I discovered one of my favorite earphones ever at the AfterShokz booth at last year’s CES 2016. Those were the Bluez 2S.
At this year’s CES, the AfterShokz booth had a newer model of earphone, the Trekz Titanium.
Just like the Bluez 2S, the Trekz Titanium 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 curl over the ears and headband wraps behind the head.
The headphones come with:
• USB – micro USB charging cable
• 2 FitBands
• 2 Earplugs
• Operating and maintenance manual
• Carrying bag
Features include:
• PremiumPitch+™ Stereo Sound
• Audrey Says™ voice prompts
• Sweat Resistant-IP55 Certified (repels sweat and moisture)
• Lightweight Titanium Frame
• Dual Noise Canceling Microphones
• Multipoint Pairing
• OpenFit™ Design
Other Specifications:
• Bluetooth v4.1
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery
• Six hours of continuous play of music + calls
• Charges in 1.5 hours
• Ten days of standby time
• Wireless range is 33ft (10m)
• Two year warranty
The Trekz Titanium is basically an updated version of the Bluez 2S, which I did a Tech Review last year. It still uses Bone Conduction Technology in which the sound waves are delivered through the cheekbones, to the inner ear, rather than through the air and to the eardrum.
They are not noise canceling headphones, but open ear headphones. So they do not go into or cover any parts of your ears. This allows you to hear ambient sound or noise, like a car or person speaking to you. It also prevents moisture and sweat from forming in your ears, unlike earbuds.
AfterShokz redesigned the Trekz Titanium to be much more lightweight, comfortable and durable than the Bluez 2S. While at CES, I spoke with one of the AfterShokz representatives about the new look of the headphones. She mentioned to me that there were some issues with the frame of the Bluez 2S, hence the material change to the frame. Some people encountered cracking or breaking of the frame. The new material is slightly rubbery, but with a bit of a hardness that allows it to bend a bit.
As I did last year with the Bluez 2S I picked up from last year’s CES, I tried the Trekz Titanium on the drive home from Las Vegas. The sound quality still seems to be the same, but the fit and feel are much better. I really like the new material being used for the frame. It’s thinner and more durable than the hard plastic of the Bluez 2S. At one point, I dozed off with them on very comfortably, which I could not do with the Bluez 2S. The Trekz Titanium can also be used for hands-free calling too.
I can honestly say that I really love these and they are my new favorite headphones right now.
The Trekz Titanium (Trekz Titanimum Mini – a version for smaller head sizes) run around $129.95.
Available in 4 colors (Slate, Pink, Ocean and Ivy).
AfterShokz also has a line of wired headphones (Sportz Titanium and Sportz M3) with or without microphone.
Check out aftershokz.com for more information, to purchase or find an authorized AfterShokz retailer.
Dean received sample of the product for editorial purposes. His opinions are his own.
