Aftershokz: Bone Conduction Headphones
Have you ever wondered why your voice sounds different in your head, versus when recorded and played back? The answer is the same as the interesting technology underlying today's nifty headphones: bone conduction. The idea has been around for a long time, as early as 1923, but we've only seen a few specialty products that use it to transmit the audio signals without actually covering your ears.
The Aftershokz Sport headphones are thus relative trailblazers. The Aftershokz are water and sweat resistant, and wrap around the back of the neck. Aimed at a mass audience, they are certainly affordable, and the marketing and name indicates their target- active users who are frustrated by traditional earbuds falling out. Which is good, because they aren't really a good choice for audiophiles- the sound quality is decent but unimpressive, lacking in detail, warmth, richness, and the all-important soundstage.
But we've seen some earbuds that do an incredible job of staying in place, at a slightly cheaper price, with a mic, and offering a more comfortable experience. The fact is, something pressing against your head isn't generally a cozy sensation, and that's definitely the case for bone conduction. You'll notice these after a short while of use. And while for a couple of us, the novelty factor was a definitely plus, we were pretty unanimous that there were better options out there- with one notable qualification.
The other advantage of bone conduction is that your ears are left completely open to external sounds- meaning that in environments where outside noise is desirable, these can be a lifesaver. Runners and joggers might want to consider these, if only so they'll be able to hear that car honk or bike messenger yelling. At $60, the hit to your wallet is minimal, but we do note one hassle that is common to those using noise-cancelling headphones: you'll have to keep track of the internal rechargeable battery's level and recharge them (via the included USB adapter) every so often.
About the Author
Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites. Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads. Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater. Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.
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