Best Headphones to Match Your Phone: Bone Conduction Headphones
Jul 12,2023 | David
Because of working online, watching videos, listening to music and other hobbies, people seem to have more opportunities to use smartphones(such as iPhones and Android phones)with headphones on. Wearing comfortable headphones will make your work or listening to music more comfortable, while traditional headphones may cause pain in your ears after wearing them for a long time. So, are there any headphones that don't tire your ears after using them for a long time? Can you consider bone conduction headphones? In this article, we'll explain how bone conduction headphones work, their benefits, and how to choose one.
What are bone conduction headphones?
Do you know "bone conduction headphones"? Common headphones such as "ear canal type" and "inner ear type" are headphones that transmit sound by vibrating the eardrum by inserting the headphone into the ear hole. Bone conduction headphones, on the other hand, transmit sound by vibrating bone and cartilage instead of the eardrum. So you can hear without blocking your ear canal.
Bone conduction technology is also used in hearing aids to help people with damaged eardrums hear, and they are also used in places with high ambient noise, such as communication on construction sites or battlefields.
Advantages of bone conduction headphones
Of course, as a Bluetooth device, the bone conduction headphone can also be connected to a smartphone. So the sound mechanism of bone conduction headphones is different from that of ordinary headphones. What are the benefits?
1. Hear the sounds around you
One of the great things about bone conduction headphones is that they don't cover your ears. You can listen to the music and voices streaming from the headphones while listening to the ambient sounds around you, which will bring you greater security. For example, even if you are listening to music while running, you can hear the traffic around you.
2. The ears are not easy to fatigue and can be used for a long time
Instead of blocking the ear canal, bone conduction headphones transmit vibrations from the temples and cartilage of the ear. Bone conduction is originally a mechanism for the human body to listen to the sound, so they have a relatively small burden on the ears. Even if you wear them and listen to music for a long time, it is not easy to get tired.
In addition, since the bone conduction headphones do not need to be inserted into the ear canal, it is not easy to feel the pressure or pain of the ear canal even if it is worn for a long time.
3. Does not hurt the eardrum
The sounds we usually hear are called "air conduction sounds", and they are transmitted through the air. Ordinary headphones use this air conduction sound to transmit sound. Air-conducted sound must pass through the eardrum. Therefore, if you listen at a high volume for a long time, it may damage the eardrum, and even cause complete damage to the eardrum and loss of hearing.
However, bone conduction headphones hear the sound without going through the eardrum, so you don't have to worry about damaging it while wearing them.
Scenarios where bone conduction headphones are recommended
How convenient are bone conduction headphones to use? Here are three examples of using them on your smartphone.
1. Telecommuting
For people who wear headphones for online meetings or calls for a long time, if the type of headphones is not suitable for the size and shape of the ear canal, it is likely to hurt the ears.
Bone conduction headphones that are not inserted into the ears are generally ear-hanging designs, which can be used only by hanging behind the ears. At the same time, they can also fit different sizes of head circumferences by adjusting the headphone body, which allows them to reduce the burden on the ears when wearing them, allowing you to work remotely comfortably. Plus, since they capture ambient sounds, they let you telecommute from home without missing the calling of your family and house doorbell.
2. Outdoor sports
Many people want to listen to music during outdoor activities such as running or walking. However, when listening to music, it is difficult to notice the sound of approaching cars and bicycles, which can cause delays in handling unexpected situations, and thus create danger.
With bone conduction headphones, while enjoying the music, you can also hear the ambient sound through your ears, which can help you reducing unexpected situations during outdoor sports.
3. Compatible with social scenes
Bone conduction headphones don't cover your ears, and you can communicate with those around you smoothly after wearing them. It doesn't matter if your family calls while you are watching a video. They're handy when you're at work and need to have an online meeting while talking face-to-face with other colleagues, or when you're listening to music with someone else, you don't need to take the headphones off to continue the conversation right away.
However, Some people think it's impolite to speak while wearing headphones, so it's best to ask permission before using them in public.
How to choose bone conduction headphones
With so many types of bone conduction headphones on the market, some people may worry about not knowing which one to choose. What defines a good headphone varies from person to person, but here are a few key points to consider when choosing one.
1. Wired or wireless
Depending on your usage, you can choose between a wired connection headphone that uses a cable to connect to your smartphone or a wireless connection headphone such as Bluetooth.
Wired headphones don't require charging, aren't limited by battery power, and because they're physically connected, there's no audio lag. This kind of headphone is very suitable for people who often play music games, video clips, and other operations. In addition, since wired headphones are always connected to the phone, they are less likely to be lost than wireless headphones, which is a hidden advantage.
Wireless headphones do not require cable connections, and the usage scenarios will be expanded a lot. Even when using them for sports such as running, there are no problems with cables getting in the way. Their downside is that the capacity of the battery affects usage time.
2. Wearing experience
Bone conduction headphones are not worn in the same way as normal headphones.You'd better check whether they are suitable before you buy them.Bone conduction headphones are usually worn near the temples, so it is very important to fit them.Those headphones whose frame can be adjusted are better. At the same time, you should also look at the surface material,it is best to choose headphones with soft and skin-friendly surface materials.
3. Is there a microphone
If you have a lot of opportunities to speak with your headphones, such as online meetings and phone calls, it is recommended that you use a bone conduction headphone with a microphone. Bone conduction headphones with a microphone, and better sound reception, can also be used in noisy workplaces.
4. Water resistance
If you want to use headphones for sports such as running, you can consider choosing bone conduction headphones with a high waterproof rating. The bone conduction headphones with waterproof function can be used with confidence even if they are exposed to a little rain or sweat during exercise. Some headphones with a high waterproof rating can even be completely washed.
If you are looking for bone conduction headphones with high water resistance, such as water resistance, dust resistance, and resistance to ingress of solid objects, then it is a good idea to choose headphones with the IP logo. The IP code is a standard indicating the degree of dustproof and waterproof functions of electrical equipment. The number behind the IP mark determines the degree of waterproofing. The higher the number, the better the waterproofness.
5. Sound quality
Some people want to enjoy high-quality music, so they may pay more attention to sound quality when choosing headphones. You can check the product details on the homepage of each manufacturer. Generally, the size of the sound unit is large, and the bone conduction headphones with good algorithm optimization will have better sound quality performance.
It should be noted that the sound quality of bone conduction headphones is not as good as that of traditional noise-canceling headphones, although many technically strong brands have made a lot of effort. Take this reality into account when you judge sound quality.
Best Bone Conduction Headphones Recommendations
1. Wissonly Hi Runner Bone Conduction Headphones
Wissonly is the fastest-growing brand in the past six months. Their team is a technical expert in the field of bone conduction headphones. As early as 10 years ago, it began to develop bone conduction headphones that do not hurt the ears. With the excellent bone conduction vibration unit optimization scheme, it has been recommended by many ear doctors and has been recommended by many YouTuber.
Wissonly is a wireless bone conduction headphone with Bluetooth and MP3 modes. You can use the Bluetooth mode when you are in a place with a Bluetooth signal, and you can use the MP3 mode in places where it is not convenient to carry a mobile phone such as underwater sports. They are also very powerful in MP3 mode. They have 32G built-in memory and can store 5000 songs. Their battery life is strong, and they can listen to music for 10 hours, which makes up for the disadvantages of wireless headphones.
In terms of comfort, the overall frame of the Wissonly Hi Runner is made of adjustable aviation-grade titanium steel, which can adapt to different sizes of head circumference and ensure the stability of wearing. The surface of their headphones is made of high-tech hypoallergenic silicone material, which does not contain chemical ingredients to avoid allergies. The overall touch of the headphones is as silky as a baby's skin, which avoids uncomfortable situations when worn for a long time. And they are very light, less than 30g, and they will not feel heavy when worn.
As the flagship model of Wissonly bone conduction headphones, Wissonly Hi Runner has an IPX8 waterproof rating higher than the industry standard, which allows them to work normally when the wearer is swimming or diving.
Due to the special technical principle of bone conduction headphones, it is more difficult to improve the sound quality. The Wissonly Hi Runner subverts the traditional sound quality solution and uses a large wire-frame vibration unit as a breakthrough. Through structural optimization, the effective vibration area is increased, so that the sound has a good performance in both treble and bass.
It should be noted that the microphone of Wissonly Hi Runner is a hidden microphone, which may not be suitable for scenarios that require an external microphone.
In terms of price, other brands of products with the same performance cost more than $150, but Wissonly Hi Runner only costs $99.99.
2. Philips 7607 Bone Conduction Headphones
These are also wireless bone conduction headphones. The difference is that they only have Bluetooth mode and no MP3 playback mode. They also have no built-in memory. In terms of stability and comfort of wearing, they performed well. They are very light in weight, only less than 30g, and they will not feel heavy when worn. Their waterproof rating is IPX7, which is waterproof and sweatproof in daily wear. They can also cope with sudden rain in a short time, but if they are exposed to rain for a long time, they may not work properly. In terms of sound quality, they perform well, using a large-scale sound unit of 17mm, which makes their low-frequency sound more delicate, and the mid-high frequency sound quality is clearer and less harsh.
They have a thoughtful design – an LED night running light. When you wear them at night, passing vehicles can sense your position, which makes night running safer.
Their core performance such as sound quality is good, but other performance and cost-effective are average.
3. Haylou Purfree Bone Conduction Headphones
They have a good wearing experience and are very light, only 28g. They use an open design, very safe and hygienic. Moreover, not in the ear protects the health of the ear canal,and at the same time can hear other people's outside conversations. They use a silicone surface and a titanium wire skeleton, so they can be bent at will, which makes wearing more stable.
They support IP67 waterproof, except after sweating during exercise, you can wash them with water without fear of damage. And their charging interface adopts anti-seepage magnetic charging, so you don't have to worry about water entering the charging interface. Note that they cannot be used while swimming.
They are wireless bone conduction headphones that only support Bluetooth mode. And they have a little sound leakage, which may be a shortcoming of them.
4. Shokz Openswim Bone Conduction Headphones
As the name suggests, 4. Shokz Openswim is a wireless bone conduction headphone that can be used while swimming. They are waterproof up to IPX8. They support MP3 mode, but their built-in storage is only 4G, which is a little smaller. Their battery life is good, reaching 8 hours, which can meet the needs of a day's exercise.
Their frames are made of titanium alloy and have a one-piece design. Tough and durable, it can be worn firmly and fits the ear, which enhances the stability of wearing.
The sound source part of them adopts a strip-shaped structure design, the surface area of the speaker is larger, and the sound transmission efficiency is higher, thereby ensuring better sound quality.
However, this headphone does not support Bluetooth and call functions. It has fewer functions and fewer applicable scenarios. The overall cost performance is not high.
5. Naenka Runner Chic Bone Conduction Headphones
The frame of the Runner Chic wireless bone conduction headphone is made of titanium alloy, and the body weighs 28g. They have a high fit, low weight, and a good overall wearing experience. Sound quality and leakage are better than their predecessors but still need more improvement.
The waterproof level is only IPX5. It is no problem to sweat during exercise or to be exposed to rain for a short time, but it cannot be washed or used while swimming.
This headphone has average capabilities, nothing particularly outstanding, and no particularly obvious shortcomings. As entry-level bone conduction headphones, they still qualify.
6. Moing Bone Conduction Headphones
Moing bone conduction headphone is a wireless headphone that supports Bluetooth mode and MP3 mode, and supports Bluetooth 5.0 protocol. The stability of their Bluetooth connection is good, with 8G built-in storage, which can independently store about 2000 songs.
They support life-grade waterproofing. Sweating during exercise can work normally, but it can't be used in rain, washing, swimming, etc.
Their battery life reaches 10 hours, even if you do outdoor sports all day, you don't have to worry about the problem of low battery power. They are not in the ear design so the ear feels more comfortable. However, there are still some problems with sound quality and sound leakage. If your budget is not sufficient, you can consider this headphone.
7. Earsopen Peace TW-1 Bone Conduction Headphones
Earsopen PEACE TW-1 bone conduction headphone is a kind of clip-ear headphone. When wearing it, you only need to clamp the pinna or earlobe as if you were wearing earrings. They're lightweight, weighing just 8g each (there are two of them in total). However, due to the way of wearing it, after wearing it for a long time, the auricle will feel a little uncomfortable.
At the same time, they also support IPX7 waterproof performance, so you can use them with peace of mind when traveling on rainy days or running, without fear of sweat and rain erosion.
The sound quality is average, with a little sound leakage, but as an innovative style in the bone conduction category, it is also worth considering.
8. Vidonn F3 Bone Conduction Headphones
The weight of Vidonn F3 bone conduction headphones is only 29g, and there is no discomfort when you using it, whether it is hanging on the neck or hanging on the ear for a long time. The ear-hanging arm of the bone conduction vibrator is on the outside, leaving space for the glasses legs to pass through, which solves the embarrassing situation of not being able to wear glasses when wearing headphones.
Their waterproof level is not high, and they only support ordinary life waterproofing. Sports sweating works fine, other scenarios don't.
This is an entry-level product. It is difficult for you to expect great performance in sound quality and leak-proof sound, but it is enough for daily use.
Summary
Bone conduction headphones hear the sound by vibrating the bones around the ear, and bone conduction headphones transmit sound by vibrating bone and cartilage instead of the eardrum, so you can hear without blocking your ear canal. This unique principle of sound transmission has brought many benefits, for example, they are very healthy, safe, and hygienic headphones, which is why they have become popular.
You can choose the right headphone according to your needs and budget. If you have a small budget but have requirements for sound quality, sound leakage reduction, waterproofing and other performance, you can choose Wissonly Hi Runner. They are good-performance and cost-effective products.