Shokz's "Open Run Pro" takes bone c...

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10
05

Shokz's "Open Run Pro" takes bone conduction earphones to the point where they "want to use": Product Review

The slogan of Shokz's (formerly AfterShokz) bone conduction earphones has always been fascinating. It is a touch that you can hear the surrounding sounds because you can listen to music without putting it in your ear. But in fact, I didn't like it that much.

That's the story so far. For the first time in Shokz's latest bone conduction earphone "Open Run Pro" (released in March 2022 in Japan), I really liked Shokz's earphones and wanted to use them on a daily basis.

The strengths and weaknesses of most bone conduction earphones, as well as previous Shokz products, were two sides of the same coin. This is because bone conduction earphones do not have a structure in which the part where sound is produced is directly inserted into the ear, but a mechanism in which the bones of the head are vibrated to transmit sound. If that doesn't work, it can feel pretty strange.

When I evaluated the bone conduction earphones of the previous AfterShokz era with the US version of "WIRED", I couldn't stand it because of a small growl in my head. Rather, there was even a voice saying that it was better not to wear anything.

That's why the new model OpenRun Pro (formerly known as "Aeropex") is an impressive product. In this test, I didn't really care about the problems pointed out in the previous version. The editor, who had pointed out the problem of growl in the old model, is now wearing it "to enjoy (music, etc.)" for the first time.

Shokzの「OpenRun Pro」は、骨伝導イヤフォンを“使いたい”と思える水準に引き上げた：製品レヴュー

This is my first time testing bone conduction earphones, but I didn't even think about structural issues until I was asked about issues with older models. This fact may be the best compliment to OpenRun Pro.

Usability that does not bother you once you get used to it

When I first tried OpenRun Pro, it took me a while to get used to the sounds I heard. The sound I heard was deep and rich, and it was comfortable to wear, but I felt that the sound was slightly muffled. Since the sound reaches the inner ear after traveling through a lot of cartilage and bones, it is natural that the sound will change a little.

But those differences were subtle, and once I got used to it, it didn't bother me at all. When I used my usual earphones, I just remembered that the sound was muffled in OpenRun Pro.

Even if the difference in sound quality continued to be annoying, I think it was worth it. I could hear the sounds of passing cars and people nearby, so I could continue to feel the surroundings when running or taking a walk in the city. The communication at the cash register was smooth, and I even talked to my friends at least once, forgetting that I was wearing earphones.

Perhaps the only major negative point in terms of sound is that the sound you are listening to is surprisingly easy for others to hear. When I had a friend wear it and sat side by side on the sofa, I knew what song I was listening to even at a medium volume.

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