Anyone here using bone conduction headsets?

[eyoungren]

Well, that's disappointing! By adding the air conduction feature they have managed to ruin these previously bone-conduction headphones for those of us who really need the pure bone conduction functionality. From what I've experienced so far the sound is very hollow and even when I have the volume cranked up it still isn't loud enough or the darned things shut off when all I'm trying to do is to adjust the volume. Very fiddly, the way they've got the controls set up. I was hoping that by now they would've improved that.

I am not sure that I actually was successful in going to the bone conduction-only function. I found some directions by Googling because the instruction manual that came with the headphones doesn't tell you how to do it. I fumbled around with the app for a while but didn't find an answer there, either. Can anybody who has more experience with these things give me some guidance on switching to the "classic" bone conduction function?

I also ran into some initial frustration with the app, as it seems that one can only install it on an iPhone or iPad? I don't use headphones with either of them, I use headphones only with my Mac and apparently there's no way to download and install the app in that machine? I did manage to download and install it on my iPad but didn't find answers to my questions.

Frustrated right now.....

So, here is the Shokz app on my iPhone 11 Pro Max running iOS 26.1…

As you can see I have the Classic EQ setting set. Doing that turns off the air conduction speakers entirely, making the headset once again fully bone conduction.

I do use my headset with my iPhone because there are some calls I want to hear clearly and the headset has a mic, so I can do other things while I'm on the phone.

For me, this is primarily the only benefit that having the app installed on my iPhone gives me. There are other uses, but I have my own way of doing things so I don't use the app for that. Perhaps, if you can stand it for just the moment of time it takes to connect your Shokz to an iPhone or iPad, then just set the Classic EQ and delete the app. Once it's set, it's set.

Lastly, the Aeropex has an EQ setting, but only two modes. To change the EQ you hold down the volume up and volume down buttons together for 3 seconds. If using the app to set the EQ mode on your Shokz is not going to happen, you might try that. I do not know if it will work as the ORP2 is a newer set. But perhaps worth a shot.

 

[Clix Pix]

Thank you, eyoungren!!!! I do have the app installed on my iPad so I guess I'll have to look again for the EQ modes setting. I must've overlooked it or didn't realize what I was seeing.

OK, that makes sense that of course I can pair the headphones with the iPad, too, and then do the setup from there rather than on my Mac. I was thinking I'd have to download and install the app on my Mac, but that's not going to happen since the app is only in the App Store for the iPad and iPhone. By that point I was getting too frustrated to even think clearly, and after that is when I put the headphones aside and went and did something else for a while.

What you described as doing the EQ setting on the Aeropex sounds like the process I tried to do, having seen that on Google, but you are probably right that the newer Mini Open Run Pro 2 doesn't work the same way.

Also I noticed when looking at your screenshot of your app page showing the relevant details that there is a setting about the volume being too low, too....Methinks I will experiment with that as well, as that may solve my problem with regard to increasing the volume.

Thank you! You've given me a glimmer of hope. It's getting late now but tomorrow I'll tackle this again and hopefully will have a better outcome.

 

[eyoungren]

Thank you, eyoungren!!!! I do have the app installed on my iPad so I guess I'll have to look again for the EQ modes setting. I must've overlooked it or didn't realize what I was seeing.

OK, that makes sense that of course I can pair the headphones with the iPad, too, and then do the setup from there rather than on my Mac. I was thinking I'd have to download and install the app on my Mac, but that's not going to happen since the app is only in the App Store for the iPad and iPhone. By that point I was getting too frustrated to even think clearly, and after that is when I put the headphones aside and went and did something else for a while.

What you described as doing the EQ setting on the Aeropex sounds like the process I tried to do, having seen that on Google, but you are probably right that the newer Mini Open Run Pro 2 doesn't work the same way.

Also I noticed when looking at your screenshot of your app page showing the relevant details that there is a setting about the volume being too low, too....Methinks I will experiment with that as well, as that may solve my problem with regard to increasing the volume.

Thank you! You've given me a glimmer of hope. It's getting late now but tomorrow I'll tackle this again and hopefully will have a better outcome.

The EQ settings are right there when you open the app. The key here though is to connect your headset to your device (via Bluetooth of course), THEN open the app.

You can also get to the EQ settings by tapping on the Settings gear on the top right. It will show a list of settings, one of which is the EQ modes.

Hope it all works out for you!

 

[Clix Pix]

AH......that's the other thing. I didn't have the headphones connected to the iPad. That simply had not occurred to me. OK, so I'll do that first thing! That probably accounts for why I had trouble with the app.

Thank you again! OK, so tomorrow I'll try and do things correctly and hope that it goes well and finally the headphones do what I want and expect!

 

[eyoungren]

AH......that's the other thing. I didn't have the headphones connected to the iPad. That simply had not occurred to me. OK, so I'll do that first thing! That probably accounts for why I had trouble with the app.

Thank you again! OK, so tomorrow I'll try and do things correctly and hope that it goes well and finally the headphones do what I want and expect!

Yeah, the app needs the BT connection to control the headset and issue instructions/commands to it as well as receive confirmation/communication from the headset about it's current status. The app also uses the BT connection to apply firmware updates too. So, I can totally see why this would frustrate the heck out of you if you weren't connected. It goes nowhere, does nothing in that case.

Good luck! I look forward to hearing back!

 

[Clix Pix]

It's snowing out there and is very, very cold, so it'll be a good day to stay inside and play with the headphones, see if I can get them working the way that will work for me! Many thanks for your posts, they've been very helpful!

 

[Bodhitree]

Unfortunately the Shokz were no good for my mother. I had reason to believe she had conductive hearing loss, but perhaps not. In any case it didn’t work out. Pity, but I knew it was a gamble.

Also, the Classic and Volume Boost EQ Modes do not appear in my Shokz app, running on iPhone 17 Pro with iOS 26.1 in the Netherlands sales region.

 

[eyoungren]

Also, the Classic and Volume Boost EQ Modes do not appear in my Shokz app, running on iPhone 17 Pro with iOS 26.1 in the Netherlands sales region.

My understanding is that (based on what I read elsewhere) these EQ settings appear if you use the United States as your region. No idea why they would not include that elsewhere, but you could try that and make the EQ change.

Sorry, they did not work for your mother.

 

[dwrufus53]

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

View attachment 2537117

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.

I quite like them, especially in an office environment. I can listen to music and still be able to hear when someone speaks to me. I've even used them with foam earplugs when flying. Excellent "noise cancellation" effect.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yeah, the app needs the BT connection to control the headset and issue instructions/commands to it as well as receive confirmation/communication from the headset about it's current status. The app also uses the BT connection to apply firmware updates too. So, I can totally see why this would frustrate the heck out of you if you weren't connected. It goes nowhere, does nothing in that case.

Good luck! I look forward to hearing back!

Finally I got around to working with the headphones today -- life kind of got in the way earlier and I wanted to set aside some time in case it took longer than I anticipated and also to listen to some of my favorite music with them.

First thing was pairing the headphones with the iPad, then going into the app and this time I saw the screen just as you displayed above, and tapped Classic Mode. Ah, what a difference that makes! THIS is what I had been wanting and expecting....

Now I am a happy camper! The sound quality is better than my old wired ones, which doesn't surprise me, and I am enjoying being able to walk around the house while still having the headphones on and music playing. The mini size fits better on my small head than the older ones do, and that's nice, too.

Again, eyoungren, thank you for your help in getting me on the right track!

 

[eyoungren]

Finally I got around to working with the headphones today -- life kind of got in the way earlier and I wanted to set aside some time in case it took longer than I anticipated and also to listen to some of my favorite music with them.

First thing was pairing the headphones with the iPad, then going into the app and this time I saw the screen just as you displayed above, and tapped Classic Mode. Ah, what a difference that makes! THIS is what I had been wanting and expecting....

Now I am a happy camper! The sound quality is better than my old wired ones, which doesn't surprise me, and I am enjoying being able to walk around the house while still having the headphones on and music playing. The mini size fits better on my small head than the older ones do, and that's nice, too.

Again, eyoungren, thank you for your help in getting me on the right track!

Glad it all worked out!

 

[beach bum]

Well, that's disappointing! By adding the air conduction feature they have managed to ruin these previously bone-conduction headphones for those of us who really need the pure bone conduction functionality. From what I've experienced so far the sound is very hollow and even when I have the volume cranked up it still isn't loud enough or the darned things shut off when all I'm trying to do is to adjust the volume. Very fiddly, the way they've got the controls set up. I was hoping that by now they would've improved that.

I am not sure that I actually was successful in going to the bone conduction-only function. I found some directions by Googling because the instruction manual that came with the headphones doesn't tell you how to do it. I fumbled around with the app for a while but didn't find an answer there, either. Can anybody who has more experience with these things give me some guidance on switching to the "classic" bone conduction function?

I also ran into some initial frustration with the app, as it seems that one can only install it on an iPhone or iPad? I don't use headphones with either of them, I use headphones only with my Mac and apparently there's no way to download and install the app in that machine? I did manage to download and install it on my iPad but didn't find answers to my questions.

Frustrated right now.....

Once you pair the Shokz with your iPad or iPhone. you can then pair to your Mac through the bluetooth settings. My only dislike is that you can only pair two devices so that it sort of works like the AirPods with automatic switching. I'm kicking myself that I didn't take advantage of the Black Friday sales but I already have 3 pairs and couldn't justify getting another.

 

[Clix Pix]

Once you pair the Shokz with your iPad or iPhone. you can then pair to your Mac through the bluetooth settings. My only dislike is that you can only pair two devices so that it sort of works like the AirPods with automatic switching. I'm kicking myself that I didn't take advantage of the Black Friday sales but I already have 3 pairs and couldn't justify getting another.

Thanks! Actually, I had started out with pairing the new Shokz to my Mac, since that was how I use my headphones rather than with either the iPhone or iPad. That's when I got tripped up with the app and eventually became very frustrated. Eyoungren helped me out on here and I am so pleased that now the headphones work the way I need and want. Many of the earlier issues were due to user error and increasing frustration. All is well now, though, I'm happy to say!!

Ah, I had wondered about pairing two or more devices simultaneously. Is that what the multi-something or other feature pertains to? I noticed that category in the app but didn't investigate further. I have never used AirPods nor automatic switching and primarily intend to use the new headphones with just my Mac rather than either my iPhone or iPad.

Yep, the new headphones are an early Christmas gift to myself; I'd been eyeing them for a few months but other priorities took precedence and I wasn't sure if this somewhat changed version would work out for me or not so I kept procrastinating. Really the only way to find out for sure was, yep, to buy a pair and use them. When I saw the lower price during the Black Friday sales I thought, "OK, this is the time to do it!"

 

[beach bum]

Thanks! Actually, I had started out with pairing the new Shokz to my Mac, since that was how I use my headphones rather than with either the iPhone or iPad. That's when I got tripped up with the app and eventually became very frustrated. Eyoungren helped me out on here and I am so pleased that now the headphones work the way I need and want. Many of the earlier issues were due to user error and increasing frustration. All is well now, though, I'm happy to say!!

Ah, I had wondered about pairing two or more devices simultaneously. Is that what the multi-something or other feature pertains to? I noticed that category in the app but didn't investigate further. I have never used AirPods nor automatic switching and primarily intend to use the new headphones with just my Mac rather than either my iPhone or iPad.

Yep, the new headphones are an early Christmas gift to myself; I'd been eyeing them for a few months but other priorities took precedence and I wasn't sure if this somewhat changed version would work out for me or not so I kept procrastinating. Really the only way to find out for sure was, yep, to buy a pair and use them. When I saw the lower price during the Black Friday sales I thought, "OK, this is the time to do it!"

Great, I'm happy that you were able to get everything figured out. I've learned a few tips from @eyoungren as well and will play around with the settings to see what works best with how I use the Shokz.

Yes, that is what the multi-pairing means but with only 2 devices. If Shokz ever comes out with a set that allows for 3 multi-pairing devices, that would be an instant buy for me. I treated my cousin to a pair last year for Christmas and she loves it.

 

[eyoungren]

Ah, I had wondered about pairing two or more devices simultaneously. Is that what the multi-something or other feature pertains to? I noticed that category in the app but didn't investigate further. I have never used AirPods nor automatic switching and primarily intend to use the new headphones with just my Mac rather than either my iPhone or iPad.

Yes, that is what the multi-pairing means but with only 2 devices. If Shokz ever comes out with a set that allows for 3 multi-pairing devices, that would be an instant buy for me. I treated my cousin to a pair last year for Christmas and she loves it.

It's a nice feature when it works. You're paired simultaneously to more than one device and by pressing the multi-function button on the headset you can switch back and forth between the devices.

Unfortunately for me, it's not anything I've been quite able to get to function smoothly. However, the last time I tried, it was with my Aeropex. I have not tried with my Openrun Pro 2. Might have to give that a shot again.

 

[Clix Pix]

OK, that multi-pairing is something I know I'll probably never use. At least now I know what it is!

Had a lovely couple of hours listening to some of my favorite music in my iTunes library.... Just hip-hopped around at random, and often one song would remind me of another and I'd play that one next. Been a while since I've had one of these "music evenings...."