Here is another great find from this year’s CES. I’ve used different headphones and earbuds before, but these are really great.
They have quickly become my new favorite wireless headphones.
The Bluez 2S by AfterShokz are wireless bone conduction headphones that do not go inside or cover your ears. The transducers rest on your cheekbones in front of your ears, while the headphones curls over the ears and headband wraps behind the head.
The Bluez 2S headphones come with:
• USB – micro USB charging cable
• Adjustable tension band
• Reflective stickers
• Operating and maintenance manual
• Carrying bag
Features include:
• PremiumPitch+™ + stereo sound
• LeakSlayer™ reduces sound leakage
• Audrey Says™ voice prompts
• IP55 sweat resistant
• Repels sweat and moisture
• Dual noise canceling microphones
• Bluetooth v4.0
• Six hours of continuous play of music + calls
• Charges in two hours
• Ten days of standby time
• Wireless range is 33ft
• Two year warranty
Bone conduction technology has been around for a while, but this is the first time I had actually come across a device using it. The sound waves are delivered through the cheekbones, to the inner ear, rather than through the air and to the eardrum.
These are not noise canceling headphones, but open ear headphones. So they do not go into or cover any parts of your ears. That means it allows you to hear ambient sound or noise, like a car or person speaking to you. Which is good since it is against the law, in California now, to have both ears covered with earbuds/headphones. It also prevents moisture and sweat from forming in your ears, which can be bad.
Very lightweight and comfortable. The sound quality is not quite the same as with regular earbuds and headphones, but still sounds good. So if you are looking for noise canceling headphones, these are not what you want to use.
We left Las Vegas the day after CES ended. On that drive back to Los Angeles I started using the Bluez 2S. I was able to converse with my other two friends with the radio playing in the car, while I was listening to my music through the headphones. Lasted the entire drive, with one bathroom break, which took about five hours. Tested out the phone feature a few days later with a couple of friends and that worked fine. They said the sound was really good and they could not hear any background noise, like the radio playing in the car.
The Bluez 2S runs about $99.95 and comes in 4 colors. They do have a few other wireless headphone models to choose from: Bluez 2 ($79.95), Gamez ($99.95) and the Trekz Titanium ($129.99).
The Trekz Titanium is the newest model from AfterShokz. I tried these on at their CES booth. The sound seemed a little bit better and the headband is more flexible and lighter.
Check out aftershokz.com for more information, to purchase or to find an authorized AfterShokz retailer.
* Dean received a pair of Bluez 2S for editorial purposes.
