Bone conduction headphones offer us something completely different than any other headphone type. These headphones stimulate the cochlea via the skull rather than through the ear and eardrum. They are not designed to emit sound waves to the environment or to interact with the eardrum. Rather, their vibrations are transmitted through our bodies' soft and hard tissues, and we hear the transduced audio that way.
Whether you're looking for a great pair of headphones that allow you also to hear your surroundings (great for running, as an example) or you're into cool technology, a bone conduction headphone could be for you. In this article, we'll talk about the top 5 bone conduction headphones on the market.
The top 5 best bone conduction headphones are:
So this list pretty much makes this article look like an AfterShokz advertisement. As it stands, AfterShokz is the go-to company for quality bone conduction headphones. If this changes, I'll come back and adjust this article accordingly. For now, these are the best!
What Makes A Great Bone Conduction Headphone?
Though the term “best” is subjective, we should still list the criteria used to determine what makes a great pair of bone conduction headphones.
- Comfort: this is perhaps the simplest yet most important criterion of any pair of earphones. Though highly subjective, factors such as weight; shape; pressure, and the overall dimension play a role in comfort.
- Frequency response: a great pair of in-ear monitors should be able to reproduce the full audible spectrum from 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz with clarity.
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, which state a product's waterproof and dustproof specs, are common with bone conduction headphones and are worth considering. Though water/dust-proofing may not make the headphones sound better, it certainly allows them to be used in more applications.
Wireless transmission is also something to look out for. Are the in-ears wired or wireless, and will they require a separate receiver or not (if we plan on using them wirelessly). Wireless options will require power and so battery life is another concern.
With that, let's get into our top 5 bone conduction headphones!
To learn more about bone conduction headphones, consider reading my article The Complete Guide To Bone Conduction Headphones (With Examples) before continuing with this article.
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AfterShokz Aeropex
First up is the AfterShokz Aeropex (link to check the price on Amazon).
The AfterShokz Aeropex is featured in My New Microphone's Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $200 and Hikers' Movement's Top 10 Best Headphones/Earphones For Hiking.
The Aeropex is AfterShokz most advanced wireless set of headphones and arguably their flagship product (though the Xtrainerz are up there, too, as we'll get to momentarily).
AfterShokz offers 2 sizes to help maximize comfort for a particular user. The Aeropex Mini's band size is 1 inch shorter. The headphones fit around the ears with the transducers pressed against the jaw and/or cheekbones.
At 26 grams, the Aeropex is the lightest of the top 5 bone conduction headphones on this list.
Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility makes it easy to pair these headphones to our favourite Bluetooth audio devices. The headphone will run for 8 hours on a full charge of its lithium-polymer battery. Its charge time is about 2 hours, from empty.
Automatic pairing with the last paired device makes these headphones easy to use. The automatic pairing will happen so long as the device is on and within the 33-foot wireless range.
With an Ingress Protection rating of IP67, the Aeropex can be deemed “waterproof” though swimming is not recommended. First, immersion greater than 1 meter could damage the earphones and second, the wireless transmission will not work penetrate through water.
That being said, these headphones can withstand sweaty workouts, runs in the rain, and even getting dropped in a puddle. Just don't go swimming with them!
That being said, the headphones are designed with athletes in mind. This is true of pretty much all bone conduction headphones. I mean, they're certainly not for audiophiles. Either way, the Aeropex is built ruggedly and is more than capably of withstanding regular athletic wear and tear.
A built-in dual noise-cancelling microphone is included in the design. This allows for voice calls and the headphones' use with voice assistants (Siri, Google VA, Alexa, etc.).
The control panel features 3 buttons: Volume Up, Multifunction, and Volume Down. Pressing various combinations of these 3 buttons will trigger different responses with the headphones and the paired device. Typical functions like pausing, playing and skipping songs are possible, as are answering, ending, rejecting and redialing calls.
In addition to all that, the Aeropex features 2 different EQ settings. The default setting is set to “open-ear,” which sounds best when the listener's ears are open. A secondary EQ is available for “closed-ears” or when the listener has earplugs in.
In terms of audio quality, we'll never get audiophile results from bone conduction headphones. However, with a frequency response that spans the audible spectrum and AfterShokz proprietary PremiumPitch 2.0+ technology (that boosts the bass and overall volume), we have a great-sounding pair of “bonephones”!
As with all the AfterShokz products on this list, the Aeropex comes with a 45-day return policy and a 2-year warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: bone conduction
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 105 ± 3dB
- IP Rating: IP67
- Weight: 26 g
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5.0
- Microphone: Duel Noise-Canceling Mic
To learn more about headphone specifications, be sure to read my article Full List: Headphone/Earphone Specifications w/ Examples.
AfterShokz Air
Second up is the AfterShokz Air (link to check the price on Amazon).
The AfterShokz Air is part of the company's Lifestyle line as opposed to its Endurance line (like the Aeropex and Xtrainerz). That's not to say it's not a great choice for athletes as well.
With an IP55 sweatproof rating, these headphones are excellent choices for the gym and even for runs in the rain. That being said, they're not waterproof, so don't go dropping these ones in puddles.
The Air works wirelessly with the Bluetooth 4.2 protocol. It has a wireless range of 33 feet and will automatically pair with the last paired device as it's turned on, so long as that device is available within the range.
AfterShokz Air headphones have a lithium-ion battery with 6 hours of life per charge. A full charge, from empty, takes 2 hours.
Like the aforementioned Aeropex, the Air featured a built-in dual noise-cancelling microphone that allows for voice calls and the headphones' use with voice assistants (Siri, Google VA, Alexa, etc.).
Typical functions like pausing, playing and skipping songs are possible, as are answering, ending, rejecting and redialing calls. These are made possible by a 3-button control panel with Volume Up, Multifunction, and Volume Down controls. Different variations will yield a variety of results.
In addition to all that, the Aeropex features 2 different EQ settings. The default setting is set to “open-ear,” which sounds best when the listener's ears are open. A secondary EQ is available for “closed-ears” or when the listener has earplugs in.
As for sound, the Air boasts a full-range 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response which effectively reproduces all audible frequencies. So long as the fit is right, we should be able to hear a full range of frequencies via bone conduction.
As with all the AfterShokz products on this list, the Trekz Air comes with a 45-day return policy and a 2-year warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: bone conduction
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 100 ± 3dB
- IP Rating: IP55
- Weight: 30g
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 4.2
- Microphone: Dual noise-cancelling mic|-40dB ± 3dB
AfterShokz OpenMove
Third up is the AfterShokz OpenMove (link to check the price on Amazon).
The AfterShokz OpenMove brings modern bone conduction and wireless technology with an entry-level price tag.
It features the same controls as the other AfterShokz models in this list with the same 3-button control panel.
Make calls, skip/pause/play music, talk to your voice assistant and so one with the control panel and built-in dual noise-cancelling microphone.
The OpenMove sounds great for a bone conduction headphone with a frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and AfterShokz' proprietary PremiumPitch 2.0 Stereo Sound technology. Bone conduction often leaves something to be desired, but these headphones sound excellent.
AfterShokz' OpenMove has 3 different EQ settings: Human Voice, Standard, and Earplug Mode. Switch through these settings depending on your application, or find one you prefer and stick with it.
The li-polymer battery holds a 6-hour charge and takes 2 hours to full charge from empty. This battery is used to maintain a wireless connection with an audio device via Bluetooth 5.0. Automatic pairing to the last paired device makes these headphones easy to use regularly.
An IP55 rating makes the OpenMove sweatproof but not fully waterproof. They're a great choice for the gym and even for runs in the rain but won't hold up underwater.
As with all the AfterShokz products on this list, the Trekz Titanium comes with a 45-day return policy and a 2-year warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: bone conduction
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 96 ± 3dB
- IP Rating: IP55
- Weight: 1.02 oz. (29g)
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5.0
- Microphone: Dual noise-cancelling mic|-40dB ± 2dB
AfterShokz Xtrainerz
Fourth up is the AfterShokz Xtrainerz (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video).
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz are also featured in My New Microphone's Top 3 Best Earphones For Swimming Under $200 and Hikers' Movement's Top 10 Best Headphones/Earphones For Hiking.
AfterShokz proprietary PremiumPitch 2.0+ gives the Xtrainerz a powerful bass response and higher volume for our listening pleasure.
The IP68 rating means these earphones can withstand immersion of 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) or more and continue to work as designed. This makes them a great choice for swimming, as we've discussed above.
But wait, we previously discussed that wireless headphones won't work underwater.
These headphones actually aren't Bluetooth compatible. Rather, they have internal music storage. This internal storage holds up to 4 GB, allowing for a library of up to 1,200 songs ready to play at the touch of a button. It supports MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, and FLAC for device-free listening.
An 8-hour battery life means that these earphones can last for several swimming sessions without the need for recharging. The lithium-ion battery takes 2 hours to charge from full depletion.
Play, pause and skip through songs and adjust volume with the control panel—upload audio from a computer via the Xtrainerz’ USB port.
As with all the AfterShokz products on this list, the Xtrainerz comes with a 45-day return policy and a 2-year warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: bone conduction
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20KHz
- Sensitivity: 96 ± 3dB
- IP Rating: IP68
- Weight: 30 g
- Wireless/Wired: neither (internal storage)
Vidonn F1 Titanium
Let's finish with a pair of bone conduction headphones that aren't made by AfterShokz. Here, we're looking at the Chinese company Vidonn's Vidonn F1 Titanium (link to check the price on Amazon).
The Vidonn F1 Titanium is a fairly standard bone conduction headphone. It has great ratings, fits well, and sounds pretty great.
The IP55 rating tells us that the F1 Titanium is sweatproof, making it a great choice for athletes.
In terms of sound quality, it has a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz and a snug fit, allowing it to transmit its vibrations to the inner ear. It actually sounds pretty good and allows us to hear our environment at the same time.
The Bluetooth 4.1 wireless technology allows these headphones to pair with our devices within a 30-foot range. The lithium battery lasts for 6 hours of play time and takes 1.5 hours to charge from empty.
Other than that, it has a built-in microphone with high sensitivity and CVC noise reduction. We can use these headphones to make calls and work with voice assistants.
Like the AfterShokz options, the Vidonn F1 Titanium has a 3-button control panel that allows for volume control and audio file control (skip, pause, play).
All in all, the F1 Titanium is a great bone conduction headphone choice that costs less than the AfterShokz models listed above.
The Vidonn F1 Titanium comes with a 1-year warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: bone conduction
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: no info
- IP Rating: IP55
- Weight: 38g
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 4.1
Choosing the right headphones or earphones for your applications and budget can be a challenging task. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive Headphones/Earphones Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help in determining your next headphones/earphones purchase.
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This article has been approved in accordance with the My New Microphone Editorial Policy.
