Photo: Michael Sawh
Somewhat ambitiously, Shokz promises these sports headphones can deliver clear highs and natural mids, and the new dual air conduction design can produce pure voice sound. The air conduction definitely delivers the bass, while the bone conduction handles the rest. In the battle against traffic, wind, and gym stereo, there are some winners and losers here. Bass is a big improvement, with a noticeable increase in warmth and punch.
Frustratingly, though, while more power means more bass for your money, clarity isn’t on par with the old OpenRun. Likewise, in a sound competition with a unique design Bose Ultra OpenThe lack of clarity is also evident. When I toned down a fast-paced playlist with lots of drums and bass to listen to a podcast, the step back in clarity was still noticeable. This doesn’t make the OpenRun Pro 2s a bad headphone, they simply offer a change to a sound that many runners will enjoy, and are a little closer to the typical bass-heavy workout headphones.
Winner by the nose
Photo: Michael Sawh
You always have to compromise with open-ear headphones, but with the OpenRun Pro 2, the compromise is really negligible. If you’re looking for running headphones with more bass and power, but still want to be aware of your surroundings, these are the best option out there.
Other options worth considering include Suunto Sonic ($149)Delivers a very balanced sound profile from a comfortable and well-weighted neckband design. Premium price Bose Ultra Open gives better, more detailed sound, but not suitable if you run fast. Sivga SO2 ($70) creates a truly pleasant sound, comfortable and secure fit.
It’s not the huge leap in quality I was hoping for, but Shokz has done just enough for me to recommend the OpenRun Pro 2. Still, you shouldn’t rule it out. OpenRun Progives you a nearly identical design with solid sound quality and battery performance. You just have to remember where you put that pesky, archaic, proprietary charging cable.
