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What sounds like magic at first, makes perfect sense for cyclists at second glance: sound transmission via bones. With the familiar headband and in-ear headphones, a loudspeaker closes the auricle and transmits music with sound waves into the air space between the headphones and the ear canal. It is not without reason that the use of these headphones is not permitted by law in road traffic. Auditory stimuli are too important for the perception of the environment and thus the timely registration of dangers.
As their name suggests, bone conduction headphones transmit sound through the skin directly to the bones of the head. So-called transducers sit in front of the actual ear and transmit the vibrations to the temporal bone. The sound then reaches the inner ear and can be heard as music. This means that the sound is not directed to the ears, but next to them. The advantages of a clear ear canal are obvious: external noises can also be heard with headphones, the wearer remains responsive and there is no pressure in the ear - particularly good for bikers with sensitive ear canals. Cyclists may legally wear bone conduction headphones in road traffic.
Shokz Openrun Pro bone-sound headphones in test
1. manufacturer information
- Price: 189,95 Euro >> available at Shokz
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Available in four colours
- Quick charge function
- Dust and moisture-proof to IP55
- Two-year guarantee
2. setup of the Shokz headphones
Embedded in an elegant box, the Shokz Openrun Pro sports headphones look high-tech as soon as they are unpacked. The headphones are charged via a cable with a magnetic connection. Thanks to the quick-charging function, the manufacturer promises a 60 per cent charge in 20 minutes. It should take 30 minutes to charge the battery to 90 per cent and, according to Shokz, a five-minute charge should be enough for one and a half hours of music playback. That's about right when new.
The Openrun Pro sports headphones fit your ear like a glove. After just a few minutes, you will forget that you are wearing a small technological marvel on your head. The headband, which runs behind the head and keeps the weight of the system low thanks to the use of titanium, ensures a good fit. Good for spontaneous headbanging interludes: the Shokz headphones stay reliably in position even when your head is jerking violently to the wildest rock songs. There are two small switches behind the right ear that can be used to adjust the volume and switch on the headphones. There is a button on the transducer in front of the left ear that can be used to pause playback quickly and easily - practical!
In keeping with the state of the art, the Shokz Openrun Pro does away with annoying cables. A flashing LED indicates that a Bluetooth 5.1 signal is being transmitted. This is also quickly and reliably recognised by the smartphone - great! The high-quality workmanship and easy handling make the Shokz headphones fun to use right from the start. Play the music and off you go.
But not without protection! The neck strap doesn't even get in the way of low-slung enduro helmets. The initial concerns about compatibility with cycling goggles were also resolved. We tried out the bone conduction headphones together with various helmet/goggle combinations and didn't encounter any problems. Although it does get tight over the ears with a large helmet, goggles, headphones and lots of hair, there was no feeling of pressure. However, you have to sort things out: First headphones, then glasses, then helmet? In principle, yes, but with narrow heads and some helmets, the straps can press on the headphones. As the temples of the Shokz are thin and rubberised over the ear cups, the temples of the glasses still sit securely on the head.
3. how the bone conduction headphones feel
The first sound impression: Fascinating! Due to the parallel perception of ambient noise and music, music sounds completely different through the bone-sound headphones than through conventional speakers. The new sound sensation is exciting, but takes some getting used to. Although sounds from the environment and music reach the auditory organ at the same time, an evenly distributed concentration on both groups of stimuli does not really work. If you make an effort, you can "feel" the vibrations of the transducers. For the first few minutes, you will notice a slight tickling sensation on your temples. After a short time, however, this is forgotten and in most situations is not noticeable at all.
Conversations are no problem thanks to the free ear cups, but require the brain to switch its focus from the music to the other person. In addition, your own voice sounds different to the wearer of the Openrun Pro than usual - even for passionate singers it takes some getting used to. Even telephony is possible with the Shokz. A built-in microphone not only transmits the voice, but also suppresses the wearer's ambient noise. This works well to a certain extent. However, the sound on the other person's phone is somewhat tinny.
What is immediately noticeable, however, is the high audio quality when playing back speech, such as podcasts or song lyrics. This works brilliantly, for example, with turn-by-turn directions from navigation apps such as Komoot or Google Maps. At the same time, the perceived music quality is noticeably lower than that of headband or in-ear headphones. Highs and lows, drums and bass don't sound quite as full as usual. Although Shokz uses the ninth generation of its "TurboPitchTM" bone sound technology and two bass amplifiers, the headphones have a system-related disadvantage: the skull bone only resonates in a certain frequency range. The Shokz can play out a wider range, but the bone does not transmit every little detail of the music. No question: the general sound quality is good, but the lack of frequency bandwidth is noticeable even to laypeople who listen closely and is probably a no-go for music fetishists.
Headphones for 190 euros should also be suitable for everyday use off the bike. If you roll up to the supermarket with the bone-sound headphones, you can simply leave them on while shopping. Thanks to the open ears, the tunnel feeling of shielding is eliminated. Good: Whether from the cashier or the trainer at the gym - with the Shokz you can always be approached. Bad: When the radio is playing in the mukli booth and Justin Bieber mixes with Raise Against in your inner ear. The neck strap also gets in the way of leg presses with a headrest.
4. how the Shokz headphones work while driving
Once you get on the bike and start rolling, the music quality fades into the background. The fact that the ear perceives both the song being played and the sounds of the environment at the same time probably elicits a grin from every first-time user. In reality, however, perception takes place in parallel - in other words, if you are concentrating on the music, you can hear an approaching car and still be surprised by it. Particularly in crowded areas, the brain is not able to take in all sounds at the same time. For example, it is difficult to tell exactly from which direction a siren is approaching. However, these sounds are undoubtedly recognised much earlier and overall safety in road traffic is significantly higher than with standard headphones. A little practice and training could also help with the simultaneous processing of many stimuli.
When riding fast, for example downhill on a gravel bike, the bone-sound headphones play a real trump card. Anyone who thinks that the wind noise is more disturbing due to the exposed ear is mistaken. On the contrary: while in-ear headphones make a lot of noise in strong winds, the vibrations on the bone and therefore the music remain unaffected.
The Openrun Pro proved to be particularly ingenious on the trail. Listening to music and still being able to perceive nature, hear birds chirping and streams gurgling is a real aha-experience. In particular, the sound of a high-quality rear hub, the sound of rolling tyres and the work of a well-adjusted suspension system combined with music really put you in a good mood. But what is this unfamiliar sound? It's been a long time since I've heard myself puffing away on a bike! With the bone-sound headphones, even Wolfmother can't drown out your own breathlessness. You can also hear a dry chain, creaking pedals or the buzzing e-bike motor. So it's better to take good care of your bike!
5. conclusion on the Shokz Openrun headphones
Who the Shokz Openrun Pro bone conduction headphones* Once you've tried them, you probably won't want to be without them when cycling. Free ears make music, nature and the workings of your own bike audible at the same time as your favourite song - a great sensory experience! The exception is audiophile bikers. They won't be convinced by the sound quality. The fact that in-ear headphones are now available for less than 10 euros also makes it difficult to decide in favour of the 19 times more expensive Openrun Pro. On the other hand, there is increased safety thanks to better hazard perception, top workmanship and handling that is fun. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
Looking for the best music for mountain biking? On the BIKE Magazine Spotify account we present the personal playlists of stars such as Nino Schurter, Hans Rey, Dangerholm and BIKE editor-in-chief Henri Lesewitz.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
