Written by Lucas
Edited on
19 January 2024
·
15:37
What's bone conduction?
Bone conduction earbuds don't enter your ear canal directly, but rest on your cheekbones instead. That means you can still hear a lot of ambient noise. In this article, you can read how bone conduction works exactly and what the advantages and disadvantages are.
The technology
Bone conduction earbuds consist of 2 small speakers that are connected via a neckband. When you play music, the speakers send the vibrations of the sound to the cochlea via your bones. These vibrations are forwarded to the auditory nerves and then reach the brain. Bone conduction earbuds function without using your eardrums. That way, people who have a hearing impairment can still enjoy music.
Pros
Because bone conduction earbuds don't enter your ear canal but rest on your cheekbones, you can still hear a lot of ambient noise. This way, you can safely participate in traffic without being completely closed off from your environment. In addition, the earbuds are also ideal for sports, thanks to the waterproof design. They won't get damaged by sweat or rain.
Disadvantages
The sound quality of bone conduction earbuds is lower than that of regular earbuds and headphones. The bass especially doesn't sound as good on bone conduction earbuds. In addition, it's not always nice to hear everything in your environment, because this means you're less focused on your music or podcast. It's also easier for the people around you to hear what you're listening to.
Article by Lucas
Audio Expert.
