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  • Murloc - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    "earplugs (to block out external noise when using the Trekz Titanium in noisy environments)"
    in that case anybody would use traditional headphones and enjoy the better quality.

    The point of these is listening to music and not getting run over by a car.
  • Yojimbo - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Not everyone is willing to buy two different sets of phones, one for when they want to block out other noises and one for when they don't. Plus people with damaged eardrums or middle ears may want to listen to music via bone conduction while blocking out other sounds coming through the eardrum in preference to phones that pipe in music through the eardrums.
  • Jon Tseng - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Tx for the review... I'm currently using the Trekz Titanium, previously used the Spotz and Bluez 2s. My 2c:

    1) The killer app for me is running home from work while being able to hear what's happening around me - obvious reasons about avoiding getting run over. Given how many people are active nowadays I'm amazed the category isn't more popular. (same obviously applies for cyclists although I would hesitate to cycle in traffic with any distraction, open ear or not).

    2) I'm no expert but compared to audiophile quality buds sound quality is undoubtedly sucky (I almost exclusively listen to podcasts so not an issue). NB I recently tried the Damson Headbones head to head with the Trekz and the audio quality was notable better/richer - although as I said probably not that impressive vs. normal buds/monitors/headphones.

    3) The plastic on my Bluez 2 snapped randomly when taking it off. The big advantage of the Trekz is that the Ti band is much more deformable/flexible so that's not a worry. One worry is that the Bluez might get snapped in transit as it only comes with a soft case; one advantage of the Damson Headbones is that it can fold up in the carry case.

    4) Overall well worth the money.
  • Jon Tseng - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    5) Also if you have them on loud sound leakage is def an issue - also there's a slightly uncomfortable buzzing feeling. Fine on most of the vol settings though apart from the very highest.
  • exetico - Sunday, March 27, 2016 - link

    Hi Jon,

    I can see that the 2S is available for 65 USD from AliExpress. Do you recommend to grab the Trekz Titanium or the 2S? I did search a lot on the internet, but i can't find the right answer/arguments. Is it worth it, spending the extra, consider that i haven't any experiences with bone conduction headphones...

    Please let me know :-)
  • rickon66 - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Google "Bone Phone" 1980. Had one, was not impressed.
  • damianrobertjones - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Can I 'Bing' instead? Oh go on, please.
  • thingi - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Yeah.... Amazing Value NOT! UK Pricing is a joke, On average they are over twice the US sticker price. How can a pair of $39.00 phones become £50?Even taking VAT and Delivery there is NO excuse for price gouging on this scale.

    Pure piss taking, thats what their pricing is.
  • thingi - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    In fact after re-reading the end of the article regarding pricing, this isn't a 'capsule review', it's an advert in disguise (and a pretty poor one at that).

    To quote "Additionally, online reviews also consistently indicate better satisfaction with the AfterShokz models."

    PROVE IT. Where are your sources?

    Not impressed Anandtech.
  • dsumanik - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Dude I'm sorry but you are Just going to have to give it up....AT has been lost for years now and it's never coming back. It's an advertising platform with no interest in serving its users whatsoever anymore. It's all about masking advertisements as reviews in order generate revenue. The best thing we can do is stop reading the articles and move on so they can't sell more ads like this to companies.
  • BrokenCrayons - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    I've seen quite a few accusations from you in the comments box so it seems as though you're not acknowledging the value of your own opinion when you say, "The best thing we can do is stop reading the articles and move on...," and if you can't take your own advice, then where's the point in anyone else accepting the validity of your thoughts?
  • Ryan Smith - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    We're still here, we're still writing reviews and investigating hardware, and the only ads on this site are the ads on the side, clearly outside of our content area.
  • ganeshts - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    So, an advert talks about the drawbacks of the unit, and also mentions competitors? That is news to me.

    As for 'online reviews indicating better satisfaction', a search on Amazon for bone conduction headphones as of right now:

    (1) Panasonic wireless bone conduction headphones together : 82 reviews average 2 stars
    (2) Panasonic wired bone conduction headphones together : 82 reviews average 3 stars
    (3) Audio Bone : 15 reviews average 2.5 stars
    (4) Damson Audio : 10 reviews average 3.5 stars
    (5) Raking : 56 reviews 4 stars

    Now, coming to AfterShokz models:

    (1) Sportz 3 : 114 reviews, 4 stars
    (2) Sportz M3 : 106 reviews, 4 stars
    (3) Bluez 2 : 364 reviews, 4 stars
    (4) Bluez 2S : 26 reviews, 4.5 stars

    Given the number of reviews and ratings, I think I am justified and PROVING it that "online reviews also consistently indicate better satisfaction with the AfterShokz models."

    Why would I want to spend so much time looking into internals / poring over FCC docs to find the platform etc. if I wanted to write an advertisement? You are overthinking this. Please stop impugning my editorial integrity with these sorts of accusations.
  • thingi - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Fair enough, and thank you for your reply, but then again we live in a world of 'paid for' purchase reviews on Amazon (no accusations - just saying). Bearing that it mind I'm not entirely sure I'd place too much trust on the law of Amazon review averages.

    Onto their price gouging in the UK, I notice you havn't commented on that part of my critique.
  • ganeshts - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Thanks for bringing the UK pricing issue to the notice of the readers. To be frank, I never looked up UK pricing (I am based in the US) and I am not familiar with the VAT and other taxes that usually get added. (Btw, the US pricing of $40 doesn't include sales tax etc. - the final price will be closer to $45 depending on the location where one is making the purchase from - this is different compared to the EU where the amount mentioned is what you pay at the 'counter'). Btw, I noticed that the Trekz Titanium is 110 pounds that seems the other way round compared to the 50 pounds for the Sportz 3 - so it looks like the pricing is definitely a bit strange in the UK.

    I am going to pass on the link to the review and the comments to the PR agency that provided the sample. Hopefully, some steps will be taken to fix the problem of UK pricing for certain models.
  • thingi - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    The thing that got me was the 'cheap enough to check out' comment. It was at that point I went looking to buy a pair of the Sportz 3's...

    If I'd found them for £30 to £35 without having to resort to importing I'd have plonked down my notes earlier this afternoon (and probably upgraded if I liked them) but not at a £50.

    Lets hope they sort out their distributor asap.
  • Murloc - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    not just the EU, the whole world except the US actually.
  • Murloc - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    they have over 100 reviews they can't be all fake.
  • AndrewJacksonZA - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    Ganesh, the next time I'm in the States and we meet up (err, the first time I'm in the States and we meet up) remind me to buy you a coke/coffee/tea for all the "carp" that you have to put up with from your readers.

    And that goes for whichever member of Anandtech staff I might meet when I'm next over there. (Err, the first time I go over there.)
  • Jon Tseng - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Hey thingi. Well if you are that crossabout it there is nothing to stop you going and buying them from Amazon US direct...

    For the $39.95 Sportz 3, Amazon.com will ship to the UK at a cost of $15.30 shipping and tax. At current exchange rates that's just over £38 (though your card company may sting you on the FX rate).

    No point throwing your toys out of the pram about it. If you really are annoyed about USD consumer goods being overpriced feel free to picket your nearest Apple Store...
  • thingi - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Hey, I take your point, the UK Apple tax can indeed burn, but it's nowhere near the level AfterShokz.

    They're running at a near 50% markup over the US price. It's bad enough we have to put up with direct dollar-to-pound gouging, their pricing is on another level.

    I guess they should have chosen their UK re-seller / distributor more carefully.
  • Mr Perfect - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    So every product name out of their marketing department has a Z in it somewhere? That's a little tiresome. Excuze me, tirezome.
  • Jon Tseng - Monday, February 8, 2016 - link

    Fl lcky thy arnt skppng cnsnnts s wll!
  • Stoeptegel2 - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    For an older model I had to put the volume way up to be able to understand speech over wind noise. The high volume is uncomfortable and results in leakage. The leakage results in strange looks if other people can completely follow what you are listening to. :)

    On the Titanium did you feel the need to turn up the volume to compensate for wind noise?
  • Stoeptegel2 - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    I did not mention I meant wind noise during a bike ride...
  • Jon Tseng - Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - link

    Re: My Titaniums...

    I only run so don't know about wind noise (presumably you are biking)... Volume levels overall seem similar to previous versions (I think they admit the audio hasn't had that much of change). When I'm running alongside busy traffic its hard to hear but otherwise is fine.

    I get the uncomfortable buzzing only when on the highest notch. Other settings below that are okay.

    Yeah there is leakage on highest volume. I guess you would only need to have it turned up that high if ambient noise was also high, which means the leakage wouldn't be noticed... If you had it on full volume in a quite room tho it would be noticed.

    Hope that helps!
  • SilthDraeth - Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - link

    Are these actually using "titanium" and not something like Nitinol? Ie an alloy of Titanium and Nickel?
  • Oxford Guy - Friday, February 12, 2016 - link

    Are there any bone conduction sets that aren't wireless so one can get better sound quality? Also, does this help with tinnitus?
  • maestrolb - Sunday, July 3, 2016 - link

    I've had two pairs of the AfterShockz headphones. Not well designed as they have both succumbed to perspiration ingress resulting in failure. The first set was replaced under warranty, the second which had the same damage was out of warranty (non-evergreen warranty) and the response was try the newer pair. We had moisture problems with the pair you bought. Nah!!!
  • ryan824 - Sunday, April 2, 2017 - link

    Check the reviews for best studio headphones too http://www.gadgetsdeck.com/2017/03/best-studio-hea...

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