Are bone conduction headphones still worth buying? In recent years, bone-conduction headphones have become an increasingly common audio accessory. In contrast to headphones with external or in-ear speakers, headphones with bone conduction technology employ tiny transducers that vibrate against the skull to transmit sound to the inner ear. Is it still a good idea to get these headphones, though? Let’s examine the fundamentals of bone conduction, weigh the benefits and drawbacks, and then draw some conclusions.
As compared to regular headphones, bone conduction models are superior in terms of comfort, wear time, communication, and awareness of one’s surroundings. This compromises sound quality and any potential for masking outside noise.
Bone-conduction headphones promise that you can listen to music without isolating yourself from the world. As a result, they were perfect for the office or the gym, but now that headphones include passthrough capabilities, do they still have any uses? Please tell me whether it’s true that bone-conduction headphones are still a good investment. continue reading.
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The Basics of Bone Conduction
Bone conduction technology has been around for quite some time, dating back to the 18th century when it was first discovered that sound could be transmitted through bone. In the 1970s, bone conduction headphones were developed for use in the military and have since been adapted for consumer use.
Bone conduction headphones work by transmitting vibrations through the bones of the skull, bypassing the outer and middle ear and directly stimulating the inner ear. This makes them an ideal choice for people with hearing impairments or those who want to listen to music while still being aware of their surroundings.
Bone conduction headphones are priced similarly to wireless buds that allow sounds to flow through. This means you can’t listen to music on your phone while also hearing the sounds of your environment.
Inadequate Passthrough Modes for Closed-Back Headphones
Regular headphones typically cover or fill the ear canal; therefore, some models have a passthrough capability, often called transparency mode, to allow ambient noise in. Best Headphones with passthrough functionality use external microphones to transmit sound to the user’s ears through the headphones’ internal drivers. The quality of this function, as you would expect, differs among various headphones.
A pair of Apple AirPods Max with passthrough audio is almost indistinguishable from listening without headphones. Although the passthrough quality on a set of Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is adequate for short periods, you won’t want to listen to the outside world through them for long. There is no way for sound to escape while using bone-conduction headphones. Without the aid of headphones, your hearing is unaltered.
Bone conduction is more comfortable and durable over time.
Earbuds, on-ear headphones, and over-the-ear headphones all have the same problem: they become unpleasant after prolonged use. Headphones have a breaking point, whether it’s due to your ears overheating and sweating or the headphones pressing on the inside or sides of your head.
Bone conduction headphones are different from regular headphones since they don’t fit in your ears and don’t clamp down on your ears. This makes them more comfortable to wear for extended periods, like in the workplace all day. It also helps individuals feel at ease while engaging in strenuous physical activity. And, unlike wireless headphones, they won’t fall out of your ears!
Bone conduction is a potential solution for those with hearing loss.
Bone conduction headphones are an alternative for persons with hearing loss that is localized to the outer ear or eardrum. You should see an audiologist to find out whether bone-conduction headphones would aid your specific case of hearing loss. TV viewing and phone conversations may both benefit from this technology if you are a good fit for it.
Bone Conduction Headphones Make You Look Present
One drawback of passthrough modes is that nobody other is aware that you’re using one. It may be disrespectful or make the other person uncomfortable to use headphones in public.
Bone conduction headphones don’t appear like headphones and leave your ears exposed to the world. If you want to maintain a natural flow between conversations with other people and the sound coming from your device, wireless headphones are the way to go.
There Are Pros of Bone Conduction
One of the biggest advantages of bone-conduction headphones is their ability to deliver sound without blocking the ear canal. This means that wearers can still hear ambient noise, making them ideal for outdoor activities like cycling, running, and hiking. Bone conduction headphones are also a good choice for people who find traditional earbuds uncomfortable or who have difficulty wearing them due to ear infections or other issues.
Another advantage of bone-conduction headphones is that they can be used with hearing aids. Since they bypass the outer and middle ear, bone conduction headphones can deliver sound directly to the inner ear, making them an ideal choice for people with hearing aids who want to listen to music or take phone calls.
There Are Downsides to Bone Conduction
You should know that bone-conduction headphones have certain limitations if you’re comparing them to wireless headphones like the AirPods Pro.
For starters, the music-specific audio quality is noticeably worse than that of standard headphones. The whole spectrum of sound is not reproduced as well by these headphones as by more conventional headphones. These don’t sound horrible per se, but if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck in terms of audio quality, go elsewhere.
The second major problem is that, unlike with passthrough headphones, there is no way to isolate yourself from ambient noise. There is no way to eliminate the background noise, so you’ll have to learn to live with it.
Are Bone Conduction Headphones Worth the Investment?
- The unique benefits of bone-conduction headphones are difficult to dismiss if you can tolerate lower audio quality and no noise reduction at all.
- With possession of a high-quality set, one may listen to their preferred audio source all day without feeling isolated from the world or other people.
Bone-conduction headphones are superior to other types of headphones in every regard (except the sound quality and noise cancellation) for the physically active person. They’ll remain in your ears more securely than wireless headphones and prevent sweating.
FAQs: Are bone conduction headphones still worth buying
Are bone-conduction headphones worth buying?
If your hearing ability is unimpaired, there are plenty of great wireless and true wireless earbuds out there that provide better audio quality. If you are someone who experiences hearing loss, bone-conduction headphones are a great option.
Why is bone conduction better?
Why bone conduction headphones? As the headphones sit on your cheekbones, your ear canal is left open, and sound waves bypass the eardrum. The result is a revolutionary way of listening to music that still allows you to hear ambient sounds around you, with no loss of sound quality and no blocking of your ear canals.
Are there any issues with bone-conduction headphones?
Bone conduction headphones usually rest on your temples. Because of this, wearing bone-conduction headphones can get uncomfortable or cause headaches. Some users have even reported vertigo or dizziness when using them. These effects are mostly due to the vibrations used to transmit the sound through the cheekbones
Is bone conduction good for you?
This feature offers many benefits: Since bone-conduction headphones are not in-ear devices, you can still hear sounds from your surroundings, improving safety for those more active music listeners. Due to this bypassing technology, bone conduction also favors users with hearing impairments, such as eardrum damage.
Conclusion
Are bone-conduction headphones still worth buying? Ultimately, it depends on your needs and preferences. If you are looking for headphones that allow you to listen to music while still being aware of your surroundings, or if you have difficulty wearing traditional earbuds, bone conduction headphones may be a good choice for you. However, if sound quality is a top priority or if you frequently find yourself in noisy environments, you may be better off with traditional headphones.
Overall, bone conduction headphones are a unique and innovative technology that can provide a range of benefits for many users. With continued improvements in technology and design, we’ll likely see even more advanced and effective bone-conduction headphones in the years to come.
