Tech

I love running with these luxurious open-back headphones – and they’re still on sale ahead of Black Friday


Bose Ultra Open headphones in a cityscape

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

What’s up?

the Bose Ultra Open the earbuds are on sale for $250, $50 less than the original price. This deal applies to Black, White, Moon Blue, Moonstone Blue, and even Diamond 60th Anniversary Edition color schemes. You can find this deal on Amazon WalmartAndBose website.


Key points of ZDNET

  • With a price of 300 USD, Bose Ultra Open Headphones are a great alternative to bone conduction headphones.
  • Thanks to Bose’s OpenAudio technology, the headphones are ideal for runners who want to enjoy music while remaining aware of their environment.
  • The lack of touch controls means you need to keep your phone nearby to navigate.

Living in the city, I’m not a fan of using headphones or noise-cancelling earbuds when exercising in the park, walking on busy streets, or commuting on the subway. But I’m a music lover and care a lot about the quality of the sound I listen to.

Sure, bone conduction headphones do exist, but they often have a one-size-fits-all approach, or feel too loose or bulky on the head. You can also turn on transparency mode on your noise-canceling headphones to hear your surroundings more clearly, but I often couldn’t hear my music because of the chaos of New York City.

Also: These headphones have solved my biggest problem with listening to music while running

That’s why when Bose sent me the new product Super open headphonesI was excited to try an alternative to both of the above options for my outdoor activities. Could these headphones be a runner’s best friend? This is my verdict.

Starting from the outside, the short and stubby case makes it very pocketable, but the interesting thing happens when you open it up to reveal the Ultra headphones inside. The headphones have a G-shaped design that resembles a clip-on earring, something I’ve never seen before. They attach to your outer ear and the curved cylinder at the bottom wraps around the ear to secure it in place. Shake your head at will: these headphones don’t budge.

Also: These Bose headphones are my favorite for noise cancellation

To create sound that’s both loud and private (with a bit of sound leakage), the headphones use Bose’s OpenAudio technology, part bone conduction and part air conduction. Bone conduction occurs when sound directly vibrates the bones in the inner ear, and air conduction occurs when sound is transmitted through the air and into the ear canal. If vibrations from bone conduction headphones tend to make you dizzy or uncomfortable, these are a great alternative.

One hand holding one of the Bose Ultra Open headphones

Ultra Open headphones are shaped like the letter G.

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

I used the Ultra Open headphones on four outdoor runs and found them to perform very well in low to moderate noise environments, such as busy streets. I could hear every detail of my music and every horn and siren from the cars on the road. When I listen to Car Seat Headrest’s Can’t cool me down, I was well aware of the sounds around me and still enjoyed every detail in the song.

While running in the park to Olivia Rodrigo brutalI turned on Immersive Audio, Bose’s spatial audio feature, which provides a multi-dimensional listening experience. When this feature was on, the song’s guitar riffs and Rodrigo’s layered harmonies sounded as if they were all around me, which made my runs exciting.

Also: I tested sleep headphones made by former Bose engineers and they worked great

These headphones don’t work well where you want them to want noise canceling technology, like on the subway or airplane. Since they don’t (and can’t) cancel noise, you won’t hear all of your sounds when wearing them in particularly noisy places. I wore Ultra Open headphones on the subway while listening to podcasts and heard most of what my favorite podcaster was saying, but many of the sentences were drowned out by the sound of metal cars crashing.

Bose Ultra Open on-ear headphones

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

I’m not the type to wear headphones even when I’m not listening to music, but with the Ultra Open’s over-the-ear design, I listened to music on the way to Trader Joe’s and kept them on while I was shopping. These are the most comfortable and universal headphones I’ve ever worn and can easily be worn all day without feeling tired.

Also: I travel with Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones, not the Sony XM5. Here’s why

In terms of battery life, the Ultra Open can last up to 7.5 hours before needing a recharge, so even high-powered users don’t need to worry about durability. One problem I’ve had with Bose headphones in the past is that when the battery starts to run low, so does the connection. That’s no different with the Ultra Open earbuds, so I recommend charging them regularly to avoid this. Additionally, the headphones don’t have pause and play touch controls, which I was used to with my old pair, so you’ll have to keep your phone with you to start and stop music.

ZDNET Buying Tips

If you’re looking for a pair of headphones that puts spatial awareness at the top of your priority list Bose Ultra Open Headphones is the way to go. I’d recommend these for people who exercise outdoors, but I’d also recommend them for anyone who listens to music everywhere they go but wants a headphone that doesn’t take them out of their environment .

However, if your daily work takes you into environments where you want noise cancellation, consider your other options. If you want headphones with excellent transparency mode And effective noise cancellation, take a look Apple AirPods Pro 2female Bose QuietComfort Ultraand for less money, JLab JBuds ANC 3.

When will this agreement expire?

The offer may end or expire at any time, but Bose says this offer lasts until October 13. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing and updating the best product deals so you can score Get the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks the deals we share to ensure they remain viable and achievable.

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