Earlier today, Bose unveiled the Bose Sport Open Earplugs, a new kind of true wireless earplugs that sit above the ears to keep cyclists, runners and pedestrians safe while on the road.
It works by placing the driver in a new type of enclosure that sits above the ear canal, rather than leaving it inside so that the ambient noise can pass through.
That said, despite its open nature, Bose says the Sport Open Earplugs do not leak any sound, even at high volumes, because they use the company’s own OpenAudio technology. The result? You can clearly hear your music playing, but no one else will hear it.
Bose says the earplugs are IPX4 rated, which is water resistant and weighs only 14 grams per knob. The earbuds are good for eight hours per charge and use Bluetooth 5.1 for a more stable wireless connection.
When can cyclists get their hands on them then? The Bose Sport Open Earplugs are available from mid-January for $ 199.99 (approximately £ 150, AU $ 250), with pre-orders available on Bose’s website.
But Bose is not the only one offering open audio technology
While Bose Sport Open Earplugs are definitely unique in their new design over the top, Bose is not the only one thinking about audio transmission – the Jabra Elite 65t can amplify external sound using external microphones, just like some larger ear-to-ear headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Mainly sound passage helps protect you from cars, because you can hear them approaching – or, if you are in danger, after your squeak – which Bose says many athletes have asked.
‘Runners and cyclists have asked us for headphones that allow them to stay focused on their achievements without wires, neckbands or to make a button pop out to hear traffic, a training partner, nature or anything else they do not do not want to miss. “Mehul Trivedi, category director of Bose portable audio, said in an email to TechRadar. “Our new Sport Open Earplugs solve all these problems – and these are the only earplugs that do.”
While it may make the Evil Sport Earplugs sound like a niche product, it is also good for non-life-threatening situations, such as waiting to hear your seat number ring at the airport or restaurants.
In fact, you can use it every time you need to hear something important about a PA, and it will help keep you informed.