this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2024
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There’s a difference between using closed-back noise-cancelling headphones in an office or plane and using open-back headphones or bone-conduction while riding a bike or running so you can hear vehicles and other runners/cyclists around you.
Open-back headphones are not just niche usage. They are also used for music production, watching movies at home (feels like you’re listening to speakers in the room with you instead of small headphones), and gaming (open soundstage makes pinpointing sound around you like footsteps more accurate).
Yes, it's walking around outside while listening to music that is a niche usage. I know that some people do it and can't live without it, but I tend to feel that is unusual. It's annoying to see "these earphones let you keep hearing other people's conversations around you" as if that was a desirable feature, which it almost never is.
You tend to feel? Mate, it's not unusual, it's been done for decades by lots of people. Go outside and look.
The Walkman, introduced in the 80's, would like a word. As would the first electronic handheld radios in the 60's.
Niche? You keep using that word. I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Many people outside do not have headphones on. But most people who are walking/running/cycling do have them on.
Yup. I used to bike with headphones hanging around my neck so i could hear some music but also the world. Its much better now with passthrough, I can put them in my ears to hear both the audio and world normally.
These look even better than the active passthrough, as they would use way less power for the same benefit. Im exactly the market for these "open" headphones.
For what it’s worth, I’ve quite enjoyed my aftershokz, on my second pair. The one downside I have is that the wind going over them makes a noise in my ear, and the furry things you clip to your bike helmet straps don’t help enough. don’t get me wrong, you have the wind noise in your ears regardless, but the aftershocks make it worse.
On the plus side, I don’t have to worry about them ever falling off, unlike these, strapped underneath my helmet like they are.