As someone who never leaves home without a pair of headphones, it’s alarming to learn how many pedestrians get seriously injured or killed because they’re too preoccupied to notice cars and trains.
The study from the University of Maryland Hospital for Children found the number of such cases increased to 47 in 2010-2011 from 16 in 2004-2005. The bottom line: Sensory deprivation can be deadly for pedestrians.
But with AfterShokz headphones, that isn’t an issue. Instead of being in-ear, on-ear, over-ear or any other preposition you can affix to ear, they use bone conduction technology, allowing pedestrians to still hear ambient noise. Since the headphones are near the ear, sound waves reach the inner ear with vibrations through the skull, so you can hear and feel the lows for bass-heavy songs.
The headphones use a rechargeable battery, which is powered with a proprietary USB drive that the headphone cable plugs into. The in-line control is a bit bulky because it houses the battery. The sport model is also water- and sweat-resistant.
But how do they sound? After trying them out, I find the sound to be decent. They don’t quite compare to high-end over-ear headphones, but they do the job, especially if you’re paranoid about accidentally getting hit by traffic or worry about losing your hearing at a young age. The sound’s also less confined, so it travels freely, meaning others can hear out what you’re listening to.
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