AfterShokz Bluez 2S Bone Conduction Headphones Review

If you’re in the market for some unique and useful audio solution for your activities, AfterShokz has an offering in the form of the Bluez 2S. Unlike ordinary headphones, this headset delivers music with the use of bone conduction.

We’re not going to stretch this review by explaining in detail how it actually works but it takes advantage of our very bones to deliver sound for us to enjoy.

Will this gadget prove to be a companion that you can rely on or is it just for gimmick and for the sake of having a unique characteristic? We find out in this review.

Design and Construction

Since the process of bone conduction in music-listening needs a physical contact between the source of sound and the bone itself, the Bluez 2S has a headband design to clamp on to the user’s jaw bone/cheek bone. The headband is made entirely of plastic to make things light and flexible. Minor bends are allowable but we don’t feel like testing up to how far back it can go for the fear of snapping it in two.

It has a two-tone color scheme with neon green giving an accent to the dominant black hue of the device.  Apart from neon green, there are also different color options such as black, red, and green metallic.

There is a multi-function button on the outer side of the left transducer. It can trigger play/pause when playing music, skip/select previous tracks, answer/end calls, and activate voice calls just by long pressing or tapping it multiple times.

Both transducers are coated with rubber for added comfort. Not only that, since these headphones are meant to be worn during activities, the rubber pads also help the grip and stay in place when sweat is present.

The only physical buttons seen here are on the underside of the right arm. Here we have the volume control, a water-resistant flap that hides the microUSB port, and the power button.

AfterShockz made this a device that can get wet from sweating and even while raining. Although, it’s not advisable to wear it when you go for a quick dip in the pool as it will not be fully protected from water ingress.

Comfort Factor

Unlike ordinary earphones that you place inside your ears, the Bluez 2S uses bone conduction technology where it’s placed by the bone in front of the ear. The very purpose of this is so that you can still hear ambient sound such as upcoming vehicles beside you while you’re running or biking, for example.

Putting on the headset and using it is a very easy task. Just put it over your head, make sure that it rests comfortably on your cheekbone, and you’re good to go.

Wearing it is very comfortable to the point that we forget that we have it on after some time. The band gives a good clamp, too, which is just right for keeping it on securely without inducing pressure on the contact points.

Performance

We used the Bluez 2S during our morning jogs and could say the sound quality is actually impressive with good details and sufficient volume. One could hear the independent instruments that not all in-ears can all deliver. The transducers can also pump out loud music at its maximum but with a noticeable degradation in overall quality.

Also, we’d like to note that its bass performance is especially noticeable so that’s something good for the bass heads out there. It could sometimes be too much when the volume is turned up that I personally felt the vibrations at the temple of my head so I had to turn it down before I get a migraine.

You might be thinking if others could hear your music while you listen. While there is a subtle sound leak when you’re in a quiet room, it’s not loud enough to disturb others and is very well unnoticed as soon as you step out and run.

Battery life is also not something that you’d keep a close eye at since it could last for 7-8 hours of continuous usage before you need to plug it.

Conclusion

I’ve personally enjoyed my time with the Bluez 2S. I’ve used it running, jogging, and even during my bicycle rides out on the trails to give me some tunes as I ride. It’s a handy and light device that you could wear and pair in an instant and toss it inside your bag afterward. It’s got a comfortable fit, decent details on audio, good bass, and even accommodates voice calls using its noise-cancelling mics.

The AfterShockz Bluez 2S is priced here in the Philippines at Php4,990USD 85INR 7,209EUR 81CNY 619. You may also visit their local page at AfterShokz Philippines.

AfterShokz Bluez 2S specs:
Speaker Type: Bone conduction transducers
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Sensitivity: 100 ± 3dB
Bluetooth 3.0, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
Wireless Range: 33 feet (10m)
Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
IP55 certified
Noise-cancelling microphones
Weight: 41 grams

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable fit
• Long battery life
• Easy pairing via Bluetooth
• Small details are easily heard
• Punchy bass

Cons:

• Vibration from too much bass is felt at the temple of the head