I have a problem with in-ear headphones.
Specifically, an earwax problem. My brother-in-law CC (who’s an ENT surgeon) suggested I try bone conduction ones instead, and they’re the bomb. I bought them in Singapore for about $200, but I believe they’re also available here in Australia. I bought the lighter weight ones – the kids bought the titanium model which is about $50 cheaper.
As you can see from the advertising photo, they sit against the side of your face rather than in or over your ear, transmitting the sound via vibration. Monkey Girl told me that the technology was originally invented for folks with hearing loss, as it bypasses the eardrum completely. According to the AfterShokz website: “Transducers guide mini vibrations through the cheekbones to the inner ears, delivering sound without plugging or covering them.”
I’ve now been using these for a month, so I can offer the following personal feedback:
- they don’t give me an earwax problem, which is fantastic. They also don’t get gross like earbuds.
- the sound quality is astonishingly good. It blew us all away from the moment we tried it in the store.
- the microphone is excellent and phone calls made on them are clear.
- they don’t work well on planes or other places with lots of ambient noise unless you’re happy to use them with earplugs (which I’m not).
- they cause my cheekbones to ache if I wear them for too long. The tops of my ears as well, although that’s probably because they’re sitting on top of my glasses.
- they’re much safer for walking and exercising out of doors, because you can hear a bike horn or an approaching car.
- they’re not great to use while eating, as the chewing disrupts the sound transmission.
- they’re hard to wear lying down, as the band is solid, so when you lie on it, the pads are pushed out of place.
- they’re quite discreet, so if you have long (dark) hair, you can hide them quite well and ignore boring conversations without anyone noticing (my niece taught me that one).
As you can see, I’m still quite excited about them! If you’re interested in these, I’d recommend trying them first to see if you like the sensation – it takes a little bit of getting used to!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
yup, agree….I have a pair (same brand) that I bought in Japan 2 years ago, love ’em to death. Weird that the sound quality is so good…who knew eh?
How funny, I ordered some of these for Big Man the other day, they’re due to arrive today!
THANK you. I have been trying to get a good monaural ear phone for decades for one reason you offered – I want to be able to hear sirens, bike bells etc. Idiots at Dick Smith etc telling me to cut one bud off a stereo set. “That works ONLY if there is a mono switch which some sets used to have. If the set is STEREO and the recording is STEREO – particularly for a conversation – of course one hears only half; classic FM in particular often has the applause on one channel. “I don’t listen to that, I dunno what stereo means.” “Techsperts” indeed!
They use them at the Banjo Paterson Museum up in Winton. A much healthy option when devices have to be shared. Frankly I loved them!
Interesting. I wonder if the G.O. could wear them with his hearing/tinnitus aids. Can’t see why not.
What a revelation! I am yet to find earbuds that dont make my ears tender, sore and also constantly fallout leading me to think i have some sort of ear deformity…although they look normal. Need to save my pennies.