Preface: In recent years, bone conduction headphones have become a new branch of sports headphones. Unlike traditional in-ear headphones, bone conduction headphones offer a superior experience during exercise. So, what are bone conduction headphones?
Bone conduction is a method of sound transmission, which converts sound into mechanical vibrations of different frequencies and transmits them through the human skull, bone labyrinth, inner ear lymph fluid, spiral organ, auditory nerve, and auditory center. Compared to the classic sound transmission method that generates sound waves through a diaphragm, bone conduction eliminates many steps of sound wave transmission, enabling clear sound reproduction in noisy environments without the sound waves spreading through the air and affecting others. Headphones manufactured using these bone conduction technologies are called bone conduction headphones, also known as bone conduction earphones, bone sensation headphones, bone conduction earphones, and bone sensing headphones.
This article tests the AfterShokz bone conduction headphones AS650 in Danxia Red.
1. Product Unboxing
▲ The AfterShokz bone conduction headphones AS650 TREKZ AIR are a product of Shenzhen AfterShokz Technology Co., Ltd. Despite its fancy brand and packaging, it is a genuine domestic product. The AS650 comes in four color versions: blue, military green, gray, and Danxia red. This article showcases the Danxia red version.
▲ The back of the packaging box indicates the product's production information, color version, and special features.
1. The entire device weighs 30g.
2. Wireless Bluetooth 4.2 version.
3. High-grade titanium alloy material.
4. Bone conduction stereo sound.
5. IP55 waterproof and sweatproof.
6. 6 hours of continuous music and call battery life, 480 hours of standby time.
▲ Headphones *1, warranty card *1, silicone protective case *1.
▲ The headphones are fixed on a card with tape to prevent them from shaking during transportation, which is a thoughtful detail.
▲ The silicone protective case contains a manual *1, USB charging cable *1, and noise-canceling earplugs *1 pair.
▲ The silicone protective case is very soft and quite large.
2. Detail Display
▲ The Danxia red color is as passionate as fire, fitting the sporty style. The key is its simple design, completely eliminating headphone wires.
▲ The AFTERSHOKZ logo is on the headphones.
▲ The headphones also indicate product information and charging information.
▲ The headphones also indicate the Bluetooth pairing process.
▲ The volume control buttons on the headphones, where the volume up button also serves as the power button. Long press to turn on/off, short press to check battery level, indicating high, medium, low battery, or needing a charge.
The Micro USB charging port shows input parameters as DC5V, 150mA, so it's better to use a computer USB port or a 150mA output charger for charging. Avoid using high-current fast chargers to prevent damage to the headphones.
▲ The multifunction button on the outside of the left headphone can control music playback and pause, answer and hang up calls, and double-click to redial the last number.
▲ The surface of the headphones appears to be made of silicone, feeling very soft. Pressing down provides a cushioning effect rather than a hard collision. Unlike conventional earbuds, you don't need to consider ear canal size; just place them against your cheeks. They are worn on the jawbone in front of the ears, introducing a new wearing method that is more flexible and adaptable to various usage scenarios.
The small round hole in the picture is the microphone port. There are two microphone ports on the right headphone and none on the left.
3. Headphone Performance
▲ The bending curvature of the headphones is very large, highly elastic, and not easily deformed, thanks to the full titanium alloy frame. Lightweight and flexible, it can withstand 10,000 bends without deformation. It fits even large heads without worrying about breaking.
▲ When charging, the red indicator light stays on.
▲ When fully charged, the blue light stays on. From the time shown in the picture, charging took about 2 hours.
The battery capacity of the headphones is 183mAh, theoretically providing 20 days of standby time and 6 hours of continuous playback. In actual use, after being fully charged on the night of the 19th, they still had power on the night of the 29th (indicating low battery). Including running and listening to music during commutes, the headphones can last 10 days on standby, which is satisfactory.
The 6-hour continuous playback battery life is enough to support a complete marathon (most marathons have a 6-hour cutoff time). For marathon runners who like to listen to music, the battery life of AfterShokz headphones is very appealing.
▲ Regarding sound quality, the official description states that the headphones have been tuned hundreds of times by professional tuners, resulting in more balanced sound quality and fuller vocals compared to the previous generation. Due to the technical characteristics of bone conduction headphones, they cannot add dynamic drivers or balanced armature units like traditional headphones, so their sound quality is certainly not as good as traditional headphones. However, this difference is not noticeable to most people, including myself. For me, the AfterShokz headphones have no noise or electrical interference, which is sufficient for daily use. Additionally, AfterShokz has designed an EQ equalizer setting. When playing music, pressing the volume up and down buttons simultaneously can switch to an EQ mode specifically for wearing earplugs (in this situation, noise-canceling earplugs are needed to isolate external noise and experience better bone conduction sound transmission).
Sound leakage is inevitable with bone conduction headphones. Sound waves can spread through the air, so in a quiet environment, people nearby (next to you) can also hear the sound from the headphones.
▲ For people who wear glasses, there is a conflict between the headphones and the glasses' temples, as both hang on the same spot on the ears. If the glasses' temples are made of ordinary resin, they can easily slide when sweating and be "pushed away" by the headphones. If they are sports glasses with silicone anti-slip temples, the two can coexist more harmoniously.
Additionally, AfterShokz headphones support IP55 waterproof rating, which only protects against water splashes, not immersion. It is not recommended to charge immediately after exercise to avoid circuit damage caused by residual sweat near the charging port.
4. Wearing Experience
▲ Front view. AfterShokz headphones are lightweight, portable, and simple in structure, making them easy to wear and use without excessive adjustment or worrying about slipping off.
▲ Side view. From the side, you can see the unique style of bone conduction headphones. Many people who haven't seen them before will be curious about what you're wearing. The left headphone has a multifunction button for answering calls and controlling music playback.
Since bone conduction headphones are not worn on the ears, they free up both ears, allowing you to hear the surrounding environment while using the headphones. This is very safe for road running as you can detect dangers in time.
▲ Right side view. The right side of the headphones has volume control buttons, and there are only two buttons. For those familiar with three-button controls, it may take some time to get used to. Due to the small size, the buttons are also small, requiring an adaptation period. Once accustomed, it becomes easier.
▲ AfterShokz headphones can hang around the neck, solving the problem of storing headphones during exercise. Compared to other headphones, this method is definitely the best solution.
5. Summary
▲ Among the three headphones in the picture, which one would you choose for exercise?
AfterShokz bone conduction headphones are simple in structure, lightweight, portable, and easy to wear. Since they free up both ears, they are very suitable for use during exercise, preventing you from being overly immersed in music and ignoring surrounding dangers.
Advantages:
1. Beautiful design, using a titanium alloy frame, lightweight and flexible.
2. Easy to wear and store, providing a better experience during exercise.
3. Frees up both ears, making it safer during exercise as you can hear car horns or warning sounds.
4. Long battery life, excellent performance in both standby and continuous playback.
5. Supports Bluetooth multipoint connection, allowing seamless switching between two devices.
Disadvantages:
1. Poor sound quality, as both ears can still hear ambient sounds, affecting the auditory experience. Additionally, AfterShokz headphones do not use advanced sound units.
2. Physical buttons are not easy to distinguish when blind-controlled, requiring an adaptation period. It is suggested that the volume control buttons be spaced further apart, with the USB charging port placed between them.