Aftershokz Aeropex headphones: Greatest bone conductors but

There’s no scarcity of fantastical methods to get your wi-fi audio kicks in 2019, from tiny, completely wi-fi noise-canceling earbuds to headphone sun shades that beam sound into your ears from hidden micro-speakers. However even a number of years on, the bone-conduction headphones from Aftershokz, which bypass your ear canal through vibrating pads to buzz music by way of your cranium, stay among the many most intriguing methods to take your tunes alongside wherever you go.

The newest from Aftershokz, the Aeropex, are the corporate’s smallest, sleekest, and most superior bone conductors but. And with so many new contenders within the wire-free house, they should be. After a number of years away, I used to be completely satisfied to find the Aftershokz nonetheless maintain a spot among the many audio world’s most handy wi-fi contraptions.

Tiny coil of sound

If I had any doubts about simply how a lot time had handed since I final strapped a pair of Aftershokz on my noggin (and with my graying hair, there weren’t many), opening the Aeropex’s stylish white field put them shortly to relaxation. Even after reviewing pair after pair of the world’s smallest wi-fi earbuds, the Aeropex’s micro-sized coil makes an actual impression.

The corporate has shaved a full 30% off its earlier pair and gone down a number of sizes from the BlueEZ I auditioned again in 2013, crafting its newest conduction pads right into a nimble, rubberized halo that’s strikingly mild (simply 26 grams) and succinct.

Set simply behind the best conduction pad is certainly one of two bulbs alongside the slim circlet that homes each a fundamental management piece and (I assume) the majority of the internal gadgetry. Controls are dealt with by a flexible quantity rocker that additionally serves as the ability/pairing key. It took me a while (longer than I’d wish to admit) to seek out the opposite piece of the puzzle — a multifunction key set subtly on the left conduction pad that handles play/pause/calling and music skip.

One quibble with the controls: A loud beeping tone accompanies each management you press, which tends to out-blast the audio. It’s form of annoying, however not an enormous drawback.

They’ll stand as much as nearly any climate you’ll encounter.

Layered in rubbery materials (referred to within the business by a reputation I can’t utter right here), the Aeropex provide an IP67 mud/water resistance score that enables them to face as much as nearly any climate you’ll encounter, and even be submerged for as much as 30 minutes in three meters of water.

A British assistant dubbed Audrey (which completely doesn’t sound like Alexa) walks you thru instructions, together with demanding you cost her when the Eight-hour battery runs low. You can too name up your cellphone’s personal assistant through an extended press of the multifunction key. The battery life isn’t superb for 2019, however for a tool this small, it’s greater than ample and gained’t go away you hanging in any however essentially the most relentless Iron Man exercises.

What’s the take care of bone conduction?

The essential level of bone conduction is to go away your ear canal free to expertise the world round you whilst you jam out to your favourite tunes or podcasts. To take action, the pads are designed to actually buzz sound by way of a bone in your cranium to achieve your internal ears. It’s an intriguing thought, and we’re undecided you’re not getting at the least a number of the sound by way of your ear canal — the pads get louder the nearer they method — nevertheless it does help you crank up the amount and nonetheless hold your ears open to ambient sound for higher consciousness than earbuds with microphones that do the identical factor.

Riley Younger/Digital Developments

The primary time I attempted an Aftershokz product, the tingly buzz took a while getting used to, however the firm has improved on this a good bit. The Aeropex solely tingle a smidgen when positioned in entrance of your ears, and the sound seems to only pop inside your head. I did discover they have an inclination to create a little bit of what might be described as outer-ear fatigue throughout extra-long listening classes, although they aren’t actually designed for that anyway. I additionally assume a part of which may be as a consequence of tighter clamping pressure within the halo’s design, which is more likely to ease up a bit over time.

Aeropex in motion

If high-fidelity in-ear headphones like Sennheiser’s Momentum paint a vibrant sonic canvas, bone-conduction headphones are extra like a charcoal sketch of the soundscape — all of the moments are there however devices aren’t as colorfully fleshed out. The Aeropex positively provide extra meat on the bone then my earlier bone-conduction expertise, particularly within the treble register the place sound is obvious, resonant, and comparatively open. Bone conductors have all the time struggled mightily with bass, although, and that’s nonetheless the case right here. Whereas the newest Aftershokz mannequin has improved down low, you’re merely not going to get a ton of thump from these little pads.

Nonetheless, what these headphones do higher than any conventional pair is help you splash sound into your exercise whereas nonetheless remaining current and conscious of every thing round you. Their ethereal weight provides to the comfort, letting you strap them on and neglect them whilst you jog, hike, or bike your solution to a superb sweat. You may then wash them off once you’re carried out.

Splash sound into your exercise whereas nonetheless remaining current and conscious.

I had loads of enjoyable moments taking part in round with them, notably when taking our new pup, Syd, for a run. The Aeropex allowed me to take heed to tunes or name up podcasts, and even decelerate to take a cellphone name, all with out lacking something Syd did or heard. As with the Bose Frames, I additionally had a good time chatting with my spouse on walks, whereas piping in some tunes for a bit further atmosphere.

Even headphones that provide audio pass-through options through their onboard microphones can’t compete with open-ear headphones on this division, particularly in the case of biking, the place the tiny microphones shortly give up to the mighty blast of the wind in your ears.

In reality, solely Bose’s Frames fare higher, just because they provide richer and extra dynamic sound. However being sun shades, in addition they have their very own limitations, reminiscent of being rendered ineffective on the health club and less-than-ideal for darker days – that’s to not point out their measly three.5-hour battery life.

Name high quality

Calling works fairly properly, although the standard can also be a bit tinny, shedding some vocal heat. The only microphone additionally doesn’t do a lot to filter out wind noise like some newer true wi-fi buds, together with Apple’s newest AirPods.

Our Take

Whereas nonetheless removed from hi-fi wonders, the newest bone-conduction headphones from Aftershokz are smaller, sleeker, and extra handy than ever, making them best candidates for many who take their exercises with a wholesome aspect of ambient sound.

Is there a greater different?

In the event you’re searching for open-air listening, there are few merchandise that do what bone-conduction headphones can, with the Aeropex’s greatest competitors being the corporate’s different extra inexpensive (and bulkier) headsets. Bose’s Frames are additionally one other nice choice, as they provide higher sound high quality, but additionally have limitations in each use circumstances and battery life. (The Frames even have solely very fundamental water resistance.)

If you would like one thing extra versatile than both product, we advocate trying into totally wi-fi earbuds like Jabra’s Elite Lively 65t or the extremely popular and expensive Powerbeats Professional (although we had some connection points with two completely different pairs).

How lengthy will it final?

With spectacular water- and dustproofing, loads of battery life, and a nimble however versatile design, we anticipate the Aeropex to be part of your exercise routine for a superb lengthy whereas.

Must you purchase it?

In the event you’re searching for small, robust, and handy exercise buds that can rock together with you in nearly any surroundings, and hold you totally conscious of stated surroundings, the reply is unquestionably.

In the event you’re searching for one thing with increased sound high quality that can roll with you to the workplace as simply because the health club, it’s value testing our lists of the perfect totally wi-fi earbuds or finest operating headphones.