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Bone conduction headsets are getting more popular, as its major advantage is the ability to listen to audio from the smartphone while being aware of the environment. This is very useful especially for cycling, jogging along roads, practicing yoga, online calls, or simply be at home. They also prevent ear damage caused by long hours of usage and discomfort due to prolong insertion of the earbuds into your ear canals. They allow you to keep wearing the headset even when there are no calls or audio and be ready to take calls without fumbling for the earbuds.
The package comes with the headset, USB-C charger, carrying bag, ear plugs, and manual. If you are wondering the purpose of the ear plugs, it is to seal off the ear canals to block ambient noise. Then how could you hear the audio from WeHear OX? Well, that is exactly what it’s designed for. Bone conduction headsets deliver audio not through the ear canals but by vibrating the bones to conduct sound waves into the ear drums. If you use your fingers to seal off your ear canals, you can actually hear the audio from the WeHear OX much louder and much clearer.
From the WeHear app, you can select the language that you want to translate live. Once you select, the language you choose on the first dropdown will be played in the WeHear OX, while the other persona’s language will be played on the smartphone speaker. When the mic button is tapped from the smartphone, the other person speaks into the smartphone mic and then it will show their language as well as the translated text and play it into the headset. When you click the large button at the left earpiece, you can start speaking your language through the headset mic, and then the translated text will appear on the smartphone screen and play out the speech on the smartphone speaker. You can do this to and fro to communicate.
The smartphone app can also help you learn a new language. Just pick the two languages and then start reading your own language and the second language will be translated on screen with the speech read out. You can change the speech speed and then try to test your pronunciation. I recommend starting with short phrases because it is more challenging to read a long phrase. The app does not support breaking the phrase word for word, and there are certainly more apps in the market that does a better job, like Duolingo.
This feature turns on the mic on the smartphone to allow the other party to speak into it and let the headset wearer hear better. You can adjust the L-R balance as some wearers may have impairment on only one of the ears. There is an obvious lag to transmit the mic audio to the headset, so it can be slightly disorienting. While some earbuds like the Creative Sensemore Air amplifies the mic from the earbuds itself, the WeHear OX offers a better controlled conversation as it only amplifies the person who is speaking into the mic, so you would not hear excessive ambient audio.
Bone conduction headphones lack the dynamic range and frequency response, so consumers who wear bone conduction headphones compromise the audio quality. Overall, the WeHear OX sounds clear with warm midrange, and lacks treble sparkle or bass extension. But if you seal off the ear canals, you can actually hear the audio much better with improved treble brightness. When adjusting the EQ, the overall volume drops to compensate for the increase in specific frequency range. So, if you want to hear better with bone conduction headphones, do not try to press the driver against your ear. Instead, press to seal your ear canals and then you can hear better through bone conduction.
The WeHear OX is more than just bone conduction headset. It offers several more features which I feel is worth the extra price if you are looking for language translation and hearing aid capabilities. As an audio product, it works reliably with IPX6 water protection. Bone conduction headphones are safer to use for long periods of time and does not cut you off from surrounding audio.
The WeHear OX retails in Singapore at S$249 and available from Carousell, Shopee, Lazada, available in 2 colours and 2 sizes.
WeHear OX
The WeHear OX bone conduction headphones support live translation, hearing aid app, IPX6 good for cycling, jogging, yoga fitness activities.
Music Photo Life
The Goods
Large multi-function button for convenient access
Translation and hearing aid features use smartphone mic to interact
Long battery life
The Bads
Bone conduction headphones typically does not deliver good audio quality
Related
Summary
Reviewer
Chester Tan
Review Date
2023-03-18
Reviewed Item
WeHear OX
Author Rating
Product Name
WeHear OX
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