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SoundGuys
soundguys.com › home › earbuds & headphones › bone conduction headphones: gimmick or godsend?
Bone conduction headphones: Gimmick or godsend? - SoundGuys
June 6, 2025 - Since these don’t seal around or even touch the ear canal, they allow you to hear other pedestrians, passing cars, and other potential hazards. What’s more, if you suffer from hearing loss and use hearing aids, bone conduction headphones are a viable option. While conventional earbuds and headphones may interfere with or jostle hearing aids, bone conduction headphones bypass this. Additionally, listeners who are deaf in one ear may enjoy stereo sound ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphones › bone conduction is just bullshit
r/headphones on Reddit: Bone conduction is just bullshit
May 5, 2023 -

So I have a late model Shokz and can tell you from experience: this "technology" is just hype and bullshit. It's just a speaker placed next to your ear, that's all. At best, what's left to be conducted through your skin and bones is just residual bass, maybe less than 5%. Plugged my ears with proper earplugs and played music in the Shokz. Nearly NOTHING is left, and I assure most of it is just normal sound still leaking through the earplugs, and appropriately muffed.

I don't know how no one ever tested or debunked this thing yet. I was first made aware of this possibility when I visited a Best Buy and tried on these eyeglasses (mind me, from Bose!) with tiny speakers attached. So, they don't purport to be "bone conduction" phones. They sound pretty much the same as my Shokz, it's the same experience.

Coming to think of it, how could it possibly work in the first place? Good sound is a lot more complex than just shockwaves.

My 2 cents.

Edit: I'm not saying the end result is unsatisfactory. I'm just saying it's not conducting any significant amount of sound through the puported means (bone conduction) and that's their entire claim to fame. Bone conduction. It's the deceitful nature of the purported technology itself that bothers me. Other than that, these headphones are good for the intended result - leave your ears free to outside noise.

Edit 2. Still not convinced? I have my Shokz on me now. If I slightly remove its contact with the skin, it should go silent, right? Well, it doesn't. Now try that with the screwdriver thing and see if you can hear anything.

Edit 3. Hey, look: all these "bone conduction" headphones have clear sound openings conveniently directed to you ear canals!

Discussions

How good is bone conduction? - General IEM Discussion - The HEADPHONE Community
In the holiday shopping spree I’ve been getting ads from https://aftershokz.com Bone conduction seems interesting for sports but I do have a set of Bose Pulse that I love. Does anybody have any experience with bone conduction earphones… uh… maybe it’s bonephones?? More on forum.headphones.com
🌐 forum.headphones.com
0
October 26, 2018
isitbullshit: conduction headphones that don't go in your ear
Bone conduction. It works, and should be just as quiet to others as regular headphone/earbuds. Can't tell you how well they work compared to normal though. I imagine it's less damaging on your eardrums More on reddit.com
🌐 r/IsItBullshit
125
134
January 28, 2024
Can anyone advise on best bone conducting headphones?
i tries Shokz, they are ok, but bone conduction is always a compromise when it comes sound quality, and in my eyes a waste of money to buy anything but the base models (unless you need specific features). Are you looking for a pair of earphones for working out? I can recommend the QCY Crossky Link, excellent value for very little money. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Earbuds
6
2
August 11, 2023
Why not bone conduction headphones? Top 5 bone conduction recommendation
It's definitely a good practical idea if you need a pair of earbuds for sports, but for sound quality, they are at the bottom of the chain. It shouldn't come as a surprise that most people getting earbuds want their music to sound good too. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Earbuds
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11
June 14, 2023
People also ask

Why are bone conduction headphones more comfortable than traditional in-ear air-conduction headphones?
Unlike in-ear models that can put pressure on the ear canal, bone conduction headphones rest on the temporal bone, eliminating discomfort. Additionally, the open-ear design prevents the buildup of heat and moisture, especially during exercise, which can cause irritation.
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shokz.com
shokz.com › home
Bone Conduction Headphones: Technical Challenges and Benefits
Does Bone Conduction Headphones Damage Hearing?
Bone conduction headphones are generally safer for your hearing because they transmit sound through your bones, bypassing the eardrum. This reduces the risk of eardrum damage compared to traditional headphones. However, listening at very high volumes for long periods can still be harmful, so it’s best to keep the volume moderate. More info: https://shokz.com/blogs/news/bone-conduction-headphones-hearing-safety
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shokz.com
shokz.com › home
Bone Conduction Headphones: Technical Challenges and Benefits
Can I use bone conduction headphones with tinnitus?

Tinnitus typically is a product of the brain in response to hearing loss. Bone conduction headphones won’t cure your tinnitus, but they’re safe to use.

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soundguys.com
soundguys.com › home › earbuds & headphones › bone conduction headphones: gimmick or godsend?
Bone conduction headphones: Gimmick or godsend? - SoundGuys
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Shokz
shokz.com › home
Bone Conduction Headphones: Technical Challenges and Benefits
1 week ago - Bone conduction headphones often struggle to produce deep, rich bass. This is because of the physical limitations of sound transmission through bone. Its higher density means that more energy is needed to transmit low-frequency vibrations.
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Live Science
livescience.com › technology
Best bone conduction headphones 2025: Ideal for swimming, running and hearing impairments | Live Science
3 weeks ago - ... ✅ … but do not want to compromise on quality: They are sweatproof, long-lasting and well-connected, and many online users have praised them for their comfortable fit and good sound quality.
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Soundly
soundly.com › blog › shokz-bone-conduction-headphones-review
An Audiologist's Review of Shokz Bone Conduction Headphones
I liked how lightweight they felt, and the sound quality was good, even with the open-ear aspect of these headphones. Users who prefer a bass-heavier sound may like something other than bone-conduction headphones.
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Which?
which.co.uk › technology › audio › headphones › best bone conduction headphones
Best bone conduction headphones: Shokz, Philips and more rated - Which?
1 month ago - The best bone conduction headphones have far superior sound quality to the worst, our testing revealed. They're excellent for runners, walkers and cyclists who want to be able to hear the world around them as well as their favourite tracks - ...
Find elsewhere
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Bose
bose.com › home › story listing › air conduction vs. bone conduction: the ultimate guide
Air Conduction vs. Bone Conduction: Open-ear Audio Guide | Bose
April 22, 2024 - Bone conduction testing has also found that bone conduction headphones have a limited ability to perceive the sound of ... earbuds. The sound provided by air conduction headphones is familiar and comfortable and doesn’t take you out of your listening experience.
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Audio Science Review
audiosciencereview.com › forums
Bone Conduction Headphones
August 8, 2025 - Discussion, reviews, measurements and tests of headphones and headphone amplifiers.
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Runner's World
runnersworld.com › gear › tech › the 8 best open-ear and bone conduction headphones for safer running
The 8 Best Open-Ear and Bone Conduction Headphones
November 25, 2025 - Not only are they good from a safety perspective, but bone conduction headphones can be useful for anyone that suffers from hearing loss because of problems with their outer or middle ear.
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TechRadar
techradar.com › health & fitness › fitness headphones
The best bone conduction headphones 2025: Stay aware on the road, in the pool, and in the office
November 21, 2025 - Earbuds that leave your ears open are becoming more common too, and we have a dedicated guide to the best open earbuds. Bone conduction headphones have reasonable-to-good sound quality
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HEADPHONE Community
forum.headphones.com › iems / in-ear-monitors › general iem discussion
How good is bone conduction? - General IEM Discussion - The HEADPHONE Community
October 26, 2018 - In the holiday shopping spree I’ve been getting ads from https://aftershokz.com Bone conduction seems interesting for sports but I do have a set of Bose Pulse that I love. Does anybody have any experience with bone cond…
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Audiophile ON
audiophileon.com › news › best-bone-conduction-headphones
The 8 Absolute Best Bone Conduction Headphones for 2025 — Audiophile ON
October 24, 2025 - Yes, they work very well, and the technology has existed for many years. At this stage, bone conduction headphones have good sound quality and numerous safety advantages over traditional headphones.
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SoundGuys
soundguys.com › home › earbuds & headphones › the best bone conduction headphones 2025: stay aware in any environment
The best bone conduction headphones 2025: Stay aware in any environment
July 7, 2025 - Bone conduction headphones don’t sound as good as a pair of the best headphones on the market will, but they do sound good for something that doesn’t provide any isolation. Typically, sub-bass and bass are virtually inaudible with bone conduction headphones, making them a good option for spoken-word content.
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CNET
cnet.com › tech › mobile › headphones › best bone-conduction headphones of 2025
Best Bone-Conduction Headphones of 2025 - CNET
November 16, 2024 - While they do offer a bit fuller sound with more bass -- it's an incremental improvement, not a huge leap forward -- like other bone-conduction headphones these are strongest in the midrange where voices live so they're very good for podcasts, talk radio, newscasts and audiobooks...
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What Hi-Fi?
whathifi.com › headphones
Bone conduction headphones: Everything you need to know | What Hi-Fi?
December 20, 2023 - In our experience, they don't compete with the sound quality of the best 'normal' wireless earbuds out there, sounding more compressed in comparison while also lacking, in relative terms, bass depth and the punch that makes music sound exciting.
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Soundcore
soundcore.com › home › blog center › headphones blog › bone conduction headphones vs earbuds: which to choose?
Bone Conduction Headphones vs Earbuds: Which Is Better?
October 9, 2024 - Because of this design, bone conduction headphones have these few disadvantages: Bone conduction headphones aren't comfortable, especially for people with glasses or long hair. They also have subpar sound quality because of their lower volume ...
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Treble Health
treblehealth.com › shokz-bone-conduction-headphones-review-blog-2022
Shokz Bone Conduction Headphones Review | Treble Health
April 18, 2023 - So if you’re someone who needs situational sound therapy for tinnitus, this is a good option to consider because the battery life is long enough to be used for about half the day, but it’s not meant to be used for the full day. ... Now let’s talk about the drawbacks, things that you should look out for, if you’re considering using these for sound therapy for tinnitus. Most people will not be able to have conversations with strangers while they are using bone conduction headphones.