Open-Ear earphones using air conduction principles have been explored in models from different brands, and seem to be particular popular in China. In the US, Bose briefly explored the concept with the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, optimized for sports, fitness and wellness. And we can find similar designs from Cleer Audio (ARC) and OneOdio (OpenRock), competing directly with the first generation Oladance OWS - launched in 2022 after a successful campaign on Kickstarter and recently updated as OWS 2. Anyone looking at the OWS 2 design will notice also some similarities with the recently announced Shokz OpenFit TWS around the ear, open ear TWS design.
So, in that regard, Oladance can be considered a leading air conduction vendor, given that it has remained focused on the open-ear concept and has been perfecting the technology with each generation. The OWS Pro are effectively a new and more ambitious approach, starting with the completely different - and highly visible - form-factor that reminds us of the Olive Max hearing assist product, from Olive Union.
And it seems like air conduction - combined with sophisticated audio processing platforms and new-generation transducers - is going somewhere, as the Apple Vision Pro "spatial computing platform" seems to indicate (see our exploration of the concept here). The similarities of the concept validates a lot of the ideas that Oladance has explored and makes the OWS Pro effort particularly intriguing.
The problem seems to be the already established inability from Chinese companies - Oladance is registered in Singapore with a manufacturing base in China - to properly communicate the basic facts about a new product. In this case, with a press release (likely written by an external agency) distributed through the traditional channels, and a new website that describes the same product in completely different words - fortunately much more technically relevant.
The Oladance OWS Pro was originally promoted as "the first open-ear ANC" design, as the company hinted when it announced the second-generation OWS 2 back in June, 2023. In that announcement, Oladance promoted its "extensive research into the technology of audio headphones" already extending for over a decade and the fact that the company employed "the first technicians to work on ANC (active noise cancellation)" and is "committed to break down the technological barriers between OWS (Oladance Wearable Stereo) headphones and traditional TWS (True Wireless Stereo) headphones."
With this in mind, we naturally looked at the OWS Pro announcement for confirmation of the ANC implementation. Instead, Oladance uses different words to describe the capabilities of the new OWS Pro design as "the very first open-ear headset to use Fixed Point Sound Screening technology, or 'Focus Mode', to create a cleaner listening space." Expanding the description, it specifically mentions that the active processing applies directly to low and mid frequencies. Exploring more the intricate wording, we can understand that this Fixed Point Sound Screening, also described as a "patented Fixed-Point Noise Screening," uses microphones and "smart sensors" to immediately trigger between the focus or noise reduction mode, and a awareness mode.
Filtering all the hyperbole and subjective depictions of the audio experience, we learn that the OWS Pro's improved sound - which also explains its design - results from the new, much larger racetrack-type drivers and special membranes (visible in the exploded image above), creating a structure that doubles the sound pressure level (we assume, in comparison with similar circular drivers, such as the one in the original OWS), improves the bass performance, and reduces high-frequency distortion. The use of this larger driver in air conduction should contribute to the immersion and almost tridimensionality of the effect - if undisturbed by environmental sounds.
And that's why Oladance focused also on perfecting a platform to deliver the extra level of signal processing. As the company explains, each earphone features two different dedicated chips, one being primarily a dedicated DSP that the company compares to similar systems used in "home theater" equipment, and the second being a new advanced audio amplifier. These chips are combined with a second-generation bass enhancement algorithm, which is vital to compensate an open-ear design. Oladance says that it uses a "patented Virtual Bass" that uses "high dynamic power to enhance low-frequency sound quality, significantly improving bass volume for a fuller, deeper bass."
Next up, Oladance equipped the OWS Pro with six microphones to cancel out excess external sound waves and separate human voice from environmental noise. This enables improved call quality even in the presence of strong wind, but also allows for the intelligent optimization of acoustic performance. The company also introduced a dynamic EQ algorithm that is able to compensate for different noise profiles, indoors and outdoors, combined with different frequency responses or "scenes" that the user can select, including a "Vocal" profile for listening to podcasts and audiobooks.
And users will also note the updated Bluetooth 5.3 chip, for stable sound transmission and already supporting multipoint connection for seamless multi-device transition. Somewhat vaguely, the distributed press release also mentions some hearing protection capabilities. The company mentions "real-time dynamic optimization of high audio" and talks about an algorithm that "simulates the working principle of the human ossicle" and prevents from "exceeding the range that the auditory nerves can withstand." Also important for an open-ear design, Oladance says that this same sensor helps prevent sound leakage to ensure a private listening experience.
Highlighting the battery life, Oladance says the OWS Pro's are able to work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, with up to 58 hours extra available in the charging case. The earphones can also be quick-charged, allowing 6 hours of use in just 15 minutes of charge, and can last up to 3 years on standby inside the case, due to "Oladance's newly patented Energy Lock technology." Also important for running and outdoor activities, each earphone can be used individually and turned on/off without the case.
And given that no more technical specifications are available, we can just look at the large but lightweight IPX4 design, with an inside construction based on liquid silicone molding, allowing the OWS Pro to rest gently and evenly on top of the ear, with skin-friendly earhooks for a comfortable fit. Crafted with flexible memory titanium wire, the OWS Pro forms a three-point arc support structure, compatible with different ear shapes and able to stay in place during running, cycling, or gym, activities.
On the outside, the OWS Pro stands out with the stunning ceramic material, crafted with an eight-layer coloring process, that allows for five glossy color finishes: Misty Black, Luminous Titanium, Pearly Haze Pink, Porcelain White and Vivid Green. The large colored surface and combination of soft and hard materials is also used by Oladance to combine touch and pinch controls for more control options than tiny earbuds.
Available for pre-order for $299.99 on the company's website.
www.oladance.com
