TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
The headphone market is flooded with options at every price level. As with any personal electronic, choosing headphones is all about the value proposition. If you’re like me, you will probably use your headphones more often than almost any other device you own, besides your smartphone. Therefore, it’s imperative that you get your money’s worth. Evaluating sound quality, construction, and features compared with price is the best way to shop for any headphones, no matter how you use them.
Many of us practically live in our headphones. Some people favor the feel and sound of large over-the-ear traditional DJ-style “cans” for their relatively soundproof seal and plush design. Others prefer small in-ear earbuds because they deliver an immersive sound experience deep in the ear canal. Personally, I use open-ear earbuds almost exclusively because of the many safety and health benefits they can provide. That said, they can offer just as good of a sound profile as any other headphones, as long as you choose the right pair.
Why choose open-ear earbuds?
Inevitably, whenever I decide it’s time for a new set of headphones, it leads me to choose a pair of open-ear earbuds. These are similar to in-ear models, but they sit just outside the ear canal rather than resting inside your ear. They’re designed in a way that the sound is essentially pushed into your ear canals by the drivers from the outside. I’ve found them to be the best headphone style for my needs as well as my budget. They have all the immersive feel of in-ear earbuds, but are as comfortable (to me, at least) as large over-ear models. They usually don’t offer noise-canceling technology, though, so if that’s what you’re after, these may not be your best choice.
Perhaps most importantly of all, open-ear earbuds allow you to maintain situational awareness far better than either of the other two headphone styles. Because you’re not completely covering your ears, and you don’t have a small item embedded inside them, you can hear the majority of what’s happening around you. This is especially useful for those like me who exercise with their headphones. Road running can be especially perilous because drivers aren’t always paying attention to runners on the sidewalk or even on the side of the road. Open-ear earbuds allow me to enjoy my music while running, and while keeping track of my surroundings.
This benefit also makes open-ear earbuds ideal for a work environment. Whether you’re stocking shelves or trading stocks at a desk, being able to hear your co-workers or the phone ringing without removing your headphones makes the workday that much smoother. Who would’ve thought that there’s a type of headphones that can actually make you a better employee?
In addition to the situational awareness benefit of open-ear earbuds, they also have comfort and health benefits. Because most models clip over your ear and never enter the ear canal, they’re incredibly easy to wear. There’s no annoying feeling of something in, or over the top of, your ears for hours at a time. There’s also something to be said for not having loud sounds blasted point-blank into the eardrums. Using open-ear headphones is safer for your hearing long-term than in-ear earbuds played loudly.
There are two primary styles of open-ear earbuds for sound delivery. The first is air conduction open-ear earbuds, and the second is bone conduction open-ear earbuds. Both have their pros and cons, so read on to weigh them and see which option is best for you.
Air conduction open-ear earbuds
Air conduction models simply use traditional headphone drivers to play the sound just next to your ear canal. The proximity to the ear is what allows you to hear them. Sound delivery is essentially the same as it is with large over-ear headphones. The only real difference between the two is that open-ear earbuds allow for ambient sound to enter your ear canal because they don’t create a semi-soundproof seal around the outside of your ear, the way traditional over-the-ear versions do.
Air conduction open-ear earbuds can have a higher tinnier pitch than their over-ear counterparts, but they don’t have to if you choose the right model. This issue can also be managed by using the equalizer on your smartphone and/or the sound profile adjuster on the earbuds’ proprietary app. To state it simply, you can get just as good of a sound coming out of air-conduction open-ear earbuds as any other headphones, but it may just take a little more effort.
Ohayo Open-Ear Earbuds
Veatool Wireless Open-Ear Earbuds
Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Earbuds by Anker
Bone conduction open-ear earbuds
Bone conduction open-ear earbuds are slightly different. As with any bone conduction headphones, these utilize the vibrations of the headphones to deliver sound. They completely ignore the eardrums and send the vibrations through the bones in your face. It may sound unusual, but it works. The sound arrives directly in your inner ears, unhindered and crystal clear. It’s a relatively recent technology that’s made a big difference in how people listen to their music. This style of headphone is especially popular with swimmers, as they’re able to listen to music when underwater, and it’s delivered directly to their inner ears.
Some people have said that bone conduction headphones take some getting used to. However, once you’ve been converted, I’ve heard that it can be hard to go back to traditional air conduction headphones of any sort. These earbuds are ideal for not just swimming, but all types of active sports where you don’t want to worry that the drivers are positioned perfectly for sound dissemination. If you’ve never tried these types of headphones before, it’s definitely worth giving them a shot, especially since prices start at just $60.
Demicea True Wireless Bone Conduction Earbuds
Doogee Bone Conduction Swimming Earbuds
Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction Earbuds
It doesn’t matter if you’re running a marathon or running a Fortune 500 company, open-ear earbuds are probably right for you. If you want to enjoy your favorite music or podcasts while still being a part of the action all around you, then I’d advise you to get a pair of these amazing headphones and start getting down to business.
TheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use.