- In the market for a pair of bone conduction headphones with microphones?
- Wondering if you can use bone conduction headphones with a microphone?
- We curate our top 7 picks
- Also, check out our post on Bone Conduction Headphones vs Earbuds
Bone conduction headphones have provided a healthy list of health and safety benefits to music listeners.
Thanks to their unique design, bone conduction headphones allow most people to enjoy audio playback without placing a heavy strain on the ear canal.
Bone conduction headphones can come with various add-ons and features, one of which is a microphone.
This article compiles a hot list of our top picks for bone conduction headphones with microphones.
This list covers the needs and requirements of a broad spectrum of users, and there should be something listed to match most budget requirements.
What Are The Best Bone Conduction Headphones With A Microphone?
There are an incredibly wide variety of bone conduction headphones on the current market.
We have compiled this list considering the overall value for money each headphone provides, their pros and cons, as well as some circumstantial considerations.
We’ve made a shortlist of the best bone conduction headphones with microphones below:
- Shokz OpenRun Pro
- Shokz OpenComm
- Naenka Bone Conduction Headphones
- Mojawa MOJO1
- Zulu Exero
- Tayogo S2
- Forbrain Auditory Feedback Headphones
7 Best Bone Conduction Headphones With Microphone
1. Shokz OpenRun Pro (Best Outdoor Use)
Shokz's premium sport headphones feature the latest 9th generation bone conduction technology with two added bass enhancers and our signature situational awareness and comfortable open-ear fit.
- Open-ear comfort
- Premium sound quality
- Enhanced bass
- Frequency Response: 24Hz – 24kHz
- Microphone Sensitivity – -38dB ± 3dB
- Weight: 29g
Shokz is currently the titan of the bone conduction and open-ear headphones industry. The company has long offered a competitive blend of sound quality and user-friendly designs.
The OpenRun Pro is one of their flagship products and is one of the best all-around bone conduction headphone models on the current market.
These headphones deliver terrific sound quality with an optional bass enhancement for more intensive listening. The primary benefit of the OpenRun is its crystal clear microphone functionality.
The OpenRun’s microphone uses dual noise-canceling technology, acting as a noise gate to cut out background ambiance so that your voice is prominent for calls or commands.
These headphones offer up to 10 hours of playback with or without using the microphone, and the signal on the microphone remains relatively consistent – even in Bluetooth mode.
As the name suggests, the OpenRun’s design delivers a flexible, firm ergonomic fit that makes it a great option for running, hiking, or other active use.
2. Shokz OpenComm (Best Indoor Use)
Shokz's OpenComm enables clear communication through the DSP noise-canceling boom microphone and helps you stay connected to your surroundings while you’re on the road, on a job site, or at your desk.
- Noise-canceling boom mic
- 16 hours of talk time
- Quick charge
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Microphone Sensitivity – -38dB ± 3dB
- Weight: 33g
While some users may need headphones for recreational use, others may need something more suitable for indoor use.
The OpenComm by Shokz delivers the same ergonomic fit as the Open model, but with extra padding and a softer feel for long periods of use.
Users are treated to highly reliable audio quality on both ends of the design.
The microphone on the Shokz OpenComm is placed on an adjustable arm that extends from one side of the headset.
This arm extension places the microphone closer to the user’s mouth, without being intrusive – and allows for much less interference between the user and the microphone.
The signal quality picked up from these microphones has a terrific presence and clarity.
The OpenComms allows users to utilize the microphone wirelessly for up to 16 hours, making them a terrific option for call centers, online conferences, and daily project management communications.
3. Naenka Bone Conduction Headphones (Best Value)
Naenka's lightweight and flexible headphones ensure maximum comfort during extended wear while its technology guarantees the authenticity of the sound to the greatest extent.
- Splashproof
- Affordable
- Lightweight and stable
- Driver Diameter – 16mm
- Frequency Response 20 Hz– 24 kHz
- Weight: 33g
Naenka is a relatively unknown brand on the speaker front but delivers a highly competitive package in their bone conduction headphones for their asking price.
The Naenka headphones feature a minimal design that still delivers the same functionality that top-tier headphones require.
The vibration pads on the Naenka headset come with vibration reduction capabilities that help to strengthen the playback quality of the headphones.
The Naenka bone conduction headphones come with 8GB of portable onboard memory. Users can upload their music to the headphones to save battery life on their mobile devices or tablets.
The microphone quality on these headphones is highly reliable for passive use such as phone calls or gaming communication.
The Naenka bone conduction headphones are a great purchase option for anyone with basic listening and microphone requirements.
4. Mojawa MOJO1 (Best For Audiophiles)
MOJO1’s noise-canceling technology effectively reduces echo and external environmental noises by up to 60db, ensuring crystal clear calls in loud environments.
- Waterproof
- Strong audio playback
- 8 hours playback time
- Impedance: 490 Ohm
- Frequency Response 124 HZ – 24 kHz
- Microphone impedance: 8.0 ohm
- Microphone Sensitivity: -36 dB
- Weight: 34g
Audiophiles and intensive music listeners often require a set of headphones with significant signal strength and clarity.
Currently, bone conduction headphones can’t compete with the sound performance that closed-ear headphones provide.
However, for anyone that needs a loud listening experience without the risk of hearing loss or damage, the Mojawa MOJO1’s are a terrific choice.
The MOJO1’s primary benefit is its surprisingly capable audio playback capabilities.
Most users should have little issue finding an acceptable or enjoyable volume level for calls, music listening, or more interactive use.
The microphone featured on the MOJO1 is relatively reliable and has noise-canceling properties.
With this in mind, the MOJO1’s microphone may not be strong enough for certain user circumstances, such as office use.
5. Zulu Exero (Best Budget)
Zulu Exero is a bone conduction headset that lets you experience truly personal out-of-ear audio. Using a light vibration in the headset as they rest around your ears, music is generated just for you, without blocking out your surroundings.
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Pairs with Bluetooth-enabled devices
- Frequency Response: 24Hz – 24 kHz
- Weight:29 g
Not everybody can afford top-of-the-range bone conduction headphones with microphones to match their needs or requirements.
Thankfully, certain manufacturers have delivered reasonably capable bone conduction headphones at much more affordable rates. The Zulu Exero’s are one great example of this tier of headphones.
The Zulu Exero’s are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, producing a reasonably reliable playback quality for this price range.
The headphones provide 6 hours of playback time, which might be an issue for long commute hours or travel.
The Exero’s have surprisingly present and dynamic microphone quality that offers basic level noise cancellation.
6. Tayogo S2 (Best App Integration)
The Tayoga S2 headphone's lightweight, comfortable, one-size-fits-most design makes it perfect for those who love listening to music and value comfort without sacrificing style.
- Dynamic range and bass
- iOS and Android compatible
- Flexible, sweatproof comfort
- Impedance: 39 Ohm
- Frequency Response: 60Hz – 108 kHz
Tayogo’s S2 is an upgraded version of their popular S1 bone conduction headphones.
The latter might have some notable benefits, but users would truly be maximizing their purchase value by investing in the latest model.
The WB02’s offer superior sound quality, considering they’re priced at under $100.
One of the most notable features of the S2 offer is its intuitive app integration.
The user app that comes with these headphones offers a variety of functions, including music playback and playlisting, as well as a fitness and health tracker for active users.
The onboard memory allows users to enjoy audio playback without the added weight of a secondary playback device.
The S2’s microphone does not come with noise cancellation, which might be an issue for certain users.
However, the microphone does offer strong sound quality for basic audio calls and voice commands.
7. Forbrain Auditory Feedback Headphones (Best Overall Design)
Forbrain is used as a daily tool for reading, speaking, attending in class, or for general use. For 15 minutes of speaking aloud through the Forbrain microphone and stimulating your own ears with your own voice, you strengthen your auditory reception and processing.
- Auditory feedback loop system
- High-sensitivity microphone
- Patented dynamic filter
The Forbrain Auditory Headphones feature the most innovative and high-tech design on this list and offer a very competitive sound quality for their retail price.
They sync and pair with third-party playback devices, initially intended for the hearing and speech impaired.
They also feature an exceptionally unique speaker and microphone design. The vibration pads on the headset are minimally abrasive and don’t have any excess sound leakage.
Thanks to its boom arm, the Forbrain headphones’ microphone delivers a sturdy signal feed with minimal interference.
These headphones are a top choice for users that may require bone conduction headphones for health purposes.
Bone Conduction Headphones Explained
Bone Conduction headphones were created for a few fundamental purposes. The first purpose is to provide a listening device to people with a hearing impairment or even complete hearing loss.
The second purpose is to offer a means of listening to audio playback that places less strain on the ear.
Bone conduction headphones use vibrations for their audio playback.
These headphones usually come with vibration pads placed on the head – the pads usually sit on the plate of bone where the ear and jawline meet.
Bone conduction headphones convert incoming audio into vibrations emitted through these pads and our skulls.
This audio playback method frees the ear canal and places much less strain on the inner ear lining and bones.
User Tips For Using Bone Conduction Headphones
- Certain bone conduction manufacturers may exceed safe operation levels but will suggest a safe listening level to the user. It’s highly recommended to follow the safety guidelines set by headphone and playback device manufacturers.
- Even though bone conduction headphones place minimal strain on the ear canal, it’s still important to take breaks between long periods of intensive listening. Most professionals recommend taking a 20-30 minute break for every hour of intense listening.
- When testing the git for a set of bone conduction headphones, pay attention to the amount of sound leakage, or bleeding that comes from the vibration pads. The more bleeding there is, the less clear and present your audio playback will be.
- Most bone conduction headphones come with some form of waterproofing. However, it’s important to never leave your headphones in overly damp and humid conditions. If your headset goes through the washing machine, clean out the damp parts with a dry microfiber cloth and do not test immediately.
FAQ
Can You Talk With Bone Conduction Headphones?
Yes. You can talk using bone conduction headphones, provided they have a built-in microphone.
These headphones are often built into the side of the headset or come on the end of an extended arm for closer positioning to the mouth.
Final Thoughts
Bone conduction headphones provide a considerable list of health and safety benefits to an extensive range of commercial headphone consumers.
They also provide reliable audio feedback to the hearing impaired, which is remarkable.
The best bone conduction headphones for you depends on personal needs, intended use, and budget considerations.
The list above should offer a reliable purchase choice to most commercial headphone users.
Before you head off, check out our guide to the Loudest Wireless Earbuds (That Money Can Buy)!