Do you train or commute in magnificent isolation? Blocking-out ambient noise is one of the best ways to immerse your self in your music. If you happen to’re understanding in a gymnasium then that is all tremendous, however when you’re out on a run in an city atmosphere, or commuting by means of busy streets and stations, you do really need to listen to these automobiles and different folks round you to keep away from collisions.
Cue open-ear sport headphones just like the Trekz Air, which do away not solely with noise isolation, however with intrusive earbuds altogether.
Whereas most producers stick with expertise that stresses noise isolation and cancellation, AfterShokz has bucked the pattern by selling situational consciousness, and it does it utilizing bone conduction.
The Trekz Air are a pair of wi-fi headphones that wrap across the again of your neck and AfterShokz, their producer, are eager to emphasize that the expertise has come on rather a lot, and now doesn’t suggest sacrificing bass.
In our checks, that is largely true, although with a proviso (see the Efficiency part, beneath).
Though they’re geared toward ‘elite and aspiring athletes’ (aren’t they all the time?), a worth level of £149.99 (US$$149.95, AU$219) makes them reasonably priced to anybody after a severe pair of headphones for normal use. You may properly purchase these for operating round metropolis streets, however they will need to work a bit tougher than that for the cash.
If the value is simply an excessive amount of, know that AfterShokz’s debut, a barely chunkier, much less close-fitting try at bone conduction headphones, the Titanium, now sells for a extra palatable £99.99 (US$$129.95, AU$149).
Design
The important thing design function of the Trekz Air is, in fact, that they are not earphones in any respect, however audio system. AfterShokz calls this ‘OpenFit’, and regardless of them permitting you to listen to what is going on on round you, a kind of small bone conduction transducers comes with an additional security choice; a mute button. On the left-hand facet and straightforward to search out, it is designed for the consumer to press when, say, crossing a busy highway.
Much less neckbuds and extra head-backbuds, the Trekz Air are sturdy, but they flex. So much. That is because of the usage of loads of titanium of their design, which permits them to be twisted and tugged a shocking quantity.
It means they are often worn across the neck, shoved right into a pocket or balanced on a hook, which is all helpful stuff for a pair of headphones designed for use when exercising. So too is their IP55-rated waterproof construct.
A small mute button is included that can assist you lower out the music at essential moments.
They may be a novel proposition, however the Trekz Air aren’t any heavyweight; they weigh a mere 30g. Nevertheless, the mushy silicon overlaying along with the cautious positioning of the electronics implies that the Trekz Air have a tendency to remain in a single place, nonetheless lively. Actually, they barely transfer no matter it’s you are doing.
That is partly to do with the supplies used and the weighting and positioning of the assorted parts, but it surely’s additionally acquired to do with the place the audio system themselves sit in your head. No less than on the face that we examined them on, the Trekz Air sat comfortably inside a small dimple space on the high of the jawbone. It is a actually refined, cautious, intelligent design.
As you may count on, it is also doable to take hands-free calls on the Trekz Air. For that specific function, every speaker comes geared up with noise canceling microphones to minimize ambient noise throughout calls to make voices as clear as doable.
Efficiency
Set-up was straightforward, with a feminine voice referred to as Audrey confirming that the Bluetooth pairing course of with a telephone had labored. Thanks, Audrey.
On either side of the Trekz Air there is a small fingertip-sized housing that accommodates batteries and controls, although in addition they have a job to play in holding the Trekz Air nonetheless on the again of the pinnacle.
The controls are easy, too; on the right-hand facet are quantity buttons, which ship a tone to the audio system with each press (and a higher-pitch tone when the utmost quantity is reached). That is essential as a result of, as open-ear headphones, there’s a threat of sound leakage.
We did not really suppose this was a serious downside; folks near you’ll be able to positively hear what you are listening to in case your music is at full quantity, however provided that you are in a really quiet atmosphere. Nevertheless, they’re nice across the workplace, the place you’ll be able to take heed to music and and by no means concern that you’re going to miss a barked order from the boss.
So how do they sound? In a sentence; ok for the gymnasium or workplace, and far fuller than the AfterShokz Titanium, however inferior to a pair of standard headphones or earphones.
In addition to testing them within the gymnasium and on a run, we took them by means of a busy metropolis centre and located that quantity and bass ranges actually weren’t excessive sufficient when in a situation the place there’s a lot of chatter, or in a blustery wind. Put the Trekz Air on full quantity and also you begin to really feel the vibrations in your jawbone, with the odd sensation of a slight tickle in your ears.
So it is most likely greatest to keep away from these for commuting, and maintain them for the gymnasium or a jog, the place they are going to fortunately function, tickle-free, on lower than full quantity.
Battery life
One in every of our greatest gripes concerning the Trekz Air must be its brief battery life. Sure, we realise that it is light-weight design is guilty, and we’re detest to criticise that, however simply six hours does put them within the dreaded ‘day use’ class.
We do not thoughts charging our smartphones in a single day, however headphones additionally? No thanks. The saviour is a quick-charge mode that sees the Trekz Air recharge sufficient in simply 15 minutes to get you thru an hour within the gymnasium.
That mentioned, when you’re simply after the Aftershokz Trekz Air for health use, then the battery will probably be nice and simply final a marathon for almost everybody.
However many individuals don’t desire headphones for only one use any extra – particularly at this worth -and if that is you, then you definately may discover the battery life a bit brief .
We appreciated
Most exercise-centric headphones that declare to block-out noise create an odd impact that’s by no means on their options listing; they feed into your ears the vibrations out of your toes as they hit the bottom.
By avoiding your ears, the Trekz Air do not try this in any respect, whereas nonetheless delivering respectable sound high quality. In addition they have an incredible match; secure and regular, they do not transfer a lot in any respect when out operating. Kudos to the designers for the cautious weighting, and exact positioning of the audio system and parts. It is even doable to put on a baseball cap whereas sporting the Trekz Air with none overlap.
We disliked
The Trekz Air lack the quantity to manage in out of doors situations with a lot of background noise, and the general sound high quality isn’t up there with common headphones. Put them on full and there is additionally a bizarre ear-tickle to deal with.
Add to that the battery points that individuals who need to use these extra broadly, and you will see they are not good. Nevertheless, each of those points are pure limitations of the tech and design, so it is exhausting to castigate too exhausting for his or her lack of skill.
Remaining verdict
A scarcity of final readability in busy environments was all the time going to let down the Trekz Air; in spite of everything, its bone conduction audio system are actually designed to do the alternative of most headphones that declare noise isolation or cancellation.
The slight ‘tickle’ of the ears can even put-off some, however let’s stress one factor; the Trekz Air are excellent within the gymnasium, or when you’re out on a run within the countryside.
Our greatest situation with the Trekz Air is not the usage of bone conduction, however its brief battery life. Nevertheless, that is brought on by a intelligent light-weight design that is exhausting to withstand, and which supplies the Trekz Air a attribute that is really distinctive; they’re so gentle and un-intrusive that it is simple to overlook you are sporting them. And that, absolutely, is what true immersion in music is de facto all about.