How Bone Conduction Headphones Work and Why You Should Try Them
Headphones have come a long way over the years and it’s now possible to buy a pair to match and compliment any music style in a dizzying array of designs. Alongside more regular models, bone conduction headphones are a neat variation on the theme and will be of particular interest if you’re a fan of fitness in the great outdoors. In some scenarios, they’re also beneficial for certain types of hearing impediments.
Bone conduction headphones are worn high on the cheekbones, allowing sound vibrations to enter the body via the jawbone and not the eardrums. Sound is delivered directly into the cochlea through the bone, rather than utilizing vibrations travelling through the air as is the case with traditional headphone systems. how bone conduction headphones work – they employ a process known as bone conduction acoustic technology and why you should try them.
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Comfort levels of them
Because bone conduction headphones are attached to your skull, you won’t feel anything bulky or irritating when you listen to music or audio. If you’ve ever owned a pair of earbuds, you know that despite their widespread adoption, they can be a nuisance and a health hazard. It can be annoying to keep using the same earbuds over and over again, even if the sound quality is good enough to prevent you from throwing them away.
Likewise, many of us still choose the traditional headphones of yesteryear, the kind that rests on your head and over your ears. Despite their continued popularity, this type of headphone often isn’t ideal for use in the great outdoors due to their size and weight. Just the way they can move around if you’re doing anything more than a light jog can become irritating in the extreme.
They also filter out external noise, which is a fantastic thing in many respects, but not so great if you’re anxious to know what’s going on around or behind you. However, bone conduction headphones aren’t without their flaws, and prolonged use can lead to ear fatigue just like with any other type of headphones.
Maintaining a level head
The real benefit of bone conduction headphones, however, is that your ears are not isolated from the environment in the way that they are with many other types of headphones. Bone conduction headphones don’t block external noises as traditional headphones do since they don’t cover or cover up your ears. This is a handy tool to have if you’re doing fieldwork and want to keep an eye on your local surroundings.
It’s also achievable to buy bone-conduction headphones that have been specifically built to various forms of activities. In addition to the more obvious models for running and other outdoor pursuits like cycling, waterproof bone-conduction headphones are also available.
It’s important to look closely at the specifications for bone-conduction headphones though. Although many can withstand moisture from perspiration, swimming requires a pair that has been optimized for use while swimming.
If you need to make and take calls often while you’re on the go, a set of bone conductive headphones with a substantial amount of speak time capabilities is something to think about investing in.
Ear friendly
The reduced potential for hearing loss is yet another perk of bone-conduction headphones. It’s easy to overlook or disregard the harmful effects of playing music too loudly, especially when it’s right next to your eardrums. In reality, like many diseases, the harmful consequences are only obvious after the damage has been done. Because they are worn on the outside of the head, bone-conduction headphones have a much smaller internal impact.
Although bone-conduction headphones do not physically rest on the ears, they may nevertheless cause damage if the volume is too high. As is the case with most things it’s a case of everything in moderation, so use your bone-conduction headphones reasonably and they should return the favor to your hearing.
A reasonable option for sound
There are a few downsides associated with the use of bone-conduction headphones. Customers regularly say that the audio quality diminishes since the device is not in or on their ears, and this is a common complaint. Yet, taking into account the fact that the user will be able to hear other things in addition to the music, this compromise is one that may be considered acceptable. If you want to have your wits about you while you’re out for a run, then a set of bone-conduction headphones seems like a natural piece of running gear for you to think about bringing along with you.
The same thing applies to any other situation in which it is essential to keep an ear open for any noises that may be coming from the outside. A lot of people like listening to music while they work, which isn’t too much of an issue if you’re working at home at a desk and don’t disturb anybody else in the house. But, if you work in an environment where listening to music is acceptable but you still need to be vigilant for whatever risks may be there or managers may be wandering about, then bone-conduction headphones may be something you want to give some thought to.
This takes us full circle to discuss the top bone-conduction headphones available in 2023.
The best bone conduction headphone deals today:
- Aftershokz Air Bone Conduction Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Price Check: on Amazon
- Aftershokz Aeropex (Rebranded as Shokz OpenRun) Price Check: on Amazon
- Aftershokz Aeropex Mini (Rebranded as Shokz OpenRun Mini) Price Check: on Amazon
- Aftershokz Titanium Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones Price Check: on Amazon
Unfortunately, there are not quite as many alternatives available here as there are in other parts of the rapidly expanding market for the finest headphones. The same principle applies to selecting the best wireless headphones and the best wireless earbuds. In spite of this, the use of bone-conduction headphones makes perfect sense for certain audio needs.
Conclusion
The fact that nothing is inserted into your ear canal is an obvious advantage of bone conduction headphones, but the fact that you can continue to engage in activities that take place outside while still being able to hear everything that is going on around you is the real selling point of these headphones.
Also, as was previously said, the fact that the sound waves go via the bone rather than the eardrums is another factor that may make bone conduction phones a viable option for certain individuals who struggle with hearing impairments. In point of fact, the technique was first used in hearing aid designs in the early stages of the industry before headphone makers caught on to the notion. Relax and take in the beautiful scenery while listening to your favorite tunes.