Much like the rest of the tech world, headphones are constantly evolving. Aside from the bog standard headphones or in-ear buds, Bone Conduction earbuds have been catching up and are introducing a new way for us to enjoy our music.
One of the leading brands in this venture is none other than Shokz (formerly known as “Aftershokz”). Ever since the debut of its first-ever bone conduction headphones, Shokz has amassed a cult following among everyone from average music lovers to fitness junkies. So we decided to check out what all the buzz is about with Shokz’s latest model, the OpenRun Pro2. Boasting new hardware for an improved music experience compared to its predecessor, does this new breed of headphones have what it takes to dethrone the tried-and-true method of enjoying music? Let’s find out.
For those who are unfamiliar with these kinds of headphones and how they operate – bone conduction is a unique subcategory of headphones that vibrates the bones in the sides of your head in order to deliver premium music quality that does not block your ears. This results in a listening experience that does not compromise your hearing so you can pay attention to your surroundings.
It may seem trivial, but it fills an incredibly important niche. These types of buds are a godsend for runners and cyclists who would like to listen to music but don’t want to be one with the pavement or gym staff that need to help out fellow gym-goers at a moment’s notice.
What makes the Shokz OpenRun Pro2 so different, however, is the new Dual Pitch Technology that adds an air conduction speaker that blasts music directly into your ears. This addition not only adds some much-needed volume to the buds, but also a wider range of sound — the headphones finally have some bass.
Despite this upgrade, it can still deliver 12 continuous hours of music, so you wouldn’t have to charge it so frequently. Not only that – when you do have to charge, all you need is five minutes, which is enough to buy you 2.5 hours of use.
The entire unit is made out of a high-strength material with a soft silicon finish that almost disappears at the side of your head while you’re concentrating on your workout. Naturally, since these headphones are geared towards exercise and the like, they have been specifically engineered to withstand sweat and dust, with an IP55 certification to back it up. If you don’t feel like listening to music, you are given a carrying case with a special pocket for the charging cable.
With all that said, how do these headphones fair? For starters, the Shokz OpenRun Pro2 achieved what it set out to do, and that is to give us an exceptional, completely open set of earpieces that is perfect for everyday use.
Though there are no ear cups or a proper seal to keep the music in, this bone-conducting earpiece is able to deliver clean and crisp audio straight into your ears. It is something you’d notice while sitting alone in a quiet room or simply walking down a street without much traffic. Songs with a lot of mids and high notes are especially sparkly with this headset. Bass is noticeably lacking, but the fact that there is some bass compared to the last generation is still an amazing improvement.
One of the best and most unforeseen benefits of the Shokz OpenRun Pro2 is its form factor. Because of its slim body, if your hair is sufficiently long enough, you can actually hide the buds and listen to them incognito, depending on your hair colour. And once you’re done, the magnet found at the end of the band helps to keep everything shut. This may be a hidden feature that prevents the band from being overstretched so that it can still nicely hug your head. If not, it is still a novel way to keep the headphones together.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro2 is easily the gymrat’s best friend. However, it is a commuter’s worst enemy. If you’re out and about on the road, then you can enjoy this audio gear without a problem. However, put it in a train or a bus, and the sound quality will immediately tank as you’re more likely to hear the car hitting the brakes rather than your own music. Furthermore, being a truly open pair of audio gear, someone can actually listen in on what you’re listening to.
It’s not for everyone, obviously, but there is still merit in using the Shokz OpenRun Pro2, especially if you are an avid gym goer or marathon runner. It might scare off some people due in large part to its RM899 price tag, but it is still an impressive piece of hardware. It isn’t audiophile equipment, nor does it try to be, but it fills a niche that people have been clamouring for, and it does so admirably. If you are or are about to join that group of people, then you might want to look into this audio piece, as the engineering and audio quality are still exceptional despite its flaws.
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