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There may not be a lot of competition in the bone-conduction headphone (BCH) space, but Shokz still stands out from the rest by a large margin. Its latest flagship headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, came out last fall and are excellent for anyone looking to get that open-ear feel when working out outdoors, as I explained in my review. You can get them for $139.95 (originally $179.95), the lowest price they've ever been on Amazon, according to price tracking tools.
If you've never used BCHs before, the main thing you need to understand is that they send vibrations through your bones instead of through the air, which makes them perfect for underwater listening (or just the shower). This usually comes with the trade-off of worse audio quality, usually in the lower registers. But that's where Shokz focused its attention on the OpenRun Pro 2. They have dual-driver bass technology that sends bass sound through the air, making these a hybrid BCH and open-ear with regular speakers.
As the name implies, the OpenRun Pro 2 are made with runners in mind. They're lightweight, coming in at 1.02 ounces, have an IP55 water resistance rating, and have a battery life of up to 12 hours with quick charging (a five-minute charge gives 2.5 hours of juice). The companion app comes with EQ settings and the headphones have Bluetooth 5.3.
What makes these BCHs stand out for me are the lack of rattling vibration that tickles the ears when certain pitches are played. Keep in mind that if you choose to not use the dual-driver bass technology through the app and stick to 100% BCH, the ticklish vibration is present. But that hybrid technology is what makes the OpenRun Pro 2 the best-sounding BCHs in the market. And this is the best time to buy them.
