Bluez 2 By AfterShokz Review

There isn't exactly that broad of an offering for bone conductive headphones on the market, and not a whole lot of people know the technology even exists. Bone conductive headphones allow you to listen to music by sending vibrations via your skull, now you may think this is unusual but I assure you it's pretty amazing.

My first experience with bone conductive audio was through Google Glass, and that implementation really left me wanting. At that moment I questioned this method of audio playback's chances at even reaching the masses in the first place. After spending a few minutes with the Bluez 2 by Aftershokz, it became clear to me that this will be a go to product for those who exercise outside and need to be aware of their surroundings.

The Bluez 2 work over bluetooth which only adds to the feeling that you are hearing voices in your head. They pair fairly seamlessly, and the sound quality if better than I expected (Disclaimer: they aren't meant to overpower the sounds that surround you, if that is what you are looking for these are not your headphones). They fit comfortably and press into the area in front of your ears, where they will project their vibrations (read: music). These vibrations are mostly imperceptible, unless you raise the volume all the way at which point you will feel as if the Bluez are trying to jump of your head on each side. This is accompanied by a loss of bass and the sound of the actual device vibrating which is rather unpleasant.

They are sweat resistant and come with a small strap for a tighter fit, so no matter how vigorous your run, these bad boys are staying put. They also come with a soft carrying case and reflective stickers to make you more visible when you run in the evenings or early mornings. Speaking of the soft case I wish they would have invested a little more and included a hard case to keep them safe (I'll elaborate more on that later).

The build quality of the Bluez is reminiscent of their $99 price tag, which is to say, premium isn't a word you will be thinking of as they bend when you are putting them on or taking them off. They are not designed to be thrown in your bag with the rest of your gear while you are on the go. The have a rigid and frail frame which you are better off leaving on your head than putting away. Our review unit had the ill fate of spending a night out in my bag and didn't quite survive the adventure.

Wrap Up

The Bluez 2 by Aftershokz are designed to allow you to listen to music while still hearing your surroundings, and they do this with aplomb. It is refreshing to see innovation in the audio space with the development of a new way to actually take in music. If you are that runner that does so in an environment where your attention is a must, I highly recommend the Bluez 2. That not being the case I would wait for something more solidly built to explore this technology. Aftershokz built these with runners as their target, and did a great job. I look forward to when they release something with the urban commuter in mind.