Anyone here using bone conduction headsets?

[eyoungren]

I've been using the Aftershokz brand (now just called Shokz) for four years, specifically the Aeropex.



I prefer bone conduction for a few reasons:

1. I really don't like putting buds in my ears. I have Psoriasis and my body generates a lot of oil. The combination, plus sweat, can leave a nasty mess of oily skin flakes stuck to earbuds when I pull them out.

2. I can't hear (mostly) anyone else when wearing earbuds/headsets.

3. Using earbuds becomes uncomfortable after a while. The insides of my ears start to hurt.

4. I have a lot of earrings. Wearing headphones compresses those earrings against my head, making long term use uncomfortable. I also, really do not like that they press against the side of my head. Sometimes, it's like voluntarily wearing a vise.

5. The Psoriasis in my ears can interfere with hearing and I often have to turn earbuds/headset volume up.

Bone conduction eliminates all of this. They hang from my ears and deliver sound directly. Nothing in my ears or against them. Which also means I can still use my ears to hear.

My AS Aeropex are Bluetooth and they work natively with my iPhones/Macs. I can pause, play, skip, hold calls, answer calls, etc with a side button. Since getting them four years ago it's now the only thing I will use. The rest of my family uses them too.

Anyone else here use them, or have thought about trying a bone conduction headset? I was thinking maybe we could use this thread for discussion.

 

[Michael0816]

I tried one a few years ago and the sound quality was quite lacking. But maybe they got better? 🤷‍♂️

 

[eyoungren]

I tried one a few years ago and the sound quality was quite lacking. But maybe they got better? 🤷‍♂️

Well, mine is from 2021 and I got the top model. I can't tell if the quality is bad or not, but it is immersive. Meaning, I get (IMO) better 'surround, spatial' sound then I would with conventional buds or headsets. That's just true to me, my own experience. I am not saying that this is a quality of the headset that everyone will experience.

And Shokz now has the OpenRun and OpenRun Pro, the Pro being the newer version that replaced my Aeropex.

But, keep in mind I am not an audiophile. Some people can detect music that has been compressed and lossy. That isn't me. When it comes to sound, I'm like Folgers to Starbucks. OTOH, if I were to be doing some serious listening with an intent to be fully engaged I would not be using bone conduction.

 

[Clix Pix]

I have used bone-conduction headphones for years now, ever since Shokz first came out with them. I am part of the somewhat small cohort of people with moderate-to-severe conductive hearing loss who actually were the initial target audience for them in the beginning. I also wear bone conduction sound processors (BAHAs) for everyday use. Since I have bilateral conductive hearing loss, these Shokz bone conduction headphones are perfect for my needs. I don't use them for sports activities, or running or jogging, though; not my thing!

Actually, because I am aware that the sound does "leak" from them and that other people can hear whatever I'm listening to (because I also have the volume cranked up more than normal-hearing people would), I don't wear them outside even on walks. I pretty much use them solely around home and they are great for hearing the sound in videos, or for watching and listening to movies, and of course enjoying my iTunes library of music.

 

[eyoungren]

I have used bone-conduction headphones for years now, ever since Shokz first came out with them. I am part of the somewhat small cohort of people who actually were the initial target audience for them in the beginning. Since I have bilateral conductive hearing loss, these things are perfect for my needs. I don't use these headphones for sports activities, or running or jogging, though; not my thing!

Actually, because I am aware that the sound does "leak" from them and that other people can hear whatever I'm listening to (because I also have the volume cranked up more than normal-hearing people would), I don't wear them outside even on walks. I pretty much use them solely around home and they are great for hearing the sound in videos, or for watching and listening to movies, and of course enjoying my iTunes library of music.

I'm starting to see more and more people use them and I just think it's a neat idea. Because you can still hear regularly. I don't listen as loud as you do and they do go with me on walks. Since I live in a suburban community it allows me to listen to my music, but still be aware of cars and other things.

But primarily they serve as my main computers speakers for me. The main computer is in the living room and there were 'complaints' about my volume settings (with regular speakers).

I won't go back to regular headsets.

 

[Richard8655]

There are waterproof swimming versions popular with some lap swimmers. It gets a little boring going back and forth, and this seems to help keep the mind occupied with entertainment or motivating music. Not something I'd do, though. But seems like an interesting solution for them.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Ive never tried them although my neighbor who is a contractor & custom cabinet maker uses them all the time. I would like to give them a try because I also suffer from hearing loss, some of which I was born with and some self-inflicted so if they can do what I need without the ear fatigue of buds or even over-ears, that would be really nice.

being that I am a lifelong musician, fidelity is very important to me, so anticipating any pitfalls, sound quality could bug me potentially, but I could easily work around that with my over-ears and then use the bone conducting units for when Im out and about - I dont care too much that those conversations can be heard. I mean most of those are comprised of: "Hi love, want me to scoop the kids on the way home? Hi love, need me to pick anything up on the way home? Hi love, not feeling like cooking? No worries, I'll scoop something for the kids." - or the reverse of that of course lol.

Nothing private or juicy going on there

 

[eyoungren]

Ive never tried them although my neighbor who is a contractor & custom cabinet maker uses them all the time. I would like to give them a try because I also suffer from hearing loss, some of which I was born with and some self-inflicted so if they can do what I need without the ear fatigue of buds or even over-ears, that would be really nice.

being that I am a lifelong musician, fidelity is very important to me, so anticipating any pitfalls, sound quality could bug me potentially, but I could easily work around that with my over-ears and then use the bone conducting units for when Im out and about - I dont care too much that those conversations can be heard. I mean most of those are comprised of: "Hi love, want me to scoop the kids on the way home? Hi love, need me to pick anything up on the way home? Hi love, not feeling like cooking? No worries, I'll scoop something for the kids." - or the reverse of that of course lol.

Nothing private or juicy going on there

Shokz (previously Aftershokz) is pretty much the Apple of this sort of thing. I'd try them. Their top of the line Open Run Pro costs around $180. But you can find NIB Aeropex (the previous top of the line) on eBay for a lot less.

As far as overhearing, someone would have to actually be cheek to cheek with you and your volume full blast to really hear. At full volume, the headset is kind of pounding your skull so that would become physically unpleasant before you started to think about anyone overhearing.

Shokz brand is fully compatible with Apple stuff and the headsets all come with a mic so you can use them to talk on the phone. Had to tell my wife that. She kept bringing her phone up to talk when she had them connected. 😁

PS. For anyone who may be thinking this is a schill thread for Shokz, no. I just like the brand. But any good quality headset works too.