

With the increase in road accidents, in our opinion these are must-have for an outdoor person as the noise canceling/isolating earphones ideally shouldn’t be used outdoors during running or cycling in the traffic-prone areas, better be safe than sorry.


Top 10 Best Bone Conduction Headphones of 2023:

Comparison Table

Model
Battery
Weight
Price
AfterShokz Trekz Air

6 hours

1.12 ounces

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium

6 hours

2.08 ounces

Aftershokz Bluez 2S

6 hours

1.44 ounces

Marsboy

6 hours

5.6 ounces

Aftershokz AS450 Sportz  M3 – Wired

12 hours

1.6 ounces
Juhall

6 hours

  8.8 ounces

Vidonn F1 Titanium

6 hours

1.34 ounces

Abco Tech

6 hours

    8 ounces

Longee Sweatproof HD

4 hours

1.6 ounces

Oannao

5 hours

2.02 ounces


Bone conduction technology application

There are many applications for this marvelous technology not limiting to the hearing music on the go, but to these arenas as well:

Military

Sports

Hearing Aid

Work

Legal Necessity


How to buy bone conduction headphones:

You should be aware of these points before buying a suitable bone conduction headphone for yourself-

Brand

Bone conduction headphones being relatively new to the markets, we have only seen in the recent years a few new brands coming into the market. Aftershokz being the market leader in this segment has been the favorite since long and we can easily suggest Aftershokz bone conduction headphones without a second thought.

Brands in this segment are totally different than that of the normal headphones segment. For best after sales support, warranty and repair/return, this becomes a major factor.

Battery

As with all the wireless electronic gadgets these days, we spent considerable time to charge our devices through a work week. The last thing we want is to carry a dead device around our neck during that run for which we came out of the comfort of the home with a lot of motivation.

Frankly, we hate charging all our devices often, moreover the bone conduction headphones come with an average battery life of 6 hours of continuous usage for music plus calls and 15+ days on standby. This is kind of a standard currently and you should aim to get the one which posses at least this much of backup.

Sound quality

Best sounding bone conduction headphones are hard to find because unlike normal headphones (a zillion) available in the market, ranging from a $5 to $5000, bass-heavy to flat to studio monitors, bone conduction still has a very long way to go. But by not any means these are not good, we can say without a doubt that they sound amazing and feels like magic.

In our recent try out of the Aftershokz headphones, we were astounded by the sound quality. Of course, these are not for studio monitor purposes or for audiophiles, but they serve the purpose best, for which they are made. And we cannot think of anything but bone conduction headphones for our outdoor activity sessions. You can expect good high, low and mid frequencies as you may with the normal headphones.

Durability

As they are meant for outdoor use and during exercising, they have a solid build quality and mostly sweatproof. The headphones from almost all the brands are “around the neck” type style and are significantly light-weight. They are very durable unless you abuse them badly.

Usage

As suggested above, they have many applications, like in military, athletics, cycling, hearing impaired, underwater and more applications are just as limited as our creativity to think of the new arenas to put this wonderful technology to use.

Controls

Be mindful to choose the model as per your need of inbuilt microphone and music control functions, although all of these headphones come with a noise-canceling microphone, volume, and music controls and call pickup and drop buttons. These are ergonomically designed products, which means they are well tested to provide you with a comfortable experience wearing them, and the controls are always placed in the proper position for us to easily manage all the functions.

Connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity is the core medium of connecting the headphones with the mobile/Bluetooth enabled player, you can be assured of the proper connectivity and no frequent reconnections unless you have received a faulty piece.

Generally, the connecting time is fast and the headphones are very responsive to the mobile phone connections.

Fit and Size

Most of the bone conduction headphones are available in one size and without the adjustable ability. For you to get one that fits your head well will depend on how flexible the material used in making it is.

Some of the headphones are made with Titanium with a silicone covering. Such have the ability to stretch so that they can fit in any head size. When the headphones fit well, they will not fall off and they will be comfortable.

Sweat rating

Another critical factor to consider when buying the bone conduction headphones. This is essential more especially if you intend to use the headphones for workouts. They come with different sweat rating so ensure that you get the right rating. This will go a long way to ensure that you will use the headphones during exercise without any thought that they will be damaged by the sweat.

The build

It is paramount that the headphones you buy be sturdy. When they are strong, they can withstand an accidental fall more especially during a workout session. A strong build will ensure that you do not go back to the shop to buy another pair of headphone soon.

Sound Leakage

Do not mistaken bone conduction headphones that they cannot lead sound. Although they use vibrations, sound can be leaked via these headphones.

As much as the sound leakage is not as bad as in open-back headphones, they can leak sound. This happens when the volume used is high. A bone conduction headphone that leaks sound, if someone is standing near you, they can hear the sound of what you are listening to. However, the sound that leaks is not clearly audible to the person standing next to you.

Therefore, when buying the bone conduction headphones, ensure that they do not have any sound leakage.

Wireless or Wired

Depending on how you intend to use the headphones, you should choose accordingly. If you are going to use them during a workout session, it is advisable to buy wireless headphones. This is because if you wear wired headphones during an exercise, you might get entangled with the cable.

But when you are buying wireless bone conduction headphones, ensure that the battery is strong enough. If the battery can last for more than four hours, that is a good enough time.

The wired headphones have a better sound quality because the audio will not be affected by any waves.


The Top 10 Best Bone Conduction Headphones 

1. AfterShokz Trekz Air

Aftershokz has been the pioneer in the bone conduction headphones manufacturing and the Trekz Air are no different. With its sleek design and flex neckband, it’s the best one on our list too.

Check out this quick video:


2. Aftershokz AS600SG Trekz Titanium

Afterhokz is the pioneer in the bone conduction headphone market and the AS600SG or simply the Trekz are no exception when it comes to the sound quality.

Check out this quick video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMMAkfhKG4

3. Aftershokz Bluez 2S Wireless

Number 2 on the list is again from the stable of Aftershokz, these come with more tight and snug fit and are more durable


4. Marsboy waterproof sports Headphones

These are for the fanboys J, they sound crisp and the bass is great. Rock and roll fans are in for a treat.

Check out this quick video:


5. JUHALL Wireless Sports Headset Built-in Mic – Sweatproof


6. Aftershokz AS450 Sportz M3

Yes, gain Aftershokz, what can we do these are still in the run. AS450 is a compact set relatively smaller diameter and are wired with microphone inbuilt in the cable


7. Vidonn F1 Titanium Wireless Bluetooth Sports Headset


8. Abco Tech Sports Bluetooth Headphone

These are the cheapest of the lot but that doesn’t mean that the are inferior to the market leaders, the sound if not great like aftershokz, is ok and the quality is decent but not superior. You get what you pay for. Good the first timers who want to taste the bone conduction in a good way.


9. Longee Sweatproof HD Stereo


10. Oannao, Sweatproof, Sport, Bone conduction Wireless Earphones with Mic


Don’t forget to secure your amazing bone conduction headphones with this cool case. Check out below to find the same on Amazon:

CaseSack Bone Conduction Headphones Case for Aftershokz and other bone conduction headphones:


Frequently asked questions

1. Is Bone Conduction Headphones Safer than Traditional Headphones?

A simple answer is no! bone conduction headphones are not safer as compared to their traditional headphone counterparts. However, that does not mean that bone conduction headphones are dangerous.

But you might wonder since the bone conduction headphones do not conduct the sound via the eardrum so you can listen to music at any volume without fear of destroying your ears? We answer no.

Of course the bone conduction headphones cannot damage your ears simply because they do not have an ability to do so. However, that does not give you room to play loud music.

The sound transmitted by the bone conduction headphones can reach the cochlear of the ear. You should be concerned about this part of the ear as well. Therefore, if you play music at a very high volume with the bone conduction headphones, you can damage the cochlear of the ear well. So, care should be taken while using them.

Bone Conduction Headphones is a Lifesaver for People with Hearing Disability

The technology used for the construction of the bone conduction headphones is a lifesaver for people with hearing problems. They are critical for those people that their outer ear has been affected and they cannot afford a cochlear implant.

However, those that use this headphones to enhance their hearing ability cannot wear them throughout. This is because it might not be possible to do so. To overcome such a problem, if they are able they can get implants surgically implanted in their cochlear of the ear.

But generally speaking, for those people with hearing problems either due to ear infections, the bone conduction headphones are a lifesaver.

2. What are the benefits of Bone Conduction Headphones?

Maintain Awareness

Unlike the conventional headphones which either cover your ears, the bone conduction headphones leave your ears open. Also, there are some people that do not like inserting in-ear headphones on their ears.

In such cases, bone conduction headphones are the best option. With your ears open, you remain conscious of what is happening around you all the time.

Recommended for sports and drivers

As we have already mentioned above, with the bone conduction headphones your ears will remain open. Therefore, if you are driving, you will be able to hear when another driver is hooting at you. Also, if you are a sports person such as cycling, you will be able to hear what’s happening around you so that you remain safe.

3. Can you wear bone conduction headphones with glasses

The short answer is YES! You can wear bone conduction headphones with glasses on. So the reason is (what we feel is) during our try or test to wear Aftershokz Trekz Air headphones (and we would strongly recommend these with glasses on), we have realized how comfortable and flexible they were on our ears and when you try to put the glasses on top of that, the glasses with slightly push them towards your skull. This will not make your skull hurt but you will get a rather better grip around your head.


Conclusion

We have tried a few of Bone conduction headphones ourselves and found this technology to be truly magical and definitely recommend to anyone for outdoor usage, general purpose use or otherwise.

We have tried to list down the “best bone conduction headphones of 2023” in the market currently and if you choose a pair out of the list, you will not go wrong, it’s a great technology for the listeners with added safety.

You can also gift one to the hearing-impaired friend or family member and see the smile on their face that only music could bring.

Happy listening and stay safe!!!!

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