Headphones and Coffee
Previously known as Wretched Stare
The new wave of open on-ear earphones is gaining popularity. Compared to traditional open or bone-conducting earphones, the new open style is more compact, portable, and delivers impressive sound quality with a surprisingly rich bass that I previously thought unattainable with this type of earphone. I have been comparing traditional TWS, bone conduction, and the new open on-ear style TWS. While in-ear TWS offer features like active noise cancellation and transparency mode, the open style provides an expansive experience, akin to a soundtrack constantly floating around you. They are safer for busy environments, though they lack any form of passive or active noise isolation.
Sound signatures vary across brands, ranging from fun V-shaped to balanced, with a few offerings neutral or bright profiles. In my experience, many bone-conducting earphones fall short on bass impact and can sound muddy when the bass is boosted. They are suitable for tasks like calls or listening to audiobooks but less enjoyable for music. The new open style, however, boasts excellent bass with significant impact, although not as deep as traditional TWS, except for a few models that excel with the aid of an app.
Personally, I find myself gravitating towards the new open style more often in situations where I need to be aware of my surroundings, although I am primarily an in-ear TWS and Bluetooth headphone user when out and about.
As for wireless products that are ideal for travel or convenience, portable Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless earbuds are among the top choices for their ease of use and the freedom they offer.
