Aftershokz Aeropex Bone Conducting Headphones Review
In early 2019 I reviewed a set of Aftershokz Bone Conducting headphones and they’ve been one of my most used purchases of the last year. Here is my review of Aftershokz new and improved version - the Aeropex
There are generally two categories of things I buy. Those I acquire purely to make a video about and then there are the things I want for myself (but sometimes also demonstrate in video).
The first Aftershokz initially fell into the former category but I found them so useful that the new version has been upgraded to the latter.
I really cant stress enough though that these headphones really aren’t suitable for everyone in every scenario - but they suit me just fine for what I do.
Comments (40)
Hope an embed is ok, added to my blog post about Aftershokz https://rcd.typepad.com/personal/2020/02/the-best-active-headphones-aftershokz-aeropex-.html
Feel free to embed anything. I’m glad you’re getting along with the Aeropex too.
Had tried an earlier model (but not purchased), got the Aeropex when they arrived in store (live in NZ and work for retailer so staff discount means better than Amazon) and very impressed. Increased battery life and volume (for use cycling) made me buy. Thanks for the review, helped me decide and might get a set for my dad has has similar TV loud issues to what you mentioned!
"Hey, did you ever see the Bone Fone from the 70s!?!?!?" Lol!
At this point I’ve gone beyond the point where I know what’s a call-back and what’s a real question.
Small correction: I can absolutely jump back by triple-tapping on my Aftershokz Trekz Air, so that isn't new. Either way, thanks, as always, for the excellent video!
They must have released an updated version. It wasn’t possible on the ones I bought a year ago. You can see the page out of my manual here https://youtu.be/a27T7ldoLdE?t=9m40s
Always been facinated by this technology ever since those tooth tunes toothbrushes. Gonna have to give these a try eventually
Great review, I was just looking at these actually. The only question I have is how bad is the sound leakage? Will someone a few feet away from you hear what you're listening to - or do they need to be closer than that? I personally love the new Airpods Pro, once I put foam tips on it anyways, but ear fatigue is still an issue after a couple of hours - I know these don't go in the ear so you don't get the same fatigue, but do they start to irritate your skin or anything after an hour or two? Also my grandfather is hard of hearing, I'll ask my sister about his hearing loss and see if perhaps these might be useful to him - I wasn't even thinking about that before this video. Thanks!
The older version, yes the leakage was a concern. My wife bought some for work so she wouldn't disturb others with her music (which is actually NSFW). You can't really hear it outside her cubicle, but there is the occasional note or such that can be noticed by others, especially during the bassy parts that tickle the head like he mentioned, that was really my only complaint with the old ones. I can't speak for the new ones... but I'm really tempted to get them now for work. I have a set of wired bone conducting headphones, but they have their own battery pack that hangs off the wire AT the plug rather than up on the headset (annoying!) and a really short cable, and... not very useful. These look much better.
About hire cars: these days my primary car is a car sharing service, which is certainly more convenient for me as a city dweller without my own garage. So, essentially hire cars with a monthly subscription. Bluetooth is used frequently, as I enjoy podcasts as well. I simply remember to not give permission for my contacts or messages. AND I also do a complete factory reset after I'm done with the car anyway. Paranoia? Well no, just privacy. And I regard it as a doing the next user a favour - giving them a "fresh start" as it were. As far as I'm aware, no car manufacturer has come up with an "auto-resetting hire car mode" for their vehicles. They could even implement a "remember my preferences" scheme without much effort, yet no one seems to bother. Strange, that. What are some of Techmoan's favourite podcasts, by the way? 📻
I don’t know if you saw the story recently of the chap who still had full control over a Ford car he hired months ago including locking and stopping the engine as he forgot to decouple his phone and no one since had connected theirs. As far as podcasts go there’s nothing you probably haven’t already heard. Mac break Weekly, Comedy Bang Bang, The Teacher’s Lounge, Adam Buxton, Richard Herring, Frank Skinner, The News Quiz. There’s only so many hours in the week.
I'm still in the market for a headphone, but this is not the one. The cable of my Sennheiser PX-200 IIi is acting up. It works fine if the cable rests still, but can't be used on the road. I really like this headphone, and I haven't found anything to replace it yet. Just tried the Beats Solo3. Nice one, too heavy on the bass in my opinion, and my ears became a bit warm very soon. Shame the PX-200 form-factor isn't been sold anymore... (sorry for the tech moan).
Great review Mat. I listen to audiobooks and radio comedy in the car and also get fed up with loosing bits when the Sat Nav speaks. Have never understood why the car doesn't have option to pause playback for announcements, it's all the same system in the VW.
It does seem like a pretty easy fix. Maybe if they took a day off from overstating the abilities of their self driving tech they could sort out some real life problems. I’ll be long dead before a car can negotiate the traffic into Manchester.
Why would you wear these? You're not a sporty person. 😀 Great review... I'm interested in these to hear some music but stay alert, maybe nice when running on a path or asmr.
Fascinating, thank you. I've had the chance to try other models a few years ago and found exactly what you mentioned about the bass to be true. I have sensitive ears and noticed that turning the volume up too high would tickle the heck out of them. It's nice to see they've tackled that problem with these, I'm curious to try them now. Great video!
I’m incredibly ticklish and sensitive to anything touching my skin - so I’m really glad they sorted that issue out.
No use for me as they don't match my listening needs, at least not enough to make me spend that much cash ... BUT ... I appreciate the lengths you've gone to to explain that these are great for when they are great and not good when they are not good. Not enough reviewers do that sort of thing, IMHO. Brilliant as always.
Cheers Mat, my mother is getting worse - so may consider these for her to see if they help. I've got a cordless handset that has bluetooth as does her mobile - will need to hook up a BT transmitter to the TV and we can all listen at a reasonable volume :o)
As you’ll no doubt be aware there are a few types of hearing loss. I’m no expert (as always) but it depends on whether the bones in the ear still move or if the ear drum has hardened. I’m not sure which one these work best with. Make sure you buy them from somewhere that accepts returns.
I agree the weakest point of the previous model was/is the charging. The new one appeals on that alone. Having something of a 'tin ear' I have never been all that invested in 'sound reproduction quality'. When my friends were investing the equivalent of the gross national product of Bolivia in their stereo systems back in the 70s and 80s I was perfectly happy with my Walkman and its original orange headphones. To me the Trekz Air model has been fine for music and podcasts. Seriously thinking about upgrading just to never have to wrestle with the charging port again though. As usual, Mat, great vid.
Great review thank you! I am hesitating, after seeing the cardbox trick, I fear that my head might sound like a Tefifon. You mentioned it several times about the bass and loud environments. What are the quotes that after released to the public, people will criticise that? Where is the next betting shop? ;-)
After the last review I saw a follow up video from a chap who bought the Air after setting my review - and somehow despite all the same information being in that video, he bought them for exactly the wrong reasons. He complained he couldn’t hear them on a plane or a train and they didn’t block out any noise. It was the weirdest thing, it was like he heard the opposite of everything I’d said and then disagreed with it. Horse to water...
Ok, so as music headphones these wouldn’t work for me - not just because of the sonic drawbacks, but because as a musician, I’m unable to listen to a conversation if there’s music playing anywhere, much to the annoyance of my friends. I do like the idea of using them in the car. I listen to audiobooks (are you a Terry Pratchett fan, Mat?), and while I usually play through the car stereo, it’d be nice to be able to use the satnav (we say GPS here) and not have it interrupting the audio.
I’m not really familiar with Pratchett’s work, but I got fed up with missing chunks out of podcasts played through the car stereo - especially in areas where there were lots of directions in close succession.
I'm kind of tempted to get some of those for when I need to be able to hear when I'm working at home. I tend to listen to music or YouTube videos while I'm working - have yours up right now, in fact - but using my normal headphones means I can't actually hear the door. Or much of anything else...like important bits of information such as there being fresh tea in the pot.
I get so many parcels delivered I really need to be able to hear all the time during the day - there’s one delivery chap who has the quietest knock, but never rings the bell.
The US Amazon link actually goes to amazon.fr
Thanks for letting me know - I've fixed it now.
The old model 'AfterShokz Trekz Air' is £69.96 on amazon black Friday. Don't forget to put your affiliate referral links up.
Good point. I’ll get on that.
I have a cardboard box for a head, How Dare You!
So insensitive of him
Thanks, Mat - you make them seem so appealing I really wish I had a use for a set! Great video as always, you have such a good, relaxed presentation style. Do you get it mostly in a first take or do you have to rehearse and do multiple recordings, I wonder?
On a good day it’s one take. On a bad day it’s dozens. The main problem is tripping over a phrase. Every take is different though, the only common part is usually the first few words, then it goes off at a tangent.
I have a set of these Aftershokz headphones and love them. I work mainly in an office and as you said, I can listen to my music and still hear everything going on around me. I also found that they sound great on the phone and the other person has no difficulty in hearing me.
Yes I wish the speaker on my answerphone was a bit better as it does them a bit of a disservice.
Is there anything you purchased for yourself and didn't do a video about? (granted, tech stuff that might be suitable for the channel. I'm not talking about furniture or clothing and stuff like that)
I bought a new vacuum cleaner the other day and recently upgraded the AV receiver.