Suunto’s new headphones lastly made me admire bone conduction

As an city runner, I’ve by no means actually thought-about sporting noise-canceling headphones. I’ve dabbled with open-back headphones prior to now, however largely in well-lit parks the place my largest concern was dodging goose poop. Within the suburbs, issues are completely different. I used to be not too long ago practically flattened by a Vary Rover that was going at the least 10 mph over the pace restrict. I didn’t hear it coming, although I had my headphones on ambient noise mode.

That is why I’ve spent the final two months testing the $199 Suunto Wing and the $149 Suunto Sonic.

Each the Wing and Sonic are bone conduction headphones, a class lengthy dominated by Shokz (previously AfterShokz). The Sonic is a extra primary entry-level machine, whereas the Wing provides a number of extra bells and whistles, particularly LED lighting, a transportable energy financial institution, and head-motion controls. The Wing additionally has barely higher IP67 water and dirt resistance in comparison with the Sonic’s IP55 ranking.

Bone conduction works by sending sound vibrations by way of your cheekbones slightly than by way of the air into your ear canal. Some athletes swear by bone conduction as a result of it retains your ears open, which means you’ll be extra conscious of your environment than with any transparency mode. (As a bonus, it might assist individuals with listening to loss take heed to audio.)

I’ve recognized all this for a very long time, however I’ll admit it: I by no means actually cared about bone conduction earlier than. My outdated AfterShokz headphones weren’t comfy in any respect, however the true downside was that I relied on bass-heavy playlists. And bone conduction? It’s not the very best at bass. Nonetheless, being practically crushed by a rushing Vary Rover was nearly as good a cause as any to offer bone conduction one other strive.

On the primary level, I used to be pleasantly shocked that the Sonic and Wing had been comfy to put on. My outdated AfterShokz headphones had a wrap-around neckband that dug into my pores and skin, damage my small ears, and by no means sat proper. These headphones even have a wrap-around design, however I didn’t really feel any discomfort. The headphones felt secure and safe throughout runs and walks. Moreover, the half that sits over the ear was skinny sufficient that it didn’t trigger issues when sporting glasses or a scarf — a problem I’ve had with different open-back headphones just like the Chunky Bose Sport Open Headphones.

The bass nonetheless is not mind-blowing, however I used to be shocked by how a lot better it sounded on the Wing and Sonic in comparison with my first expertise with bone conduction headphones. The loud intro to Stray Children”Megaverse” did not sound as cool because it might need sounded to me Beats Match Professionalhowever it was sufficient to maintain me going. After a number of weeks, I finished noticing the distinction. (It helps that Suunto presents completely different sound profiles, together with an “out of doors” mode that enhances the bass a bit.)

However whereas the sound was higher than I anticipated, these are nonetheless bone conduction headphones, which implies they’re not nice in noisy environments. I hoped they’d even be satisfactory on a regular basis headphones for commuting, however sadly, listening to audiobooks or podcasts on a loud subway or whereas passing honking taxis was a less-than-pleasant expertise. I needed to crank up the amount, which in flip elevated the vibration till the entrance elements had been buzzing in my face. These wouldn’t be the primary headphones I’d seize if I needed to run a race with a cheering crowd. That’s a little bit of a disgrace, contemplating the Suunto headphones are dearer at $149 and $199. For reference, the Shokz headphones value between $80 and $180.

The worth can also be partly why I’ve gone with the cheaper Sonic of the 2 extra typically. Not solely is the sound high quality an identical, however I wasn’t impressed with the Wing’s further options. The LED lights are neat, however I discovered them arduous to see towards my hair. (I additionally didn’t just like the Wing’s Kylo Ren gamer vibes.) As for the Wing’s head controls, I used to be by no means capable of get them to work reliably. You’re supposed to have the ability to reply or decline calls, and skip tracks, by nodding or shaking your head. As a substitute, individuals checked out me unusually as I ran previous and shook their heads furiously as a result of I needed to skip to the following track.

The Wing additionally didn’t win me over with its battery life. Each gadgets final about 10 hours, however the Wing additionally has an exterior battery that holds an extra 20 hours of cost. That’s good, however is it price the additional $50? For me, not likely. I largely persist with 30- to 45-minute runs, three to 4 instances every week. The Sonic lasts a few month earlier than I must cost. As for waterproofing, the Sonic’s IP55 ranking is sweet sufficient for sweat and getting caught within the rain, however the Wing’s IP67 ranking isn’t adequate for the pool. (One other bummer for swimmers: Neither has onboard storage, and Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater.)

In the end, my private quest for a pair of open-ear exercise headphones to exchange my Beats Match Professional continues. Do not get me unsuitable – my time testing the Sonic and Wing has given me a higher understanding of bone conduction headphones and why so many individuals rave about them (to the purpose the place I referred to as up the most recent Shokz to offer it a strive). their (yet one more strive). I am simply too hooked on bass drop to say that my search ends right here.