OVERVIEW: Aftershokz Bluez 2 - wireless headphones with the technology of bone sound transmission
Devices Medgadgets / / December 19, 2019
acquaintance
Honestly, at first I was worried. Do not consider me paranoid or a coward, but at the moment I'm doubly applied to run his own skull vibrate. It so happened that the knowledge about bone transmission technology sound walked me round. I'm pretty vague idea of how all this will be felt, but because the headphones were left on the table. First you have to climb up to the Internet and check out.
It turned out that this is not a new technology. It is used for a long time, including in medicine for the hearing impaired. The skull bones themselves transmit sound to the inner ear. Thus people with certain disorders of hearing is able to somehow have heard something. More on the phenomenon of bone conduction communication facilities built for divers. The same technology works sound transmission in Google Glass, but I have not had time to get acquainted with them. Well, this is the first experience.
That's Aftershokz Bluez 2 placed on the head. Ear canals are open and free, and headphones pressed against the cheek, just below the temple.
Rim hard, but the pressure can not be called strong. obvious there is no feeling of tightness.
The synchronization procedure with the smartphone standard. Clamp button, find in Bluez 2 Bluetooth-enabled devices list, pairing and launch music application.
I put on the headphones, again I'm afraid, I remove the headphones, turn on the music at a very low volume, and holding the device in hand, I begin to listen. It vibrates!
first impressions
Okay, enough. The playlist Lindsey Stirling, I put on headphones and hear the music... Quietly, because the volume to a minimum, but hear. A little bit adds, trying to understand the feelings.
I do not know, as you pass it. About sound in general it is difficult to say, because it is very subjective. There is still a few audiophiles probably lurk in the comments, to break me for other than their opinion. But I will try. Music as it immediately and everywhere. She did not seem at all here, a little far away, not in your ears because the ears remain free, but at the same time in your mind. High and mid-frequency surround, and low just to you.
If you focus on the sense of touch, feel subtle vibration on the skin. With a significant increase in the volume effect is enhanced, and the rim like a little tickle you. It's funny.
Disappointment
Putting a high volume level, I noticed that his colleagues in the office of the editorial board began to look at me. Yeah, the music heard! I took off my headphones and frankly disappointed. In my fantasies all these sounds were broadcast directly into the skull, just me and remain invisible to all around. But the reality was more prosaic. I do not know that Bluez 2 inside, but, apparently, there is a conventional speakers which emit medium and high frequencies through here these openings in the cabinet.
The holes on three sides, and thus at the same time creates a feeling of surround sound, but it seems that the music is a little further.
The bones are only low frequencies, and in comparison with average and high they go too well.
The effect is easy to check, just pulling the headphones in hand, so that they no longer fit tightly. All bottoms immediately disappear. So they really are transmitted through the skull. Apparently, so the bass and drums are juicy and crisp.
It turns out a kind of contrast, the heterogeneity of the audible range, which is why sound does not seem so unnatural. This feeling did not leave me the entire first hour of listening.
In transport
In the evening, I went home, and it was a great opportunity to test Bluez 2 in public transport.
I hear everything that happens in the bus. Even sniff sitting in front of my grandmother. At the same time I heard the music. I am totally focused on this strange feeling, because of what my brain began to worry. Everything overlaps, I hear too much time!
Then I relaxed, and everything was wonderful. Made the music louder, myself apologizing to the surrounding passengers, and continued to monitor some unnatural sound.
Awareness
Unnaturalness. Unnaturalness. Unnaturalness. This subjective fault, which has seemed from the very start dating with headphones, do not leave me two days. It was only on the third day, I saw through this gadget, incidentally dispelling own claims to it.
Normal pavement, I go very far behind is heard a distinctive squeal of brakes. The event was really far, as I turned and saw nothing. I go further and think: "I hope there were no injuries. Well, I hear everything around, because the music is quite loud playing... stop! Music! Headphones on, and I am guided in space and what is happening around just fine. And the music sounds great! ».
Precisely at the moment when I stopped thinking about the strangeness of headphones, they sounded just fine for me. Bias and expectation of something that played tricks on me, but now everything is gone. I enjoy music and hear the world around us is perfect.
Town
According to traffic police, in just the first half of 2015 on the Russian roads occurred 24.3 thousand road accidents involving pedestrians, they suffered almost 22.7 thousand people were killed and 2.8 thousand.
Ohrenet statistics, especially when it is nasty clarification:
Every third pedestrian, was injured in a traffic accident on the roads Russia since the beginning of 2015, and one in six were shot dead near a pedestrian crossing.
To play sports on the streets, whether it's running or biking is dangerous. Even walking here is dangerous. Therefore, I have long abandoned the plugs, creating a vacuum and complete detachment from what is happening around. And for the same reason Aftershokz Bluez 2 positions as sports headphones for the city. Sometimes the need to not only hear the music becomes synonymous with life and the only chance to try to save himself. It's sad, but that is the reality of the city.
Shower
Coming under heavy rain, I deliberately left the headphones on his head. Honestly, I forgot to read the description and specifications of the manufacturer, and therefore did not know whether Bluez 2 waterproof or not. Whatever happens. All the same, the headphones are not mine, I just asked for a temporary stay "test pilot". If something happens, I will say that they drowned. Not sure whether it is possible to compare the sweat and rain, but more important is that the headphones are not dead, and continued to perform well. At home I found in the specifications of protection against dust and water IP55 level.
TTH
headphones type | cordless |
type of mounting | occipital headband |
audio transmission technology | based on bone conduction |
sound mode | stereo |
Range | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
The maximum sound pressure | 100 dB |
Built-in microphone | there is |
microphone sensitivity | 41 dB |
type of connection | Bluetooth v. 3.0 |
Supported profiles | Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) Audio / Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) Headset Profile (HSP) Hands-Free Profile (HFP) |
Radius of action | to 10 m |
Battery | Lithium-ion |
Working hours | to 6 hours music playback |
charging time | 3 hr |
Colour | black, green, red |
Size and weight | 15.24 × 15.24 × 6.1 cm, 41 g |
Protection | IP55 |
conclusion
Friends and acquaintances who had seen me in these headphones, they asked about the purpose of a strange device. Recognizes the purpose of enhancement asked about the cost of waiting to hear the exorbitant sum. With the price of everything is better than you might think: Aftershokz Blues 2 costs $ 100. For such a space the original device is quite bearable, and compare especially there is nothing.
In this case, the headphones can not be called a champion of sound. They need to get used to. You have to force yourself not to think that something quite unusual on your head. Otherwise, you will repeat my experience and will feel unnatural sound, which they actually do not.
To attract attention and to surprise friends geeks? Yes, of course, this task perfectly cope Bluez 2.
Loud listen to music at the office or in public transport? No, in any case, audible to others is very high.
The most rational view these headphones are exactly as their positions manufacturer: comfortable wireless headset for sports and life in the man-made environment. Listen to music, without ceasing to hear the dangers of the city.
Layfhaker is grateful to online store Medgadgets.ru for providing the test device.