Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review: Improved sound, good vibrations

Once we’re speaking about open-ear earbuds, there are two classes of merchandise: conventional speaker earbuds and bone-conduction headphones/earbuds. Shokz has lengthy been one of many market leaders within the latter, however there are compromises with bone conduction headphones that Shokz has been working to beat with their speaker know-how, particularly TurboPitch.

The issue with the transducers Shokz used within the earlier era of OpenRun Professional was that they sat in your jaw and had very energetic vibrations, making TurboPitch a polarizing characteristic over pure bone conduction earbuds/headphones.

With the OpenRun Professional 2, Shokz launched their DualPitch know-how, which builds on the teachings discovered with earlier era Shokz bone conduction merchandise. I’ve to say, lesson discovered! Let’s get into that.

Out With the Outdated, TurboPitch

The open-ear market phase has been increasing during the last couple of years, and that’s an excellent factor! With that growth comes better client alternative, which forces corporations to innovate to stick with or forward of the competitors. And that’s what Shokz has achieved with the OpenRun Professional 2.

They’re obtainable for $180 from Shokz, Amazon, and plenty of brick-and-mortar shops that cater to outside athletes in black or orange. The black colorway is less complicated to search out in shops than the orange. Shokz additionally just lately launched a white collaboration with world-renowned Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge , with shiny gradient orange and gold accents and trim.

Relating to the TurboPitch know-how and a few of the issues that include it, I’m glad to report that this yr’s OpenRun collection has enormously improved in that space with the introduction of DualPitch know-how. This provides new non-bone conduction audio system and compliments the bone conduction transducers by making the sound richer with out extra vibrations in your face.

There may be minimal perceptible vibration from the DualPitch air conduction driver models within the Shokz OpenRun Professional 2. Bass-heavy tracks with the quantity cranked up sometimes offer you some gentle vibration, however to not the extent of earlier era Shokz merchandise with the TurboPitch know-how.

So, what’s DualPitch, anyway? The only clarification is that bone conduction know-how passes vibrations by way of your bones in order that your auditory buildings can choose them up, and also you expertise “sound.” The issue with this conduction methodology is that just about no bass frequency is handed to you. To resolve that downside, Shokz locations a separate standard driver unit contained in the earbuds so as to add these low frequencies again into the combination. That extra unit is their “DualPitch.”

Bone-conduction With Higher Bass

Picture 1 of 5

So, that’s a bit little bit of background, however how do they sound? Actually good! Bass heads received’t love the flatter sound signature, however merchandise like these serve a really particular function, which I feel makes up for that. I listened by way of a number of playlists whereas strolling or working intervals on peaceable residential neighborhood backstreets and busy city avenues.

The soundstage when listening to “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Sneakers” isn’t expansive, however Ladysmith Black Mombazo’s a capella and Paul Simon’s vocals sound actually good. Listening to Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’” reveals simply how strong the sound separation produced by the OpenRun Professional 2 is. The replica of instrumentation staged at varied areas within the sound subject is basically good, contemplating a few of the limitations of the know-how, which DualPitch augments.

Listening to Skrillex’s “Mumbai Place,” you may hear how this setup handles bass and sub-bass. The bass is gentle however current, and the sub-bass will get compromised, however the vibrations current in earlier era Shokz TurboPitch-enabled gadgets aren’t current. The general sound is strong sufficient in your triathlon coaching, coaching runs, and dynamic exercises. It is also strong for many who don’t like one thing sitting of their ear canals and are looking for an open-ear product.

I additionally watched some long-form content material, particularly “Blue Eye Samurai,” and the film’s dialogue and sound design had been each pleasing and immersive. Struggle scenes with all of their foley and that encompass sound design are nicely introduced and immersive. Sound separation when listening to movie content material is strong, like music. Your podcasts and long-form TikToks or IG Reels will come by way of clear and full.

One of many major causes folks like Shokz and their OpenRun collection is their locked-in really feel. That continues with the OpenRun Professional 2! With out feeling like you may have your head in a vice, the wraparound neckband helps hold every little thing in place. Due to the skinny wires connecting every little thing, the OpenRun 2 feels nice when sporting a bicycle helmet, hat, or glasses.

The opposite facet of Shokz OpenRun Professional 2 that I like is the companion app. Let’s be clear: it’s fairly primary, however that isn’t a nasty factor. You get 4 EQ presets to customise the sound to your liking and the flexibility to customise the sound your self with a 5-band EQ which you can title and save. You additionally get multipoint pairing within the app, which works fairly nicely. It’s a must to pause to play music or media in your second machine whenever you’re listening to the primary one, however that’s commonplace for multipoint setups. I’ve solely used one which switches sources by itself seamlessly.

You must also know that decision high quality is strong for essentially the most half. I examined name high quality whereas out for a stroll throughout rush hour visitors, and it sounded fairly good! I recorded some audio in my workplace, which additionally sounded fairly good. On one name, although, my spouse stated I appeared like I used to be in a tunnel.

Properly Executed Controls, Sooner Charging

The controls are very straightforward to govern, even when your arms are sweaty moist. On the underside of one of many frames for the transducers is the place you will discover the facility and quantity buttons. You will discover the multifunction button on the body the place the transducer lies, which controls machine features like play/pause, monitor skipping, calling, and extra. It is clicky and tactile and enormous sufficient to activate simply and constantly.

You will additionally discover the USB-C cost port on the ear body. It is a port protected by a flap that seals tightly sufficient that the within stayed dry after I ran water over it. That half is a crucial replace as older Shokz used magnetic charging ports, which had been slower to cost you again up in the event you drained that battery. That may be a fair harder factor to do now that the battery is rated for 12 hours as a substitute of eight.

The USB-C cost port can be an excellent factor as a result of from useless, you will get greater than 50% cost in ten minutes of USB-C charging. 5 minutes will get you roughly 2.5 hours of music playback.

The trade-off with the up to date charging is decreased water resistance from the usual OpenRun product. I do know it is a results of dropping the magnetic cost port, however the OpenRun Professional 2 has decreased sturdiness (IP55) from the OpenRun, which is IP67. Meaning you may face up to sweat and a few gentle rain however get pushed right into a swimming pool or strive showering with them on and bye-bye earbuds.

Some Options For the OpenRun Professional 3

All that glitters isn’t gold, so there are some objects that I feel might use some enchancment. The ability output is low, so you will need to crank the quantity up in your listening supply. I discovered this true with an Google Pixel 9 and iPhone 15 Professional Max.

I’ve discovered that with open-ear merchandise, having Hello-Res assist does make a distinction. The extra dynamic vary of recordsdata with better information transmission than the SBC and AAC Bluetooth audio codecs permit, which Shokz OpenRun Professional 2 does not assist, usually makes for audio that is a little more audible at low volumes.

One other merchandise I’d wish to see within the subsequent model of OpenRun Professional is the EQ settings being saved to the headset. After I change between my Android and iOS gadgets, the EQ settings I’ve on Android aren’t proven within the iOS Shokz app. I need ubiquitous EQ configuration.

The one match and luxury concern anybody will encounter will floor the primary time they hit the iron. With the wrap-around headband, whenever you settle in for any bench work, bench press, dumbbell flys, and so forth., you’ll need to reposition the OpenRun 2 in order that they don’t get in the way in which.

Worthy of Consideration

Shokz OpenRun Professional 2 are their greatest bone-conduction headphones but! They’re light-weight, supremely comfy, and sturdy sufficient to fulfill their supposed function. They’re a beautiful enchancment during the last era, and most significantly, they supply strong sound for one thing that doesn’t sit inside your ear canal.

For those who run, journey, or have interaction in actually dynamic exercises and wish one thing that seems like a 6.0-magnitude earthquake couldn’t knock them out of your ears, these ought to be on the prime of your listing.