Review: AfterShokz Mobile with In-Line Mic

Most headphones block out all exterior noise, allowing you to become fully immersed in your music. But AfterShokz aren't like most headphones.

They use bone-conduction technology to transmit audio waves to the inner ear through the skull, bypassing the eardrum completely. You place them on your cheekbones, just in front of your ears. Your ear canals stay open, letting you retain full use of your ears and remain alert and aware of ambient sounds while you also enjoy your tunes.

The concept initially gained popularity among military personnel, who need to be able to monitor remote communications while also being fully cognizant of their surroundings. But it's spilling over into civilian life – to runners, walkers, and bikers who need to hear the sound of passing cars and oncoming traffic while they're out trying to get healthy.

Put the headphones on and stick your fingers in your ears. When you hear the music coming through clearly, you know your bones are rocking.Bone-conduction technology is still fairly new in the consumer space. A few companies have tried their hands at the tech, but the results remain overpriced and less-than-ideal. The first viable contender comes from AfterShokz, which makes two varieties of wraparound-style bone-conduction headphones: the $70 Mobile and the $60 Sport.

How well do they work? The answer, at least for the AfterShokz Mobile set I tested, is surprisingly well.

I could hear music loud and clear when I placed the smooth, orange, rubber transducer pads (for lack of a better term) right in front of my ears. The tunes came through with much more volume than I expected, and the fidelity – while not nearly what you'd get from a high-end pair of noise-canceling cans – was quite good.

The headphones can handle just about all the volume your mobile can supply, and they provide ample treble and more bass than you would anticipate from something resting on your cheekbones. In fact, they get so loud that the transducer pads noticeably vibrate as they rest on your cheekbones – you can literally feel the bass. Some might find that distracting, but it didn't bother me all that much. It will, however, give anyone in the immediate area a reason to dance, as they'll be able hear your music pretty clearly.

Sound quality is good, and nearly great at times. But given that the main reason you'll likely be spending dough on a pair of bone-conduction headphones is practicality and not great audio performance, I would have settled for sound quality measuring just above mediocre. And as far as what they're meant to do – allow you to listen to music while also being able to hear everything around you – they perform great.

How do you know the AfterShokz Mobile are actually transmitting sound through your cheekbones, and you're not just hearing the music blasting out of tiny speakers? Put the headphones on and stick your fingers in your ears. When you hear the music coming through clearly, you know your bones are rocking.

The headphones require a power source: in this case, a small, rectangular battery box that clips to your shirt. The box itself isn't heavy, and it also houses the power button and the talk button on the Mobile version. The Sport version also has a battery box, but it has volume buttons in addition to the power button. It's slightly awkward – the clip on the back of the box seems misplaced, making it hard to clip to a high-necked t-shirt. It feels like it should be rotated ninety degrees or be on a swivel.

The sound quality isn't as good as high-quality buds, but it's good enough, and you get the increased safety of not having headphones in your ears.The battery box also means you'll need to charge the headphones from time to time. AfterShokz claims the headphones will give you up to 15 hours of playback on a full charge, but I actually found that estimate to be low. After using the AfterShokz Mobile regularly for a few days, I didn't have to recharge them once. Charging, nonetheless, takes about three hours for a full charge and uses the provided 3.5-millimeter-to-USB connector.

The AfterShokz Mobile headphones also include an in-line microphone, a nice addition that worked perfectly with my iPhone 4S.

One inexplicable oddity is the lack of the volume controls on the $70 Mobile model, which the $60 Sport model has. The good news is that AfterShokz is already at work on some revisions, and the new models will have over twenty new or revamped features. The battery box has been retooled to be 30 percent smaller and lighter, and for those with extremely large heads, AfterShokz says its next version will have a slightly larger wraparound headband (the headband on my tester was rather small, but fit me fine). There's also a Bluetooth version on the horizon for some time later this year.

So, despite a few downsides, the AfterShokz Mobile are easily worth their bargain price. As long as you don't mind the design quirks, I can recommend them. Just be aware that improvements are likely on the way.

The sound quality isn't as good as high-quality buds, but it's good enough, and you get the increased safety of not having headphones in your ears. If you're a runner, jogger, walker, hiker, biker, or anyone else who frequently needs to be aware of their surroundings, the AfterShokz will be a perfect fit.

WIRED Easily the best bone conduction headphones currently on the market. Sound quality is better than expected. Safer than traditional headphones. Comfortable for long periods of use. Sweat and water-resistant. Comes with a nice, soft carrying case. People who wear hearing aids don't have to remove them for use.

TIRED You need to keep them charged. Battery box is awkward. Vibrations at high volumes might bother some users. Bass could be stronger. No adjustable headband for the large-domed. Volume buttons missing on the Mobile version.