All of us spend a lot of time between earphones, given how many calls we need to attend, and we try to unwind with walks and runs where we are trying to destress with music or podcasts. Our ears are not really built to take in-ear audio, that too with noise-cancelling, which literally creates a vacuum in the canal.
This is why some people at least prefer open-ear headphones and earphones that offer natural audio playback that also doesn’t cut you off from the world around you. The other approach is that of SHOKZ, which manufactures open-ear headphones that use bone conduction technology to deliver audio without impacting the ear canals in any way.
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2
The SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 are created for athletes who are running on the road and need to be situationally aware. The rubbery finish is clearly meant to endure sweat and toil. The band goes around the head while stiff ear loops bring the earpiece, which uses both bone conduction drivers that produce high-frequency sounds and air conduction drivers for deep, resonant bass. Just behind the ear are two modules that house the controls as well as the battery.
The band goes around the head while stiff ear loops bring the earpiece. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
I have used bone conduction earphones before. But unlike those, the OpenRun Pro 2 doesn’t feel like they are transmitting music via the bones and is more like it is playing music just outside your ears. The design is comfortable, and the loop stays in place even when you are sprinting or sweating under the Indian sun.
There is a power and volume button combo on the right module that you use to switch on and pair the OpenRun Pro 2. On the left, the multi-function button lets you skip songs or take a call with long presses. On the SHOKZ app, you can select the equaliser mode of your choice or even customise with a decent level of control. You can also switch on multi-point pairing, in case you want to connect with multiple devices.
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 audio quality
I usually use an AirPod Pro for my evening walks. That is when I am either listening to a podcast or discovering new music. That means I am used to having noise-cancelling in my ears. And even though I am in a quiet neighbourhood, the fact is that we live in a very noisy country. So when I walk around with the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 or other open earphones, there is a challenge in hearing the audio properly. With the OpenRun Pro 2, I was constantly trying to increase the volume from my iPhone.
The multi-function button lets you skip songs or take a call with long presses. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
So when you are considering the OpenRun Pro 2 for use in an external environment, do understand that there is a balance you will have to strike between being situationally aware and being able to enjoy audio without distractions. However, during an early morning walk, the experience was much better as it was quieter and I could enjoy the audio reasonably well.
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And this is when I realised there is a good way to use the OpenRun Pro 2 without getting distracted much, and that was in my office cabin. I am on multiple video calls a day, and this means my ears are tired by the end of the day. And this is maybe a good place where I don’t have to use noise cancelling, and still the OpenRun Pro 2 gives me the kind of privacy I need for calls with those outsid,e not able to hear what is happening.
At home, I have of late been wearing the OpenRun Pro 2 while doom scrolling Reels. This ensures that I am in my own Reels space and not distracted by what my wife’s algorithm is throwing at her. In the quieter environment of the house, I also realised that these earphones have pretty good sound quality that is both rich and balanced. Listening to a 1980s playlist on Spotify to calm a severe bout of nostalgia, I could get the depth of Yesudas’s voice and also enjoy the arrangements of Johnson.
Even Hans Zimmer’s new creation for the movie Eden came to life around my ears. I could feel the base of the dramatic OST and the intricacies of the composition, though I would have wanted more drama and less of my ceiling fan drone. So this is clearly a compromise you are making to ensure good hearing in the long term.
Who should buy the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2?
With its special price of Rs 15,299, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 is a good option for athletes who are on long, boring runs outdoors and want to be aware of their surroundings. If you are really concerned about your hearing with long hours of calls at work, then these are a good option. If you are one of those who love their music to blare into your ears, then this is not for you.
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