Thanks to bone conduction technology, where sound waves are transmitted into the inner ears through vibrations from transducers on the user’s cheekbones, the benefits of open-ear listening are realized. With a much-heightened level of environmental awareness, users can enjoy a safer listening experience as compared to in-ear or over-ear headphones - joggers and cyclists can make their way down busy streets with ease; gym buddies can chat effortlessly during workouts.
When looking for bone conduction headphones, the first rule is to skip the endless lists of "The best bone conduction headphones of 202X" that all the search engines generate. Apparently bone conduction brands are all investing a lot in keyword search since there's a lot of curiosity around the technology. And the reason why people search so much about "bone conduction headphones" is that everyone is trying to find another model that might be slightly better than the average offerings sold online. And let's be honest, they are all very similar, particularly since they all adopted the same design language and form factors pioneered by Aftershokz (now only Shokz).
Bone conduction technology and its applications have a long history of applications in audiology and military communications - see the dedicated article published in the January 2023 issue of audioXpress - but its use as a consumer products exploded only after portable digital music players such as the iPod made many consumers look for open-ear options that would allow them to have music playing while jogging or even commuting to work, and remain fully aware of their surroundings. Today, there are "different" products available with bone conduction, including true wireless earbuds that are open from Sony and Bose. On the headband form factor, basically all models are very similar.
Founded in 2004 and established in 2011, AfterShokz lead the bone conduction category from the moment it launched its first product using Bluetooth, for a completely mobile experience. Since then the company also leads in brand recognition, even though the progress in terms of features has been very mild, and innovation was mainly focused on the mechanical design and updates on the Bluetooth radios. Its familiar form factor inspired an immediate torrent of similar products that we can find in the market today. Some use better transducers than others, but the main differentiation is in the fit and pressure that the bands exert over the head. The more pressure applied closer to the ears, the better the sound for bone conduction actuators. More pressure is also good for sports and fitness activities. The trade-off will in long-term comfort, obviously.
More recently, manufacturers started to create fully waterproof designs and add built-in microphones for work from anywhere. There are also manufacturers combining a bone conduction transducer with a traditional dynamic driver for reinforced sound. The trade-off in that combination is some sound spill (leakage), which might not be advisable if used in public and close to other people. Whatever the options, the category seems to have established the design, leading to other companies also deciding to launch their own bone conduction models.
As Creative explains, its latest wireless bone conduction headphones are equipped with all the features desired by pro-level sporting enthusiasts who love a soundtrack. Built to be tough yet comfortable in fit, unstoppable in the heaviest of rains and even underwater in the case of the Creative Outlier Free Pro, both models offer indefatigable battery life and ensure improved situational awareness at all times. Both models also have built-in microphones for calls and Siri or Google Assistant support.
The Free Pro model can even be used without the need for an external device to play and stream music, since it features 8GB of built-in memory. And because they both use updated Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology the two models support multipoint connectivity for up to two Bluetooth devices paired at a time, while a low-latency mode minimizes audio-visual lag when watching video content and gaming.
The more affordable Creative Outlier Free model, priced at US $79.99, stands-out for its long battery life, water resistance and lightweight comfort. This wireless design supports up to 10 hours of battery life per charge (10 minutes of quick-charging provides 2 hours of playtime), and offers IPX5 water resistance. It is made with lightweight silicone and titanium memory alloy for optimal comfort and fit.
The Outlier Free Pro model stands out even more with its 8GB (stores up to 2,000 songs) built-in music player (compatible with FLAC, WAV and APE file formats), enabling users to enjoy their favorite tunes without the need to carry their mobile phones or portable players. Thanks to its IPX8 rating (the highest waterproof rating for water immersion), swimmers can even swim underwater in the pool.
The Outlier Free Pro also offers up to 10 hours of battery life per charge (10 minutes of quick-charging provides 2 hours of playtime), and is an excellent all-rounder as a daily go-to headphone, with the added convenience of the built-in microphone for calls and voice assistant support. With a price of US $129.99, the Outlier Free Pro presents great value for features in the category - and from an established and recognized brand.
www.creative.com
