AfterShokz Sports M2 review: Bone-conducting headphones struggle with music

AfterShokz is one of a handful of companies making bone-conduction headphones, having launched its brand in early 2012. Unlike conventional headphones and earbuds that use the eardrums to transmit sound, AfterShokz headphones rest in front of your ear and use bone-conduction technology to transmit sound through your cheekbones to your inner ear, bypassing your eardrum completely. The technology, originally developed for military personnel, has been around for a while, but AfterShokz and others have turned it into a niche consumer product.

6.8

AfterShokz Sports M2

The Good

The <b>AfterShokz Sportz M2</b> headphones are comfortable and sweatproof, and have an integrated microphone (with volume controls) for making cell phone calls. They use bone-conducting technology to transmit sound through your cheekbone, so your ears remain uncovered and you can easily have a conversation with someone while listening to music.

The Bad

The headphones work better for speech than music. They also leak a lot of sound, and the earpads vibrate on your cheek at higher volumes, creating a tickling sensation.

The Bottom Line

The AfterShokz Sportz M2 will appeal to people who want comfortable headphones that you don't have to wear in your ears. Just don't expect them to provide a great listening experience -- for music, anyway.

Although the headphones work just fine, serious music listeners won't be impressed by the sound quality. After all, these are the antithesis of sound-isolating headphones designed to block out ambient noise. With these, your ears remain completely uncovered and you can easily have a conversation with someone while listening to music. AfterShokz has been targeting joggers, bike riders, skiers, skateboarders, hikers, and others who want to stay "connected to their surroundings" (on Amazon, I saw a pair of waterproof bone-conduction headphones for swimmers).

I've been playing around with a second-generation model, the AfterShokz Sportz M2 ($69.95), which has a built-in microphone for making calls. I hadn't tested the original AfterShokz model, so I didn't have reference point, but company reps informed me that 21 improvements were made to the headphones, including an upgrade in sound quality. Some of the key differences are that the inline battery box is smaller and lighter and includes volume controls, as well it should. The battery is rechargeable via a Micro-USB connector.

The earphones are "sweat-proof" and water-resistant but not waterproof. They come come with a nice though somewhat bulky carrying case.

The listening experience is definitely interesting, and those who don't like having earbuds or eartips jammed into their ears will certainly appreciate the AfterShokz. They offer a secure fit and are comfortable, though it does feel a little strange to have them sitting on your cheeks at first. If you're used to fuller-sounding earphones -- or even Apple's earbuds -- the sound doesn't measure up. It's hard to describe the sound but it just feels very stripped down, like you're listening to a small transistor radio, albeit in stereo.

What's funny and a little disconcerting is that when you crank the volume, the earpads literally vibrate on your cheek, especially if you're listening to bass-heavy music. It kind of tickles. Thus, it's not a good idea to crank the volume. Rather, these sound best at more moderate volume levels.

The other issue is that they do leak a lot of sound. That's another reason not to crank the volume.

Conclusion
The AfterShokz Sportz M2 headphones aren't for folks who are sticklers for good sound quality. Rather, they're for someone who's looking for a very "open" design that allows you to hear the external world as you're listening to sound through the headphones. When I was on the treadmill at the gym, I liked them for listening to the TV broadcast; I thought they were excellent for that. I also liked them for making cell phone calls. In other words, they were better for speech than music -- they'd be good for audiobooks and podcasts as well -- which is not surprising considering bone-conduction technology was originally designed for military communications, not music-listening.

So while these ultimately aren't for everyone, they will appeal to people who want comfortable headphones that you don't have to jam in your ears (or wear in your ears at all). Just don't expect them to provide a great listening experience -- for music, anyway.